A large and bright master bedroom turns into a relaxing retreat, with a luxurious gold speckled custom bed by Kirstin Dorhan, wall to wall off white and grey carpeting, a custom window bench and reading nook and new dark grey gained marble in the gas burning fireplace. The room is painted in Benjamin Moore's Delary Grey and adorn coordinating custom roman shades by the shade store. photography by Hulya Kolabas

Mainframe Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The primary bedroom suite in this mountain modern home is the picture of comfort and luxury. The striking wallpaper was selected to represent the textures of a rocky mountain's layers when it is split into. The earthy colors in the wallpaper--blue grays, rusts, tans and creams--make up the restful color scheme of the room. Textural bedding and upholstery fabrics add warmth and interest. The upholstered channel-back bed is flanked with woven sisal nightstands and substantial alabaster bedside lamps. On the opposite side of the room, a velvet swivel chair and oversized artwork add additional color and warmth. The home's striking windows feature remote control privacy shades to block out light for sleeping. The stone disk chandelier repeats the alabaster element in the room and adds a finishing touch of elegance to this inviting suite.

photo by Michael J. Lee
Example of a classic formal living room design in Boston with gray walls

We turned an old 3 season porch in to an airy, bright mudroom/sunroom. 3 generous size cubbies were tucked in to one corner. In another corner we installed cabinets for storage under window set. Rest of the space is good for play time, hang out, etc. Next spring the French Doors will lead out on to a new composite deck for entertaining. It will be a nice open concept from kitchen, through mud/sunroom and out to a large deck for entertaining.

White lacquered built-in window seat bench with dual pillar storage, stacked to ceiling crown moulding, oversized drawers and hidden emergency fire escape roll-out window ladder.

Built-in cabinetry creates cozy window seat and extra storage in the bedroom. Tall cabinetry includes shelves & drawers as well as drawers below window seat. Crown at cabinetry continues around room to complete the built-in look. Framed cabinet door style adds to the built-in furniture look.

breakfast room, built-in bench, wall of windows, 2 over four windows, board and batten, farmhouse table, windsor chair,
Country dining room photo in DC Metro

The owner's entry mudroom features a generous built-in bench with coat hooks and beautiful travertine flooring. Photo by Mike Kaskel
Large elegant limestone floor and beige floor entryway photo in Milwaukee with white walls and a dark wood front door

Handmade, Rookwood tile with glazed edges provide a clean transition the shower wall. A new transom window over the vanity provides extra light and openness to the space.

Custom built and designed window seat. Both beautiful and functional. Cushion on seat designed by Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, LLC
Trendy dining room photo in Detroit

Forget just one room with a view—Lochley has almost an entire house dedicated to capturing nature’s best views and vistas. Make the most of a waterside or lakefront lot in this economical yet elegant floor plan, which was tailored to fit a narrow lot and has more than 1,600 square feet of main floor living space as well as almost as much on its upper and lower levels. A dovecote over the garage, multiple peaks and interesting roof lines greet guests at the street side, where a pergola over the front door provides a warm welcome and fitting intro to the interesting design. Other exterior features include trusses and transoms over multiple windows, siding, shutters and stone accents throughout the home’s three stories. The water side includes a lower-level walkout, a lower patio, an upper enclosed porch and walls of windows, all designed to take full advantage of the sun-filled site. The floor plan is all about relaxation – the kitchen includes an oversized island designed for gathering family and friends, a u-shaped butler’s pantry with a convenient second sink, while the nearby great room has built-ins and a central natural fireplace. Distinctive details include decorative wood beams in the living and kitchen areas, a dining area with sloped ceiling and decorative trusses and built-in window seat, and another window seat with built-in storage in the den, perfect for relaxing or using as a home office. A first-floor laundry and space for future elevator make it as convenient as attractive. Upstairs, an additional 1,200 square feet of living space include a master bedroom suite with a sloped 13-foot ceiling with decorative trusses and a corner natural fireplace, a master bath with two sinks and a large walk-in closet with built-in bench near the window. Also included is are two additional bedrooms and access to a third-floor loft, which could functions as a third bedroom if needed. Two more bedrooms with walk-in closets and a bath are found in the 1,300-square foot lower level, which also includes a secondary kitchen with bar, a fitness room overlooking the lake, a recreation/family room with built-in TV and a wine bar perfect for toasting the beautiful view beyond.

Douglas VanderHorn Architects From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

Open Concept Nook
Example of a large transitional dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design in San Francisco with gray walls and no fireplace

Bench seating under the window.
Inspiration for a large transitional guest dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Toronto with white walls and no fireplace

When our client came to us, she was stumped with how to turn her small living room into a cozy, useable family room. The living room and dining room blended together in a long and skinny open concept floor plan. It was difficult for our client to find furniture that fit the space well. It also left an awkward space between the living and dining areas that she didn’t know what to do with. She also needed help reimagining her office, which is situated right off the entry. She needed an eye-catching yet functional space to work from home. In the living room, we reimagined the fireplace surround and added built-ins so she and her family could store their large record collection, games, and books. We did a custom sofa to ensure it fits the space and maximized the seating. We added texture and pattern through accessories and balanced the sofa with two warm leather chairs. We updated the dining room furniture and added a little seating area to help connect the spaces. Now there is a permanent home for their record player and a cozy spot to curl up in when listening to music. For the office, we decided to add a pop of color, so it contrasted well with the neutral living space. The office also needed built-ins for our client’s large cookbook collection and a desk where she and her sons could rotate between work, homework, and computer games. We decided to add a bench seat to maximize space below the window and a lounge chair for additional seating.

New custom walnut bookcases flank the window on the back wall to display all of the clients books and collectibles. A reading table with mid century chairs compliments the library. Photo by Whit Preston.

This home, set at the end of a long, private driveway, is far more than meets the eye. Built in three sections and connected by two breezeways, the home’s setting takes full advantage of the clean ocean air. Set back from the water on an open plot, its lush lawn is bordered by fieldstone walls that lead to an ocean cove. The hideaway calms the mind and spirit, not only by its privacy from the noise of daily life, but through well-chosen elements, clean lines, and a bright, cheerful feel throughout. The interior is show-stopping, covered almost entirely in clear, vertical-grain fir—most of which was source from the same place. From the flooring to the walls, columns, staircases and ceiling beams, this special, tight-grain wood brightens every room in the home. At just over 3,000 feet of living area, storage and smart use of space was a huge consideration in the creation of this home. For example, the mudroom and living room were both built with expansive window seating with storage beneath. Built-in drawers and cabinets can also be found throughout, yet never interfere with the distinctly uncluttered feel of the rooms. The homeowners wanted the home to fit in as naturally as possible with the Cape Cod landscape, and also desired a feeling of virtual seamlessness between the indoors and out, resulting in an abundance of windows and doors throughout. This home has high performance windows, which are rated to withstand hurricane-force winds and impact rated against wind-borne debris. The 24-foot skylight, which was installed by crane, consists of six independently mechanized shades operating in unison. The open kitchen blends in with the home’s great room, and includes a Sub Zero refrigerator and a Wolf stove. Eco-friendly features in the home include low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets in the bathrooms, and an energy recovery ventilation system, which conditions and improves indoor air quality. Other natural materials incorporated for the home included a variety of stone, including bluestone and boulders. Hand-made ceramic tiles were used for the bathroom showers, and the kitchen counters are covered in granite – eye-catching and long-lasting.

Accenting the teal glass backsplash tile is the cozy window seat with a colorful vibrant diamond pattern. In Small spaces you need to maximize every inch. In this space a custom bench seat was made to not only cozy up and read a book but also to use as storage for bigger beach items like umbrellas and an additional air mattress! A reading light and plug were added to the wall for additional light while reading and a place to change your phone while in use. The layered patterned pillows add fun and excitement to the small corner space. With a touch of beach decor the small studio apartment does not become overwhelmed with clique items. Designed by Space Consultant Danielle Perkins @ DANIELLE Interior Design & Decor. Photography by Taylor Abeel Photography.