Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic dining room design in Austin

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area and screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for a shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear-facing exercise has great views of the lake through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below.

Photo by Daniel O'Connor Photography
Family room - small transitional open concept family room idea in Denver with white walls

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Photograph by Alan Abramowitz
Large contemporary two-story metal exterior home idea in Seattle

Project Developer Jim Wrenn http://www.houzz.com/pro/jwrenn1/jim-wrenn-case-design-remodeling-inc Designer Stephanie Dickens http://www.houzz.com/pro/sdickens1/stephanie-dickens-case-design-remodeling-inc Project Manager Rich Gettys Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

After completing their son’s room, we decided to continue the designing in my client’s master bathroom in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Not only were the finishes completely overhauled, but the space plan was reconfigured too. They no longer wanted their soaking tub and requested a larger shower with a rain head and more counter top space and cabinetry. The couple wanted something that was not too trendy and desired a space that would look classic and stand the test of time. What better way to give them that than with marble, white cabinets and a chandelier to boot? This newly renovated master bath now features Cambria quartz counters, custom white cabinetry, marble flooring in a diamond pattern with mini-mosaic accents, a classic subway marble shower surround, frameless glass, new recessed and accent lighting, chrome fixtures, a coat of fresh grey paint on the walls and a few accessories to make the space feel complete.

Kevin Reeves, Photographer Updated kitchen with center island with chat-seating. Spigot just for dog bowl. Towel rack that can act as a grab bar. Flush white cabinetry with mosaic tile accents. Top cornice trim is actually horizontal mechanical vent. Semi-retired, art-oriented, community-oriented couple that entertain wanted a space to fit their lifestyle and needs for the next chapter in their lives. Driven by aging-in-place considerations - starting with a residential elevator - the entire home is gutted and re-purposed to create spaces to support their aesthetics and commitments. Kitchen island with a water spigot for the dog. "His" office off "Her" kitchen. Automated shades on the skylights. A hidden room behind a bookcase. Hanging pulley-system in the laundry room. Towel racks that also work as grab bars. A lot of catalyzed-finish built-in cabinetry and some window seats. Televisions on swinging wall brackets. Magnet board in the kitchen next to the stainless steel refrigerator. A lot of opportunities for locating artwork. Comfortable and bright. Cozy and stylistic. They love it.

Designer: Allen Construction General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Example of a mid-century modern open concept concrete floor living room design in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Toni Deis Photography
Transitional medium tone wood floor great room photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Small arts and crafts 3/4 beige tile, brown tile and stone tile ceramic tile and beige floor corner bathtub photo in New York with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, a wall-mount sink, solid surface countertops and a hinged shower door

Our clients for this project are a professional couple with a young family. They approached us to help with extending and improving their home in London SW2 to create an enhanced space both aesthetically and functionally for their growing family. We were appointed to provide a full architectural and interior design service, including the design of some bespoke furniture too. A core element of the brief was to design a kitchen living and dining space that opened into the garden and created clear links from inside to out. This new space would provide a large family area they could enjoy all year around. We were also asked to retain the good bits of the current period living spaces while creating a more modern day area in an extension to the rear. It was also a key requirement to refurbish the upstairs bathrooms while the extension and refurbishment works were underway. The solution was a 21m2 extension to the rear of the property that mirrored the neighbouring property in shape and size. However, we added some additional features, such as the projecting glass box window seat. The new kitchen features a large island unit to create a workspace with storage, but also room for seating that is perfect for entertaining friends, or homework when the family gets to that age. The sliding folding doors, paired with floor tiling that ran from inside to out, created a clear link from the garden to the indoor living space. Exposed brick blended with clean white walls creates a very contemporary finish throughout the extension, while the period features have been retained in the original parts of the house.

Inspiration for a large contemporary master beige tile and stone tile limestone floor and beige floor freestanding bathtub remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet, beige walls and an undermount sink

This remodel project in Kirkland involved a new chef’s kitchen, updated family room and fully transformed bathrooms. The once dark and dated kitchen was completely reimagined by brightening the space, reconfiguring the island to create a larger and more usable cooking area and maximizing the storage throughout by adding custom floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. The transformed bathrooms find the perfect balance of design harmony and practicality through creative layout enhancements coupled with a charming modern farmhouse vibe.

Matthew Millman
Elegant built-in desk dark wood floor study room photo in San Francisco

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz
Classic porch idea in Los Angeles

Josh Thornton
Large eclectic multicolored floor hallway photo in Chicago with pink walls

Madeline Tolle Design by Tandem Designs
Inspiration for a 1960s open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with a stone fireplace, white walls and a ribbon fireplace

This elegant bathroom features a white double sink vanity with a grey countertop, a freestanding bathtub, and a tiled shower with a sliding glass door system. Matte white porcelain tiles were installed for the shower surround and a wavy tile was installed for the shower niche. Dark grey porcelain tile was installed for the washroom floor. The homeowners selected mismatched (his and hers) bathroom mirrors for their double sink vanity.