Our clients were a couple about to retire, who wanted to stay in their family home where they raised their children. They knew their kitchen was not working to its full potential but were unsure how to make the best changes or where to start. It was important their new kitchen yielded the feeling of a fresh, new environment that offered timeless longevity but didn’t break the bank. Knowing that the kitchen now needed the space to accommodate two people regularly, we reconfigured it to suit our clients’ lifestyle change. We increased counter space significantly for preparation and presentation, making it intrinsically more functional but also yielding a greater sense of luxury. Storage was increased and planned around our understanding of their cooking and entertaining style, and how they move through the space. Our clients were comfortable and very much aware of their own sense of style – simplicity was the driving force behind their aesthetic. We removed all unnecessary embellishments and used a classic, neutral palette while introducing texture with rich walnut touches. Knowing their penchant for entertaining, we included integrated lighting to allow easy control of ambiance. This project was a joy to work on!

I happen to love the Moonshadow mattress because of it's marshmallow bouncy feel. The mattress has firm support yet a plush surface. I personally use this mattress on my platform bed and it feels like a high quality latex mattress. Because it has nearly 14" inches of premium goods compressed into 8" inches, the mattress has a nice rebound bounce feel to it. However, be aware that I do not recommend this mattress on a futon frame that is armless or of weaker quality. Nor do I recommend this mattress on a queen size futon frame. This mattress is thick and will not look good aesthetically on a standard hardwood frame especially in the queen size. It will also be quite difficult to convert back from bed position to sofa position on your frame if it is in the queen size regardless of the quality of frame. I recommend calling one of our associates first at 1-888-212-3886, if you are buying a replacement mattress for your futon frame, to ensure that your frame will be able to accommodate this type of mattress. As for using it on a platform bed frame, I highly recommend this mattress as your primary bed.

This is another combination landscaping and lighting result by our team at Preferred Properties. Lots of seasonal color and interest and supporting trees to blend in with the natural landscape surrounding the home and plot. It is always best to be resourceful enough to get light out in front of the home and sidelines otherwise the house lighting appears to be obviously important but linear in effect where the forward approach brings dimension to the space. The lower and brighter light levels also guide your direction of vision in the night. Lower levels of light out by the roadside planter and brighter light by the front door would guide your sense of approach to the front door. In difference to brighter levels of light in the surrounding landscape guides more awareness to the whole parcel in a much more dimensional point of view. Either way played out some light is better than none. Let us show you just how good your house looks at night. OutdoorLightingDesign.com

This vacation home was created for an avid saltwater fisherman and his family. As a coastal property, care was taken to capture breezes and views, encouraging inhabitants to slow down and soak in the ambiance. At the same time, the building is designed to withstand storms and the corrosive effects of salt air. Awareness of natural elements, including being kind to other inhabitants of the property, is evident in selections like turtle friendly exterior specialty LED lighting. Careful compositions of color, material, opacity, and transparency create an exterior that is disciplined but playful. The building is layered in planes that accentuate shadow, forming a graceful backdrop to the palm trees, pool, and ocean beyond. The local coral stone used on the exterior is also seen inside, thus reinforcing a sense of place. Pops of saturated color balance the soothing palette of materials, art, and furnishings, never distracting from the breathtaking setting. High light from clerestories washes across interior surfaces and opens up views to the sky. The luminous volumes are easy-going and simple, but contain a few surprises. In the primary bath, the architect and client created a unique pattern of custom handmade tile.

We focused on creating a nurturing space that would help the family and their guests unwind and heal from the stress of everyday life. An eclectic mix of wood finishes and tones, metals and neutral color palettes create a strong connection to the natural lakeside environment right outside the home. In the master bedroom we created a calming space built around gray, white and blue tones. For the bedroom office space, we designed and built classic cabinetry and paired it with another slab of natural wood for the desktop. The children and guest bedrooms are peaceful and comfortable, carrying through the neutral palette and blending of textures and materials. Our focus was on creating a home that would inspire and heal anyone who enters it, both the family enjoying their vacations and the people invited there for retreats. Through careful consideration of materials and the purpose of this home, we revealed a nurturing and peaceful atmosphere that would refocus people’s awareness to the exquisite natural surroundings.

Photo: Sarah Seung-McFarland © 2016 Houzz
Patio - eclectic patio idea in New York

Yes, the neighborhood is quite aware of this Pro Dunk Gold backyard. This system in Monmouth Junction, NJ promotes the interaction of family, friends and fun. The striped half court is a clear call to play ball. This is a Pro Dunk Gold Basketball System that was purchased in April of 2013. It was installed on a 42 ft wide by a 50 ft deep playing area in Monmouth Junction, NJ. Browse all of Mirza B's photos navigate to: http://www.produnkhoops.com/photos/albums/mirza-42x50-pro-dunk-gold-basketball-system-120/

This vacation home was created for an avid saltwater fisherman and his family. As a coastal property, care was taken to capture breezes and views, encouraging inhabitants to slow down and soak in the ambiance. At the same time, the building is designed to withstand storms and the corrosive effects of salt air. Awareness of natural elements, including being kind to other inhabitants of the property, is evident in selections like turtle friendly exterior specialty LED lighting. Careful compositions of color, material, opacity, and transparency create an exterior that is disciplined but playful. The building is layered in planes that accentuate shadow, forming a graceful backdrop to the palm trees, pool, and ocean beyond. The local coral stone used on the exterior is also seen inside, thus reinforcing a sense of place. Pops of saturated color balance the soothing palette of materials, art, and furnishings, never distracting from the breathtaking setting. High light from clerestories washes across interior surfaces and opens up views to the sky. The luminous volumes are easy-going and simple, but contain a few surprises. In the primary bath, the architect and client created a unique pattern of custom handmade tile.

This is another combination landscaping and lighting result by our team at Preferred Properties. Lots of seasonal color and interest and supporting trees to blend in with the natural landscape surrounding the home and plot. It is always best to be resourceful enough to get light out in front of the home and sidelines otherwise the house lighting appears to be obviously important but linear in effect where the forward approach brings dimension to the space. The lower and brighter light levels also guide your direction of vision in the night. Lower levels of light out by the roadside planter and brighter light by the front door would guide your sense of approach to the front door. In difference to brighter levels of light in the surrounding landscape guides more awareness to the whole parcel in a much more dimensional point of view. Either way played out some light is better than none. Let us show you just how good your house looks at night. OutdoorLightingDesign.com

"Transitional" -- what exactly does this term mean? Especially, when describing interior design. Transitional style design, usually means that you have characteristics of both modern and traditional in your space. You kind of fall in that even middle ground between both styles. For this dining room, our client was just that. However, she wasn't aware of it. She was trying to pair multiple traditional elements together, but it left her feeling unhappy. The space was feeling dark, filled with heavy furniture and nothing was popping or even uplifting. She knew she liked to mix patterns and textures, but was also unsure of how to achieve that. As I looked around her home, I realized that their art collection definitely leaned more on the modern and colorful side of the spectrum. This was a big indicator to me, she wasn't fully traditional at all, she was more transitional! That was my que, and we got to work and this is the result. Native House Photography

This vacation home was created for an avid saltwater fisherman and his family. As a coastal property, care was taken to capture breezes and views, encouraging inhabitants to slow down and soak in the ambiance. At the same time, the building is designed to withstand storms and the corrosive effects of salt air. Awareness of natural elements, including being kind to other inhabitants of the property, is evident in selections like turtle friendly exterior specialty LED lighting. Careful compositions of color, material, opacity, and transparency create an exterior that is disciplined but playful. The building is layered in planes that accentuate shadow, forming a graceful backdrop to the palm trees, pool, and ocean beyond. The local coral stone used on the exterior is also seen inside, thus reinforcing a sense of place. Pops of saturated color balance the soothing palette of materials, art, and furnishings, never distracting from the breathtaking setting. High light from clerestories washes across interior surfaces and opens up views to the sky. The luminous volumes are easy-going and simple, but contain a few surprises. In the primary bath, the architect and client created a unique pattern of custom handmade tile.

Transitional exterior home photo in San Francisco

This Brooklyn backyard patio design was made for entertaining with its outdoor kitchen, contemporary dining and seating areas, a fire-pit, bluestone patio, and custom horizontal planter boxes and fencing made of ipe. The lush plantings include Japanese maples, dogwoods, ornamental grasses, trumpet vines, sweet potato vines, and a lush assortment of flowering perennials and annuals. All of the plantings contain automated low-voltage up-lighting and drip irrigation lines. The main challenges to designing this space included being aware of widely varying pockets of sun and shade and using the right plants that would do well in each scenario, providing adequate drainage in the bluestone patio, which we did by installing a zip drain that runs the length of the patio, and making planters that would be substantial enough to be able to hold mature plantings, but that wouldn't be so heavy that they would be impossible to ever move later on. We put casters on the bottom of all the planters to help make them mobile, which turned out to be a very good thing when the client decided to make some changes to the placement of the planters after they were installed. Read more about our projects on my blog at www.amberfreda.com.

Small elegant master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile corner shower photo in Raleigh with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Photo: Lauren Andersen © 2019 Houzz
Example of a trendy kitchen design in San Francisco

Image provided by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product name: Authentic Limestone BBQ layouts Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Nothing tastes quite like fresh barbecue food off the grill, whether it’s gas, charcoal or electric. Each has its own distinct features, and you’ll need to consider size, grids and general construction to ensure you’re making the right purchase for your BBQ needs. Should you choose charcoal, gas or electric? This depends on your cooking preference, what you feel comfortable with and ultimately how you’d like your food to taste. See below for the pros and cons of each option. Charcoal: Using charcoal briquettes, wood, or a combination of both, charcoal grills give food an unmistakable smoked BBQ flavor, yet cooking it may take more time and you need to be aware of disposing ashes regularly. Look for a charcoal barbecue with air vents to maintain control over the internal temperature.