The expansive outdoor living space makes use of the large poolside patio. Plenty of overhead fans keep the area cool, while soft gray furniture reflects the interior furnishing. A similar color palette keeps the outdoor space in style with the rest of the home. Photographer: Trevor Ward Photography

Kitchen Is Where the Hearth Is Location: Edina, MN, USA With her only daughter off to college, this busy executive decided it was time to remodel her kitchen to suit her love for baking, cooking and hosting holidays for her large family. The homeowner’s wish list included white cabinetry, an island, plenty of storage, a gas insert for the fireplace and a special place for her collection of teacups. The fireplace and the large bank of windows in the existing footprint were a challenge to designing a cohesive plan. But by moving the doorway to the mudroom closer to the sink wall, a dedicated cooking zone was created for the convection oven, steam oven and a gas rangetop. This wall became the anchor for the island, topped with Carrara marble, an ideal surface for rolling out pie dough and making cookies. Blue, the homeowner’s favorite color was chosen for the island color with a black glaze to give it warmth. It sets off the marble and coordinates with the soapstone on the perimeter, a low maintenance option. The whimsical island stools from Hickory Chair invite friends to stay a while. The wood-burning fireplace was replaced with gas to make it more useable and the brick was covered with a marble slab to create a clean, transitional feel. The paneled accent wall detail uses the same inside step profile of the cabinetry doors and is painted in Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray to match the walls but with a slightly higher sheen. It separates the kitchen dining space from the kitchen work area giving it a feeling of friendly formality. The hutch adds more kitchen storage and shows off the homeowner’s collection of colorful teacups with a contrasting painted interior in Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue. The Urban Electric black lantern over the kitchen table also has a painted interior of Yarmouth Blue. This dining space with fun bits of drama ties in with the swooping white hood and Carrara marble wall tiles on the opposite side of the kitchen space. The result is an organized cook’s kitchen that transitions gracefully to entertaining. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

This client was creating an Air BNB and wanted to allow as many guests as possible for the most revenue, and that ls exactly what he got! With this project my goal was to help my client host as many guests as possible. We always discuss the ideas, talk about paint colors, lighting, decor, and ways to add textures. During construction we do everything needed to execute the design.

Country home design photo in Philadelphia

This living room hosts an in-home daycare in addition to the clients' own family. This pair of modern wood and linen chairs are comfortable and add a more sophisticated vibe to this eclectic living room.

This once traditional bedroom received a modern update by the team at Perceptions. Transforming this space into a corporate hub was no small feat! Sliding glass doors create a work out nook to house the family's bulky treadmill. A multi-function media wall helps the homeowners keep up with world events, while a sleek walnut table serves as a conference center for meetings. When hosting visitors cozy seating and a comfy sleeper sofa instantly transform the space into a visitors retreat.

Inspiration for an enclosed game room remodel in Boston with blue walls and a media wall

As a chic alternative to the enclosed wine room, Thies incorporates Sub-Zero wine towers from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery into the bleached oak built-in from Ruffino Cabinetry. As a house warming gift, Potter Homes presents a solid dining table with smokey-gray epoxy that fills the natural crack in the black walnut table top for an astonishing artistic expression. This element ties into the black base and the adjacent black frames on the glass-front cabinets. Much like the elegant abstract art, the two powder blue host chairs from Century add a touch of color and a dash of class.

We all know that this is the space where everyone gathers whether you want them to or not! We believe in creating a clean palette that can host all of the colorful chaos of the holiday crowds, an elegant night of cooking for two, and the frosting-covered fingers of a pack of four year olds. A kitchen’s flexibility and usefulness are as important as the finishes, and it is our job to listen to your functional needs as well as your aesthetic desires.

Transitional dining room photo in Chicago

Example of a transitional dining room design in Philadelphia

Are you in San Francisco for InterSolar this week? Then please sign up for a tour of the Sol-Lux Alpha Building to check out #netzeroenergy apartment building with #BlueIon #energystorage. Scheduled for July 9, 2018at 6:30 p.m., right before the #IntersolarNA conference. Blue Planet Energy is co-hosting this tour and reception, and we will have several members of the Blue Planet Energy team on site as well as the Building Systems Designer (John Sarter) to provide you with a tour of the building and technologies employed. Please sign up here: http://ow.ly/CdmW30kQXY6

A Mediterranean Modern remodel with luxury furnishings, finishes and amenities. Interior Design: Blackband Design Renovation: RS Myers Architecture: Stand Architects Photography: Ryan Garvin

Beach style medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Located in the heart of downtown Barrie, ON, this project has all the bells and whistles. Automatic cover, fire/water features, outdoor living/dining, and hot tub to name a few. Multi-level patios and integrated dive platform were used to accommodate the grade change and create the different areas throughout the yard. Over 2500ft2 of patio space for entertaining, hosting a backyard BBQ, or just sitting back to catch the game, it has space for everyone.

One of our favourite rooms in the home. The large master bedroom hosted a vast space for the bed as well as a seating area. Photos: iProTours.
Large elegant master carpeted home design photo in Ottawa with beige walls

This cozy sun room is host to an eclectic mix. Dried fern botanicals matted in cream with simple frames adorn the ivory walls. Woven wood blinds add texture and warmth. Below the framed art are two chairs covered in a tan and aqua blue striped fabric with watery blue velvet as welt. A Visual Comfort floor lamp and aqua blue garden seat sit between the two chairs. Next to the antique ebony stained chest is a wicker sofa whose wheat colored chenille cushions and graphic floral pillows offer a soft touch. Sitting atop a sisal rug is a tufted ottoman covered in a cheetah patterned velvet with dark walnut legs.

The game room is designed for both lively entertainment and relaxed evenings. Bright windows fill the space with natural light during the day, highlighting the room’s thoughtful details, while rich, darker blue walls create a cozy, intimate atmosphere for nighttime gatherings. A sleek mini bar adds functionality and style, making it easy to host friends and enjoy refreshments without leaving the room. The balance of light and dark, combined with a layout geared for fun and socializing, makes this game room a versatile and inviting retreat for any occasion.

Host your guests in comfort when they escape to this cozy guest room each night. A beautiful tray ceiling adds remarkable detail, thoughtfully placed windows offer perfect natural lighting, and the blue statement wall gives this space an easy touch of elegance.