Best of Houzz Design & Service 2014. --Photography by Paul Dyer.
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Founded in 1975 by Gianni Tonin, the Italian modern furniture company Tonin Casa has long been viewed by European designers as one of the best interior design firms in the business, but it is only within the last five years that the company expanded their market outside Italy. As an authorized dealer of Tonin Casa contemporary furnishings, room service 360° is able to offer an extensive line of Tonin Casa designs. Tonin Casa furniture features a wide range of distinctive styles to ensure the right selection for any contemporary home. The room service 360° collection includes a broad array of chairs, nightstands, consoles, television stands, dining tables, coffee tables and mirrors. Quality materials, including an extensive use of tempered glass, mark Tonin Casa furnishings with style and sophistication. Tonin Casa modern furniture combines style and function by merging modern technology with the Italian tradition of innovative style and quality craftsmanship. Each piece complements homes styled in the modern style, yet each piece offers visual style on its own as well, with imaginative designs that are sure to add a note of distinction to any contemporary home.

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

Sweeping views of Downtown Sarasota across the Bay from Bird Key create a dramatic backdrop for this Neo-Modern renovation. Situated at the corner of a waterfront street, the original home had strong bones and great sight-lines. The owner sought to re-imagine the interiors in a more contemporary style, complementing the owner's eclectic art collection. Echt-Architects worked with the owner closely to realize this collaborative design, with the help of Interior Designer Marie Bowman, and General Contractor Nathan Cross. The spaces are opened inward toward each other, and out toward the dramatic views. Large format concrete-look porcelain tiles blend them together. A tall walnut-stained front door welcomes guests into the Living Room, with a broad custom concrete fireplace surround with tapering edges, and a soaring walnut paneled over-mantle and ceiling detail. A broad threshold overlooks the Dining area with Family Room beyond. A large, open Kitchen sits at center stage, with walnut and lacquer finishes. An elegant stair with a center stringer and wood block treads brings you upstairs to the guest suites. Beside the Family Room, a custom concrete bartop with waterfall and tapering details provides ample space for relaxation and play.

Brady Architectural Photography
Huge minimalist wooden spiral staircase photo in San Diego with wooden risers

The Glenhill house settles gracefully into a mature pine forest, its form composed as a quiet study of light, proportion, and crafted detail. A two-story residence lifted above a drive-through garage, it is designed as a sequence of framed views — each room capturing the vertical rhythm of pines, shifting daylight, and the subtle movement of the landscape. Boundaries dissolve as floor-to-ceiling glass opens living spaces to broad terraces and cantilevered balconies, allowing the forest to inhabit the interior as much as the residents inhabit the site. A finely tuned steel frame enables deep overhangs and slender structural lines, giving the house its floating clarity. These long spans soften the transition between indoors and out, casting calibrated shadows across stone floors and hand-finished wood surfaces. Every junction, from the precision-cut steel connections to the custom millwork, reflects an elevated commitment to craft. Materials are chosen not only for their beauty but for the way they register light—the warmth of timber, the quiet solidity of stone, the reflective sheen of metal. The owner’s collection of art integrates seamlessly into the architectural language. Display walls and open sightlines turn circulation paths into gallery promenades, while the garage level becomes both threshold and exhibition space for the automobile collection. At dusk, the home glows lantern-like within the pines, revealing a composition where structure, material, and nature are held in delicate balance. It is a dwelling shaped less as an object in the woods and more as a crafted extension of the forest itself. The project began with an unexpected challenge: the original lot, once selected for its beauty, became untenable when neighboring homeowners objected to the presence of a modern house. Rather than compromise the vision, the team embraced a new site, one even more deeply woven into the pine forest, and treated the change as an opportunity to refine the project’s relationship to nature and craft. Working within a densely wooded parcel required choreography as much as construction. Limited access routes, the need to preserve mature trees, and the precision demands of steel erection shaped a carefully phased process. Contractors navigated the site with restraint, placing each piece of steel like a line of poetry between trunks. The resulting frame, powerful yet minimal, was later infilled with lumber to create a hybrid system — efficient, warm, and capable of carrying cantilevers far beyond what wood alone could achieve. These extended overhangs became the project’s quiet gesture of shelter and shadow. Collaboration with the interior designer was integral to the home’s harmony. Together, the team refined material transitions so stone, wood, and metal could pass from exterior to interior with a single visual glance. Craftsmanship elevated everyday moments: concealed hardware, sculpted millwork, and the sourcing of a solid limestone soaking tub, carved from a single block, all contribute to the home’s sense of intentional calm. What emerged is a house shaped by constraint, strengthened by collaboration, and refined through an unwavering commitment to detail — an architectural refuge where complexity was transformed into clarity, and obstacles into opportunities for deeper expression. Material selection became an essential extension of the home’s design philosophy, reinforcing the crafted clarity of each space. Hand-selected stone slabs were book-matched for the fireplace and bath walls, creating veined compositions that read like natural murals. Custom- built windows, engineered with specialty-coated glazing and rigorously pressure-tested, provide both protection and extraordinary visual transparency. Above, concealed truss framing houses recessed air diffusers and hidden shades, allowing ceilings to remain quiet and uninterrupted. The horizontal planes of the flat roof are achieved with a commercial-grade membrane system, delivering the crisp, modern silhouette the design demands. At the exterior, natural stone grounds the home to its site, stitching the architecture to the forest floor and rooting the dwelling in the land from which its materials are drawn.

“Greensboro’s Grandest House” was recently selected as the 2013 ShowHouse presented by the Junior League of Greensboro and national media sponsor Traditional Home. Among the local and national design talent featured in this special fundraising event was design duo Patti Allen and Stephanie James of Furnitureland South, who transformed the estate’s patio into a classic, colorful and cozy space. Built in the early 1920s, the Adamsleigh estate is more than 15,000 square feet and covers 13.5 acres that include pools, a lake, tennis courts, a stone gazebo and a five-car garage. The 30×60 patio presented a special design challenge – the space was in disrepair and sat unevenly on a downward slope. Rising to the challenge, Patti and Stephanie partnered with Outer Space Landscapes to change the elevation of the patio in order to draw attention to the focal point and inspiration of the project: a beautiful canopy sofa by Century Furniture. The addition of 6 tons of landscaping material included Pennsylvania blue stone, pebbles, sand, cherry trees, azaleas and geraniums all blooming in the colors of the latest Sunbrella fabrics featured in the outdoor furnishings: crisp, sandy white, fuchsia and tangerine. Patti and Stephanie wanted to showcase clean and classic outdoor style with an edge of color and unexpected elements. Playful ottomans by Baker float in the space for multiple functions, adding an extra pop of color to the sophisticated setting which includes a dining table by Oscar de la Renta, organic spot tables from Phillips Collection, and daybeds and seating from Century Furniture. Combining their passion for interior spaces with signature designs, Allen and James Designs gave this outdoor space the comfort, color and style it deserved. Patti and Stephanie, co-founders of Allen and James Designs, are committed to inspire and influence unique spaces for home, work, play and relaxation. With over 25 years of experience and a dedication to client relationships, their infusion of international inspiration with style, color, texture and vision make Patti and Stephanie a creative duo capable of exceeding the expectations of any client’s design project. By forming over 400 connections with key manufactures such as Henredon, Century, Lillian August, Dovetail, Maitland Smith and Huntington House, Allen and James Designs can provide a broad range of options that virtually meet any need a client has to create their dream home.

California Closets custom pantry in Italian imported Linen finish from the Tesoro collection. Minneapolis home located in Linden Hills with built-in storage for fruits, vegetables, bulk purchases and overflow space. Baskets with canvas liners. Open drawers for cans and boxed goods. Open shelving and countertop space for larger appliances.

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

Brian Vanden Brink
Beach style alcove shower photo in Boston with a trough sink, flat-panel cabinets, concrete countertops and white walls

“Greensboro’s Grandest House” was recently selected as the 2013 ShowHouse presented by the Junior League of Greensboro and national media sponsor Traditional Home. Among the local and national design talent featured in this special fundraising event was design duo Patti Allen and Stephanie James of Furnitureland South, who transformed the estate’s patio into a classic, colorful and cozy space. Built in the early 1920s, the Adamsleigh estate is more than 15,000 square feet and covers 13.5 acres that include pools, a lake, tennis courts, a stone gazebo and a five-car garage. The 30×60 patio presented a special design challenge – the space was in disrepair and sat unevenly on a downward slope. Rising to the challenge, Patti and Stephanie partnered with Outer Space Landscapes to change the elevation of the patio in order to draw attention to the focal point and inspiration of the project: a beautiful canopy sofa by Century Furniture. The addition of 6 tons of landscaping material included Pennsylvania blue stone, pebbles, sand, cherry trees, azaleas and geraniums all blooming in the colors of the latest Sunbrella fabrics featured in the outdoor furnishings: crisp, sandy white, fuchsia and tangerine. Patti and Stephanie wanted to showcase clean and classic outdoor style with an edge of color and unexpected elements. Playful ottomans by Baker float in the space for multiple functions, adding an extra pop of color to the sophisticated setting which includes a dining table by Oscar de la Renta, organic spot tables from Phillips Collection, and daybeds and seating from Century Furniture. Combining their passion for interior spaces with signature designs, Allen and James Designs gave this outdoor space the comfort, color and style it deserved. Patti and Stephanie, co-founders of Allen and James Designs, are committed to inspire and influence unique spaces for home, work, play and relaxation. With over 25 years of experience and a dedication to client relationships, their infusion of international inspiration with style, color, texture and vision make Patti and Stephanie a creative duo capable of exceeding the expectations of any client’s design project. By forming over 400 connections with key manufactures such as Henredon, Century, Lillian August, Dovetail, Maitland Smith and Huntington House, Allen and James Designs can provide a broad range of options that virtually meet any need a client has to create their dream home.

Founded in 1975 by Gianni Tonin, the Italian modern furniture company Tonin Casa has long been viewed by European designers as one of the best interior design firms in the business, but it is only within the last five years that the company expanded their market outside Italy. As an authorized dealer of Tonin Casa contemporary furnishings, room service 360° is able to offer an extensive line of Tonin Casa designs. Tonin Casa furniture features a wide range of distinctive styles to ensure the right selection for any contemporary home. The room service 360° collection includes a broad array of chairs, nightstands, consoles, television stands, dining tables, coffee tables and mirrors. Quality materials, including an extensive use of tempered glass, mark Tonin Casa furnishings with style and sophistication. Tonin Casa modern furniture combines style and function by merging modern technology with the Italian tradition of innovative style and quality craftsmanship. Each piece complements homes styled in the modern style, yet each piece offers visual style on its own as well, with imaginative designs that are sure to add a note of distinction to any contemporary home.

With sweeping views of the Willamette river and Mt. Hood, this Atwater Place condo was designed with a balance of minimalism and livability in mind. A complete kitchen remodel brought a dark interior kitchen to the light and a full furnishings package welcomed Los Angeles transplants home to their new modern and bright residence. Our clients, a retired camera operator for both feature films and television and a producer/production manager on numerous television series including Weeds and The Middle, relocated from their traditionally-styled LA bungalow to Portland in the Summer of 2014. The couple sought a design departure from their long-term California residence and a fresh start for their new life in the South Waterfront. With only two pieces of sentimental furniture and a handful of artwork included in the plan, we set out to create a comfortable and clean-lined furnishings package complimenting the broad southeast views. Organically shaped upholstery pieces juxtaposed with angular steel and wood tables create a soft balance in the open floor plan. Several custom pieces, including a dining table designed by our studio and a custom hand-blown glass chandelier crafted by Scott Schiesel with Lightlite compliment timeless pieces from Knoll, Herman Miller, and B&B Italia. The kitchen is designed to reflect light and create brilliance in a space that is otherwise naturally dark. A material balance of stainless steel, back painted glass, quartz composite, lacquer, and mirror all play their part in creating a vibrant cooking environment. We collectively decided to forgo the traditional island pendant for a linear commercial fixture that provides tremendous light to the prep surface and creates an unexpected architectural element. The mirrored prep island creates the illusion of open space while concealing casework and wine storage on the working side of the kitchen. It is worth noting that this project was designed and installed almost entirely while our clients were still living in LA and wrapping up professional obligations and selling their home. This afforded us the tremendous opportunity to send our clients to showrooms not available in Portland to view key pieces before final specification. Textiles and finish samples were approved via mail and communication took place over e-mail, telephone, and an occasional office visit. This unique process lead to a successful result and a beautifully balanced living environment. Josh Partee Photography

Oil rubbed bronze Kohler Cruette faucet with a tumbled Picasso travertine backsplash
Example of a small classic u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Nashville with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Mix of modern and minimal concept. Lots of natural light through oversized windows, Venetian stucco pure white, and the warmth of white European oak by Lignum Elite - Ibiza (Platinum Collection). The wide plank flooring is used for the whole staircase and installed in the entrance hall with a darker border of Lignum Elite - Marbella Plus (Platinum Collection).

A complete and eclectic rear garden renovation with a creative blend of formal and natural elements. Formal lawn panel and rose garden, craftsman style wood deck and trellis, homages to Goldsworthy and Stonehenge with large boulders and a large stone cairn, several water features, a Japanese Torii gate, rock walls and steps, vegetables and herbs in containers and a new parking area paved with permeable pavers that feed an underground storage area that in turns irrigates the garden. All this blends into a diverse but cohesive garden. Designed by Charles W Bowers, Built by Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc. © Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc./Charles W. Bowers

This open master bathroom brings the blues and greens of the ocean into this Central Illinois condo. Inset style cabinets from Showplace Wood Products in the gorgeous color Reflecting Pool, along with accent tile (Daltile City Lights Series in South Beach) backsplash and broad horizontal stripe in shower carry the them throughout. The Onyx Collection vanity top with integrated sinks as well as shower base, walls, custom bench and crown moulding offer the easy maintenance without forfeiting quality and style. We love the floor to ceiling glass panels and decorative mirrors that allow light to flow and reflect in this sunny bathroom. Don't miss the custom bench and hand held shower fixture with diverter for relaxed bathing.