In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Grand Rapids

photo by Peter Murdock
Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk light wood floor home office design in New York with white walls

Primary bathroom renovation in Bay Creek, Cape Charles, Virginia. Designed as a serene coastal retreat, this timeless bathroom features custom white oak vanities, shiplap wall detailing, marble-inspired flooring, and a hand-glazed blue and green tile shower inspired by the surrounding bay. Champagne bronze fixtures add warmth and refinement, while integrated storage enhances everyday functionality. Soft coastal tones, natural materials, and thoughtful details create a relaxing, light-filled space that balances luxury, comfort, and practicality.

Andrew Kist A 750 square foot top floor apartment is transformed from a cramped and musty two bedroom into a sun-drenched aerie with a second floor home office recaptured from an old storage loft. Multiple skylights and a large picture window allow light to fill the space altering the feeling throughout the days and seasons. Views of New York Harbor, previously ignored, are now a daily event. Featured in the Fall 2016 issue of Domino, and on Refinery 29.

Tracey Ayton
Inspiration for a contemporary master gray tile and marble tile bathroom remodel in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, gray walls, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

This elegant home remodel created a bright, transitional farmhouse charm, replacing the old, cramped setup with a functional, family-friendly design. We transformed the cramped kitchen into a spacious, functional area for a growing family. A dreamy farmhouse sink island graces the kitchen, complemented by creamy white trim, light wood flooring, and stained accents. Key design elements include painted mesh inserts in select cabinet doors, a recessed niche above the range, a stunning stained mantel, and a tall faux cabinet for added storage. ---Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

This dreamy bath retreat centers around a luxurious wet room with a freestanding tub and gleaming brass fixtures, offering the essence of a private in-home spa. The vanity showcases stunning accent tile, Rift-Cut White Oak cabinetry in a weathered finish, and shimmery fluted sconces that cast a warm, elegant glow. Notable furnishings & materials: - Lightology - Master Bath Sconces / Fluted in Brass Finish - Top Knobs Honey Bronze Pulls - Cabinetry: Rift Cut White Oak in Weathered Finish - TABLEAU BY KELLY WEARSTLER through Ann Sacks - Earthenware - Tableau is singularly chic with rich textures and iconic patterns. - Countertop - All Natural Stone Porcelain Slab - White porcelain slab with subtle light gray veining - Shower Walls - All Natural Stone - Porcelain, Color/Finish: Fairy White Lucido - Wetroom Floor - TILE BAR - Aspekt Calacatta Hexagon Honed Marble

Danish bathroom photo in San Francisco

This single family home came with a recently updated kitchen, but a cramped living space and obtrusive fireplace. We kept the furniture simple and clean with a Scandinavian bent, changed out kitchen pendants and stools to make it more modern, and transformed the adjacent room to a bright home office. We also created a sweet and simple nursery for their newest addition.

Inspiration for a contemporary home office remodel in Seattle

This elegant home remodel created a bright, transitional farmhouse charm, replacing the old, cramped setup with a functional, family-friendly design. We transformed the cramped kitchen into a spacious, functional area for a growing family. A dreamy farmhouse sink island graces the kitchen, complemented by creamy white trim, light wood flooring, and stained accents. Key design elements include painted mesh inserts in select cabinet doors, a recessed niche above the range, a stunning stained mantel, and a tall faux cabinet for added storage. ---Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

mid century modern vintage table, leather chairs, mustard accent chairs, herringbone pattern cow hide rug, brass with clear glass (arms), Century ceiling medallion, giant fiddle fig leaf, Coffered ceilings

counter-top is Fiandre Maximum Calacatta, polished large format porcelain slabs
Huge trendy galley porcelain tile eat-in kitchen photo in San Diego with porcelain backsplash, an island, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

This home is a modern farmhouse on the outside with an open-concept floor plan and nautical/midcentury influence on the inside! From top to bottom, this home was completely customized for the family of four with five bedrooms and 3-1/2 bathrooms spread over three levels of 3,998 sq. ft. This home is functional and utilizes the space wisely without feeling cramped. Some of the details that should be highlighted in this home include the 5” quartersawn oak floors, detailed millwork including ceiling beams, abundant natural lighting, and a cohesive color palate. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders Andrea Rugg Photography

A grand Larchmont Tudor with original millwork and details was ready for a new kitchen after raising the kids and spending decades cooking in a cramped dark kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client achieve a look that blended perfectly with the Tudor home. The kitchen was bumped out a bit to open up the space, and new millwork was designed to bring the original Tudor charm into the modernized kitchen space. A geometric Ann Sacks tile introduces shape and texture to the space, and a little modern edginess, while the cabinetry and doors reflect the old world motifs of a Tudor revival. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

CHIPPER HATTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Omaha with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone slab backsplash and a peninsula

This master bathroom was completely renovated and expanded to reflect the airy, eclectic-modern design aesthetic we were implementing throughout the rest of this client’s home. Their existing master bath had luxurious finishes, but was a cramped and small space with a disadvantageous layout. By breaking through walls and absorbing a second bathroom behind the master, we were able to create an open, ample layout that offered the features these clients sought - a generous and bright space with a two person shower, a soaking tub, and separate vanity areas with plenty of storage.

Emily Minton Redfield
Living room - eclectic medium tone wood floor living room idea in Denver with white walls and a wood stove