This stylish, family friendly kitchen is also an entertainer’s dream! This young family desired a bright, spacious kitchen that would function just as well for the family of 4 everyday, as it would for hosting large events (in a non-covid world). Apart from these programmatic goals, our aesthetic goal was to accommodate all the function and mess into the design so everything would be neatly hidden away behind beautiful cabinetry and panels. The navy, bifold buffet area serves as an everyday breakfast and coffee bar, and transforms into a beautiful buffet spread during parties (we’ve been there!). The fridge drawers are great for housing milk and everyday items during the week, and both kid and adult beverages during parties while keeping the guests out of the main cooking zone. Just around the corner you’ll find the high gloss navy bar offering additional beverages, ice machine, and barware storage – cheers! Super durable quartz with a marbled look keeps the kitchen looking neat and bright, while withstanding everyday wear and tear without a problem. The practical waterfall ends at the island offer additional damage control in bringing that hard surface all the way down to the beautiful white oak floors. Underneath three large window walls, a built-in banquette and custom table provide a comfortable, intimate dining nook for the family and a few guests while the stunning chandelier ties in nicely with the other brass accents in the kitchen. The thin black window mullions offer a sharp, clean contrast to the crisp white walls and coordinate well with the dark banquette. Thin, tall windows on either side of the range beautifully frame the stunningly simple, double curvature custom hood, and large windows in the bar/butler’s pantry allow additional light to really flood the space and keep and airy feel. The textured wallpaper in the bar area adds a touch of warmth, drama and interest while still keeping things simple.

For the art, I chose that was graphic and bold. There's a youthful feeling with original art and the arrangement creates a focal point for the room while balancing the large screen TV. Lucite, soft edges and texture dominate while the layout is well thought out for the creature comforts of everyday living. Even though space was limited, I was still able to include comfortable seating for pre-theatre or dinner gatherings. Count them…the sofa holds 3, 2 Ottomans, the 3 lucite bright yellow bar stools, the lounge chair, 2 side chairs, the upholstered chair by the waterfall desk and if you add the 4 chairs for the dining area, you're at 16, and this doesn’t count the custom coffee table with upholstered seating!

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost

SFMLS
Dining room - industrial dining room idea in San Francisco

Photo: Michaela Dodd © 2015 Houzz
Example of a classic dining room design in DC Metro

Photo: Faith Towers © 2016 Houzz
Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in Burlington

When a young, hip couple from Hong Kong purchased a waterfront condominium in New Jersey, they reached out to Decor Aid for assistance in transforming their new space into a home away from home. The couple wanted the space to be modern, homey, and traditional, while also being wholly representative of their laid-back sensibility. When the couple moved in, the walls of the apartment were painted dark green, with a grey trim. The effect was dark and somber, which was exactly what they did not want their apartment to feel like. So the first thing we did was repaint the walls, which immediately gave the space a lighter, airier feel, and set the tone for the neutral palette that would be incorporated throughout the space. Besides a few pieces that the couple had brought with them from Hong Kong, there was no existing furniture to work with. The couple stressed that they wanted the option to entertain, but that they didn’t want the apartment to be designed like a party house. The dining room table perfectly captures the couple’s refined yet rustic aesthetic, but also has the ability to expand, and accommodate a few extra guests for a small dinner party. The couple wanted their space to feel distinguished, but also wanted the apartment to feel young and hip. To offset the comfortable and neutral tones, brass elements were added throughout the apartment, which added a cohesive feel, without sacrificing the desired look. The final result is a comfortable, modern, and grown-up space that this vibrant young couple can now call home.

We helped an elderly couple stage their dining room for a Christmas dinner party. Our favorite part was painting tree ornaments with the guests' names for place-cards.

Location: Nantucket, MA, USA A gorgeous New England beach compound which features a tranquil, sophisticated kitchen. The blue backsplash is the perfect backdrop to a sunny breakfast at the island or a glamorous dinner party in the paneled banquet. The cabinets are accented with hand-made European hardware that enhances the bespoke nature of the kitchen. The children's bathroom has a fun penny tile on the floor juxtaposed against the over-sized subway wall tile. The master bath features crystal fixtures and fittings imported from France. threshold interiors loves working with our clients to produce the perfect blend of relaxation and sophistication in your beach home! Photographed by: Michael Partenio

Location: Nantucket, MA, USA A gorgeous New England beach compound which features a tranquil, sophisticated kitchen. The blue backsplash is the perfect backdrop to a sunny breakfast at the island or a glamorous dinner party in the paneled banquet. The cabinets are accented with hand-made European hardware that enhances the bespoke nature of the kitchen. The children's bathroom has a fun penny tile on the floor juxtaposed against the over-sized subway wall tile. The master bath features crystal fixtures and fittings imported from France. threshold interiors loves working with our clients to produce the perfect blend of relaxation and sophistication in your beach home! Photographed by: Michael Partenio

Design: Poul Henningsen Concept: The fixture is 100% glare-free, with a design based on the principle of a reflective three-shade system, which directs most of the light downwards. The shades are made of deepdrawn aluminium with white inner surface that ensures gentle, downward light distribution. The downward light is both soft and pleasant. Finish: Red, green, yellow and white, powder coated Material: Shade: deep drawn aluminum, suspension: silk mat brown, copper. Mounting: Canopy: White. Cord type: 3-conductor, 18 AWG white PVC power cord. Cord length: 9.8’. Weight: Max. 2.9 lbs. Label: cULus, Dry location. IBEW.

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Peter Rymwid Photography My young professional clients loved everything about their townhouse on the Hudson except for the cramped, dark, uninviting kitchen. During their frequent dinner parties they were always separated from their guests. Light which filled the rest of the living area never made it into the kitchen. Their most important request in this remodel was to create a bright, contemporary, light filled kitchen where their cooking would take center stage. We started by removing a large portion of the wall separating the kitchen and dining area. This integrated the kitchen into the living space and allowed interaction between cook and guests. Next we removed a side wall to gain more cabinet and countertop space. Existing drop ceilings were removed giving extra height in the wall cabinets. A raised waterfall end eating counter keeps the visual line clean and provides ample counter space for dining or wine tasting. Bright white painted cabinets with recessed panels and a crisp white quartz counter create a bright contemporary space. Blue white and taupe subway tiles made from recycled glass add a feel of waves to the back splash. A coordinating blue paint adds to the beachy vibe of the room. Shiny easy to clean stainless appliances are both functional and attractive especially as they are seen from the entire living area. The new engineered wood flooring was continued up the wall under the eating counter. The material provides a more durable surface than painted sheet rock. Recessed LED ceiling lights and under cabinet lights provide all the task lighting needed to prepare meals while using very little energy. Instead of installing any hanging fixtures which might block the open feeling, smaller can LED lights were installed over the raised counter.

Deborah DeGraffenreid
Family room - mid-sized rustic open concept family room idea in New York with white walls and no tv

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

This elegant kitchen is the perfect space to prepare a morning coffee or entertain for a dinner party. Updated traditional elements can be seen in the light white modified shaker cabinets, high-arcing faucets, and streamlined appliances. The custom taupe subway backsplash coordinate beautifully with the Taj Mahal counter tops – a stunning quartzite. Polished nickel plumbing fixtures, lighting, and cabinet hardware offer a hint of sparkle. Don’t forget the details seen in the island corbels, X accents in the glass cabinets, and spice/oil pull-outs on either side of the cooktop. To open up the space as much as possible, a closet pantry was removed and replaced with a custom cabinet pantry. Photographer: Daniel Angulo

This project is a prime example of maximizing usable space to get the most out of your backyard. Serving multiple functions; the deck is a perfect area to host dinner parties with the ease of access in & out of the kitchen, while also giving protection from the elements below. By finishing off the underside with a drainage system, it gives a dry space for rainy days to be spent on the gorgeous flagstone patio below. We added some curves to the project to keep it lively & vertical cable handrail to keep visibility at a maximum! Stroll down the steps on either side and the party continues with space for a hot tub, lounging and green grass that beckons to be walked, ran, and played on.

This project is a prime example of maximizing usable space to get the most out of your backyard. Serving multiple functions; the deck is a perfect area to host dinner parties with the ease of access in & out of the kitchen, while also giving protection from the elements below. By finishing off the underside with a drainage system, it gives a dry space for rainy days to be spent on the gorgeous flagstone patio below. We added some curves to the project to keep it lively & vertical cable handrail to keep visibility at a maximum! Stroll down the steps on either side and the party continues with space for a hot tub, lounging and green grass that beckons to be walked, ran, and played on.

This project is a prime example of maximizing usable space to get the most out of your backyard. Serving multiple functions; the deck is a perfect area to host dinner parties with the ease of access in & out of the kitchen, while also giving protection from the elements below. By finishing off the underside with a drainage system, it gives a dry space for rainy days to be spent on the gorgeous flagstone patio below. We added some curves to the project to keep it lively & vertical cable handrail to keep visibility at a maximum! Stroll down the steps on either side and the party continues with space for a hot tub, lounging and green grass that beckons to be walked, ran, and played on.