Craftsman style house opens up for better connection and more contemporary living. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dinning room and reconfiguring the stair layout allowed for more usable space and better circulation through the home. The double dormer addition upstairs allowed for a true Master Suite, complete with steam shower! Photo: Pete Eckert

Inspiration for a coastal family room remodel in Atlanta with white walls, a stone fireplace, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The original kitchen layout was disjointed and created a zig-zag traffic flow that disrupted the work triangle. The efficient layout of the new kitchen provides improved circulation, ample counter space, as well as island seating.

Ross Van Pelt
Mid-sized minimalist master white tile and porcelain tile japanese bathtub photo in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

2014 Chrysalis Award Winner: Bathroom over $60,000. Open and airy with fir trellis defining bathing and vanity areas, this master suite was expanded into the adjacent guest bath.

Trendy light wood floor bedroom photo in Miami with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized classic courtyard brick patio fountain design with a pergola

Photography by Emily Minton Redfield
Huge cottage light wood floor bedroom photo in Denver with white walls

Family room - huge coastal open concept gray floor family room idea

Family room - contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor family room idea with blue walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mid-sized classic dark wood floor hallway design in Denver with gray walls

Inspiration for a small contemporary kitchen remodel with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

New mudroom provides an indoor link from the garage to the kitchen and features a wall of storage cabinets. New doorways were created to provide an axis of circulation along the back of the house. Photo by Allen Russ

Patio - traditional patio idea in Richmond

Complete renovation of a 1930's classical townhouse kitchen in New York City's Upper East Side.
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel countertops, multicolored backsplash, cement tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Pineapple House employed windows and doors that could remain open to circulate fresh air. Solar heat and intensity of natural light is regulated by door and window treatments integrated into the perimeter molding in primary rooms. They stack back in the corners and almost "disappear" when they aren't needed. Daniel Newcomb Photography

This family room is open to the kitchen and breakfast nook. The Global Views peacock pattern area rug introduces the vibrant green and turquoise tones used throughout the space. Geometric blue and white lounge chairs play on the pattern of the area rug and the bookshelf wallpaper. Wallpapering the backs of your bookshelves adds an extra layer of style. The drapery fabric is the same as the kitchen roman shades to create cohesion between the spaces. Photography: Vivian Johnson

Resting upon a 120-acre rural hillside, this 17,500 square-foot residence has unencumbered mountain views to the east, south and west. The exterior design palette for the public side is a more formal Tudor style of architecture, including intricate brick detailing; while the materials for the private side tend toward a more casual mountain-home style of architecture with a natural stone base and hand-cut wood siding. Primary living spaces and the master bedroom suite, are located on the main level, with guest accommodations on the upper floor of the main house and upper floor of the garage. The interior material palette was carefully chosen to match the stunning collection of antique furniture and artifacts, gathered from around the country. From the elegant kitchen to the cozy screened porch, this residence captures the beauty of the White Mountains and embodies classic New Hampshire living. Photographer: Joseph St. Pierre