Example of a minimalist master concrete floor drop-in bathtub design in San Francisco with white walls, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets and a trough sink

When we imagine the homes of our favorite actors, we often think of picturesque kitchens, artwork hanging on the walls, luxurious furniture, and pristine conditions 24/7. But for celebrities with children, sometimes that last one isn’t always accurate! Kids will be kids – which means there may be messy bedrooms, toys strewn across their play area, and maybe even some crayon marks or finger-paints on walls or floors. Lucy Liu recently partnered with One Kings Lane and Paintzen to redesign her son Rockwell’s playroom in their Manhattan apartment for that reason. Previously, Lucy had decided not to focus too much on the layout or color of the space – it was simply a room to hold all of Rockwell’s toys. There wasn’t much of a design element to it and very little storage. Lucy was ready to change that – and transform the room into something more sophisticated and tranquil for both Rockwell and for guests (especially those with kids!). And to really bring that transformation to life, one of the things that needed to change was the lack of color and texture on the walls. When selecting the color palette, Lucy and One Kings Lane designer Nicole Fisher decided on a more neutral, contemporary style. They chose to avoid the primary colors, which are too often utilized in children’s rooms and playrooms. Instead, they chose to have Paintzen paint the walls in a cozy gray with warm beige undertones. (Try PPG ‘Slate Pebble’ for a similar look!) It created a perfect backdrop for the decor selected for the room, which included a tepee for Rockwell, some Tribal-inspired artwork, Moroccan woven baskets, and some framed artwork. To add texture to the space, Paintzen also installed wallpaper on two of the walls. The wallpaper pattern involved muted blues and grays to add subtle color and a slight contrast to the rest of the walls. Take a closer look at this smartly designed space, featuring a beautiful neutral color palette and lots of exciting textures!

Jesse Snyder
Family room - mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room idea in DC Metro with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Transitional family room is tranquil and inviting The blue walls with luscious furnishings make it very cozy. The gold drum chandelier and gold accents makes this room very sophisticated. The decorative pillows adds pop of colors with the custom area rug. The patterns in the custom area rug and pillows, along with the blue walls makes it all balance. The off white rustic console adds flare and a perfect size for large Media wall T.V. The gold console lamps frames the Media center perfect. The gold floor lamps, and and gold chandelier brings a contemporary style into this space. The Large square ottoman in a neutral grey offsetting the carpet color makes it nice to prop up your feet. The gold drink tables in quite trendy and so functional and practical.

Mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room photo in New York with gray walls, a wall-mounted tv, no fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Mid-century modern backyard concrete patio photo in Denver with a pergola

A serene, spa-inspired bathroom that blends natural light, organic textures, and understated luxury. A freestanding soaking tub, airy glass shower, and custom double vanity are complemented by soft neutrals, botanical details, and a sculptural driftwood fixture- creating a calm, nature - connected retreat.

A Big Chill Retro refrigerator and dishwasher in mint green add cool color to the space.
Kitchen - small country l-shaped terra-cotta tile and orange floor kitchen idea in Miami with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, colored appliances and an island

Photo by: Leonid Furmansky
Kitchen - small transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and orange floor kitchen idea in Austin with an undermount sink, soapstone countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, shaker cabinets and blue cabinets

Small modern apartments benefit from a less is more design approach. To maximize space in this living room we used a rug with optical widening properties and wrapped a gallery wall around the seating area. Ottomans give extra seating when armchairs are too big for the space.

This home in the upscale Dominion area was completely transformed from an outdated rustic interior to a fresh and modern space! The kitchen has an upgraded island with Taj Mahal waterfall panels and mitered edges, similar to the rest of the kitchen Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash. The existing perimeter cabinets in the kitchen were painted a classic white lacquer finish. A new dual finish Blue Star vent hood was installed, along with gorgeous matching brass knobs and faucets. The kitchen flooring is white oak herringbone pattern hardwood which flows throughout the house. The entryway has a brand new iron pivot door making for a seamless transition into the home. This homeowner's guest bathroom was completely gutted and replaced with a quartz countertop, wainscoting dolomite tile on bathroom walls, and mother of pearl floor tile. The connecting guest bedroom was completely repainted and given a brand new look with bright blue and white wallpaper. The powder room is to die for, with gold and black accents, a gorgeous new moss green vanity, and a black quartzite countertop with an golden under-mount sink. Lastly, we completed the home bar area, installing a antiqued backsplash and custom lit floating shelves, perfect for keeping the homeowner's liquor of choice. It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

White beach kitchen with lots of texture and open shelving in Avalon, NJ light fixture from made goods
Example of a beach style dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

The main bath was remodeled and updated with the kids in mind. All new trims, baseboards, doors and flooring. Bruce Damonte Photography
Inspiration for a mid-century modern kids' white tile bathroom remodel in San Francisco with a vessel sink and green cabinets

Boston Home Magazine
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

richard leo johnson/atlantic archives
Family room - eclectic medium tone wood floor family room idea in Atlanta with white walls

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

Transitional kids' room photo in Houston

Mid-sized trendy attached two-car garage photo in Charleston

The new-construction house in Bethesda, Maryland, had lovely millwork, including coffered ceilings, wainscoting, crown moldings and tall baseboards. But it lacked our clients' personality and style that reflected their Southern roots and love of coastal settings. We incorporated elements like wallpaper, paint and furnishings and without having to remodel, which made a huge transformation for this home and family of six. There is a varying but also consistent blue and white theme throughout the home from navy to slate, interspersed with cheerful patterns through the throw pillows and accent fabrics, as well as bold colors in the drapery and custom sitting room built-ins. There are also coastal vibes make an appearance through several paintings, woven grass shade, jute area rugs, and driftwood finishes, to create a light and breezy organic feel.