Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with white quartz countertops and backsplashes mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The cabinets are painted a cool grey color called "Silverplate." The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

Designed by Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Southern Pines, NC in collaboration with Dolder Custom Design and Carpenter Home Works, this transitional style inspired bathroom remodeling project features Ultracraft Cabinetry Chesapeake door style in a Coastal Grey finish, complimented by the Jeffrey Alexander Milan cabinet pull in Satin Nickel. The vanity top, one shower wall, threshold toppers and niches all feature Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold. The other shower walls feature Emser Reserva Alto 12x24 tile and the shower floor the Daltile Vintage Hex Wisdom White. The bathroom also features Kohler fixtures, including accessories from the Devonshire collection and the Verdera medicine cabinets. Said the client, “Our designer Nancy expertly guided us through the design, selection and construction. She listened to our needs and wants and translated them into a new, beautiful and functional master bathroom.” Added Nancy, “The clients were specific in their needs and we communicated well to achieve their goal. They requested a simple, calming bathroom with accessible storage. The shower did retain the same footprint, but we removed the soffit above, widened the door and added a knee wall with a glass panel.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

The most impactful change was removing the wall between the kitchen and living and dining area. This allows for both visual and audible communication from space to space. Photo Credit: Whonsetler Photography

This custom built 2-story French Country style home is a beautiful retreat in the South Tampa area. The exterior of the home was designed to strike a subtle balance of stucco and stone, brought together by a neutral color palette with contrasting rust-colored garage doors and shutters. To further emphasize the European influence on the design, unique elements like the curved roof above the main entry and the castle tower that houses the octagonal shaped master walk-in shower jutting out from the main structure. Additionally, the entire exterior form of the home is lined with authentic gas-lit sconces. The rear of the home features a putting green, pool deck, outdoor kitchen with retractable screen, and rain chains to speak to the country aesthetic of the home. Inside, you are met with a two-story living room with full length retractable sliding glass doors that open to the outdoor kitchen and pool deck. A large salt aquarium built into the millwork panel system visually connects the media room and living room. The media room is highlighted by the large stone wall feature, and includes a full wet bar with a unique farmhouse style bar sink and custom rustic barn door in the French Country style. The country theme continues in the kitchen with another larger farmhouse sink, cabinet detailing, and concealed exhaust hood. This is complemented by painted coffered ceilings with multi-level detailed crown wood trim. The rustic subway tile backsplash is accented with subtle gray tile, turned at a 45 degree angle to create interest. Large candle-style fixtures connect the exterior sconces to the interior details. A concealed pantry is accessed through hidden panels that match the cabinetry. The home also features a large master suite with a raised plank wood ceiling feature, and additional spacious guest suites. Each bathroom in the home has its own character, while still communicating with the overall style of the home.

ESI Builders is a subsidiary of EnergyWise Solutions, Inc. and was formed by Allan, Bob and Dave to fulfill an important need for quality home builders and remodeling services in the Sacramento region. With a strong and growing referral base, we decided to provide a convenient one-stop option for our clients and focus on combining our key services: quality custom homes and remodels, turnkey client partnering and communication, and energy efficient and environmentally sustainable measures in all we do. Through energy efficient appliances and fixtures, solar power, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, enhanced insulation and sealing, and other construction elements – we go beyond simple code compliance and give you immediate savings and greater sustainability for your new or remodeled home. All of the design work and construction tasks for our clients are done by or supervised by our highly trained, professional staff. This not only saves you money, it provides a peace of mind that all of the details are taken care of and the job is being done right – to Perfection. Our service does not stop after we clean up and drive off. We continue to provide support for any warranty issues that arise and give you administrative support as needed in order to assure you obtain any energy-related tax incentives or rebates. This ‘One call does it all’ philosophy assures that your experience in remodeling or upgrading your home is an enjoyable one. ESI Builders was formed by professionals with varying backgrounds and a common interest to provide you, our clients, with options to live more comfortably, save money, and enjoy quality homes for many years to come. As our company continues to grow and evolve, the expertise has been quickly growing to include several job foreman, tradesmen, and support staff. In response to our growth, we will continue to hire well-qualified staff and we will remain committed to maintaining a level of quality, attention to detail, and pursuit of perfection.

Bathtub Refresh in Subway Tile Traditions Classic Subway Tile named for its colors of timeless tradition. With a perfect blend of modern and classic, a biscuit color tile is chosen by this client. Beautifully wrapping around their new alcove soaking bathtub in glossy white. With the classic beveled edge making this a refreshing bathtub surround. In addition, to adding a Niche with a herringbone pattern accent and quartz shelves. The Tile is edged with a Schluter ivory edge profile. Bathroom Tub Renovation complete with soaking tub and tiles for Client Project ~ Thank you for sharing! Client Remarks on the BBB and Google “I had a great experience with French Creek Designs. The products that they chose looked fantastic. The contractor was great at communicating and was a true professional. I love that we have a local business to choose from vs just a big name store.” Traditions Classic Subway Tile Traditions Classic Subway Tile comes in a classic selection of Biscuit, Black, Cocoa, and Ice White. As well as a perfect Taupe and Tender Grey. Black is offered only in Glossy. However, all other colors come in a fabulous choice of matte or glossy. Each beveled subway tile is 3″x6″ or 4 1/4″ x 10″ sizes. The Traditions Collection is known for ease of installation. Therefore, removing the need for spacers. Traditions classic tile collection comes with a full coordinating trim piece package. Ask one of our designers to review samples and colors for your next renovation project.

New kitchen with pantry wall, family communication center, china hutch and opening to mud room. Kitchen design, space planning and construction by Clayton Nelson, CKD, MCR. Interior finishes specified by Julie Cavanaugh, Design Matters, Los Gatos Photos by John Valenti Photography

Mark Ehlen of Ehlen Creative Communications, LLC
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse medium tone wood floor wine cellar remodel in Minneapolis

The heart of Snowpeaks Lodge, the Great Room, inspires conversation and connection when family and friends gather. Innovative, attention worthy features including massive fir timbers provide a luxurious rustic setting while steel brings in a touch of industrial. Nature is invited in through view windows and natural finishes. The Great Room is carefully situated to take advantage of expansive views of mountains, ski slopes, and vast blue sky through 20ft high stacked windows in living room. Elongated dining table runs parallel to dining room windows. A Great Room truly integrated into the home. Double sliding patio doors open to covered deck with seating, creating indoor/outdoor space. Adjacent to main entry it welcomes guests into the home. Assessible to staircases and kitchen. Open sightlines promote communication.

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project. As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish. What that means for you: -One point of contact — clear communication the entire time -A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met -Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes -A more seamless, less stressful experience overall We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage. Services include: Residential and commercial painting Kitchen and bathroom remodeling Whole-home renovations Electrical, plumbing, and framing Drywall, flooring, and finish work Window and door replacements Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation Water damage and restoration And More!!!

Our MOSS customer expressed that their 1980’s kitchen was in desperate need of an upgrade and they wanted a space to entertain in. Early in the design process, the homeowners communicated they wanted a big enough space for the kids to do homework; making them close enough to ask questions while Mom or Dad cooks. Inspired by the family’s favorite vacation spot, Colonial Williamsburg, our customers also wanted to incorporate the rich colonial blues that are commonly showcased in that region. Their final piece of inspiration came from the nostalgia of the kitchens they grew up in, reminiscent of the inviting spaces that allowed for friends and family to gather. The end result is a stunning update!

Designed By: Soda Pop Design inc Photography By: Alex Lukey Styling By: Austin Smyth Communications Construction By: Soda Pop Construction
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Toronto

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

Designed by Akram Aljahmi of Reico Kitchen & Bath in King of Prussia, PA this transitional farmhouse inspired kitchen design features Green Forest Cabinetry kitchen cabinets in the Sierra door style in 2 finishes. The perimeter kitchen cabinets features a White finish and the kitchen island features a Summit Grey finish. Kitchen countertops are engineered quartz by MSI in the color Carrara Marmi. The tile back splash combines white subway tile with a Vintage Twenties tile behind the oven and ventilation hood. Says the client, "Working with Akram was a great experience. He communicated quickly, coordinated times for me to see the products I was interested in and provided revised quotes to help meet the look and budget we wanted. Akram was patient in helping us understand and see all the options and choose what worked best for our needs. Our favorite part is the addition of the pantry cabinets. They are beautiful, clean and add so much useful storage. We love the final kitchen." Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Classic, neutral colors mixed with contemporary patterns, art and color accents make this teen bedroom a great place to hang out. We created a work station near the window for great light, lounge area that communicates with the whole room and a great resting view from the bed. Photography by Ashley Claes

Step inside "Thompson Creek"—a breathtaking contemporary modern masterpiece just outside of Atlanta, GA! ✨? https://www.reynard.design/thompson-creek Designed by James Knight and the team at Reynard Architectural Designs, this stunning two-story home was created as the ultimate backdrop for an active family of four to build memories for years to come. The exterior makes a bold statement with a high-contrast palette of crisp white stucco, warm horizontal wood siding, and striking black-framed floor-to-ceiling windows. The flat, low-pitched roof and wide overhangs not only provide essential shade during those Georgia summers but also give the home an incredibly sleek, minimalist silhouette. ✨ Features we are loving: ? An ultra-sleek, open-concept kitchen featuring seamless flat-panel white cabinetry, a dramatic beige-veined natural stone waterfall island, and chic floating shelves. ? A serene, textural minimalist bathroom completely wrapped in gray linear stone, perfectly balanced by a floating light-wood vanity. ?️ A warm, light-flooded living space anchored by a sprawling white sectional and a custom travertine and timber coffee table. ? A broad, integrated carport and an expansive layout that beautifully blurs the lines between the indoors and the surrounding pine forest. “We loved working with Reynard Architectural Designs! They did a great job designing our dream home ❤️. Great communication and ideas! Definitely recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" - Max & Kristina (Homeowners) Would you love to come home to a space like this? Let us know your favorite feature in the comments below! ?

Thinking of kitchen and bath remodelers in Monterey Park? Well, Queen Remodeling is a reliable kitchen remodeling service in Monterey Park and bath remodeling contractor in Monterey Park too, who is honest, dependable, and good at communicating is essential to ensure a smooth, stress-free home remodeling project. Kitchen and Bathroom Remodelers in Monterey Park, CA - https://www.queenremodeling.com/

The homeowners wireless control is the bridge that makes it possible for their multiple consumer electronics and home systems to work seamlessly together - with a single remote! Because Control4 can operate on a wireless communication standard, they created an amazing home theater, multi-room music experience, and convenient control over their lighting and temperature in their home.

This spectacular two-story Boone Oaks Remodel reflects the exquisite style of the homeowners while accompanying the rhythmic needs required of daily living. Reclaimed timber beams are showcased throughout the home and as posts on the custom floating staircase and ceilings. This remodel encompasses everyday luxury. The open floor plan boasts mountain views from every angle and the grand stone fireplace makes the living room the perfect spot to host family gatherings or curl up with a compelling read in hand. With the kitchen overlooking the living room, the oversized live edged island with a built-in beverage cooler and microwave provides the perfect setting for meal prepping. The kitchen also features a copper farm sink and range hood, a built-in breakfast nook, and floating shelves. We believe this home renovation is a representation of fine craftsmanship and the success of effective communication between VPC and our clients.