Dining room - transitional dark wood floor and brown floor dining room idea in San Francisco with blue walls

Trendy galley kitchen photo in Grand Rapids with open cabinets and beige backsplash

Scott Moore Photography
Inspiration for a coastal formal living room remodel in Atlanta with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

© 2014 Sunset Publishing Corp., photo by Thomas J. Story
Bedroom - contemporary medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Inspiration for a french country landscaping in San Francisco.

Example of a transitional living room design in Los Angeles with white walls and a standard fireplace

Removing a wall between the kitchen and living room brings light and usability to a once closed off, secluded kitchen. Mealtimes become a favorite family time now with a large island with seating for four. The homeowners wanted a more modern feel with a classic touch, and this was achieved with classic white cabinetry topped with leathered granite on the surround and a showstopping Quartz for the island that is a work of art. Playing on textures and finishes, the beveled marble backsplash draws the eyes to the focal point of the room, the mantle style vent hood. Keeping symmetry the star, two Circa Lighting pendants command attention. Not letting style get all the attention, this kitchen lacks no modern conveniences such as a water dispensing station, beverage center, and top of the line appliances. This stunning new kitchen breathes new life to this beautiful home and will grow with this sweet young family.

Welcome to DreamCoast Builders, where we turn your home dreams into unique realities. From Clearwater Fl. to Tampa and the 33756 area, we specialize in remodeling, custom homes, and home additions that stand out. Picture your modern house with a captivating swimming pool, complemented by lush artificial grass in the backyard. Our attention to detail ensures every aspect, from interior ideas to outdoor amenities like pool umbrellas and wave shades, reflects your individual style. Let us create a home that's as unique as you are. Contact us today and make your dream home a reality

1960s living room photo in Other

Ask a kitchen designer in Chicago which countertop question comes up most and you will hear the same answer: white or off-white quartz, and which shade. Homeowners walk into showrooms with a photo saved on their phone, usually a bright, veined slab from a magazine spread, and leave an hour later realizing there are a dozen versions of that same look. The confusion is not about taste. It is about the fact that "white quartz" covers a huge range of patterns, undertones, and price points, and nobody explains the differences before the sale. Older bungalows and newer builds alike are getting stripped of their dated laminate and butcher block in favor of quartz, and the reasons are practical rather than trendy. Quartz does not need sealing, resists the kind of staining that granite can suffer over decades, and holds up to the freeze-thaw humidity swings that Chicago basements and kitchens go through every year. Once a homeowner commits to quartz, though, the real decision starts: which white, and does the pattern justify the difference in cost. This piece walks through three specific slabs that keep showing up in Chicago renovation projects, why designers reach for them in different rooms, and what actually separates a flat white surface from one with real depth. None of this requires a design background to follow. It is mostly about paying attention to how a slab behaves under kitchen lighting, how busy the vending gets, and how it photographs versus how it looks in person. Why White Quartz Took Over Chicago Kitchens Ten years ago, granite dominated Chicago kitchen remodels almost by default. It was durable, it looked expensive, and every fabricator in the metro area carried a wide range of colors. Quartz has since taken over that position, and the shift happened faster than most contractors expected. Engineered stone gave homeowners a more predictable surface, since natural granite varies slab to slab while quartz is manufactured to a consistent pattern batch after batch. The other driver is light. Chicago winters are long and gray, and a lot of kitchens, especially in older two-flats and courtyard buildings, do not get much direct sun. A dark granite countertop in a dim kitchen can make the whole room feel smaller. White and light-toned quartz reflects what little natural light comes through the windows, and it makes a galley kitchen or a north-facing space feel noticeably brighter without touching the cabinetry or the layout. There is also a resale argument that local real estate agents bring up constantly. White quartz photographs well for listings, reads as updated and low-maintenance to buyers touring in person, and does not compete visually with whatever cabinet color the next owner might prefer. It is a safer bet than a bold veined marble look or a colored quartz that might feel dated in five years. Arctic White and the Cost Question Among the flatter, more uniform whites, arctic white quartz price comes up constantly in budget conversations because the slab sits at a more approachable point than the heavily veined Italian-marble-inspired patterns. It reads as clean and bright without the busy movement that some homeowners find overwhelming in a small kitchen. Fabricators in the Chicago area tend to keep it in stock precisely because demand stays steady across both new construction and remodel projects. Part of what keeps this slab affordable relative to its heavily patterned cousins comes down to manufacturing complexity. A quartz surface with minimal veining and a consistent white base is simpler to produce at scale than one that mimics the irregular, high-contrast movement of natural Calacatta marble. That production difference shows up directly in what a homeowner pays per square foot, and it is worth asking a fabricator to walk through that pricing before assuming every white quartz costs the same. Homeowners planning a full kitchen, including an island, backsplash, and perimeter counters, often use a flatter white like this specifically because it lets other elements carry the visual interest. A patterned tile backsplash or a bold cabinet color reads more clearly against a calm countertop than against one already fighting for attention with heavy veining. Designers frequently pair simpler whites with statement lighting fixtures for exactly this reason. What Makes Calacatta Patterns Different Calacatta refers to a family of marble originally quarried in Italy, known for a bright white background broken up by bold, often gold-toned veining that moves in thick, dramatic streaks rather than thin gray lines. Natural Calacatta marble is soft, porous, and expensive to maintain, which is exactly why quartz manufacturers spent years developing engineered versions that replicate the look without the upkeep headaches. The challenge with any Calacatta-style quartz is getting the veining to look organic instead of printed. Early generations of engineered stone struggled with repetitive patterns that gave away the fact the slab was manufactured rather than cut from actual marble. Modern digital printing and layering techniques have closed that gap considerably, and the better Calacatta-inspired quartz lines now vary the veining across each slab batch so two counters in the same kitchen do not look identical. Chicago designers gravitate toward Calacatta patterns for kitchens that function as the visual centerpiece of an open floor plan, which describes a large share of the gut renovations happening in neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, and the North Shore suburbs. When the kitchen island is visible from the living room and dining area, a dramatic veined surface becomes part of the home's overall design language rather than a purely functional work surface. Calacatta Arno Under Kitchen Lighting One of the more popular options in this category, calacatta arno quartz, balances a warm white base with soft gray and gold veining that avoids looking too stark under the cooler LED lighting common in newer Chicago builds. Homeowners touring showrooms sometimes make the mistake of judging a slab entirely under warm incandescent lighting, then get surprised when the same surface looks slightly different once installed under their kitchen's actual fixtures. What separates this particular pattern from flatter competitors is how the veining clusters rather than spreading evenly across the slab. That clustering mimics the way real quarried marble forms, with denser mineral deposits in some sections and cleaner stretches in others. Fabricators cutting a large island slab from a single piece will often orient the pattern intentionally so the busiest veining lands somewhere visually interesting rather than getting cut off at an edge. Because the background reads warmer than a stark white, this pattern tends to pair well with brass or matte gold hardware, a combination that has been showing up repeatedly in Chicago kitchen remodels over the past few renovation seasons. Cabinet painters report a similar trend, with more clients requesting warm white or greige cabinet colors specifically because they complement this kind of veined quartz better than a cooler, blue-toned white would. Silestone's Version of the Calacatta Look Manufacturers compete directly in this Calacatta-inspired category, and silestone eternal calacatta gold represents one brand's specific take on the pattern, distinguished by richer gold veining set against a brighter white base than some competing slabs in the same family. Silestone has built a reputation around anti-bacterial surface treatments in addition to the standard quartz durability, a detail some homeowners specifically ask about for kitchens used heavily by families with young children. The veining in this particular slab tends to run in longer, more continuous lines compared to the clustered pattern found in some other Calacatta-style options, which gives large island surfaces a sense of visual flow from one end to the other. Fabricators working with bigger islands, the kind increasingly common in open-concept Chicago remodels, often favor patterns like this because there is less need to worry about seams interrupting a busy, disconnected pattern. Price positioning for this slab tends to sit toward the upper end of the engineered quartz category, reflecting both the brand's manufacturing process and the complexity of replicating that continuous gold veining consistently across production batches. Homeowners weighing this option against other Calacatta-style quartz should ask their fabricator directly about batch availability, since premium patterns sometimes have longer lead times than standard stock colors. Living With Quartz Day to Day Beyond how a slab looks in a showroom or a listing photo, the daily experience of owning quartz countertops matters more once the renovation dust settles. Quartz resists scratching far better than laminate and holds up to the acidic spills, hot pans, and general abuse of an active kitchen without the sealing maintenance that natural stone requires every year or two. That low-maintenance reputation is a large part of why quartz overtook granite in the first place. Heat resistance is a detail that gets less attention than it should. While quartz handles moderate heat well, manufacturers generally recommend using a trivet or pad for very hot pots straight off the stove, since sudden temperature shock can occasionally cause stress marks in the resin binder that holds the engineered stone together. This is a minor precaution rather than a major limitation, but it is worth mentioning to anyone assuming quartz is entirely indestructible. Cleaning routines stay simple across almost every pattern in this category. A damp cloth and mild soap handle daily messes, and the nonporous surface means wine, coffee, and tomato-based sauces do not soak in the way they can with unsealed granite or marble. Homeowners moving from an older stone counter often mention how much less they worry about everyday spills once quartz is installed, which is a quality-of-life change that rarely makes it into the initial design conversation. Choosing Between the Three There is no single correct answer among these three slabs, and that is exactly why they keep coming up together in the same design conversations across Chicago renovation projects. A flatter white with minimal veining suits kitchens where other elements need to carry the visual interest, while a bolder Calacatta-inspired pattern makes sense when the countertop itself is meant to be the centerpiece of an open floor plan. Budget matters too, and it is worth having a direct conversation with a fabricator about where each option lands before falling in love with a specific slab in a showroom. Lighting, cabinet color, and how the kitchen connects to the rest of the home all play into which pattern will actually look right once installation is finished rather than just in a photo. Whatever direction a homeowner leans, seeing a full slab in person under actual kitchen lighting remains the single most useful step before signing off. Photos only go so far once the countertop is sitting in the room it will live in for years.

Cherie Cordellos - http://www.photosbycherie.net JPM Construction offers complete support for designing, building, and renovating homes in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and surrounding mid-peninsula areas. With a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and professionalism, our clients can expect premium end-to-end service. The promise of JPM is unparalleled quality both on-site and off, where we value communication and attention to detail at every step. Onsite, we work closely with our own tradesmen, subcontractors, and other vendors to bring the highest standards to construction quality and job site safety. Off site, our management team is always ready to communicate with you about your project. The result is a beautiful, lasting home and seamless experience for you.

Photographer: Angie Seckinger | Interior: Cameron Ruppert Interiors | Builder: Thorsen Construction
Dining room - traditional dark wood floor and brown floor dining room idea in DC Metro with blue walls

A custom-made expansive two-story home providing views of the spacious kitchen, breakfast nook, dining, great room and outdoor amenities upon entry. Featuring 11,000 square feet of open area lavish living this residence does not disappoint with the attention to detail throughout. Elegant features embellish this home with the intricate woodworking and exposed wood beams, ceiling details, gorgeous stonework, European Oak flooring throughout, and unique lighting. This residence offers seven bedrooms including a mother-in-law suite, nine bathrooms, a bonus room, his and her offices, wet bar adjacent to dining area, wine room, laundry room featuring a dog wash area and a game room located above one of the two garages. The open-air kitchen is the perfect space for entertaining family and friends with the two islands, custom panel Sub-Zero appliances and easy access to the dining areas. Outdoor amenities include a pool with sun shelf and spa, fire bowls spilling water into the pool, firepit, large covered lanai with summer kitchen and fireplace surrounded by roll down screens to protect guests from inclement weather, and two additional covered lanais. This is luxury at its finest!

Luxe Bathroom Remodel – Menlo Park, CA This serene and sophisticated master bathroom remodel in Menlo Park, California, is a stunning example of Casa Utopia Builders’ attention to modern luxury, fine detail, and seamless integration of natural textures. The space blends spa-inspired tranquility with clean architectural lines, warm materials, and thoughtful functionality. Key Features: Custom wall-mounted travertine sink vanity with integrated stone basin Curbless walk-in shower with large-format marble-effect tile and brushed gold fixtures Wall-mounted smart toilet for a sleek, minimal footprint Designer sconces paired with a floating mirror and textured vertical tile wall Built-in skylight and window to maximize natural light Custom linen cabinet and wall niche for practical storage Elegant palette of white, beige, and wood tones with modern brass accents This remodel reimagined the original layout with a bump-out for the wall-mounted toilet, custom skylight installation, and all-new plumbing and electrical. High-end details and natural textures deliver a warm, minimalist feel while retaining every ounce of everyday luxury. Project Location: Menlo Park, California Scope: Master Bathroom Remodel Value: $44,000 Timeline: ~4–5 weeks Style Tags: Warm Modern | Japandi | Organic Minimalism | Spa-Inspired

Inspiration for a large transitional master carpeted and tray ceiling bedroom remodel in San Francisco with beige walls

Michele Lee Willson Photography
Inspiration for a scandinavian kitchen remodel in San Francisco

Example of a minimalist living room design in Chicago

Mid-century modern kitchen in Medford, MA, with cherry cabinetry, a small workstation island, quartz countertops, and a custom tile backsplash in shades of blue. We reused the client's vintage blue glass light fixture. Project also includes a mudroom and powder room.

Photography: Dustin Peck http://www.dustinpeckphoto.com/ http://www.houzz.com/pro/dpphoto/dustinpeckphotographyinc Designer: Susan Tollefsen http://www.susantinteriors.com/ http://www.houzz.com/pro/susu5/susan-tollefsen-interiors June/July 2016