The small but fully functional bedroom didn't have room for a conventional closet, so a custom-built armoire was made. The cabinet features areas for hanging, flat storage, drawers and a concealed television.

Cabinet Connections of NC & Clientele
Kitchen photo in Raleigh

Our client has had a difficult time furnishing this space on their own because of two focal points and an awkward shape. The furniture they purchased at local retailers was both bulky and uncomfortable, and in turn, the room was rarely used. After successfully completing their music room with us, our clients were ready to tackle their great room. The first step was to space plan out the room to see what the best options were for shapes and sizes of furniture. The next step was blending in the colors from the kitchen which is open to this space. We achieved this through fabrics, carpet and paint. The fireplace was reconstructed with stacked stone and layered to the ceiling; we also designed and installed a custom mantel and installed a flat screen TV above. We painted the walls warm gray and installed a dense soft plush carpet that feels divine on the feet. The ceiling fixtures are a central part of the space. Our clients loved the crystal droplets that hang gracefully from the main chandelier in the room. The furniture was carefully selected for texture and colors. Red, black and silver are the prominent colors and blend well with the red and black cabinets in the surrounding rooms. “I love, love, love it, thanks, it is absolutely perfect!” Was the message I received after the furnishings were installed. Design Connection, Inc. provided – space planning, furniture, accessories, carpet and installation, painting, drywall repair, lighting and installation, stone and installation, design of the mantel and installation, and project management.

This bathroom is part of a whole-home Tuscan-inspired design by Design Connection, Inc. Do you have a question about this space? Please ask! See more our complete portfolio here: http://www.DesignConnectionInc.com/portfolio

Together with the Main Home, the 360 Ranch Guest Cabins offer even more spaces for friends and family to connect in the shadow of towering Emigrant Peak. Like the Main Home, the Guest Cabins draw design inspiration from the classic log lodges of The West, integrating smaller round logs and native stone to convey that distinctive historic feel. The two 2000 square foot cabins are connected—essentially mirrored at the fireplace—with each side boasting a master suite with fireplace and a second bedroom with bunks, a full kitchen, and living area. A combination of open deck space and screened porches, as well as its location on the banks of a small stream that feeds the pond, further connects this structure with the surrounding landscape.

Danny Shushan
Example of a mid-sized 1960s backyard deck design in Los Angeles with no cover

This walnut wet bar is a continuation of the mid-century modern kitchen in both style and function. The homeowner enjoys entertaining guests and the creation of a bar adjacent to the kitchen and dining area make for fantastic dinner parties.

The Cicero is a modern styled home for today’s contemporary lifestyle. It features sweeping facades with deep overhangs, tall windows, and grand outdoor patio. The contemporary lifestyle is reinforced through a visually connected array of communal spaces. The kitchen features a symmetrical plan with large island and is connected to the dining room through a wide opening flanked by custom cabinetry. Adjacent to the kitchen, the living and sitting rooms are connected to one another by a see-through fireplace. The communal nature of this plan is reinforced downstairs with a lavish wet-bar and roomy living space, perfect for entertaining guests. Lastly, with vaulted ceilings and grand vistas, the master suite serves as a cozy retreat from today’s busy lifestyle. Photographer: Brad Gillette

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Trendy light wood floor family room photo in Minneapolis with white walls

Hobbled Roman shades are a very practical and functional treatment as well as aesthetically beautiful. They provide substantial privacy as well as ample light protection. Another benefit of hobbled roman shades is that when they are completely raised you will have maximum sunlight entering the room, and a non-obstructive view of outside. These shades are an effortless attribute and a natural enrichment for these beautiful French Doors.

The Cicero is a modern styled home for today’s contemporary lifestyle. It features sweeping facades with deep overhangs, tall windows, and grand outdoor patio. The contemporary lifestyle is reinforced through a visually connected array of communal spaces. The kitchen features a symmetrical plan with large island and is connected to the dining room through a wide opening flanked by custom cabinetry. Adjacent to the kitchen, the living and sitting rooms are connected to one another by a see-through fireplace. The communal nature of this plan is reinforced downstairs with a lavish wet-bar and roomy living space, perfect for entertaining guests. Lastly, with vaulted ceilings and grand vistas, the master suite serves as a cozy retreat from today’s busy lifestyle.

The Cabinet Connection Urban Effects Yorkshire MDF Black Bean Lacquer
Open concept kitchen - small modern single-wall ceramic tile open concept kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This gorgeous master bath and bedroom addition gave the homeowners much needed space from the previous tiny cramped quarters they had. By creating a spa like bathroom retreat, ample closet space and a spacious master bedroom with views to the lush backyard, the homeowners were able to design a space that gave them what combined both needs and wants in one! Design and Build by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers, photography by Versatile Imaging.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Trendy living room photo in Minneapolis

The Cicero is a modern styled home for today’s contemporary lifestyle. It features sweeping facades with deep overhangs, tall windows, and grand outdoor patio. The contemporary lifestyle is reinforced through a visually connected array of communal spaces. The kitchen features a symmetrical plan with large island and is connected to the dining room through a wide opening flanked by custom cabinetry. Adjacent to the kitchen, the living and sitting rooms are connected to one another by a see-through fireplace. The communal nature of this plan is reinforced downstairs with a lavish wet-bar and roomy living space, perfect for entertaining guests. Lastly, with vaulted ceilings and grand vistas, the master suite serves as a cozy retreat from today’s busy lifestyle. Photographer: Brad Gillette

The powder room needed an update from the maple cabinets to a gray to match the island in the kitchen. A modern patterned wallpaper was the perfect choice to give the small area style and will wear well with a young family. Design Connection, Inc. provided space plans, cabinets, countertops, accessories, plumbing fixtures, wall coverings, light fixtures, hard wood floors and installation of all materials and project management.

Laundry closet - small modern single-wall light wood floor and brown floor laundry closet idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops