Mount Airy MD General Contractor: Mueller Homes Photo: Julia Heine / McInturff Architects
Design ideas for a huge farmhouse gravel driveway in DC Metro.

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

FIRST PLACE 2018 ASID DESIGN OVATION AWARD / MASTER BATH OVER $50,000. In addition to a much-needed update, the clients desired a spa-like environment for their Master Bath. Sea Pearl Quartzite slabs were used on an entire wall and around the vanity and served as this ethereal palette inspiration. Luxuries include a soaking tub, decorative lighting, heated floor, towel warmers and bidet. Michael Hunter

Inspiration for a large farmhouse two-story wood gable roof remodel in Portland Maine with a metal roof

Photography: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography.
Inspiration for a large mid-century modern master white tile and subway tile white floor and ceramic tile freestanding bathtub remodel in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink, white walls and solid surface countertops

Barley Pfeiffer Architecture
Design ideas for a large contemporary full sun front yard concrete paver garden path in Austin for spring.

Inspiration for a coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Ryan Garvin
Home bar - coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor home bar idea in Orange County with no sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and black backsplash

Mexican feather grass creates movement in the landscape without requiring a lot of water.
This is an example of a large rustic drought-tolerant and full sun backyard stone garden path in Austin for summer.

Country living room photo in San Francisco

A lush, low-water perennial garden lines a gravel creekbed, designed to direct and slow water to avoid erosion and pooling.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Austin for spring.

Jason Schmidt
Inspiration for a contemporary master bedroom remodel in New York with white walls and a standard fireplace

Dwight Myers Real Estate Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman gray one-story mixed siding gable roof remodel in Raleigh with a shingle roof

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept concrete floor and gray floor living room remodel with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace and a tv stand

Photo of a tropical full sun driveway in Hawaii.

Margot Hartford
Inspiration for a 1950s gray floor and slate floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Design ideas for a large transitional partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Seattle.

Irving Place Residence. New York, NY. Photography by Biz Jones.
Inspiration for a mid-century modern freestanding desk home office remodel in New York with white walls