Kitchen opening to hallway and screened dining porch. Jeff Wolfram, photography
Kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Small beach style loft-style brown floor family room photo in Tampa with white walls

Jaime Alvarez jaimephoto.com
Inspiration for an industrial galley medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Philadelphia with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Marvin Windows
Inspiration for a transitional white one-story exterior home remodel in San Luis Obispo

Jeremy Bitterman
Bedroom - modern bedroom idea in Seattle with white walls

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Example of a large mid-century modern master white tile and glass tile ceramic tile and white floor walk-in shower design in Los Angeles with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

Corey Gaffer
Inspiration for a modern master gray floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls and an undermount sink

Paul Burk Photography
Example of a small trendy brown one-story wood house exterior design in DC Metro with a shed roof and a metal roof

Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in Little Rock with a double-bowl sink, stainless steel countertops, white backsplash, an island, flat-panel cabinets, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray cabinets

Today’s basements are much more than dark, dingy spaces or rec rooms of years ago. Because homeowners are spending more time in them, basements have evolved into lower-levels with distinctive spaces, complete with stone and marble fireplaces, sitting areas, coffee and wine bars, home theaters, over sized guest suites and bathrooms that rival some of the most luxurious resort accommodations. Gracing the lakeshore of Lake Beulah, this homes lower-level presents a beautiful opening to the deck and offers dynamic lake views. To take advantage of the home’s placement, the homeowner wanted to enhance the lower-level and provide a more rustic feel to match the home’s main level, while making the space more functional for boating equipment and easy access to the pier and lakefront. Jeff Auberger designed a seating area to transform into a theater room with a touch of a button. A hidden screen descends from the ceiling, offering a perfect place to relax after a day on the lake. Our team worked with a local company that supplies reclaimed barn board to add to the decor and finish off the new space. Using salvaged wood from a corn crib located in nearby Delavan, Jeff designed a charming area near the patio door that features two closets behind sliding barn doors and a bench nestled between the closets, providing an ideal spot to hang wet towels and store flip flops after a day of boating. The reclaimed barn board was also incorporated into built-in shelving alongside the fireplace and an accent wall in the updated kitchenette. Lastly the children in this home are fans of the Harry Potter book series, so naturally, there was a Harry Potter themed cupboard under the stairs created. This cozy reading nook features Hogwartz banners and wizarding wands that would amaze any fan of the book series.

We created a light fixture (based on Lindsay Adelman's You Make It) and had it plated copper to coordinate with the lovely copper chairs. Both metal pieces were not sealed and allow the natural patina and fingerprints to add interesting texture and warmth. The shades were of a natural material and allow light to pass through for an airy feel but diffuse it enough to avoid a harsh glare. © scott benedict | practical(ly) studios

Richard Cadan Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary light wood floor and beige floor hallway remodel in New York with white walls

Photo-Jim Westphalen
Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and open concept concrete floor and gray floor living room design in Other with white walls, a wood stove and no tv

Ron Rosenzweig
Large trendy l-shaped brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and quartz countertops

A feature wall can create a dramatic focal point in any room. Some of our favorites happen to be ship-lap. It's truly amazing when you work with clients that let us transform their home from stunning to spectacular. The reveal for this project was ship-lap walls within a wine, dining room, and a fireplace facade. Feature walls can be a powerful way to modify your space.

Example of a huge trendy open concept carpeted and gray floor home theater design in Los Angeles with black walls and a projector screen

Kat Alves
Inspiration for a large contemporary white two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Sacramento

Mid-century modern backyard concrete patio photo in Denver with a pergola