This homeowner loved her small, cozy house in St. Louis park, but after nearly 20 years, was ready to make the move and undergo a large remodeling project to finally gain the additional living spaces she craved daily. She desperately needed more and better storage, and dreamed of having additional space to support leisure activities such as crafting, a laundry space that didn’t depress her, a guest space, an additional space to flop down at the end of the day and watch TV, and a better, secondary bathroom for daily showering. After living in the house for so many years, a significant basement remodel would actually cost almost as much as the home itself originally was. But after years of planning, preparation and dreaming, it was finally time to take action and make her home better suit her life.

This newly purchased home was the perfect size for our client's growing family. The house, having been expanded on and renovated by the previous owners was the right size but not quite the right style. The house was full of design elements that may have been "cool" in the early 2000s but just didn't feel right for a young family. The master bathroom was in the most serious need of redo with many, many square feet of dingy and somewhat depressing deep red granite tile with diamond accents in black granite. The bathroom felt dark and dingy. Together with our clients, we set out on our mission to efficiently turn this room into an inviting and happy place for our clients. Thankfully the layout of the space was very functional, so we focused on an aesthetic overhall. At the top of the client’s list was to have a beautiful and comfortable freestanding soaker tub. Behind the Kohler tub and throughout the bathroom walls is polished Calacatta Gold marble tile. The new brushed nickel plumbing fixtures are timeless and unfussy, an important thing for busy young parents! The new bathroom is sleek but not stark. A welcoming space for our clients to feel at home.

The rain garden/butterfly garden in late summer. A rain garden is a depression in the ground that is filled with plants. The plants suck up the water from a rain event along with the percolation of the water into the ground keeping the rain water on the property and out of the town's storm water system.

Photographic nature-based art provides a true image of calm, welcoming environments that invite the viewer to relax, even daydream into a sense of ease. Click on the next picture to continue reading………..

Laundry Room Cabinets bright white and beautiful. This large laundry room will be refreshing to walk into for years to come. With a large window adding additional bright light into the room. In addition, hexagon tile lines the floor adding dimension to the room. Perimeter is lined with white painted maple cabinets and Fantasy River marble countertops. A fun retro sink and hardware adds functionality to the laundry room. There is no lack of storage in this laundry room. Furthermore, lining the top of the washer and dryer with marble tops add additional workspace for folding and managing the loads of laundry. Which will be a great help on this busy ranch. White Painted Maple Cabinets and Marble Countertops complete in Client Project Laundry Room New Construction ~ Thank you for sharing! Client Remarks on the BBB “Wonderful company. Easy to work with and best prices in town.” Laundry rooms can feel dark and depressing. When designing your laundry can be just as important as your kitchen and bath. Creating productivity can begin with the overall design elements. Simply creating a space that is bright and refreshing can be the difference in enjoyment and dread. Not only for yourself but for your family. Engagement begins in a space that is fun and exciting to be in. Begin by choosing colors that brighten up the laundry. In addition, to choosing cabinetry that provides adequate storage can make working in your laundry fun and rewarding. Adding floating shelves to support those needed quick access items within reach. With many flooring options available from tile to luxury vinyl tile can create warmth through colors or wood looks. In addition, to brighten the space with bright whites and accents. Finally, purchasing electric floor warming for those bare feet can make your toes happy and content. Creating a workspace for your laundry room that is functional and beautiful can shift the mind into enjoying tasks rather than dreading them. Find your locally owned Home Improvement Store, let one of our designers assist in choosing materials and design your laundry room. Find French Creek Designs, on MeWe or Facebook, and follow us! In addition, read more about our process and read regular updates on client projects and updated materials selections and choices at FCD News a reliable source of information and current trends.

Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Wallpaper by Tres Tintas Barcelona. Exclusively available at NewWall.com | Painted delicately in watercolour, sprigs of ferns and butterflies in flight enliven this cheerful scene of a new season. This Spring is full of light, thanks in part to metallic butterfly wings and the true beauty of nature.

Stan & Andrea Mussman with Mussman Design Associates refaced the cabinets in this dated 1970's kitchen. The island is new. Dark depressing wood beams and the dated plastic panel lighting in the ceiling were removed, and updated with new "with it" lighting. Crown was added. Typically the designers would recommend slab counter tops. The client opted for granite tiles to fit the espresso machine in the budget. To truly appreciate the remarkable transformation of this kitchen, be sure to review the before/after on the designer's website. Photo: Stan Mussman

Photo: Alexandra Crafton © 2017 Houzz
Living room - eclectic living room idea in Boston

This challenging kitchen came our way at the same time as another similarly located Centennial kitchen. It was apparent that both houses had been built by the same builder: tight space, low ceilings, awkward arrangement, and poor building materials. Our client here is a single mother of three boys with an incredibly demanding work life. Once finally home at the end of a busy day, our client was virtually unable to use her kitchen. Cabinet doors were falling off, limited storage and workspace offered her little opportunity to cook and prep for her children, and the dark and low ceiling created an atmosphere that can only be described as depressing. Our client is also from Louisiana and has always dreamed of a kitchen that reminds her of home warmth and hospitality. Our goal was not only to expand functional storage and workspace, but bring in the southern NOLA appeal that reminds our client so much of home. To do this, we removed the wall between the formal dining room and kitchen to create an extended kitchen that runs the full length of both spaces. The back wall of what used to be the dining room is now the cooking zone for our client: we've relocated her range and microwave, and have created an island full of storage where her children can sit and socialize. We've also lifted up the low ceiling to create a tray ceiling that we have finished with ghostwood. The cabinetry is an off-white color with a hazelnut glaze that offers a more traditional, warm appearance. The island and mini work nook feature dramatic, handmade tin ceiling tiles for a dramatic texture and color. We've finished the space with functional quartz countertops and an arabesque two-toned marble backspalsh. The sinks, faucets and hardware are all in a matte black finish that offer a dramatic pop throughout the space. Little touches of Parisian flair add to this Cajun-French aesthetic and we are so thrilled with the final result!

The outside already had a bunch of character, but was quite depressing and dark. Cedar shakes were added along with painting the outside.
Example of an exterior home design in Minneapolis

Photo of a landscaping in Phoenix.

This remodel took a dated and cramped bathroom and transformed it into a classy oasis for our Lowry clients. The clients had a limited budget and wanted to leave the space as in-place as possible. However, the large drop in tub ate valuable floor space and a half wall between the shower and tub had become a holding place for random items without a home. The thick frame on the shower glass made the shower feel extremely small, and the dated lighting and fixtures further depressed the space. We proposed a traditional and elegant design that consider the client's budgetary and spatial constraints. We removed the existing drop-in tub and replaced it with a lovely free-standing soaker. The length of this tub is short, but the depth is exaggerated, making it an ideal replacement in this tiny footprint. The shower glass was swapped for framless glass that boldly expands space. We tore out the existing carpet and installed gorgeous wood-look tile that adds depth and warmth to the room. The clients opted to keep their existing vanity to save cost, so a new top was added to bring the aesthetic up to the level of the new additions. The wall paint was taken from a buttery yellow to a soft gray-green, accented by a darker version of this same color on the siding barn door and toilet room door. New vanity lights, faucets, and storage shelves were installed to help our clients organize and keep things off the counter tops. Finally, new custom up-down window shades were curated for the bathroom to add to the final touch. This space is a simple scope with a dramatic transformation that introduces a timeless look for years to come.

This remodel took a dated and cramped bathroom and transformed it into a classy oasis for our Lowry clients. The clients had a limited budget and wanted to leave the space as in-place as possible. However, the large drop in tub ate valuable floor space and a half wall between the shower and tub had become a holding place for random items without a home. The thick frame on the shower glass made the shower feel extremely small, and the dated lighting and fixtures further depressed the space. We proposed a traditional and elegant design that consider the client's budgetary and spatial constraints. We removed the existing drop-in tub and replaced it with a lovely free-standing soaker. The length of this tub is short, but the depth is exaggerated, making it an ideal replacement in this tiny footprint. The shower glass was swapped for framless glass that boldly expands space. We tore out the existing carpet and installed gorgeous wood-look tile that adds depth and warmth to the room. The clients opted to keep their existing vanity to save cost, so a new top was added to bring the aesthetic up to the level of the new additions. The wall paint was taken from a buttery yellow to a soft gray-green, accented by a darker version of this same color on the siding barn door and toilet room door. New vanity lights, faucets, and storage shelves were installed to help our clients organize and keep things off the counter tops. Finally, new custom up-down window shades were curated for the bathroom to add to the final touch. This space is a simple scope with a dramatic transformation that introduces a timeless look for years to come.

This newly purchased home was the perfect size for our client's growing family. The house, having been expanded on and renovated by the previous owners was the right size but not quite the right style. The house was full of design elements that may have been "cool" in the early 2000s but just didn't feel right for a young family. The master bathroom was in the most serious need of redo with many, many square feet of dingy and somewhat depressing deep red granite tile with diamond accents in black granite. The bathroom felt dark and dingy. Together with our clients, we set out on our mission to efficiently turn this room into an inviting and happy place for our clients. Thankfully the layout of the space was very functional, so we focused on an aesthetic overhall. At the top of the client’s list was to have a beautiful and comfortable freestanding soaker tub. Behind the Kohler tub and throughout the bathroom walls is polished Calacatta Gold marble tile. The new brushed nickel plumbing fixtures are timeless and unfussy, an important thing for busy young parents! The new bathroom is sleek but not stark. A welcoming space for our clients to feel at home.

This home is so far removed from how it originally looked when the homeowners purchased it several years ago. Each space was closed off with dark walls and ceilings, insufficient lighting, and few windows. “I feel so depressed in this space” the wife said during her first interview with the designer. “I need light!” After removing several walls, adding large expansive picture windows, new lighting, and fresh colors, even before the furnishings arrived, the space was dramatically uplifted. Light floods through the giant windows showing off a gorgeous outdoor landscape and pool. New furnishings mixed with some existing items define each space and add fun pops of fresh happy colors.

The site for this waterfront residence is located on the Great Neck Peninsula, facing west to views of NYC and the borough bridges. When purchased, there existed a 50-year-old house and pool structurally condemned which required immediate removal. Once the site was cleared, a year was devoted to stabilizing the seawall and hill to accommodate the newly proposed home. The lot size, shape and relationship to an easement access road, overlaid with strict zoning regulations was a key factor in the organization of the client’s program elements. The arc contour of the easement road and required setback informed the front facade shape, which was designed as a privacy screen, as adjacent homes are in close proximity. Due to strict height requirements the house from the street appears to be one story and then steps down the hill allowing for three fully occupiable floors. The local jurisdiction also granted special approval accepting the design of the garage, within the front set back, as its roof is level with the roadbed and fully landscaped. A path accesses a hidden door to the bedroom level of the house. The garage is accessed through a semicircular driveway that leads to a depressed entry courtyard, offering privacy to the main entrance. The configuration of the home is a U-shape surrounding a rear courtyard. This shape, along with suspended pods assures water views to all occupants while not compromising privacy from the adjacent homes. The house is constructed on a steel frame, clad with fiber cement, resin panels and an aluminum curtain wall system. All roofs are accessible as either decks or landscaped garden areas. The lower level accesses decks, an outdoor kitchen, and pool area which are perched on the edge of the upper retaining wall.

A classic pre-depression residence in the heart of Montreal is updated by removing the servants quarters and a redundant service stair to create a stunning contemporary interior to showcase the clients artwork and focus on family. David Giral Photography

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Toronto