We created a nice separation of spaces with this kneewall/bookcase from the kitchen area to the sunken living room space. A sunken Living room might bring a bad connotation to some, but the 12" drop (two 6" steps) just added a nice change of space to the overall composition. Photos by Jay Weiland

Red walls, red light fixtures, dramatic but fun, doubles as a living room and music room, traditional house with eclectic furnishings, black and white photography of family over guitars, hanging guitars on walls to keep open space on floor, grand piano, custom #317 cocktail ottoman from the Christy Dillard Collection by Lorts, antique persian rug. Chris Little Photography

This was one of the first homes built in our Urban North subdivision. Pioneering a one-of-a-kind neighborhood to the suburbs of North Kansas City, this home could be nothing less than bright and welcoming. Modern tends to have connotations of being harsh, but we softened that look with a unique combination of materials, playful colors and natural lighting.

The dramatic and simple layered landscape of the South Livermore vineyard region, and its soft, warm colors, inspired the Venetian plaster design of the dining room fireplace. The tapered shape connotes solidity. The stone-colored suggestions of lintel and sill surround the firebox in an archetypal, cave-like or cooking-hearth-like form. Erick Mikiten, AIA

Photo: Laura Garner © 2014 Houzz
Example of an eclectic formal medium tone wood floor living room design in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tv stand

Large arts and crafts wooden u-shaped staircase photo in Seattle with painted risers

Inspiration for a craftsman wooden staircase remodel in Columbus with wooden risers

Frederick C. Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1908-10), Chicago, IL A masterpiece of the Prairie style and an icon of modern architecture. Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Photographer: Tim Long

Photo Credit: kee sites
Inspiration for a rustic master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Rosa Charlotte Photo by Michelle Longo
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in New York.

Photo: Adrienne M DeRosa © 2012 Houzz Design: KEA Design
Dining room - industrial dining room idea in Other

Being handed a clean slate on a Beach Retreat with a 20m lap pool and guest house in the Hamptons NY was undeniably a unique opportunity and to be tasked with reviving it as a haven for hospitality and repose was a true joy. Set on 2 acres of lush greenness and in close proximity to the beach, this California Case Study inspired house is not necessarily what traditional connotations of the Hamptons evoke and consequently needed a truly unique and openminded approach. The brief was to create a retreat – in the true sense of the word. A place where our clients could arrive seamlessly from the hectic everyday to find familiarity and respite in a fully realised sanctuary of welcoming comfort. We chose an understated path of simplicity and tranquillity, responding to the immediate landscape, colours of the environment and orientation of the building to give the interior a strong connection and responsiveness to its location and context. Blue was significant in the palette as a reflection of the surrounding coastline as were hints of yellow and the exterior, painted in a warm grey, allows the home to nestle and balance itself within the lush green surroundings of summer and the icy white snow coverings of winter. Room layouts were re-planned to make the most of the natural light, a new kitchen designed to enable entertaining and the indoor/outdoor aspect of dining was rationalised with a set of 4 identical tables catering for anything from 2 to 20 people – a simple solution but one that enables the balance of intimate retreat with welcoming hospitality. The large Roy Lichtenstein “wallpaper” became the focal point of the living room – a giant visual reminder of the simple human need to create spaces for pleasure and reflection – it mirrors what we’ve achieved in this home’s expression of seclusion and relaxed aesthetic, while embracing our client’s passion for contemporary art. Overall, the concept embraces and enhances the house’s open airy feeling and extensive decks – creating cheerful, sheltered spaces with a richly layered yet casual holiday atmosphere. This, in turn, encourages a true appreciation of the lush and enviable surroundings, maximising the affect of “getting away from it all”. Photography: Jonny Valiant

Design ideas for a traditional full sun landscaping in San Francisco for summer.

Lucas Allen
Study room - large traditional freestanding desk dark wood floor study room idea in Jacksonville with blue walls

Inspiration for a coastal light wood floor family room remodel in Birmingham

Being handed a clean slate on a Beach Retreat with a 20m lap pool and guest house in the Hamptons NY was undeniably a unique opportunity and to be tasked with reviving it as a haven for hospitality and repose was a true joy. Set on 2 acres of lush greenness and in close proximity to the beach, this California Case Study inspired house is not necessarily what traditional connotations of the Hamptons evoke and consequently needed a truly unique and openminded approach. The brief was to create a retreat – in the true sense of the word. A place where our clients could arrive seamlessly from the hectic everyday to find familiarity and respite in a fully realised sanctuary of welcoming comfort. We chose an understated path of simplicity and tranquillity, responding to the immediate landscape, colours of the environment and orientation of the building to give the interior a strong connection and responsiveness to its location and context. Blue was significant in the palette as a reflection of the surrounding coastline as were hints of yellow and the exterior, painted in a warm grey, allows the home to nestle and balance itself within the lush green surroundings of summer and the icy white snow coverings of winter. Room layouts were re-planned to make the most of the natural light, a new kitchen designed to enable entertaining and the indoor/outdoor aspect of dining was rationalised with a set of 4 identical tables catering for anything from 2 to 20 people – a simple solution but one that enables the balance of intimate retreat with welcoming hospitality. The large Roy Lichtenstein “wallpaper” became the focal point of the living room – a giant visual reminder of the simple human need to create spaces for pleasure and reflection – it mirrors what we’ve achieved in this home’s expression of seclusion and relaxed aesthetic, while embracing our client’s passion for contemporary art. Overall, the concept embraces and enhances the house’s open airy feeling and extensive decks – creating cheerful, sheltered spaces with a richly layered yet casual holiday atmosphere. This, in turn, encourages a true appreciation of the lush and enviable surroundings, maximising the affect of “getting away from it all”. Photography: Jonny Valiant

The project starts from the idea and from the willing to create a positive relationship between indoor and outdoor space, in order to emphasize the prime location of the rooftop that benefits of an amazing view over the San Francisco Bay. OUTDOOR SPACES Outdoor spaces are detached by the main central building, so that has naturally appeared to give different connotations to the two areas. So the first space – accessible from the elevator – results to be more representative, with a small and not deep pool that, form an inner view, appears to be a natural pursuation of the windowsill: from the pool or from the interior coworking area, thanks to the glass rail, the look is uninterrupted, reaching the bay. A multilevel weaving pegola partially shades the decking pool, leading the path toward the penthouse entrance. Pergola can be also equipped with polycarbonate louvres to make the path rainproof. The other portion of the outdoor space, attainable only by passing indoor or over the rooftop, is more intimate and for this reason it has been chosen to be a space dedicated to working or lounging. Green and water design the space and interpenetrating the interior space, creating a sort of continuum. This area is equipped with a large coworking/lounging area, a sort of small amphiteatre with benches that also host stools, increasing the number of seating and giving the freedom of using the space. A huge shelf stands on this structure and it is conceived as a single workspace in side – by – side positionsm, with special stool. The path leading to the fire escape has absolutely to be clear for all the time, so it has been highlited with a wooden flooring. In the southern area there is a space bordering a body of water, equipped with shaded daybed and confortable armchairs, both to work or to realax. A stairway, made with cantilevered stairs, leads to the rooftop. INDOOR SPACES Main entrance comes from the terrace, where the elevator reaches; however, the penthouse is attainable also from an inner stairway. Close to this second entrance, two small unisex bathrooms are located. Returning to the main entrance, it is possible to acceed enter the huge open space that occupies almost the entire penthouse. Despite being a single space, it has been divided in many functional areas using partitions and furnitures. Close to the main entrance stands the reception and a L – shape coworking area. This has been equipped with two big hanging desks, looking out of the window toward the bay; there are also two loveseat with high backs, a kind of alcova with a great sense of intimate privacy. The other side of the room, behind the glazing, hosts double coworking stations, separate from each other by the ceiling – height backs seats, custom built. In front of them stands a passing shelf unit, hosting stools to be freely used all over the space. From here it is also possible to enter the conference room, by the secondary entrance. The passing shelf unit and the back of the reception border the area where is located a big table suitable for the coworking; this space is limited also by the back of the lockers, directly accessible from the stairways landing entrance. Lockers structure is specially created also to sustain a wooden louvres false ceiling, giving a sense of itimate privacy to this area. In this first macro – area, it has been decided to highlight the natural lighting provision coming from the glazings using white and just few hint of bright popping colours, helping enhancing creativity. The huge lounging area is characterized by a big skylight, enlightning the leather – couch area; hanging chairs and poufs allow the most freeedom in the space management. This area has a different flooring, using a warm feeling old fashoned style parquet. The loungin area is also bordered by a curve wall, outside leading, letting the green of the terrace entering the open space; this wall also sustains the cantilevered stairs leading to the rooftop. The wooden coating hides the door the leads into the main executive office; this also benefits from the view of a tiny winter garden, enlighted by a skylight. Here colours become softer, natural shades with greys and beige, giving warmth, elegance and comfort to the space. Behind the couch, intettupted by a vertical green wall, a glaze leads to the small kitchen and to the conference room. This room is divided from the kitchen by a wall made of glass and furnitures, also equipped with television. A wooden coated false ceiling overhangs the conference table, hiding the projector; the wall behind the table is coated with a painting imitating a blackboard where it is possibile to write on. No windows have been opened in the perimetric wall, so the facade has not been modified. A curved glass wall, parallel to the wooden coated one, creates a sort of hallway leading both to the terrace than to the two smaller operative offices. Peculiarity of those two rooms is being divided by a glass maneuvrable wall (also eventually soundproof) that, when needed, can be folded to create one unique bigger office.

Being handed a clean slate on a Beach Retreat with a 20m lap pool and guest house in the Hamptons NY was undeniably a unique opportunity and to be tasked with reviving it as a haven for hospitality and repose was a true joy. Set on 2 acres of lush greenness and in close proximity to the beach, this California Case Study inspired house is not necessarily what traditional connotations of the Hamptons evoke and consequently needed a truly unique and openminded approach. The brief was to create a retreat – in the true sense of the word. A place where our clients could arrive seamlessly from the hectic everyday to find familiarity and respite in a fully realised sanctuary of welcoming comfort. We chose an understated path of simplicity and tranquillity, responding to the immediate landscape, colours of the environment and orientation of the building to give the interior a strong connection and responsiveness to its location and context. Blue was significant in the palette as a reflection of the surrounding coastline as were hints of yellow and the exterior, painted in a warm grey, allows the home to nestle and balance itself within the lush green surroundings of summer and the icy white snow coverings of winter. Room layouts were re-planned to make the most of the natural light, a new kitchen designed to enable entertaining and the indoor/outdoor aspect of dining was rationalised with a set of 4 identical tables catering for anything from 2 to 20 people – a simple solution but one that enables the balance of intimate retreat with welcoming hospitality. The large Roy Lichtenstein “wallpaper” became the focal point of the living room – a giant visual reminder of the simple human need to create spaces for pleasure and reflection – it mirrors what we’ve achieved in this home’s expression of seclusion and relaxed aesthetic, while embracing our client’s passion for contemporary art. Overall, the concept embraces and enhances the house’s open airy feeling and extensive decks – creating cheerful, sheltered spaces with a richly layered yet casual holiday atmosphere. This, in turn, encourages a true appreciation of the lush and enviable surroundings, maximising the affect of “getting away from it all”. Photography: Jonny Valiant

Design - Bold-Sky Studios. Photo by KuDa Photography.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Portland.