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.

Caroline Allison
Living room - coastal open concept living room idea in Miami with white walls and no fireplace

Hal Kearney, Photographer
Inspiration for a contemporary multicolored tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor alcove bathtub remodel with a console sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets and yellow walls

Dan Conklin
Inspiration for a large transitional dining room remodel with beige walls

This six-bedroom home — all with en-suite bathrooms — is a brand new home on one of Lincoln Park's most desirable streets. The neo-Georgian, brick and limestone façade features well-crafted detailing both inside and out. The lower recreation level is expansive, with 9-foot ceilings throughout. The first floor houses elegant living and dining areas, as well as a large kitchen with attached great room, and the second floor holds an expansive master suite with a spa bath and vast walk-in closets. A grand, elliptical staircase ascends throughout the home, concluding in a sunlit penthouse providing access to an expansive roof deck and sweeping views of the city.. Nathan Kirkman

Family room - country enclosed light wood floor and beige floor family room idea in Orange County with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Nick Sargent of Sargent Photography Interior Design by Insignia Design Group
Transitional living room photo in Miami with a ribbon fireplace

Example of a beach style medium tone wood floor powder room design in Philadelphia with a console sink and beige walls

Bathroom - industrial white tile gray floor bathroom idea in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and a console sink

Jim Tschetter
Great room - contemporary great room idea in Chicago with white walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and enclosed living room design in San Francisco with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor foyer remodel in New York with white walls and a white front door

Transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor, brown floor and coffered ceiling living room photo in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Blackstone Edge Studios
Huge transitional open concept carpeted living room photo in Portland with a stone fireplace, beige walls, a media wall and a standard fireplace

Beach style carpeted and gray floor family room photo in Miami with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Tuscan multicolored floor foyer photo in Phoenix with beige walls and a black front door

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor foyer remodel in New York with white walls and a medium wood front door

Inspiration for a transitional light wood floor powder room remodel in Chicago with a two-piece toilet, black walls and a console sink

Stephani Buchman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary black tile, black and white tile, multicolored tile and white tile multicolored floor powder room remodel in Toronto with multicolored walls and a console sink