Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept medium tone wood floor, brown floor, vaulted ceiling and wood ceiling living room remodel in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Creative shelving above the stairs adds entryway storage in a fresh way.
Example of a small trendy medium tone wood floor staircase design in Nashville with white walls

Family room - mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room idea in Boise with blue walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Before renovating, this bright and airy family kitchen was small, cramped and dark. The dining room was being used for spillover storage, and there was hardly room for two cooks in the kitchen. By knocking out the wall separating the two rooms, we created a large kitchen space with plenty of storage, space for cooking and baking, and a gathering table for kids and family friends. The dark navy blue cabinets set apart the area for baking, with a deep, bright counter for cooling racks, a tiled niche for the mixer, and pantries dedicated to baking supplies. The space next to the beverage center was used to create a beautiful eat-in dining area with an over-sized pendant and provided a stunning focal point visible from the front entry. Touches of brass and iron are sprinkled throughout and tie the entire room together. Photography by Stacy Zarin

River Oaks, 2014 - Remodel and Additions
Kitchen pantry - traditional galley beige floor kitchen pantry idea in Houston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble countertops, marble backsplash, no island, gray backsplash and gray countertops

Alcove shower - large contemporary master gray floor and single-sink alcove shower idea in Houston with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an integrated sink, white countertops, a niche and a floating vanity

Finch Photo

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Transitional women's carpeted and beige floor dressing room photo in Austin with open cabinets and white cabinets

Inspiration for a transitional 3/4 white tile alcove shower remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, a two-piece toilet, green walls and blue cabinets

Custom steel shelves are cantilevered from a grey lacquered millwork wall. All of the computer peripherals are stored inside the white oak cabinets. A cable management system and integrated power inside the cabinet and on the desk top keep the surfaces clear or clutter.

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Dallas with gray walls and a standard fireplace

Kitchen - contemporary light wood floor kitchen idea in Miami with white walls and an island

Alan Blakely
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Salt Lake City with recessed-panel cabinets, marble countertops, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, beige cabinets, white backsplash and white countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional gray floor and porcelain tile mudroom remodel in San Francisco with gray walls and a white front door

Conceptually the Clark Street remodel began with an idea of creating a new entry. The existing home foyer was non-existent and cramped with the back of the stair abutting the front door. By defining an exterior point of entry and creating a radius interior stair, the home instantly opens up and becomes more inviting. From there, further connections to the exterior were made through large sliding doors and a redesigned exterior deck. Taking advantage of the cool coastal climate, this connection to the exterior is natural and seamless Photos by Zack Benson

McManus Photography
Home office - mid-sized traditional freestanding desk dark wood floor home office idea in Charleston with beige walls

Raft Island Kitchen Redesign & Remodel Project Overview Located in the beautiful Puget Sound this project began with functionality in mind. The original kitchen was built custom for a very tall person, The custom countertops were not functional for the busy family that purchased the home. The new design has clean lines with elements of nature . The custom oak cabinets were locally made. The stain is a custom blend. The reclaimed island was made from local material. ..the floating shelves and beams are also reclaimed lumber. The island counter top and hood is NEOLITH in Iron Copper , a durable porcelain counter top material The counter tops along the perimeter of the kitchen is Lapitec. The design is original, textured, inviting, brave & complimentary. ​Photos by Julie Mannell Photography

Design: JL Interior Design; Photos: Thomas Kuoh
Inspiration for a small coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and white countertops