This bright and exciting bathroom treatment features custom animal print drapery with jewel trim. Accompanied by a vibrant floral arrangement, gorgeous accessories, and complementary tilework - it's a beautifully, relaxing oasis. Photo Credit: Samantha Day

Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

A view from a different angle shows the potted and shaped Boxwood topiaries further defining the doorway and creating symmetry. A complementary wrought iron gate adds style to the front porch.

A beautifully designed butler pantry featuring complementary two-tone Shaker cabinetry that coordinates seamlessly with the primary kitchen, enhanced by natural light

Renovation is stressful. Wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else oversee product selections, manage day-to-day issues, and bring your project to a successful completion? The owners of a two-family in Arlington recently did just that, flying off to Florida just as we began renovating their first floor unit. Of course, before they left we thoroughly discussed all aspects of the work order, which included renovating the kitchen and bathroom, painting the bedroom, and adding a laundry closet. We reviewed color and material selections, and set up a schedule for regular briefings. A handful of issues did come up. But because we had planned ahead, we were able to resolve them with very little stress for our clients. For instance, the client had chosen a bright yellow paint color for the kitchen walls, but once the new cabinets, countertop, and flooring had been installed, it was clear that yellow would clash. We suggested a more complementary Benjamin Moore Lancaster Whitewash shade instead. In the bathroom, the clients had selected a deep inset mirrored medicine cabinet. But when the wall behind the vanity was opened, it revealed a pipe running up the wall, too close for the inset model. In this small space, a bump-out medicine cabinet would be awkward, so instead we placed a mirror over the sink and two smaller inset cabinets on either side – a solution that pleased the homeowners, who now have his-and-hers storage spaces. Finally, the homeowners had resigned themselves to the fact that the laundry closet would be too small for storing detergent and other needs. However once the units were in place, we realized that a small custom shelf could be built and had it installed to the delight of the homeowners. Photo by Shelly Harrison

We love this Panettone Terrazzo backsplash project by Marble Trend! This Panettone Terrazzo sink backsplash is a delightful blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. The backsplash is crafted from terrazzo, a composite material typically made from marble, and is known for its durability and unique speckled appearance. Panettone Terrazzo features soft hues of golden brown, creamy whites, and hints of candied fruit colors like orange, red, and green scattered throughout the material. The Panettone Terrazzo backsplash would frame a sleek sink, perhaps in a complementary neutral tone like matte black or brushed stainless steel as you see here! The overall effect and contemporary design, add warmth and character to any kitchen space.

This new custom house, completed in late 2012, was designed with an accessory dwelling unit to take advantage of an allowance in the single family zoning code in Seattle. The primary dwelling, 1300 square feet on the upper two stories houses a mother and teenager. The accessory dwelling, 750 square feet, provides a leasable smaller space that can be for a tenant or downsizing in the future. Seattle based RE Store began by completely deconstructing the original home so that its salvaged parts could have a new life in other design applications. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials. The Paperstone, wood and steel staircase connects the open-plan living, dining areas and kitchen to the upstairs bedrooms and open library. Exterior decks extend the main interior living spaces while sliding glass panels allow the primary bedroom to connect. Stylishly visible from all rooms in the open interior living spaces are two complementary objects, both lit from within, a frosted lexan pantry and a slatted reclaimed fir bathroom, with wood sourced from Windfall Lumber. Throughout the home, finishes are simple and minimal: polished concrete flooring, bright-white walls, and formaldehyde-free sapele and maple cabinetry. The main kitchen is outfitted with Ecotop counters and a custom sapele wood island that has large, handle-free pullout drawers on the cooking side and a built-in wine rack on the other. Maximizing storage, a custom built-in apple plywood bench and open wooden box shelves provide extra space. A model of efficiency, the home maximizes the performance of the envelope of the building. The reclaimed fir car decking wrapped around the exterior from Windfall Lumber, creates the rainscreen siding and is sourced locally from a deconstructed warehouse in Tacoma WA. In addition, access to daylight through high-performance glazing, solar preheat for domestic hot water needs, in-floor radiant heating and a green roof created by the owner adds to the efficiency. Photo Credit & Design: b9 architects

White shaker style cabinets with honed Cararra marble countertops, and Oil Rubbed Bronze hardware. Complementary quartefoil patterned cararra marble backsplash. Large island painted grey to contrast white woodwork. Farmhouse style bar pendants. Wood tile was used throughout the house for the sand-and-finish wood look, but without the risk of water damage.

This extensive remodel overlooking Lake Austin is a paean to the powerful art it enfolds. Rigorous editing of every distracting, inconsequential element of the original house was critical. So too was the insertion of new complementary components that provide artful ways to move through both interior and exterior rooms. The collection of modern art is arresting. Ranging from a Turrell hologram to a pair of Agnes Martins, the art is framed by the architecture and lighting so that it is experienced in a choreographed, curated way that encourages wandering and an intimate connection to each piece. The mood is set in the entry courtyard. A floating walkway curves down and around a brilliant spiraling blue Clement sculpture. It pauses once, at a moment of surprise, when the first view through the house is filled with the blue water of the lake beyond. Inside, the saturated color of many of the pieces of art are balanced by an absence of other visual clutter in the color palette, furniture, and architecture. A new interior plaster, steel, and bronze stair carves through a space occupied by two small Clement sculptures in niches, a McKay Otto sculpture on a landing and a glass cylinder elevator. This is a very specific place, designed for specific art and for a collector who has a close relationship with each piece.

These beautiful bathrooms located in Rancho Santa Fe were in need of a major upgrade. Once having dated dark cabinets, the desired bright design was wanted. Beautiful white cabinets with modern pulls and classic faucets complete the double vanity. The shower with long subway tiles and black grout! Colored grout is a trend and it looks fantastic in this bathroom. The walk in shower has beautiful tiles and relaxing shower heads. Both of these bathrooms look fantastic and look modern and complementary to the home.

Archadeck of Austin is an experienced pergola builder. We were presented with an irregular, recessed roofline on the back of this home, which required a bit of ingenuity. To accommodate the high attachment of the pergola to the roof, we installed the structural attachments upside down! This created the proper attachment at the proper height, keeping the pergola height complementary to the home.

A complementary collection of siding materials and textures includes vertically applied boards, shake shingles, board and batten, and stone. Add the metal roof accents over the garage and window, carriage-type garage doors, along with the barn-red accent, and this farmhouse design home comes together with a distinctive appearance.

Multi-room renovation inclduing two bathrooms, an office space, and a stunning kitchen remodel. The kitchen is accentuated by the specially chosen marble countertops and baby blue cabinets that are complemented by all the stainless steel fixtures and appliances and added decor. One bathroom is full of warmth and neutral tones boasting beautiful textured walls and complementary stone walls. The cooler bathroom has blue and grey tones that are fresh and beautifully implemnetd through paint colors and tile. The office space is a simple area of the home being accentuated by eclectic decor and classic design.

How Anguilla got its groove back. Nestled on a private island deep in the eastern Caribbean, Blue Diamond Villa (formerly Brazilian Emerald) at Anguilla’s Altamer Resort has been re-opened with a fresh look. A fresh look means fresh fabrics. Interior designer Linda Warren knows how to put a contemporary take on the classic Caribbean style. Using mostly Perennials Fabrics this villa is outfitted with various textures and vibrant colors. Patio Lane is honored to have supplied the brand new pillows located throughout the Villa. The beautiful blue hue of Perennials Beachside Stripe in Scuba Do is the perfect complement to the spacious and airy communal room, giving it just the right amount of pop. Beachside stripe along with the other pillows with fabrics such as Perennials Bazaar and Perennials Zig Zag were specifically made for this resort. Luxury at its finest, the Blue Diamond Villa certainly lives up to its name. Designed for comfort and serenity, the pillows supplied by Patio Lane do more than give a place to rest your tired head. By adding colorful accents, and complementary patterns, they make the villa come alive and feel complete. The only thing Blue Diamond Villa is missing is your favorite group of travel buddies.

When Sara Mosele Interiors, an innovative architecture/interior design studio in New York, was tasked with transforming a client’s new one-bedroom apartment in the Chelsea section of New York into his dream home, she jumped at the chance to merge her “design with a human touch” philosophy with her Italian sensibility. The client, a young Italian, was a first-time buyer who wanted to transition from his eclectic rental look to a sophisticated, sustainable aesthetic that was both warm and contemporary. Sara mobilized her team to create a functional yet stylish environment that will remain timeless. Sara knew the apartment had good bones in an old building with character. The apartment needed minimal upgrades. The footprint was functional, the wooden floors were in good condition. and the kitchen and bathroom required no major chamges. Sara and team were able to plunge into the design, using color, shape and texture to make a new statement, The walls became a neutral canvas in each room. The living room, for example, was painted a soft gray against which an abstract painting with bright red and blue colors became the inspiration for the selection of a bright blue chair and ottoman in boucle, blue pillows on an off-white modular sofa, and complementary red and blue rugs. The goal was to work with high-end modern Italian brands --- Flexform, Vitra, Molteni &C, among them ---selected in sizes that match the proportions of the rooms. A challenge throughout was the need for more lighting which was addressed creatively with an abstract chandelier in the living room and a similar modern look over a sleek metal table in the dining room where rust-colored chairs edge the metal table. Three modern light fixtures also are placed over the sink in the kitchen The bedroom also juxtaposes a brown headboard and a whimsical taupe side table by Vitra with sections that rotate, creating contrast against a creamy beige bedspread and wall color. A custom-made wardrobe serves as a focal piece and valuable storage space.

Family room - contemporary family room idea in Other

Blu Fish Photography
Mid-sized transitional master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and multicolored floor bathroom photo in Boise with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Modern meets traditional - texture and a subdued palette modernize this traditional space. Complementary modern artwork further pushes the style into a cleaner more updated look.

Modern Sophistication Meets Everyday Durability Step into a home redefined by clean lines and thoughtful design. This complete interior remodel showcases a seamless blend of modern elegance and practical luxury, designed for those who appreciate the finer details. Elevated Finishes The foundation of the home features 100% waterproof luxury vinyl plank flooring, offering the timeless look of hardwood with unmatched durability. To anchor the space, we installed bold 5-inch modern baseboards, providing a crisp, architectural frame for every room. A Designer’s Palette The home’s character is defined by a sophisticated two-tone color scheme. While the walls offer a warm, inviting backdrop, the doors, trim, and baseboards feature a distinct, complementary hue. This high-contrast approach highlights the custom woodwork and gives the entire home a professionally curated feel. Brilliant Lighting & Privacy We’ve opened up the atmosphere with a comprehensive LED thin-can lighting package. These recessed lights offer a sleek, low-profile look while bathing the home in bright, energy-efficient light. To finish the look, brand-new custom blinds were installed throughout, offering the perfect balance of natural light control and contemporary style.