Ocean front home first floor hall features white wainscotting with dark walnut hardwood floors and a traditional staircase with walnut stair treads. Walnut floors are custom made by Hull Forest Products, www.hullforest.com. 1-800-928-9602.

Michael Hsu
Alcove shower - large contemporary master white tile and stone tile dark wood floor alcove shower idea in Austin with open cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Wide plank Hickory flooring and matching custom stair treads - sawn in the USA and available mill-direct from Hull Forest Products - www.hullforest.com. 1-800-928-9602. Photo by Matt Delphenich Architectural Photography

Popular Scandinavian-style interiors blog 'These Four Walls' has collaborated with Kährs for a scandi-inspired, soft and minimalist living room makeover. Kährs worked with founder Abi Dare to find the perfect hard wearing and stylish floor to work alongside minimalist decor. Kährs' ultra matt 'Oak Sky' engineered wood floor design was the perfect fit. "I was keen on the idea of pale Nordic oak and ordered all sorts of samples, but none seemed quite right – until a package arrived from Swedish brand Kährs, that is. As soon as I took a peek at ‘Oak Sky’ ultra matt lacquered boards I knew they were the right choice – light but not overly so, with a balance of ashen and warmer tones and a beautiful grain. It creates the light, Scandinavian vibe that I love, but it doesn’t look out of place in our Victorian house; it also works brilliantly with the grey walls. I also love the matte finish, which is very hard wearing but has none of the shininess normally associated with lacquer" says Abi. Oak Sky is the lightest oak design from the Kährs Lux collection of one-strip ultra matt lacquer floors. The semi-transparent white stain and light and dark contrasts in the wood makes the floor ideal for a scandi-chic inspired interior. The innovative surface treatment is non-reflective; enhancing the colour of the floor while giving it a silky, yet strong shield against wear and tear. Kährs' Lux collection won 'Best Flooring' at the House Beautiful Awards 2017. Kährs have collaborated with These Four Walls and feature in two blog posts; My soft, minimalist living room makeover reveal and How to choose wooden flooring. All photography by Abi Dare, Founder of These Four Walls

Inspiration for a living room remodel in New York

Here is a floor we refinished at Lake Norman. We stained the oak floor a combination of Dark Walnut and English Chestnut. Polyurethane with a satin sheen was applied to the floor. Tim Frey

Example of a classic home design design in New York

Installation by Century Custom Hardwood Floor in Los Angeles, CA
Example of a large minimalist enclosed home theater design in Los Angeles with gray walls

Inspiration for a staircase remodel in New York

Homeowner needed more light, more room, more style. We knocked out the wall between kitchen and dining room and replaced old window with a larger one. New stained cabinets, Soapstone countertops, and full-height tile backsplash turned this once inconvenient,d ark kitchen into an inviting and beautiful space. We relocated the refrigerator and applied cabinet panels. The new duel-fuel range provides the utmost in cooking options. A farm sink brings another appealing design element into the clean-up area. New lighting plan includes undercabinet lighting, recessed lighting in the dining room, and pendant light fixtures over the island. New wood flooring was woven in with existing to create a seamless expanse of beautiful hardwood. New wood beams were stained to match the floor bringing even more warmth and charm to this kitchen.

The kitchen of a new Mediterranean/Transitional style home in Atlanta. Features include custom wood cabinetry (Sherwin Williams Elder White) to the ceiling with soft close feature, quartz countertops (Quartzite Calacatta), stone backsplash (3x6 Valentino White Tile), under cabinet lighting, stainless steel farm sink, and DCS stainless steel appliances including 48" gas range, double drawer dishwasher and double door refrigerator. The huge island overlooks the family room and houses the Sharp Microwave Drawer. The wall color is Popular Gray Flat (SW 6071). Designed by Price Residential Design; Built by Epic Development; Interior Design by Mike Horton; Photo by Brian Gassel

Living room - mid-sized mediterranean dark wood floor living room idea in San Francisco with brown walls and no fireplace

In the first floor bathroom we featured a light colored textured porcelain wood tile surround to the bathroom also installed horizontally.
Transitional medium tone wood floor powder room photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, black cabinets, white walls and white countertops

Julia Valenti
Elegant living room photo in New York

Installation by Century Custom Hardwood Floor in Los Angeles, CA
Huge minimalist dark wood floor hallway photo in Los Angeles

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients and their three teenage kids had outgrown the footprint of their existing home and felt they needed some space to spread out. They came in with a couple of sets of drawings from different architects that were not quite what they were looking for, so we set out to really listen and try to provide a design that would meet their objectives given what the space could offer. We started by agreeing that a bump out was the best way to go and then decided on the size and the floor plan locations of the mudroom, powder room and butler pantry which were all part of the project. We also planned for an eat-in banquette that is neatly tucked into the corner and surrounded by windows providing a lovely spot for daily meals. The kitchen itself is L-shaped with the refrigerator and range along one wall, and the new sink along the exterior wall with a large window overlooking the backyard. A large island, with seating for five, houses a prep sink and microwave. A new opening space between the kitchen and dining room includes a butler pantry/bar in one section and a large kitchen pantry in the other. Through the door to the left of the main sink is access to the new mudroom and powder room and existing attached garage. White inset cabinets, quartzite countertops, subway tile and nickel accents provide a traditional feel. The gray island is a needed contrast to the dark wood flooring. Last but not least, professional appliances provide the tools of the trade needed to make this one hardworking kitchen. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Cooking for Two Location: Plymouth, MN, United States When this couple’s last child graduated from college they began the process of looking for a new home. After a lengthy search they decided to stay with the neighborhood they loved, saving money by remodeling rather than starting over. The top priorities on their wish list were adding character to their 1990’s era home with a classic white kitchen and a larger island while keeping within the existing footprint. With the intention of honing their cooking skills, they were also considering better appliances and two ovens. Challenges and Solutions Design a larger island with seating for at least two. The existing island was small and the area behind the seating was less than recommended clearances. To solve this challenge, the seating area of the island was extended out into the open area of the kitchen. This created a larger island with seating for three, extra storage and a bookshelf across from the range. The original kitchen had a range with microwave above, so adding another oven was a challenge with limited wall space. Because the adjoining dining room is used infrequently, the homeowner was open to placing the second oven and microwave in the walkway. This made room for the small buffet between the built in refrigerator and ovens, creating one of her favorite areas. The client requested a white painted kitchen but wanted to make sure it had warmth and character. To achieve this the following elements were chosen: 1) Cabinets painted with Benjamin Moore Capitol White, a luminous and warm shade of white. 2) The Range hood was painted with warm metallic shades to reflect the bronze of the Ashley Norton hardware. 3) Black Aqua Grantique granite was chosen for countertops because it looks like soapstone and adds contrast. 4) Walker Zanger Café tile in Latte was chosen for it’s handmade look with uneven edges. 5) The to-the-counter-cabinet with glass door shows off serving dishes and lends sophisticated charm. The result is a welcoming classic kitchen, where this couple enjoys cooking more often and sharpening their skills with gourmet appliances. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg Photography

Tricia Shay Photography
Kitchen - contemporary u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in Milwaukee with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

Family room photo in New York