jeff herr photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional white tile bathroom design in Atlanta with multicolored walls

Par Bengtsson Photography
Example of a small vertical balcony garden design in Dallas with a roof extension

Lance Parker
Inspiration for a mid-sized asian entryway remodel in Orange County with a glass front door

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic backyard deck remodel in New York with no cover

The industrious clients came to us with dreams of a new garage structure to provide a home for all of their passions. The design came together around a three car garage with room for a micro-brewery, workshop and bicycle storage – all attached to the house via a new three season porch – and a native prairie landscape and sauna structure on the roof. Designed by Jody McGuire Photographed by Corey Gaffer

Nancy Neil
Small trendy powder room photo in Santa Barbara with beige walls and a pedestal sink

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Small eclectic medium tone wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace, white walls and no tv

Transitional white tile marble floor freestanding bathtub photo in Los Angeles with white cabinets and an undermount sink

Landscape, hardscape and furniture selection by Topsy Design. We are a full service studio that can transform the inside and outside of your home.
Mid-sized eclectic backyard stone patio photo in Los Angeles with no cover

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Photo: Lauren Andersen © 2018 Houzz Design: Mead Quin Design Plants: Living Green Design
This is an example of a mediterranean landscaping in San Francisco.

Inspiration for a transitional enclosed living room remodel in Los Angeles

Michael Moran
Example of a trendy white floor hallway design in DC Metro with white walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Family room - shabby-chic style dark wood floor family room idea in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Erin Lau
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

jeff herr photography
Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Atlanta

Design ideas for a modern landscaping in Los Angeles.

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Austin

Laura Christin Photography
Eclectic master bedroom photo in San Diego with white walls