This adorable beach cottage is in the heart of the village of La Jolla in San Diego. The goals were to brighten up the space and be the perfect beach get-away for the client whose permanent residence is in Arizona. Some of the ways we achieved the goals was to place an extra high custom board and batten in the great room and by refinishing the kitchen cabinets (which were in excellent shape) white. We created interest through extreme proportions and contrast. Though there are a lot of white elements, they are all offset by a smaller portion of very dark elements. We also played with texture and pattern through wallpaper, natural reclaimed wood elements and rugs. This was all kept in balance by using a simplified color palate minimal layering. I am so grateful for this client as they were extremely trusting and open to ideas. To see what the space looked like before the remodel you can go to the gallery page of the website www.cmnaturaldesigns.com Photography by: Chipper Hatter

Open concept kitchen - large transitional marble floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Austin with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash and recessed-panel cabinets

Traditional white two-story brick gable roof idea in Raleigh

Mid-sized country white two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof idea in Raleigh with a metal roof

A new Seattle modern house designed by chadbourne + doss architects houses a couple and their 18 bicycles. 3 floors connect indoors and out and provide panoramic views of Lake Washington. photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Photo Credit: Treve Johnson Photography
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances, an island and white countertops

Mid-Century Remodel on Tabor Hill This sensitively sited house was designed by Robert Coolidge, a renowned architect and grandson of President Calvin Coolidge. The house features a symmetrical gable roof and beautiful floor to ceiling glass facing due south, smartly oriented for passive solar heating. Situated on a steep lot, the house is primarily a single story that steps down to a family room. This lower level opens to a New England exterior. Our goals for this project were to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating more modern spaces. Our design team worked to envision what Coolidge himself might have designed if he'd had access to modern materials and fixtures. With the aim of creating a signature space that ties together the living, dining, and kitchen areas, we designed a variation on the 1950's "floating kitchen." In this inviting assembly, the kitchen is located away from exterior walls, which allows views from the floor-to-ceiling glass to remain uninterrupted by cabinetry. We updated rooms throughout the house; installing modern features that pay homage to the fine, sleek lines of the original design. Finally, we opened the family room to a terrace featuring a fire pit. Since a hallmark of our design is the diminishment of the hard line between interior and exterior, we were especially pleased for the opportunity to update this classic work.

Staircase in the entryway of a Cape Cod home. To honor the stunning views, the foyer provides a direct sightline through the great room to the ocean. Photography by Sam Gray.

j.rae photography
Example of a transitional built-in desk dark wood floor study room design in Charlotte with gray walls

Trent Bell Photography
Transitional brown two-story wood gable roof idea in Portland Maine

Large arts and crafts green one-story vinyl house exterior photo with a shingle roof

Mediterranean beige two-story exterior home idea in San Francisco with a hip roof

A view from the driveway highlighting the stone wall, crabapple trees and the entrance to the new farm. Photo Credit: Robert Benson
Inspiration for a large country red two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Boston

Farmhouse brown floor entryway photo in Minneapolis with white walls

The kitchen in this Mid Century Modern home is a true showstopper. The designer expanded the original kitchen footprint and doubled the kitchen in size. The walnut dividing wall and walnut cabinets are hallmarks of the original mid century design, while a mix of deep blue cabinets provide a more modern punch. The triangle shape is repeated throughout the kitchen in the backs of the counter stools, the ends of the waterfall island, the light fixtures, the clerestory windows, and the walnut dividing wall.

John Sciarrino
Large elegant dark wood floor and brown floor hallway photo in Miami with beige walls

Jimmy White
Large trendy open concept dark wood floor family room photo in Tampa with beige walls, no fireplace and a concealed tv

Example of a large arts and crafts gray two-story stucco gable roof design in Kansas City with a shingle roof

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary concrete floor and brown floor great room remodel in Milwaukee with a two-sided fireplace and white walls