Example of a mountain style deck design in Cleveland

Martha Layton Smith
Example of a 1960s family room design in Chicago

What is out there on the #horizon ? A far away land? A future adventure? A warm memory?
Example of a minimalist light wood floor and vaulted ceiling family room design in Philadelphia with white walls

Simplicity Obscures the Adventure of Going Through Any Passage Decorations Lucullus, French Quarter Maisonette

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Simon Devitt
Example of a danish master light wood floor bedroom design in Auckland with white walls

Time to rally the crew for another day on the sea. This themed-adventure bedroom exits into the ferry-inspired basement is this playful home on Whidbey Island.

Don Weixl Photography
Example of a large minimalist marble floor kitchen design in Vancouver with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in Minneapolis

Inspiration for an eclectic kids' room remodel in Portland

Example of a minimalist home design design in Minneapolis

As soon as you enter this classic home library, you bask in the ambiance of this promise of adventure, romance and imagination.
Example of a classic home office design in San Francisco

A reading nook to take this boy on adventures!
Example of a beach style home design design in Boston

Home bar - tropical home bar idea

Example of a mid-sized gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor nursery design in Los Angeles with gray walls

One of my favorite projects with a lovely, adventurous woman who loves color

Tired from saving the world? This adventure-themed bedroom will welcome you to rest while your spirit catches back up to your body.
Inspiration for an eclectic home design remodel in Seattle

Inspiration for a huge contemporary gender-neutral white floor playroom remodel in New York with white walls

The spice rack stores dozens of seasonings waiting to be tapped for adventurous meals while sliding baskets hold bagged and packaged foods along with smaller items that can get lost in the back of shelves. Kara Lashuay