In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Kitchen pantry - coastal dark wood floor kitchen pantry idea in Tampa with open cabinets and wood countertops

Our take on the Modern Farmhouse!
Example of a large cottage white two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior design in Calgary

Photo: Karen Melvin
Example of a classic kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and paneled appliances

Point West at Macatawa Park, MI
Beach style screened-in porch photo in Grand Rapids with decking and a roof extension

Example of a large trendy light wood floor kitchen pantry design in New York with white cabinets and open cabinets

1st Place Residential Space Over 3,500 square feet Kellie McCormick, ASID McCormick and Wright
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 light wood floor bathroom remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

Set on a narrow lakefront parcel defined by tight setbacks and limited hardscape allowance, this modern cabin demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform restriction into possibility. Carefully composed to preserve privacy while opening fully toward the water, the home feels both expansive and intimate—an elevated retreat grounded in its landscape. Though modest in footprint, the residence lives generously. Four bedrooms are tucked efficiently within the plan, including a light-filled quilting studio that reflects the homeowners’ creative life. Each bedroom opens onto its own private balcony, offering moments of pause and perspective with views stretching across lake and countryside. The upper level also includes a family room, providing a quiet gathering space removed from the activity below. From here, the home’s vertical volume becomes apparent, as daylight pours down through a dramatic two-story space framed by glass facing the lake. At the center of the home, a custom steel-and-wood plank stair acts as both circulation and sculpture. Rising through the double-height volume, it leads the eye upward to a tall Nelson cigar lamp suspended above—an intentional moment of drama and delight. The main floor is designed around connection and flow. Kitchen, dining, and living areas exist as one continuous space, unified by light, views, and material warmth. A 12-foot-long island anchors the kitchen, serving as the natural gathering place for morning coffee, family meals, and summertime buffet-style entertaining. When fully opened, large folding accordion glass doors dissolve the boundary between inside and out, allowing the screened porch to become a true extension of the living space. Function is carefully layered throughout the plan. A mudroom entry from the tucked-under two-car garage includes a powder room and utility closet, while a generous entry closet provides essential storage and has been dimensioned to accommodate a future elevator. Designed intentionally for aging in place, the home incorporates zero-threshold access from the garage, wide halls and doorways, reinforced wall blocking for future grab bars, and infrastructure for a future elevator—ensuring long-term comfort without compromising design. Clad in dark painted board-and-batten siding, the exterior minimizes visual scale and allows the home to recede quietly into the landscape. Recessed balconies and façade elements are wrapped in warm wood-look siding, adding depth and contrast while bringing warmth into the interior. At night, light spills softly from within, and the cabin glows along the shoreline—welcoming, calm, and enduring.

Elizabeth Taich Design is a Chicago-based full-service interior architecture and design firm that specializes in sophisticated yet livable environments.

Eric Roth
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Boston

Paul Crosby Architectural Photography
Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Minneapolis

Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo with white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and white backsplash

Photographer: Eric Roth; Stylist: Tracey Parkinson
Mid-sized beach style light wood floor dining room photo in Boston with white walls and no fireplace

This kitchen is always ready for a party. Open shelves accommodate the most readily used items while a butler's pantry holds the rest. Photo by John Martinelli

Built in dark wood bench with integrated boot storage. Large format stone-effect floor tile. Photography by Spacecrafting.
Large elegant ceramic tile mudroom photo in Minneapolis with gray walls and a white front door

Mariko Reed
Design ideas for a modern concrete paver garden path in San Francisco.

Dennis Mayer Photography
Example of a classic multicolored floor laundry room design in San Francisco with black cabinets, a farmhouse sink and black countertops

Example of a mid-sized trendy dark wood floor kitchen pantry design in Los Angeles