THE AMBIANCE OF LIGHT. Add a touch of drama to a space that transitions from room to room such as a stairway or hallway. Seves Glass Block provides the extra ambiance without sacrificing transmission of light. Discover how designers and contractors are utilizing glass block in new ways in our North American Design Guide @ sevesglassblockinc.com

Photos: Matthew Bolt Graphic Design Cabinetry by Classic Kitchens of Charleston
Example of a beach style eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wood countertops, metallic backsplash and metal backsplash

Inspiration for a large mediterranean u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, concrete countertops, white backsplash, terra-cotta backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and brown countertops

Bill & Joan's Kitchen is a step out of the ordinary. Their two tone kitchen is separate from base to walls. While, I was at their beautiful home in Milford, MI, I forgot to photograph their matching fireplace and their powder room, but I hope the kitchen pictures will display the style enough

Shoot 2 Sell
Inspiration for a mid-sized country u-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Dallas with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink and quartzite countertops

Edge grain construction Rails run the entire length of the countertop. Optional backsplash available. Handcrafted of Walnut, the butcher block countertops feature uniformly matched, full-length rails for a seamless look. The countertops are available in a variety of widths.

Small social circles can grow into parties of plenty when you have furniture that offers abundant space for seating and entertaining. Enter the Costello sectional. This loungy piece lets everyone sprawl out in style, with its substantial span and streamlined design, which comes together with a tufted tight back, track arms, block feet and welted seams. Hip and versatile, its woven dark gray upholstery complements the room’s contemporary coastal look of geometric prints coupled with by-the-sea accents, like rope stools, steel lanterns and glass bottles.

This countryside kitchen includes a beautiful blue statement island, which adds originality to the classic space. The cabinetry is made by Downsview and the design is done through Astro Design Centre in Ottawa Canada. Astro Design, Ottawa DoubleSpace Photography

Clopay Avante Collection glass garage doors play a key role in the magical, translucent calm that prevails the newly completed Modern Green Barn. Inspired by the vernacular potato barns of Long Island’s East End, this unique, energy efficient home is one of the most innovative new designs in the Hamptons. It will receive six third party ratings, including LEED for Homes and National Green Building Standard. Large open spaces create dramatic views, and light and structure is infused into every space. As the sun sets, the Kalwall gable ends and ridge skylights shed soft light to the outside and the pilaster lanterns and etched glass Clopay Garage Doors begin to glow. Every room connects to the outdoors, and the transition between many of the rooms and outdoor spaces is seamless. The abundance of woods on the interior and exterior, and the finishes and warm colors, make it warm and inviting. Project by Stott Architecture for Newmark Developers. Photography by Andy Frame. 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Minimalist sunroom photo in Cleveland

Jacob Snavely
Example of a beach style light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white countertops, beige backsplash, marble countertops and an island

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Dino Tonn
Elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and an island

Cory Holland
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Seattle

Photo Credit: Rob Karosis
Example of a beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, beige backsplash, an island, an undermount sink, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

This partial kitchen remodel, features a beautiful multi-color glass tile backsplash and with the additional under cabinet lighting, the counter top and backsplash provide a'pop' to this kitchen. The island was completely remodelled and enlarged to include additional cabinets and the addition of a stunning butcher block atop the beverage fridge. This additional height at the end of the large island adds a different height element as well as warmth and texture to the granite counter.

As Annalisa put it, “We know what we like, but we’re not design people.” So she chose BODBYN doors in gray and butcher block countertops for a classic kitchen feeling. And then she hired IKD to help her design a kitchen with great flow that incorporated several non-IKEA elements.

Ken Lauben
Elegant u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island