The master bedroom features a tray ceiling with bedside pendant lights on independent controls. The client’s existing bed was updated with crisp modern bedding. Wall molding was installed behind the bed to add texture and highlight the room’s symmetry. Power to a new computer nook was added, which is softened by bold striped curtains. The master bedroom fireplace was also updated with a white marble surround, fire glass, and a flat screen television. A metallic finished ceiling adds to the coziness of the space, along with new carpeting. A collaborative art installation between the designer and Lafayette artist Christopher LaBauve features recycled aluminum cans hand cut into butterflies and mounted by aluminum wire. Painted the same dense gray color of the walls, each butterfly was carefully placed to reflect its own shadow.

Mid-sized transitional built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room photo in Houston with blue walls

Photo by Chris Lawson
Mid-sized minimalist girl light wood floor and beige floor kids' room photo in Toronto with gray walls

The groundbreaking Rhapsody Collection brings together classic design elements, grand scale, and a relaxed rustic finish to create an impassioned marriage of casual opulence. Exuberant scale and serpentine shapes infuse the pieces with emotion, while timeless motifs like scrolls, rope twist molding, the acanthus leaf and fleur de lis anchor Rhapsody in old world charm. Building on the grand scale and classic European design is the defining element of the collection: a walnut-colored finish inspired by the natural yet rustic nature of reclaimed woods in beautiful patinas. The office collection contains a desk, bookcase, credenza, curio, lateral file, executive desk, lamp table, tilt swivel chair, computer credenza, and hutch. Dining, living, media and entertainment pieces are also part of the Rhapsody collection. Available at Star Furniture stores in Texas. Star #: 378783

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2013 Houzz
Example of a classic home office design in Dallas

Danish porch idea in Toronto

A small 8 x 10 bedroom is transformed to efficiently accommodate a sleep sanctuary and two full-time work spaces for a couple sharing one cozy small space. A full size iron bed from IKEA is flanked by a small computer desk (workspace #1) and a floating wall shelf offering extra storage space. The small closet was transformed into workspace #2. Featuring custom board and batten wall treatment, accessorized with vintage style photographs and various unique antique treasures.

Jim Youngs and Heather Dilello
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in Chicago with purple walls and no fireplace

A view of the craft area with chalkboard wall and industrial style sconces it his farm style home basement in Waunakee, WI by Degnan Design Builders
Basement - mid-sized country look-out carpeted basement idea in Other with gray walls

Do you have a small apartment or studio and need space ­saving furniture ideas? Do you have a den or office that needs to double as a guestroom? A Murphy Bed system might be just what you’re looking for! This style looks like a glossy lacquered wall in your room and when closed takes up very little space. When you want to study or work on your computer, just open the cabinet and drop down a desk! There’s plenty of room for office work, study books or even craft projects to fit on this roomy desk. When you’re tired and want to get some sleep, just open it all the way and the desk drops down, instantly giving you a twin bed ready to crawl into! In the morning, it all closes up, giving you an uncluttered, open area for your studio or apartment. If you’re using it in a study, you can keep the desk open and just open the bed for guests when they sleep over. This Murphy Bed system is constructed from the highest quality materials and the mechanism is technologically new gas springs, that open and close with no effort. Having a Murphy Bed System is like having a room in a box.

Christopher Davison, AIA
Mid-sized elegant built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Austin with beige walls

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by Philip Liang Photography.

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2017 Houzz Guest Bedroom Design team: Jeanne K. Chung of Cozy Stylish Chic
Example of a transitional bedroom design in Los Angeles

When our client came to us, she was stumped with how to turn her small living room into a cozy, useable family room. The living room and dining room blended together in a long and skinny open concept floor plan. It was difficult for our client to find furniture that fit the space well. It also left an awkward space between the living and dining areas that she didn’t know what to do with. She also needed help reimagining her office, which is situated right off the entry. She needed an eye-catching yet functional space to work from home. In the living room, we reimagined the fireplace surround and added built-ins so she and her family could store their large record collection, games, and books. We did a custom sofa to ensure it fits the space and maximized the seating. We added texture and pattern through accessories and balanced the sofa with two warm leather chairs. We updated the dining room furniture and added a little seating area to help connect the spaces. Now there is a permanent home for their record player and a cozy spot to curl up in when listening to music. For the office, we decided to add a pop of color, so it contrasted well with the neutral living space. The office also needed built-ins for our client’s large cookbook collection and a desk where she and her sons could rotate between work, homework, and computer games. We decided to add a bench seat to maximize space below the window and a lounge chair for additional seating.

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Mid-sized trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office photo in Other with yellow walls

Photo: Sarah McFarland © 2016 Houzz
Country home office photo in New York

Photo: Ellie Arciaga © 2015 Houzz
Example of a small eclectic freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room design in Seattle with white walls

Composition #269 inclinART by Presotto. Base units in tabacco "aged" oak, wall units and shelves in bianco ecomalta. Ecomalta finish made by hand is a continuous surface without joints making it hygienic and waterproof. The base unit is made up of two flap doors, an interior drawer and a dock station while concealing audio devices.