The design concept balances a fine line between modern masculinity and feminine elegance. Mixing metals and materials were key to achieving a timeless aesthetic throughout the room. Walnut butcher block table supported on a custom Brass leg frame. Watermark Faucet Brass Hardware Downsview Hood House Brand Cabinetry Visual Comfort Lights Monogram Appliances Sink: Galley Worksattion Beveled Herringbone Clay tiles All above is supplied via Astro Design Centre Design by Astro Photo by JVL Photography Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Architecture as a Backdrop for Living™ ©2015 Carol Kurth Architecture, PC www.carolkurtharchitects.com (914) 234-2595 | Bedford, NY Photography by Peter Krupenye Construction by Legacy Construction Northeast

Birch hardwood flooring shares the qualities of other North American wood such as oak and maple but has special characteristics that make it an excellent choice for flooring in the home. Birch has a Janka rating close to that of red oak - allowing for a great alternative to the standard, and the color variation from light to dark with natural highlights is likely to appeal to many decorators and home owners.

This project combines high end earthy elements with elegant, modern furnishings. We wanted to re invent the beach house concept and create an home which is not your typical coastal retreat. By combining stronger colors and textures, we gave the spaces a bolder and more permanent feel. Yet, as you travel through each room, you can't help but feel invited and at home.

Thrilling shadows, stunning texture. The all-new Terra Cut manufactured stone collection is a ProVia exclusive that embodies key characteristics of weatherworn, coarse-grained, and coral style stones. This one-of-a-kind manufactured stone profile creates a striking appearance through a sensational amount of texture within each stone, as well as multiple dimensions from stone to stone.

The somewhat modest size of this beautiful back garden does not keep it from fulfilling numerous duties for this active family. Closest to the house itself are a screened sitting porch and a large outdoor dining area. One passes through antique wrought-iron gates to transition from the upper patios to the lawn area, separating the house from the pool. Slabs of Pennsylvania flagstone create a walkway through the lawn and around the swimming pool. Synthetic turf was selected for this project, in order to minimize maintenance issues and to ensure perfect grass at all times. The covered, open-air pavilion directly adjacent the pool is constructed with hand-carved posts and beams. The concrete floor of the pavilion is stained to coordinate with the Pennsylvania flagstone decks. Housing the outdoor kitchen and bar area, as well as a TV sitting area, this poolside pavilion has become the favorite hang-out for the client's teenagers and their friends. Although our client wanted a curved line, natural pool, they wanted a bit of a modernized version, and something a bit more refined. One way we achieved this was by using long, sweeping curves around the perimeter of the pool, with hand-cut, and slightly chiseled, Oklahoma flagstone coping. Next, rather than using the typical boulders for the retaining wall, we set Oklahoma stone in an irregular flagstone pattern with butt-joints so that no mortar shows. The walls are capped with the same Oklahoma flagstone as is used on the coping. The spa is tucked in the back corner of the garden, and raised 20" above the pool. The spillway from the spa is created using a combination of long slab boulders along with smaller boulders, to create a gentle, natural waterfall to the pool. Further refinement is shown in neatly trimmed appearance of the synthetic turf between the large slabs of Pennsylvania stone that create the pool deck.

Inspiration for a 1950s brown two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Boston with a hip roof

Collection: Light Weight Mother of Pearl Tile Material: Seashell Color: Natural White, majority chips are white, with small percentage of natural yellow and minimun natural grey; overall is white Surface Finish: Glossy, easy for cleaning Shape: Subway Size: 12 x 12 In.305*305mm Chip Size: 3/5 x 1-1/6 In.15*30mm Thickness: 2mm Detailed Description: Each sheet of this tile is approximately 1 sq ft per sheet and is mesh mounted on high quality fiber glass for easy installation of your mosaic tile projects. Application: Mother of Pearl mosaic tiles are impervious to the elements, thus it is great for both interior and exterior use so moisture is not an issue. Mother of Pearl mosaic tiles are great on floors and walls and have been most popular in bathrooms, spas, kitchen backsplash, wall facades and pools as well as a variety of other applications. Characteristics: The mother of pearl mosaic tile has a zero water absorption rate, and this tile exceeds ANSI standards for water absorption for mosaic tile. It is strong, durable, contamination free, and only the best quality tiles are selected as our tiles are inspected for blemishes before shipment. Brand Name: Home Elements Manufacturer: Home Elements,Inc. This manufacturer has the biggest selections of glass mosaic tiles. Disclaimer: Mother of pearl tile, also called shell tile or shell mosaic tile, is 100% natural and green products made of natural shell, polished and processed by hands. The color variation and occasionally small size variation naturally exist from chip to chip, from sheet to sheet, from job to job. However, the overall sizes are consistent and will NOT have any negative impact on installation; on the contrary, some small variations on sizes reflect the nature of the products thus making your wall or floor tiling project a more natural one. Also, the color variation caused by different computer screen or browser exists from different pc screens. Therefore, the possible color/size variations between the mother of pearl tile sample and actual shipment or the product color shown on the screen and actual shipment should not be considered as quality issues.

The design for the dining room was inspired by the selected Meroni Francesca furnishings. The wall treatment, chair rail, and wainscoting all echo decorative flourishes and Trompe L’oeil found in the table and cabinetry. The chandelier is Schonbek; the rug is an antique Tabriz with broad color variation complimenting the white and honey onyx floor.

Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped concrete floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen idea in Vancouver with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Vibrant Succulents: With thousands of succulents and cacti to choose from, selection is about color, texture, and dimension.
Design ideas for a large southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun side yard stone garden path in San Diego.

Tom Grimes
Mid-sized elegant u-shaped limestone floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, beige backsplash, terra-cotta backsplash, white appliances, an island and white countertops

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

The Ventura Hardwood Floors Collection with our NuOil® Finish from Hallmark Hardwoods is finished with NuOil® which employs a revolutionary new technology. The finish has unique performance characteristics and durability that make it a great choice for someone who wants the visual character that only oil can provide. Oil finishes have been used for centuries on floors and furniture. NuOil® uses proprietary technology in the application of numerous coats of oil finish in the factory that make it the industry leader in wear-ability and stain resistance in oil finish. Due to the unique hybrid multi-coat technology of NuOil®, it is not necessary to apply an additional coat of oil at time of installation. That can be reserved for a later date when it becomes desirable to refresh and renovate the floor. Simply Better…Discover Why. http://hallmarkfloors.com/ventura-hardwood-collection/

Southern Beach Getaway in WaterColor Private Residence / WaterColor, Florida Architect: Geoff Chick & Associates Builder: Chris Clark Construction The E. F. San Juan team collaborated closely with architect Geoff Chick, builder Chris Clark, interior designer Allyson Runnels, and the homeowners to bring their design vision to reality. This included custom interior and exterior millwork, pecky cypress ceilings in various rooms of the home, different types of wall and ceiling paneling in each upstairs bedroom, custom pecky cypress barn doors and beams in the master suite, Euro-Wall doors in the living area, Weather Shield windows and doors throughout, Georgia pine porch ceilings, and Ipe porch flooring. Challenges: Allyson and the homeowners wanted each of the children’s upstairs bedrooms to have unique features, and we addressed this from a millwork perspective by producing different types of wall and ceiling paneling for each of these rooms. The homeowners also loved the look of pecky cypress and wanted to see this unique type of wood featured as a highlight throughout the home. Solution: In the main living area and kitchen, the coffered ceiling presents pecky cypress stained gray to accent the tiled wall of the kitchen. In the adjoining hallway, the pecky cypress ceiling is lightly pickled white to make a subtle contrast with the surrounding white paneled walls and trim. The master bedroom has two beautiful large pecky cypress barn doors and several large pecky cypress beams that give it a cozy, rustic yet Southern coastal feel. Off the master bedroom is a sitting/TV room featuring a pecky cypress ceiling in a stunning rectangular, concentric pattern that was expertly installed by Edgar Lara and his skilled team of finish carpenters. We also provided twelve-foot-high floor-to-ceiling Euro-Wall Systems doors in the living area that lend to the bright and airy feel of this space, as do the Weather Shield windows and doors that were used throughout the home. Finally, the porches’ rich, South Georgia pine ceilings and chatoyant Ipe floors create a warm contrast to the bright walls, columns, and railings of these comfortable outdoor spaces. The result is an overall stunning home that exhibits all the best characteristics of the WaterColor community while standing out with countless unique custom features. --- Photography by Jack Gardner

Photo: Alexandra Crafton © 2017 Houzz
Eclectic living room photo in Seattle

Photo: Faith Towers © 2016 Houzz
Living room - farmhouse living room idea in Boston

Low-maintenance side yard with gravel pathway and lined by Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' (Upright Hornbeam).
This is an example of a small modern full sun side yard gravel landscaping in Other.