Genia Barnes
Example of an eclectic living room design in San Francisco

Photo by Adza
Example of a small eclectic dark wood floor entryway design in San Francisco with gray walls and a medium wood front door

Designed to entertain, this site was maximized to create an extension of the home. The project boasts a complete outdoor kitchen, multiple covered seating areas, a gas fireplace, outdoor TV's and state-of-the-art sound system, a pool, spa, and putting green. From daytime swimming to an intimate evening dinner party, followed by a late night game on the putting green, this backyard has something for the whole family to enjoy.

Well-traveled. Relaxed. Timeless. Our well-traveled clients were soon-to-be empty nesters when they approached us for help reimagining their Presidio Heights home. The expansive Spanish-Revival residence originally constructed in 1908 had been substantially renovated 8 year prior, but needed some adaptations to better suit the needs of a family with three college-bound teens. We evolved the space to be a bright, relaxed reflection of the family’s time together, revising the function and layout of the ground-floor rooms and filling them with casual, comfortable furnishings and artifacts collected abroad. One of the key changes we made to the space plan was to eliminate the formal dining room and transform an area off the kitchen into a casual gathering spot for our clients and their children. The expandable table and coffee/wine bar means the room can handle large dinner parties and small study sessions with similar ease. The family room was relocated from a lower level to be more central part of the main floor, encouraging more quality family time, and freeing up space for a spacious home gym. In the living room, lounge-worthy upholstery grounds the space, encouraging a relaxed and effortless West Coast vibe. Exposed wood beams recall the original Spanish-influence, but feel updated and fresh in a light wood stain. Throughout the entry and main floor, found artifacts punctate the softer textures — ceramics from New Mexico, religious sculpture from Asia and a quirky wall-mounted phone that belonged to our client’s grandmother.

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Example of a farmhouse dining room design in New York

This is a great example of transFORM's modern dressing rooms being custom designed and installed in New York City. LED lighting throughout conveniently illuminates the dressing room so you can view your whole wardrobe. The glass shelves and mosaic-patterned tempered glass door fronts add a soft touch to the design and let you display your personality through your photos and home decor. A hidden pull-down television lets you catch up on your favorite shows while getting ready for work in the morning or a dinner party in the evening. The pull-out accessory cabinet has additional shelving for boxes storing collectables and tall shoes and boots. Hafele’s elite fixed tie hook, hat and coat hook, and an additional double hook easily store your clothing items in the pull-out accessory cabinet. The dressing room also features a sleek pull-out pant rack to effortlessly access your clothing without extending your reach. For the shoe enthusiast, there are two sets of slanted shoe shelves with Hafele’s elite shoe fences that attractively organize and showcase your finest footwear. The center island and bench provide extra storage for jewelry, a convenient and comfortable place to put on shoes, and two spacious pull-out laundry hampers.

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2015 Houzz
Transitional home design photo in New Orleans

Photo by Jamie Sentz
Example of a classic dining room design in Baltimore

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards In general, Bryan and Connie Rellinger loved the charm of the old cottage they purchased on a Crooked Lake peninsula, north of Petoskey. Specifically, however, the presence of a live-well in the kitchen (a huge cement basin with running water for keeping fish alive was right in the kitchen entryway, seriously), rickety staircase and green shag carpet, not so much. An extreme renovation was the only solution. The downside? The rebuild would have to fit into the smallish nonconforming footprint. The upside? That footprint was built when folks could place a building close enough to the water to feel like they could dive in from the house. Ahhh... Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design helped the Rellingers come up with a timeless cottage design that breathes efficiency into every nook and cranny. It also expresses the synergy of Bryan, Connie and Stephanie, who emailed each other links to products they liked throughout the building process. That teamwork resulted in an interior that sports a young take on classic cottage. Highlights include a brass sink and light fixtures, coffered ceilings with wide beadboard planks, leathered granite kitchen counters and a way-cool floor made of American chestnut planks from an old barn. Thanks to an abundant use of windows that deliver a grand view of Crooked Lake, the home feels airy and much larger than it is. Bryan and Connie also love how well the layout functions for their family - especially when they are entertaining. The kids' bedrooms are off a large landing at the top of the stairs - roomy enough to double as an entertainment room. When the adults are enjoying cocktail hour or a dinner party downstairs, they can pull a sliding door across the kitchen/great room area to seal it off from the kids' ruckus upstairs (or vice versa!). From its gray-shingled dormers to its sweet white window boxes, this charmer on Crooked Lake is packed with ideas! - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Boston with beige walls

The dining room table had been handed down through the family. Bench seating along each side provides flexibility for the Bryans' dinner parties and family gatherings. While the dining room is one of the few remaining rooms on the list for an overhaul, it still works for the homeowners. "The pink and green are some of Sherri's favorite colors," explains designer Ingrid Porter. "The combination really suits Sherri's bubbly personality!" Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © Houzz 2014

The new laundry boasts 54" high upper cabinets with crown molding and light rail. Stainless farmhouse apron front sink with Caesarstone London Gray Counters. The new laundry functions as a butler's pantry during dinner parties.

The outdoor fireplace, large dining table and accessory seating area provide the necessary seating options for any successful dinner party. Located in Newcastle, WA

This walnut wet bar is a continuation of the mid-century modern kitchen in both style and function. The homeowner enjoys entertaining guests and the creation of a bar adjacent to the kitchen and dining area make for fantastic dinner parties.

Emily Followill
Living room - mid-sized traditional formal and enclosed carpeted living room idea in Charlotte with green walls, no fireplace and no tv

After two years with a peach dining room, the homeowner wanted to make it her own. Using her extensive china collection as inspiration, we painted the walls blue, the fireplace white and and created a white display frame. The new window treatments tie everything together. In spite of the windows, the room is very dim, so instead of navy, we used a brighter dark blue that becomes more intimate for evening dinner parties. Sara E. Eastman Photography

This custom Dallas backyard cabana features a gable with hip roof, as well as an attached shed roof atop the eat-in space. Speaking of space, this cabana boasts separate areas for cooking, eating, and TV viewing and conversation. These homeowners can host outdoor dinner parties, without relying one iota on interior kitchen or dining amenities. The outdoor kitchen area includes a Turtle grill and freezer with stainless steel accessories, such as a towel holder and access panel with drawers. The kitchen is outfitted with extra electrical outlets for added convenience. In addition, the space features a cozy custom stone fireplace.

KITCHEN AFTER The homeowner's primary goal was to be able to host large dinner parties easily and efficiently. However, it was important that the space not feel like a commercial kitchen (even though it has three dishwashers!) in order to blend with the Mid-century Modern style of the home. We incorporated an underutilized adjacent area in order to increase the size of the kitchen by 150% to create designated space for everything, including the client's vast collection of china and serving pieces. The new floor plan feels as though it was original to the house. Cabinetry, countertops, and flooring also blend seamlessly with the rest of the home. Accents, such as the backsplash and island light fixture, add feminine elements and a touch of glamour. Photo credit: Mitch Allen

A bright, clean, and lively modern twist on Victorian motifs are featured in this unique backyard patio dining setup for a fun, unique, and bubbly garden party with a color palette of aqua, pink, gold, and super bright white. Products and styling by Wayfair.com