Japanese ash entry door existed. Original ivory handle and ivory hanging rack. New lighting and faux skylight. Ash parquet floors were refinished in a dark stain.

This tiny home is located on a treelined street in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. We helped our client create a living and dining space with a beach vibe in this small front room that comfortably accommodates their growing family of four. The starting point for the decor was the client's treasured antique chaise (positioned under the large window) and the scheme grew from there. We employed a few important space saving techniques in this room... One is building seating into a corner that doubles as storage, the other is tucking a footstool, which can double as an extra seat, under the custom wood coffee table. The TV is carefully concealed in the custom millwork above the fireplace. Finally, we personalized this space by designing a family gallery wall that combines family photos and shadow boxes of treasured keepsakes. Interior Decorating by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography

Example of a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room design in Atlanta with white walls and no fireplace

Interior Designer: Allard & Roberts, Architect: Retro + Fit Design, Builder: Osada Construction, Photographer: Shonie Kuykendall
Large trendy open concept light wood floor living room photo in Other with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Photography: Stoffer Photography Interiors
Inspiration for a transitional laundry room remodel in Chicago

Photography by Heather Mace of RA+A
Inspiration for a craftsman master beige tile and stone slab travertine floor bathroom remodel in Albuquerque with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and beige walls

Shown: Kährs Lux Sky wood flooring Kährs have launched two new ultra-matt wood flooring collections, Lux and Lumen. Recently winning Gold for 'Best Flooring' at the 2017 House Beautiful Awards, Kährs' Lux collection includes nine one-strip plank format designs in an array of natural colours, which are mirrored in Lumen's three-strip designs. The new surface treatment applied to the designs is non reflective; enhancing the colour and beauty of real wood, whilst giving a silky, yet strong shield against wear and tear. Emanuel Lidberg, Head of Design at Kährs Group, says, “Lux and Lumen have been developed for design-led interiors, with abundant natural light, for example with floor-to-ceiling glazing. Traditional lacquer finishes reflect light which distracts from the floor’s appearance. Our new, ultra-matt finish minimizes reflections so that the wood’s natural grain and tone can be appreciated to the full." The contemporary Lux Collection features nine floors spanning from the milky white "Ash Air" to the earthy, deep-smoked "Oak Terra". Kährs' Lumen Collection offers mirrored three strip and two-strip designs to complement Lux, or offer an alternative interior look. All designs feature a brushed effect, accentuating the natural grain of the wood. All floors feature Kährs' multi-layered construction, with a surface layer of oak or ash. This engineered format is eco-friendly, whilst also making the floors more stable, and ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. Matching accessories, including mouldings, skirting and handmade stairnosing are also available for the new designs.

Shown: Kährs Lux Flow wood flooring Kährs have launched two new ultra-matt wood flooring collections, Lux and Lumen. Recently winning Gold for 'Best Flooring' at the 2017 House Beautiful Awards, Kährs' Lux collection includes nine one-strip plank format designs in an array of natural colours, which are mirrored in Lumen's three-strip designs. The new surface treatment applied to the designs is non reflective; enhancing the colour and beauty of real wood, whilst giving a silky, yet strong shield against wear and tear. Emanuel Lidberg, Head of Design at Kährs Group, says, “Lux and Lumen have been developed for design-led interiors, with abundant natural light, for example with floor-to-ceiling glazing. Traditional lacquer finishes reflect light which distracts from the floor’s appearance. Our new, ultra-matt finish minimizes reflections so that the wood’s natural grain and tone can be appreciated to the full." The contemporary Lux Collection features nine floors spanning from the milky white "Ash Air" to the earthy, deep-smoked "Oak Terra". Kährs' Lumen Collection offers mirrored three strip and two-strip designs to complement Lux, or offer an alternative interior look. All designs feature a brushed effect, accentuating the natural grain of the wood. All floors feature Kährs' multi-layered construction, with a surface layer of oak or ash. This engineered format is eco-friendly, whilst also making the floors more stable, and ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. Matching accessories, including mouldings, skirting and handmade stairnosing are also available for the new designs.

Most of the new addition was devoted to this stunning, contemporary take on an early century beach cottage kitchen. The enlarged space allowed for an open and gracious flow between the kitchen and dining areas.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Huge mountain style travertine floor eat-in kitchen photo in Denver with a farmhouse sink, distressed cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, louvered cabinets and stone tile backsplash

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

simplistic but luxurious bathroom!
Mid-sized trendy master gray tile and stone tile travertine floor bathroom photo in Vancouver with open cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink and wood countertops

This built-in was a small part of a project that coincided with some modern hand railing and ladders. We played around with some interesting lines through the design process. The result was this geometric abstraction design back panel (all built in reclaimed Ash) meant to draw attention to a space that could have been stark. The objective of this design also needed to be functional. We incorporated a tiered offset reclaimed Ash shelf unit that allows the light to fall through and tastefully illuminate the records. The slatted feature below is a cover panel for the lower space housing electronic (i.e. router, external hard drive…). Its built with 3/4″ reclaimed Ash slats resting in laser cut slots in the steel rails. The space allocation between each slat allows for air movement for the electronics. 2016 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved