When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

John Ellis for Country Living
Inspiration for a large eclectic painted wood floor and green floor bedroom remodel in Los Angeles with pink walls

Kitchen with brick wall
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

AZEK Deck's Dark Hickory, a deep, rich gray with lighter streaking must be seen to be appreciated. It is new for 2015 when AZEK Deck unveiled the Vintage Collection offering the latest technology and breakthrough aesthetics in the world of decking. With a realistic wood appearance, Dark Hickory, part of the Vintage Collection, has a rustic texture found traditionally in reclaimed wood and indoor flooring. Dramatic streaking that truly emulates tropical hardwoods and slight board-to-board color variations set the Vintage Collection apart from other non-wood decking products. All AZEK Deck products offer a limited lifetime warranty and are designed to last beautifully.

The cabinet above the toilet performs a variety of functions: Its open shelf is sized to perfectly display the vase; the open cubbies are excellent for rolled towels; and the enclosed, mirrored section conceals the extra toilet paper. The bathroom was designed around the clients' antique Japanese vase. * Tom Marks: http://www.tommarksphoto.com

One of the goals was to make the bathroom feel larger than it is. The extended countertop creates a long, horizontal line, giving a feeling of length, and glass shower doors further open up the space. We were even able to fit in a bit of luxury; behind the glass doors a whirlpool tub by Jason turns this small bathroom into a retreat.

The cabinet above the toilet performs a variety of functions: Its open shelf is sized to perfectly display the vase; the open cubbies are excellent for rolled towels; and the enclosed, mirrored section conceals the extra toilet paper. The bathroom was designed around the clients' antique Japanese vase.

A much larger vanity gives the bathroom a lot of additional storage, keeping clutter hidden away. Toe-kick drawers in the base cabinet maximize every single inch of space to the floor.

The shower controls are on the opposite side of the tub from the shower head, so that the residents can reach in to turn on the water while standing outside the tub. This way they can make sure it is the right temperature before getting in. Shower controls by Grohe. Custom blend of recycled glass mosaic tile by Oceanside.

INVINCIBLE™ H20 LUXURY VINYL PLANK from Carpet One Floor & Home is a breakthrough in flooring, giving you waterproof protection, outstanding durability, and high-end handcrafted designer looks. We love how the wicker material in the bar stools ties together the light color of the cabinetry with the deeper warm color of the hardwood flooring.

The countertop is a local Northwest product called Trinity. It is made from recycled glass and low-carbon cement. The square, undermount sink is by Kohler. The wall-mounted faucet makes cleaning the countertop a breeze. * Tom Marks: http://www.tommarksphoto.com/

Example of a trendy bedroom design in Salt Lake City

Chrome towel bar by Grohe. The vanity storage and upper cabinets on the other side of the bathroom negate the need for an additional towel rack on this wall.

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Bob Ganser AIA, Nate Dodge Photographer: Alyssa Lee www.alyssaleephotography.com
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

The gleaming, wall-mounted faucet by Fortis makes a modern statement, contrasting with the rustic appeal of the tile.
Trendy bathroom photo in Seattle

Chrome hardware adds a hint of shine, contrasting and accenting the bathroom’s more natural textures.
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Seattle

The original bathroom had been severely water-damaged. The shower is now clean and fresh with white tile by Villeroy & Boch. Handshower by Kohler.
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Seattle

Materials, textures, and colors throughout the bathroom reflect a modern, yet natural vibe.
Trendy bathroom photo in Seattle