Lighten, brighten and open up the space were the goals of this first floor renovation on Chicago's North Shore.
Large transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Chicago with an island, an undermount sink, paneled appliances, gray countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash and glass tile backsplash

One small window, faux woodgrain cabinets and lots of doors made this closed-off Arlington kitchen feel dark and drab, the total opposite of the vibrant young family of four that lives here. To brighten and open up the small kitchen, we removed the wall separating the dining room, expanded the window above the sink and installed a French door to let even more light in from an adjoining sun room. Light now pours into the kitchen, making it feel welcoming, airy and bright. To accommodate the expanded kitchen, we removed a hulking set of built-ins from the dining room which provided two extra feet to work with. The larger footprint allowed us to relocate major appliances and provide a generous amount of storage and prep space including a food safe butcher block to the right of the range. Natural wood elements such as the chopping block, reclaimed shelves and beautiful new floors add character and warmth to the all-white kitchen. One of the must-haves in this renovation was a farmhouse sink which is a great way to maximize function when a smaller sink base is used. We opted to take the tile backsplash all the way to the ceiling along the window wall, creating a more polished look with the added bonus of making the ceiling feel taller. The subway tiles’ subtle texture adds depth to the simple white-on-white motif and the change to a herringbone pattern behind the range adds visual interest without feeling too busy. A crisp white backdrop is perfect for adding pops of color with dishware, accessories and the family’s vintage stand mixer. The newly renovated kitchen-dining area is much better suited for this family’s active lifestyle and the updated design now complements the rest of their stylish home. Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Tessa Neustadt
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Tague Design Showroom & Jay Greene Photography
Home office - large traditional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office idea in Philadelphia with a standard fireplace and brown walls

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We remodeled this 5,400-square foot, 3-story home on ’s Second Street to give it a more current feel, with cleaner lines and textures. The result is more and less Old World Europe, which is exactly what we were going for. We worked with much of the client’s existing furniture, which has a southern flavor, compliments of its former South Carolina home. This was an additional challenge, because we had to integrate a variety of influences in an intentional and cohesive way. We painted nearly every surface white in the 5-bed, 6-bath home, and added light-colored window treatments, which brightened and opened the space. Additionally, we replaced all the light fixtures for a more integrated aesthetic. Well-selected accessories help pull the space together, infusing a consistent sense of peace and comfort.

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Traditional Black & White Kitchen in Norwalk, CT Large kitchen area with open space and dining area. Large kitchen island by the window and black cabinetry lining the wall of the kitchen. Under cabinet lighting brightens up the white backsplash and the white walls give it an open, airy feeling. #traditionalkitchen #transitionalkitchen #blackandwhitekitchen #island

In the master bedroom, we decided to paint the original ceiling to brighten the space. The doors are custom designed to match the living room. There are sliding screens that pocket into the wall.

This covered patio in a high-rise apartment building has three areas, designated by area rugs. Outdoor furniture, durable, bright accessories and container plants brighten up this corner of the city. Sean Litchfield Photography

Stylophorum Diphyllum / Celandine Poppy Photo: wplynn, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic
This is an example of a landscaping in Other.

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A contemporary, Mid-Century Modern kitchen refresh with gorgeous high-gloss white and walnut wood cabinetry paired with bright, red accents. The flooring is a beautifully speckled Terrazzo tile. Open shelving against a reclaimed brick backsplash is brightened up with recessed lighting. Our designer, Mackenzie Cain, created this truly unique kitchen for these stylish homeowners.

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2017 Houzz Design team: Dana Triano Designs Laundry Room
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David Duncan Livingston For this ground up project in one of Lafayette’s most prized neighborhoods, we brought an East Coast sensibility to this West Coast residence. Honoring the client’s love of classical interiors, we layered the traditional architecture with a crisp contrast of saturated colors, clean moldings and refined white marble. In the living room, tailored furnishings are punctuated by modern accents, bespoke draperies and jewelry like sconces. Built-in custom cabinetry, lasting finishes and indoor/outdoor fabrics were used throughout to create a fresh, elegant yet livable home for this active family of five.

The steps of the staircase are mirrored by the horizontal ledges of the wall. Moroccan lamps light up the base of the staircase.
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Chris Rollett
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