The new flooring throughout is DuChateau Villandry with added creamy white wall and warm wood ceiling beams overhead, creates a modern rustic elegance with the most stunning views of the hillside summit.

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Orange County with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a coastal bathroom remodel in San Diego

Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in St Louis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and white walls

Darren Setlow
Inspiration for a coastal freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home studio remodel in Portland Maine with beige walls

Inspiration for a coastal living room remodel in New York

This work station allows for storage of office supplies as well as a place for kids or adults to work.
Example of a transitional home office design in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Family room - transitional family room idea in New York

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.”

Example of a classic open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in DC Metro with blue walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2013 Houzz
Traditional one-story brick exterior home idea in Dallas

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in Austin

Seacoast RE Photography
Example of a large transitional home design design in Manchester

Eclectic light wood floor enclosed dining room photo in Los Angeles with gray walls

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Example of a trendy exterior home design in Seattle

Stephani Buchman Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island