Example of a huge classic l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen pantry design with an island, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances

Jane Beiles
Powder room - small transitional gray tile, white tile and mosaic tile marble floor powder room idea in New York with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Backyard screen porch with deck. Sky lights in porch. French door access to great room and dog room. White porch with black railing.
Huge elegant screened-in back porch photo in Raleigh with decking and a roof extension

Tyler Homes has redefined the farmhouse with this two-story home. Elements like the wide front porch and board-and-batten siding echo traditional design, but modern features throughout the home give this farmhouse an urban feel. Knotty alder trim, hardwood floors, and sliding barn doors continue the rural theme on the main floor. The home’s galley-style kitchen with walk-in pantry, the vaulted great room, and a two-story fireplace add contemporary styling accented by rich wood trim and stone and iron accents. The first-floor master suite boasts a luxurious bath with doorless tile shower, and the walk-in closet offers access to the laundry room. Upstairs, two more bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bath, and a loft area overlooks the two-story entry and great room. On the walkout lower level, farm-style touches include wood trim and brick accents, but the space is clearly designed for contemporary living with its sunken family room, bar, and game room. A fourth bedroom and full bath complete the level.

By sacrificing a whirlpool tub and one of the sinks in the existing layout, the team was able to open up the space and create a plan to better suit the couple’s lifestyle. A new spacious barrier free shower includes a hidden product niche, double showerheads and a sleek linear drain detail. A bench seat and hand held showerhead on a slide bar supports future accessibility needs. Tricia Shay Photography

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

... DIY Tips continued 6. If you have a Bullfrog Spa (A or R series), while you drain the water in the hot tub, open all lower valves on your JetPaks to allow water to drain from each of these. Once drained, close the JetPak valves; 7. Use a wet vacuum or shop vacuum to vacuum the plumbing lines; on wet vacuums, use the blow setting first and then the suction setting; 8. Loosen them and disconnect the unions on the pumps and remove the plugs from the pumps; 9. When bone dry, clean the hot tub interior; 11. Add hot tub anti-freeze in the filter line; 12. Reattach the access panel; 13. Remove filter cartridge(s) and clean. Do not reinstall; ...more www.besthottubs.com

This staircase creates a seamless transition from the first floor to the basement, defined by clean architectural lines and a balanced mix of warm wood and custom black iron railing. The open railing design maintains visual flow between levels while adding a modern, sculptural element to the stairwell. Soft neutral walls and consistent flooring enhance continuity throughout the home, ensuring the staircase feels intentional, refined, and integrated into the overall interior design.

Surrounded by trees to the north and old farm buildings, the Agnew Farmhouse naturally took shape to capture the expansive southern views of the prairie on which it resides. Inspired from the rural venacular of the property, the home was designed for an engaged couple looking to spend their days on the family farm. Built next to the original house on the property, a story of past, present, and future continues to be written. The south facing porch is shaded by the upper level and offers easy access from yard to the heart of the home. North Dakota offers challenging weather, so naturally a south-west facing garage to melt the snow from the driveway is often required. This also allowed for the the garage to be hidden from sight as you approach the home from the NE. Respecting its surroundings, the home emphasizes modern design and simple farmer logic to create a home for the couple to begin their marriage and grow old together. Cheers to what was, what is, and what's to come... Tim Anderson

The cooking wall from a complete Yorba Linda kitchen remodel. Coastline Builders Group's cabinet shop built the sculpted hood surround and the glass-front corner cabinets flanking it, and our stone fabricator ran the quartzite backsplash full height behind the range so the slab veining reads as one continuous panel. Unlacquered brass hardware and Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige cabinetry carry the palette through. Full-height slab work rewards planning — outlet placement, hood venting, and seam location all have to be resolved before the stone is cut.

The vinyl planks continue around the shaped basement wall, with white baseboards following the perimeter. Warm grain variation and neatly aligned trim give this small corner the same coordinated finish as the larger recreation and exercise space. Cedarstone Renovations transformed this East York basement into a versatile finished space for exercise and relaxing. Vinyl plank flooring, bright recessed lighting and clean white finishes create a usable lower level, with a pocket door providing access to the boiler room. Explore basement finishing, home-gym spaces and interior renovations at www.cedarstonereno.com.

A close-up shows the basement floor’s mix of light and medium wood tones, with staggered joints giving the planks a varied pattern. The vinyl surface brings a warm wood appearance to the finished lower level and ties the open areas together. Cedarstone Renovations transformed this East York basement into a versatile finished space for exercise and relaxing. Vinyl plank flooring, bright recessed lighting and clean white finishes create a usable lower level, with a pocket door providing access to the boiler room. Explore basement finishing, home-gym spaces and interior renovations at www.cedarstonereno.com.

Surrounded by trees to the north and old farm buildings, the Agnew Farmhouse naturally took shape to capture the expansive southern views of the prairie on which it resides. Inspired from the rural venacular of the property, the home was designed for an engaged couple looking to spend their days on the family farm. Built next to the original house on the property, a story of past, present, and future continues to be written. The south facing porch is shaded by the upper level and offers easy access from yard to the heart of the home. North Dakota offers challenging weather, so naturally a south-west facing garage to melt the snow from the driveway is often required. This also allowed for the the garage to be hidden from sight as you approach the home from the NE. Respecting its surroundings, the home emphasizes modern design and simple farmer logic to create a home for the couple to begin their marriage and grow old together. Cheers to what was, what is, and what's to come... Tim Anderson

Surrounded by trees to the north and old farm buildings, the Agnew Farmhouse naturally took shape to capture the expansive southern views of the prairie on which it resides. Inspired from the rural venacular of the property, the home was designed for an engaged couple looking to spend their days on the family farm. Built next to the original house on the property, a story of past, present, and future continues to be written. The south facing porch is shaded by the upper level and offers easy access from yard to the heart of the home. North Dakota offers challenging weather, so naturally a south-west facing garage to melt the snow from the driveway is often required. This also allowed for the the garage to be hidden from sight as you approach the home from the NE. Respecting its surroundings, the home emphasizes modern design and simple farmer logic to create a home for the couple to begin their marriage and grow old together. Cheers to what was, what is, and what's to come... Tim Anderson

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

A ground up design and build of a modern seven bedroom primary residence incorporating sustainable design principles built for an international family of four. The concept revolved around the need for environmental sustainability while having plentiful communal spaces to create ease for a vibrant family and their guests. Equally important was that the private spaces functioned as a retreat. Natural light creates shifting patterns on the opposing wall of the glass paned hallway leading from the main house past the guest bedrooms and to the master suite. Subtle color palette and interior design use contrasting tactile elements to create an environment of luxury and accessibility. The views of the pool and garden through the large and continuous windows enable an ever-present connection to nature.

This incredible wine cellar is every wine enthusiast's dream! The large vertical capacity provided by the InVinity Wine Racks gives this room the look of floating bottles. The tinted glass window into the master closet gives added dimension to this space. It is the perfect spot to select your favorite red or white. The 4 bottle WineStation suits those who just want to enjoy their wine by the glass. The expansive bar and prep area with quartz counter top, glass cabinets and copper apron front sink is a great place to pop a top! Space design by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Wine Cellar Design by WineTrend | Photography by Versatile Imaging