A post-war, Glen Park house was dark and tiny but had good bones and imaginable city views. It was one of those “little boxes on the hillside”. Our design transformed and expanded it into a bright, open, and comfortable four bedroom townhouse with panoramic city views. A huge new sliding skylight/roof hatch above an open staircase illuminates and seamlessly connects the central living and circulation spaces. All bedrooms plus a family room/guest suite are oriented towards the rear and front of house, ensuring direct connection to the out of doors, and privacy from family gathering spaces. The home is modern but has touches of warm traditional styling, anticipating a family with kids, a couple who enjoy entertaining, and or folks who like hunkering down with a good book and a morning cup of coffee. Structural Engineer: Gregory Paul Wallace SE Photographer: Open Homes Photography

Craftsman style house opens up for better connection and more contemporary living. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dinning room and reconfiguring the stair layout allowed for more usable space and better circulation through the home. The double dormer addition upstairs allowed for a true Master Suite, complete with steam shower! Photo: Pete Eckert

Example of a mid-sized trendy galley concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen design with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, an island, white countertops, an undermount sink and stone slab backsplash

Prior to remodeling, this spacious great room was reminiscent of the 1907’s in both its furnishings and window treatments. While the view from the room is spectacular with windows that showcase a beautiful pond and a large expanse of land with a horse barn, the interior was dated. Our client loved his space, but knew it needed an update. Before the remodel began, there was a wall that separated the kitchen from the great room. The client desired a more open and fluid floor plan. Arlene Ladegaard, principle designer of Design Connection, Inc., was contacted to help achieve his dreams of creating an open and updated space. Arlene designed a space that is transitional in style. She used an updated color palette of gray tons to compliment the adjoining kitchen. By opening the space up and unifying design styles throughout, the blending of the two rooms becomes seamless. Comfort was the primary consideration in selecting the sectional as the client wanted to be able to sit at length for leisure and TV viewing. The side tables are a dark wood that blends beautifully with the newly installed dark wood floors, the windows are dressed in simple treatments of gray linen with navy accents, for the perfect final touch. With regard to artwork and accessories, Arlene spent many hours at outside markets finding just the perfect accessories to compliment all the furnishings. With comfort and function in mind, each welcoming seat is flanked by a surface for setting a drink – again, making it ideal for entertaining. Design Connection, Inc. of Overland Park provided the following for this project: space plans, furniture, window treatments, paint colors, wood floor selection, tile selection and design, lighting, artwork and accessories, and as the project manager, Arlene Ladegaard oversaw installation of all the furnishings and materials.

Inspiration for a transitional home bar remodel in Houston

Corner shower - mid-sized coastal master gray tile, white tile and stone tile marble floor corner shower idea in Other with white walls and a hinged shower door

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 URL http://www.windfalllumber.com Photographer: Ed Sozinho

This exterior view of the bridge, with its timber trusses, shows the connection and integration of the home's elements. A seasonal stream runs under the bridge and through the property. Photography: VanceFox.com

Joe Fletcher
Minimalist bathroom photo in San Francisco

The homeowner of this new build came to us for help with the design of their new home. They wanted a more contemporary look than what they're used to. The large island is a great gathering point with in the open concept of the dining/kitchen/living space. Using two different colors of quartz countertops added contrast that highlights the marble backsplash. The backsplash adds texture and richness to the space. Shaker style cabinets help modernize the space with the clean lines. Function was key to this kitchen working with utensil pullouts, spice racks, rollouts, hidden storage and a knife block. Design Connection, Inc. Kansas City interior designer provided space planning, architectural drawings, barstools, tile, plumbing fixtures, countertops, cabinets and hardware, lighting, paint colors, coordination with the builder and project management to ensure that the high standards of Design Connection, Inc. were maintained.

The large wardrobe showcases adjustable shelves, a hidden medicine cabinet and ample storage for linens and towels. Design Connection, Inc. provided bathroom design, AutoCAD drawings, tile, countertops, cabinets, lighting, plumbing fixtures, wallpaper, shower enclosure, artwork, bench, custom mirrors, project management, and installation of all materials to keep the integrity of Design Connection, Inc.’s high standards. See the Before & After pictures from this bathroom remodel here: https://www.designconnectioninc.com/project/master-bathroom-remodel-in-johnson-county-ks/

Our clients had thought very hard about remodeling or moving. Their family was at a point where they needed to move or remodel. They loved their neighborhood. In researching their options they found Design Connection, Inc, on Houzz website. After much thought they decided to remodel their entire first floor of their home to make the space more family friendly. Our design team at Design Connection, Inc. came up with a plan to remodel the kitchen space and update all the fixtures, flooring, fireplaces. Space plans allowed the client to see where all the new furnishing were going to be placed, as well as choices for carpet, countertops, plumbing, a new island, lighting, tile furniture and accessories. An approval was given and everything was ordered. The client stated “The process was simple and went smoothly.” The construction process from start to finish took a mere two months and finished on time and on budget. The furniture was delivered at one time and the pictures hung by our professional installer. The accessories were the final element to complete this beautiful project. The client’s left for a few hours with an empty house and came back to their dream home. They were thrilled! Design Connection, Inc. provided space plans, cabinets, countertops, tile, painting, furniture, area rugs accessories, hard wood floors and installation of all materials and project management.

After the devastating Tubbs fire, Craig reimagined this Calistoga property into a wine country retreat for the owners' family as well as corporate/wellness guests. He approached the design by studying the natural elements of the site including trees, views and light, the vernacular design of the area and the clients’ personality. Craig designed a barn and the house – made up of a one-story and a two-story building – connected by a stunning 20-foot steel and glass breezeway. Expansive doors and windows create seamless indoor/outdoor flow and numerous patios and the pool area provide comfortable outdoor spaces. The modern and warm interior is bright, luxurious and comfortable.

Photographer: Michael Del Rossi
1960s home design photo in Boston

The bones of this 1908 Glen Park home had been compromised by years and years of awkward remodels. The front door led directly to the private bedroom level, while the public gathering spaces were one-level down, with the main staircase nearly dropping you into the existing kitchen. Potentially spectacular views of an existing mature redwood tree and broad city views beyond were entirely ignored and inaccessible. We first unraveled the knot of the plan with a new split-level entryway and connecting stair. We then opened up the rear of the home to the views, using the huge backyard conifer as design inspiration for a perforated steel guardrail connecting the new interior and exterior space seamlessly. A lower expansion connects the home to the yard and alleyway garage entry. The Pinales House is indicative of the scale of remodel many young families can consider; a scale at which strategic design choices are key to discovering the unrealized potential of the home and site.

Mountain style backyard stamped concrete and rectangular pool house photo in Houston

Black and White master bathroom with forest green vanity cabinets. Even though this bathroom is layered with a lot of details it is truly a tasteful art statement.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master gray tile, white tile and porcelain tile marble floor and white floor bathroom remodel in Orange County

Dining room - coastal medium tone wood floor dining room idea in New York with no fireplace