Mid-sized 1960s beige one-story mixed siding gable roof photo in Denver

Eclectic enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in Chicago with white walls

The original foyer of this 1959 home was dark and cave like. The ceiling could not be raised because of AC equipment above, so the designer decided to "visually open" the space by removing a portion of the wall between the kitchen and the foyer. The team designed and installed a "see through" walnut dividing wall to allow light to spill into the space. A peek into the kitchen through the geometric triangles on the walnut wall provides a "wow" factor for the foyer.

Photo credit - Mike Seidl
Trendy single-wall wet bar photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

Shelly Miller Leer
Inspiration for an eclectic home design remodel in Indianapolis

Freestanding bathtub - large modern master porcelain tile, gray floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling freestanding bathtub idea in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Front deck and pool.
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard deck design in Santa Barbara with no cover

Bob Greenspan
Trendy brown three-story exterior home photo in Kansas City

Deep exaggerated eaves on the east and west sides provide visual interest as well as shading during the summer months.
Example of a mid-sized trendy partial sun and gray front yard and two-story concrete paver and mixed siding flat roof design in Seattle

The guest bath design was inspired by the fun geometric pattern of the custom window shade fabric. A mid century modern vanity and wall sconces further repeat the mid century design. Because space was limited, the designer incorporated a metal wall ladder to hold towels.

A modern yet cozy living room with blue painted cabinets, a large gray sectional colorful accents, and custom drapery panels. The exposed brick fireplace givess the space a casual feel. The Gold accents on the coffee table add polish to the family room.

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Large contemporary two-story wood flat roof idea in Denver

Dan Solomon
Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

2-sided fireplace breaks the dining room apart while keeping it together with the open floorplan. This custom home was designed and built by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Dana Hoff Photography

The full kitchen in the primary living space utilizes compact appliances and sleek, white cabinetry on touch latch hardware. The clean look of the cabinetry without visible hardware contributes to the modern and clutter-free appearance of the space while concealing ample storage and function. Photography by Cynthia Lynn Photography

Inspiration for a 1960s patio remodel in Los Angeles

Minimalist kitchen photo in Los Angeles

James Florio & Kyle Duetmeyer
Front door - industrial front door idea in Denver with a yellow front door