Elegant eat-in kitchen photo in New York with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

Mid-century modern living room with open plan and floor to ceiling windows for indoor-outdoor ambiance, redwood paneled walls, exposed wood beam ceiling, wood flooring and mid-century modern style furniture, in Berkeley, California. - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

The builder, Stellar Blu, wanted something a little different for this Parade of Homes home but Wake Forest can be a tricky market and so it was important to maintain marketability. We chose to use leaded glass, LED in cabinet lighting and other subtile features to create a timeless design. Photo by Tad Davis Photography

Cottage by Marth's Vieyard Interior Design, Liz Stiving Nichols, designer, photographs by Eric Roth
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Boston with white walls

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless master ceramic tile and gray floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Photo by Reid Rolls
Transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Nashville with shaker cabinets, white cabinets and an island

Patio - transitional patio idea in Dallas

Rebekah Myers, Poggenpohl Florida West + Florida Designer Cabinetry
Inspiration for a transitional galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a classic dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Dallas with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stone slab backsplash

This six-bedroom home — all with en-suite bathrooms — is a brand new home on one of Lincoln Park's most desirable streets. The neo-Georgian, brick and limestone façade features well-crafted detailing both inside and out. The lower recreation level is expansive, with 9-foot ceilings throughout. The first floor houses elegant living and dining areas, as well as a large kitchen with attached great room, and the second floor holds an expansive master suite with a spa bath and vast walk-in closets. A grand, elliptical staircase ascends throughout the home, concluding in a sunlit penthouse providing access to an expansive roof deck and sweeping views of the city.. Nathan Kirkman

Minimalist Mountainside Mark Boisclair Photography
Trendy black tile bathroom photo in Phoenix with an integrated sink

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives' Starry Lights fixture gives the illusion of many string lights with just one fixture. Seen here in blue, the tree shines with hundreds of LED light bursts. Great for the holidays or just to dress up your backyard, the Starry Lights fixture can be used for numerous installations.

This rustic-style home brings the soul of the cabin to the modern age. Natural elements of different kinds integrate seamlessly, the marble wall against the natural wood beam looks especially well done.

Scott DuBose
Example of a transitional kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and matchstick tile backsplash

This traditional kitchen was inspired by memories of the owners farmhouse kitchen, Photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and an island

Transitional l-shaped kitchen photo in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

This white kitchen is grounded by the dark espresso island. Carrara marble island with wine storage on the side create a beautiful contrast to the white cabinets with the silestone grey countertops and herringbone backsplash tile. This kithchen renovation included the removal of a load bearing wall to open it up and make it feel bright and airy.

Photo by Ted Knude
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional ceramic tile, black tile and gray tile ceramic tile and gray floor powder room remodel in Calgary with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops and white countertops