This laundry room was created by removing the existing bathroom and bedroom closet. Medallion Designer Series maple full overlay cabinet’s in the Potters Mill door style with Harbor Mist painted finish was installed. Formica Laminate Concrete Stone with a bull edge and single bowl Kurran undermount stainless steel sink with a chrome Moen faucet. Boulder Terra Linear Blend tile was used for the backsplash and washer outlet box cover. On the floor 12x24 Mediterranean Essence tile in Bronze finish was installed. A Bosch washer & dryer were also installed.

Beach style dark wood floor home office photo in Other

The renovation of this Mid-Century Ranch features the reintroduction of native plant species highlighted with steel planters, steppingstones, a ramada and small fountain. Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Clint Miller Architect General Contractor: Sonora Sunset Construction Landscape Contractor: West Point Landscaping Photography: Steve Thompson

The clients had built a magnificent Italianate 'villa' with spectacular views of the Santa Barbara coastline. They had assembled an impressive array of garden objects from around the world which were to be incorporated into the gardens. But the challenges were numerous. Object scale had to carefully managed in this 40 foot by 80 foot space -- The statuary, hardscape elements, and fountains were carefully separated throughout the landscape, in order to de-emphasize the disparate sizes. Objects included a six-foot high Buddha, a 12" high prayer bell, and a massive 1,500 pound stone urn. Additionally, spectacular tree specimens were chosen and carefully placed to provide a counterweight to the other objects in the garden. * Builder of the Year: Best Landscape and Hardscape, Santa Barbara Contractors Association

This seating wall was embedded into a hill in the front garden, effectively lowering the visitor closer to eye level for better viewing of the unique foliage. Photo by Jay Sifford.

Trendy powder room photo in Phoenix with a trough sink and orange walls

Example of a transitional family room design in Other with beige walls

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

This is an example of a contemporary front yard vegetable garden landscape in San Francisco.

Interior Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors Photography by Karen Melvin
Example of a transitional home office design in Minneapolis

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

Sometimes the design solutions we come up for a homeowner extend beyond their kitchen — as was the case at the Burfeind residence. Julia Burfeind was unhappy that her home’s nearly 20-year-old kitchen was not well suited to entertain guests, which is something she’s been doing more of recently. She was also not satisfied with how the adjacent sunroom and mud/laundry rooms were laid out and being used (or in the case of the sunroom, not being used) by the family. Julia was recommended to Morris Black Designs whom she was told would be excellent at resolving all three issues. “Our house was built in ‘98 I believe, so the kitchen was in need of a facelift but more importantly its setup was not particularly helpful for socializing,” explains Julia. “Among other things, there was a small island in the kitchen which was not suitable for accommodating guests. “In addition, our kitchen was attached to a “sunroom” which was essentially a stepdown separate room that was attached to the kitchen but really wasn’t part of the kitchen — and so it felt like a lot of wasted space for us,” she continues. “We had our kids’ art supplies and the dog bed out there. The space was kinda useless. We didn’t like that setup particularly.” “And then thirdly, we had a room attached to the kitchen that served as both a mudroom and a laundry room but didn’t do a good job of being either. I’ve got two active young kids that play a lot of sports. There wasn’t enough room in there for all their stuff. And not enough room to do the laundry. The problems we had with all three spaces convinced us to renovate.” Julia met with one of our designers in her home to discuss and show first-hand the issues that were plaguing the kitchen area of the home. Initial designs were created and approved quickly. The need to address three distinct areas required a bit more planning and time to go from initial ideas to installation than typical kitchen-only projects, but when it was all finally said and done, Julia had three rooms that now meet her needs much better than they did before. “By itself the kitchen would be fantastic,” she happily expresses. “We have a really large island now where we have four comfortable stools where people can sit and relax while others cook which is exactly what we wanted. You know the kitchen is always the central part of your home and when you entertain, which we do fairly often, people always end up in the kitchen so this big new island works great for us.” “And now the area that was called a sunroom is incorporated with the kitchen — it was brought physically up to the same level as the kitchen which opened the two rooms up to each other as much as they can be so it’s really all one room now. We now have a dining room table out in that area and a wet bar where we have our bar stuff and our coffee makers and all of that. So those areas now work together great.” “We completed a small addition to bump the laundry room out behind the kitchen. We then had Morris Black Designs build four big storage lockers in our mudroom for the kids’ gym bags and sports stuff. They’re not like gym lockers; they’re more like nice cabinets with wooden doors which we keep closed to hide the mess inside each — so it looks very nice in that room despite having all of my kids’ gym bags secretly piled up in there. And we have the great big, beautiful, sunny laundry room with a door and a window and a skylight and a big granite countertop where I can fold clothes.” As much as she loves the distinct improvements made to each individual space, Burfeind will quickly tell you, however, that this project is truly an example of when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts “The whole house is just much more usable now,” she surmises. “The work done by Morris Black Designs has really increased our daily satisfaction of being in the house which is fun and makes it all worthwhile.”

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!

The flooring that was originally envisioned for this house wasn't Wood Floor of the Year-caliber. When Steve Brattin, president at SVB Wood Floors in Grandview, Mo., got involved in the project, the designers were discussing a simple machine-sanded heart pine or reclaimed wood floor. But once Brattin visited the site—an old world traditional estate set on acreage with its own private lake—he knew it deserved more than a typical floor. "I chatted with the designers and said I would love to meet with the homeowners and have them in our showroom," he recalls. "I said I would really like to do something artistic with it." Brattin's mind was already envisioning the possibilities—something he says usually happens for him within a half hour of walking through a space. "I don't know how certain things come to me," he says, adding that often he draws things out and the designs don't end up being in the clients' budget. That wasn't the case here, however, and the final plans for the flooring called for five designs in various areas, including this Bordeaux parquet in the foyer. With the designs finalized, Brattin turned to Distinctive Floors' (Nashville, Tenn.) Dan Antes to create the walnut flooring, which called for hand-beveling with a circle-sawn and wire-brushed surface; in some areas the flooring was 10-inch plank. The width presented a challenge for Antes, as he had planned to contract out the circle-sawing, but the company he had in mind could handle widths only up to 81⁄2 inches. He decided he would have to do it himself. "We spent maybe $1,500 modifying $20,000 worth of equipment to end up with this awesome distressed product," he says. Due to a tight time frame to complete the job, once the flooring was milled, it was shipped to WD Flooring (Laona, Wis.) to be finished with hardwax oil—a choice Antes says he loves for its maintainability. The actual installation of all 3,000 square feet of flooring was uneventful, Brattin says, crediting his crew, experienced with high-end projects, for a great job. "They had a blast," he says. "They had so much fun out there on the project, and they do it quite frequently; it comes naturally for them at this point." Given the complexity of this job, from scribing around stone to large-scale chevron and mixed media, that's high praise. Antes, himself a Wood Floor of the Year winner and supplier to many more winning projects, sums up the scope of this job: "I think he could have entered any room in this house, really, and won."—K.M.W.

The flooring that was originally envisioned for this house wasn't Wood Floor of the Year-caliber. When Steve Brattin, president at SVB Wood Floors in Grandview, Mo., got involved in the project, the designers were discussing a simple machine-sanded heart pine or reclaimed wood floor. But once Brattin visited the site—an old world traditional estate set on acreage with its own private lake—he knew it deserved more than a typical floor. "I chatted with the designers and said I would love to meet with the homeowners and have them in our showroom," he recalls. "I said I would really like to do something artistic with it." Brattin's mind was already envisioning the possibilities—something he says usually happens for him within a half hour of walking through a space. "I don't know how certain things come to me," he says, adding that often he draws things out and the designs don't end up being in the clients' budget. That wasn't the case here, however, and the final plans for the flooring called for five designs in various areas, including this Bordeaux parquet in the foyer. With the designs finalized, Brattin turned to Distinctive Floors' (Nashville, Tenn.) Dan Antes to create the walnut flooring, which called for hand-beveling with a circle-sawn and wire-brushed surface; in some areas the flooring was 10-inch plank. The width presented a challenge for Antes, as he had planned to contract out the circle-sawing, but the company he had in mind could handle widths only up to 81⁄2 inches. He decided he would have to do it himself. "We spent maybe $1,500 modifying $20,000 worth of equipment to end up with this awesome distressed product," he says. Due to a tight time frame to complete the job, once the flooring was milled, it was shipped to WD Flooring (Laona, Wis.) to be finished with hardwax oil—a choice Antes says he loves for its maintainability. The actual installation of all 3,000 square feet of flooring was uneventful, Brattin says, crediting his crew, experienced with high-end projects, for a great job. "They had a blast," he says. "They had so much fun out there on the project, and they do it quite frequently; it comes naturally for them at this point." Given the complexity of this job, from scribing around stone to large-scale chevron and mixed media, that's high praise. Antes, himself a Wood Floor of the Year winner and supplier to many more winning projects, sums up the scope of this job: "I think he could have entered any room in this house, really, and won."—K.M.W.

When Mike and Joan Walters purchased a penthouse in The Luxe, a 23-story luxury condominium near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, they called on Margaret Barnett, Barnett & Co., and her associate Walter Kennedy to design the interiors and consult on furniture selections. For sourcing most of their furnishings, the Walters looked to another designer they’d known and worked with, Atlanta Cantoni’s Mercedes Williams. The Walters ProjectThe finished product demonstrates that this turned out to be a brilliantly creative collaboration among client, designers and Cantoni. With each room framed by the wraparound balcony and spectacular views, the 3,200-square foot penthouse is washed in natural light, the team’s basic design element. The beautiful wood floors and custom cabinetry and stone flooring and fireplace anchor a palette of warm neutral colors––from black to white, from dark chocolates to buttery yellows–– that blend into a harmonious unity throughout. Subtle accents are delivered by lighting, antique carpets, accessories and art. The Walters ProjectThe collaboration was clockwork. Says Mercedes, “I’d meet with the client and designers in our showroom to discuss the project and tour our collections. The designers and I fine-tuned the options, then again with the client to finalize their selections. On a project like this, you really appreciate Cantoni’s huge selection and in-stock inventory.” Mike sums it up: “Joan and I knew perfectly well what we wanted and Margaret, Walter and Mercedes tuned in to our vision and made it reality. Life is good when you can blend the ideas of smart, accomplished people to create a fantastic home.” The Walters ProjectThanks to Mike and Joan for choosing Cantoni and for permitting us to showcase their fantastic new home in this eNewsletter. Thanks as well to Margaret Barnett and Walter Kennedy and finally, congrats to Mercedes Williams and Cantoni Atlanta for their contribution. Great Design Is a Way of Life—especially at the top of the world!