Inspiration for a contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Atlanta with green walls

What our clients needed: • Create a garden folly that doubles as a well-built shed for crafts and storage. • Size the structure large enough for comfortable storage without dominating the garden. • Discreetly locate the shed in the far corner of the rear yard while maintaining existing trees. • Ensure that the structure is protected from the weather and carefully detailed to deter access of wildlife and rodents. FUNCTION • Construct the shed slab close to grade to permit easy access for bicycle storage, while building shed walls above grade to ensure against termites and dryrot. • Install a French door and operable casement windows to admit plenty of daylight and provide views to the garden. • Include rugged built-in work bench, shelves, bike racks and tool storage for a rustic well-organized and efficient space. • Incorporate GFIC electrical service for safe access to power at this distant corner of the yard. • Position energy-efficient interior lighting to ensure space can be used year-round. • Switch control of exterior light from house and from shed for ease of command. AESTHETICS • Design and detail the shed to coordinate with the Arts and Crafts style house. • Include an arbor for future flowering vines, further softening the shed’s garden presence. • Simple and rustic interior surfaces ensure that the space is easy to clean. • Create an aged and softly weathered appearance, and protect the exterior siding by finishing the cedar with a custom-colored semi-transparent stain. INNOVATIVE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION • Factory-built components were pre-assembled to allow for a speedy assembly and for a shorter on-site construction schedule. • Each component was easily transported through the yard without disturbing garden features. • Decorative exterior trim frames the door and windows, while a simpler trim is used inside the unadorned shed. OBSTACLE OVERCOME • The structure is located in the corner of the yard to avoid disturbance of a curly willow tree. • The low-profile structure is positioned close to property lines while staying beneath the allowable daylight plane for structures. • To comply with daylight plane close to fence, the roof form combines hip and gable forms, with door located at gable end. • The height of the modest interior is maximized, without exceeding the allowable building height. CRAFTSMANSHIP • The concrete slab was precisely formed and finished for ease of shed assembly before the factory-built components were delivered to site. • Precision planning meant the pre-framed door fit exactly between raised concrete curb.

A 1927 colonial home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, received a breathtaking renovation that required extensive work, transforming it from a tucked away, utilitarian space, to an all-purpose gathering room, a role that most kitchens embrace in a home today. The scope of work changed over the course of the project, starting more minimalistically and then quickly becoming the main focus of the house's remodeling, resulting in a staircase being relocated and walls being torn down to create an inviting focal point to the home where family and friends could connect. The focus of the functionality was to allow for multiple prep areas with the inclusion of two islands and sinks, two eating areas (one for impromptu snacking and small meals of younger family members and friends on island no. two and a built-in bench seat for everyday meals in the immediate family). The kitchen was equipped with all Subzero and Wolf appliances, including a 48" range top with a 12" griddle, two double ovens, a 42" built-in side by side refrigerator and freezer, a microwave drawer on island no. one and a beverage center and icemaker in island no. two. The aesthetic feeling embraces the architectural feel of the home while adding a modern sensibility with the revamped layout and graphic elements that tie the color palette of whites, chocolate and charcoal. The cabinets were custom made and outfitted with beaded inset doors with a Shaker panel frame and finished in Benjamin Moore's OC-17 White Dove, a soft white that allowed for the kitchen to feel warm while still maintaining its brightness. Accents of walnut were added to create a sense of warmth, including a custom premium grade walnut countertop on island no. one from Brooks Custom and a TV cabinet with a doggie feeding station beneath. Bringing the cabinet line to the 8'6" ceiling height helps the room feel taller and bold light fixtures at the islands and eating area add detail to an otherwise simpler ceiling detail. The 1 1/4" countertops feature Calacatta Gold Marble with an ogee edge detail. Special touches on the interiors include secret storage panels, an appliance garage, breadbox, pull-out drawers behind the cabinet doors and all soft-close hinges and drawer glides. A kneading area was made as a part of island no. one for the homeowners' love of baking, complete with a stone top allowing for dough to stay cool. Baskets beneath store kitchen essentials that need air circulation. The room adjacent to the kitchen was converted to a hearth room (from a formal dining room) to extend the kitchen's living space and allow for a natural spillover for family and guests to spill into. Jason Miller, Pixelate

A modern, sleek and open kitchen design. The Earthwise windows and the patio door feature a clay color and a millwork-finished look.
Minimalist kitchen photo in Cincinnati

Ernesto Santalla was approached to create a new home for two Washington, DC lawyers wishing to downsize their living space. The move took them from a row house in Washington's historic Dupont Circle neighborhood to a two bedroom apartment in the vibrant, up-and-coming U Street Corridor. Our task was to transform a rather plain and generic apartment into a custom, sophisticated space in a few strategic moves. Ceiling details serve to define functional areas of the living space without creating divisions. Changing some doors from wood to frosted glass, creates a sense of continuity between spaces, and allows light to travel between spaces. Lighting was inserted strategically, to enhance certain functions of the home. The kitchen was partially enclosed with a plane of frosted glass to create visual separation from the main living space while still allowing natural light to filter in from the expansive wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Color was used to reinforce the architectural intent and simplify spaces, such as the entry, which as many doors and frames. Furniture was selected to blend with the client's collection of heirloom pieces, creating a sophisticated juxtaposition. Statement pieces like a ceiling light from Viabizzuno create impact while maintaining the visual simplicity of our minimal approach. Photography by Geoffrey Hodgdon

Transitional bedroom photo in DC Metro

Reminiscent of a 1910 Shingle Style, this new stone and cedar shake home welcomes guests through a classic doorway framing a view of the Long Island Sound beyond. Paired Tuscan columns add formality to the graceful front porch.

Jim Bartsch
Large transitional master carpeted bedroom photo in Santa Barbara with brown walls

Elegant l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Living room - large traditional open concept dark wood floor living room idea in Dallas with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel. Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com

photo by Marco Ricca
Inspiration for a large coastal open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in New York with beige walls

photography by Rob Karosis
Example of a mid-sized classic gender-neutral medium tone wood floor kids' room design in Portland Maine with yellow walls

KuDa Photography
Example of a large trendy master gray tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor bathroom design in Other with gray walls

The large counter space and cabinets surrounding this washer and dryer makes doing laundry a breeze in this timber home. Photo Credit: Roger Wade Studios

The large angled garage, double entry door, bay window and arches are the welcoming visuals to this exposed ranch. Exterior thin veneer stone, the James Hardie Timberbark siding and the Weather Wood shingles accented by the medium bronze metal roof and white trim windows are an eye appealing color combination. Impressive double transom entry door with overhead timbers and side by side double pillars. (Ryan Hainey)

Tom Harper
Example of a transitional multicolored tile powder room design in Miami with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and gray countertops

Landon Acohido www.acophoto.com
Inspiration for a large coastal master medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in Seattle with a standard fireplace and beige walls

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients and their three teenage kids had outgrown the footprint of their existing home and felt they needed some space to spread out. They came in with a couple of sets of drawings from different architects that were not quite what they were looking for, so we set out to really listen and try to provide a design that would meet their objectives given what the space could offer. We started by agreeing that a bump out was the best way to go and then decided on the size and the floor plan locations of the mudroom, powder room and butler pantry which were all part of the project. We also planned for an eat-in banquette that is neatly tucked into the corner and surrounded by windows providing a lovely spot for daily meals. The kitchen itself is L-shaped with the refrigerator and range along one wall, and the new sink along the exterior wall with a large window overlooking the backyard. A large island, with seating for five, houses a prep sink and microwave. A new opening space between the kitchen and dining room includes a butler pantry/bar in one section and a large kitchen pantry in the other. Through the door to the left of the main sink is access to the new mudroom and powder room and existing attached garage. White inset cabinets, quartzite countertops, subway tile and nickel accents provide a traditional feel. The gray island is a needed contrast to the dark wood flooring. Last but not least, professional appliances provide the tools of the trade needed to make this one hardworking kitchen. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com