Making Spaces
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized contemporary dark wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Other with yellow walls

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This family from Wheaton was ready to remodel their kitchen, dining room and powder room. The project didn’t call for any structural or space planning changes but the makeover still had a massive impact on their home. The homeowners wanted to change their dated 1990’s brown speckled granite and light maple kitchen. They liked the welcoming feeling they got from the wood and warm tones in their current kitchen, but this style clashed with their vision of a deVOL type kitchen, a London-based furniture company. Their inspiration came from the country homes of the UK that mix the warmth of traditional detail with clean lines and modern updates. To create their vision, we started with all new framed cabinets with a modified overlay painted in beautiful, understated colors. Our clients were adamant about “no white cabinets.” Instead we used an oyster color for the perimeter and a custom color match to a specific shade of green chosen by the homeowner. The use of a simple color pallet reduces the visual noise and allows the space to feel open and welcoming. We also painted the trim above the cabinets the same color to make the cabinets look taller. The room trim was painted a bright clean white to match the ceiling. In true English fashion our clients are not coffee drinkers, but they LOVE tea. We created a tea station for them where they can prepare and serve tea. We added plenty of glass to showcase their tea mugs and adapted the cabinetry below to accommodate storage for their tea items. Function is also key for the English kitchen and the homeowners. They requested a deep farmhouse sink and a cabinet devoted to their heavy mixer because they bake a lot. We then got rid of the stovetop on the island and wall oven and replaced both of them with a range located against the far wall. This gives them plenty of space on the island to roll out dough and prepare any number of baked goods. We then removed the bifold pantry doors and created custom built-ins with plenty of usable storage for all their cooking and baking needs. The client wanted a big change to the dining room but still wanted to use their own furniture and rug. We installed a toile-like wallpaper on the top half of the room and supported it with white wainscot paneling. We also changed out the light fixture, showing us once again that small changes can have a big impact. As the final touch, we also re-did the powder room to be in line with the rest of the first floor. We had the new vanity painted in the same oyster color as the kitchen cabinets and then covered the walls in a whimsical patterned wallpaper. Although the homeowners like subtle neutral colors they were willing to go a bit bold in the powder room for something unexpected. For more design inspiration go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Playrooms are all about FUN! When we started this room was a family theatre room. With baby number three on the way, and two twins already on board, it was important for this family to have a space for the children to do what children do best…. PLAY! Children prefer bright colors from an early age because their eyes are not fully developed yet. They perceive these colors better than fainter shades. Brighter colors and high contrasting colors stand out more in their field of vision; this is why we see so many primary brightly colored children’s toys. I wanted to set a stage where we didn’t feel like we constantly needed to clean up. We wanted to design a room that allowed you to live a realistic life over the design layer. I love how the children’s toys don’t clash with our playful rug. We customized large built ins underneath the windows seats to provide ample storage for large toys, and a space to sit and read. We framed out an existing book case, and wired two adjustable one arm wall lamps above. The added shiplap to the back of the bookcase provided texture, dimension and interest to an ordinary bookcase. The Adjustable one arm wall lamps are available at www.AlexandraLauren.com and the Sputnick Ceiling fixture is from Wayfair.com. We framed the window with two natural woven sideboards in black for additional toy storage. The Root Coffee table was one of my favorite features of this room. I loved bringing in a natural elements through woven doors on cabinets, a natural root coffee table, shiplap and floating natural wood shelving. I chose to do Benjamin Moore Simply White on the shiplap. It's a modern, bright, yet warm white, that absorbs and reflects beautifully on both wood and walls.

Killing two birds with one stone, having the bathroom and laundry area in one space somehow makes sense, since you typically leave your hamper inside the bathroom or somewhere close to it. Function and aesthetics don't have to clash. When the washing machines are not in use, you can just slide the door closed to hide them away. Plants are an appealing and functional way to decorate the room. They're pretty and function as a deodorizer - just make sure that the plant you choose can actually live and thrive in the room you put it in!

The rugs of the Juno collection have all the practicality of a rug that is 100% polypropylene without losing any of the remarkability of a traditional design. The polypropylene composition of these rugs makes them highly durable and shed-resistant, while the beautiful classic designs make them add elegance to any space.

Mid-sized elegant medium tone wood floor living room photo in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

Nice outdoor escape in Camp Mabry area Austin Texas
Deck - craftsman deck idea in Austin

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Austin

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage u-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Bridgeport with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, cement tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Deck - large transitional backyard deck idea in Austin

Key Needs: The clients want to combine modern and traditional design elements to create a cohesive and visually striking living space. Key Problems: The challenge was to find a balance between the two styles and to ensure that they complemented each other without clashing. Workflow: The design team carefully selected furnishings, fabrics, and decor accents that bridged the gap between modern and traditional styles. They also focused on creating a harmonious color scheme that tied the different design elements together. Result: The final design seamlessly integrated modern and traditional pieces to create a unique and personalized living space that reflected the clients' tastes and preferences. Experience the revolution in interior design creation with Arhist.com Check it out now and get a 14-day free trial to see for yourself!

Example of a trendy home design design in Austin

Andrea Paquette, ISRP
Inspiration for a small transitional medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in Boston with green walls and no fireplace

Transitional pool photo in Austin

Example of a small country l-shaped enclosed kitchen design in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a contemporary beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom remodel in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

Luxury backyard design for a residence. The expansive design included amenities such as an outdoor patio space with a barbecue counter, swimming pool and spa, and gazebo and pond. The design combines both traditional and contemporary aspects next to each other without clashing. The owners are able to immediately view the contemporary outdoor space with the barbecue, swimming pool, and spa. The traditional Chinese garden design is cleverly hidden in the corner with a gazebo surrounded by a natural pond and lush plants.

What was previously a tired and run-down old house was gutted to the studs and given a complete overhaul (including a small addition in the form of a facelift). The new front façade's varying depths lend to its multi-dimensional look. The natural tones of the clear-grade Western Red Cedar and the shaker-profiled PVC were contrasted with black sheet metal rooflines and black framed windows. An oversized ipe deck stays true to the natural toned theme, and the lavender entry door gives a splash of color-pop. Traditional rooflines and architectural touches allowed us to stand out from the homes in the neighborhood without clashing. A neatly landscaped front yard adds to the symmetry and rounds out one of the most eye-catching façades in town. photo by Fred Light

Updated Spec Home: The Bathrooms The last stop on the main level of this Updated Spec Home are the Bathrooms. Every surface of the Guest Bath and Master Bath was touched- even some renovations in the Master bedroom. All I can say is thank goodness these two love wallpaper – we selected classic patterns for each bath that will stand the test of time! Guest Bathroom The Guest Bath also doubles as my mom’s bath. The footprint remained the same but we updated everything. A new vanity was chosen to give her that furniture look while still providing some storage – although there is a linen closet located just outside the bath. We topped it off with a beautiful mirror with great detail and an equally great light fixture. Also, we mixed the finishes in the bath between nickel and champagne, i.e., gold/silver mix. Mixing metals is perfectly acceptable and quite frankly way more interesting the everything matching. Updated Spec Home Bathrooms - Robin's Nest Interiors Updated Spec Home Bathrooms - Robin's Nest Interiors We found this amazing wallpaper with its subtle colors and pattern and selected a large square tile to coordinate for the floor. Yes, you can do a large tile in a small bath because it actually makes the space feel larger. For finishing touches, we had this gorgeous shower curtain made. Above the new toilet, we added interesting abstract artwork framed in a large mat so it would not clash with the wallpaper. Master Bathroom Originally, the Master Bath had a large garden tub as the focal point and a tiny stand up shower in the corner. We removed the garden tub, moved the shower to this area as the focal point and turned the tiny shower into a much needed linen closet. At this point, I know you are thinking, what about resale with no tub? There is a tub in the Guest Bath so the house will still be appealing to young families or bath lovers alike. © 2016 RealTourCast | Tim Furlong Jr. Tile selections came first – my sister fell in love with this gorgeous dark greige glass tile. We used it in the upper half of the shower while keeping the lower half light with this plank tile in a striated pattern. We carried the plank tile onto the floor for a seamless look. Updated Spec Home Bathrooms - Robin's Nest Interiors We replaced the two vanities with stock cabinetry that looks custom in a rich wood stain. Also, we found a gorgeous granite remnant for the countertop and finished off the vanity area with oversized mirrors, sleek lighting, and striking hardware.Updated Spec Home Bathrooms - Robin's Nest Interiors The wallpaper is absolutely perfect for this space – it adds an interesting backdrop without overpowering the room. Her fantastic artwork was able to fit in the niche next to the new toilet. This is one gorgeous bath! Updated Spec Home Bathrooms - Robin's Nest Interiors Coming Soon Spoiler Alert – my mom and sister have decided to update their Basement Family Room and add a small Powder Bath so look for Season 2 of the Updated Spec Home series! See the rest of this house through these links! Foyer & Great Room, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Bedrooms, Guest Bedroom.