Douglas Fir wood paneling on walls and upper cabinets, lower cabinets are stainless steel. Globe pendant lights from Cedar & Moss, Douglas fir wood ceiling with skylight, clerestory windows and oak wood floors, in mid-century-modern home renovation in Berkeley, California - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Eric Rorer
Example of a 1960s kitchen design in San Francisco

New wet bar with Douglas Fir Cabinets and polished granite counter tops. Window opens to screened in porch. Custom bar stools designed by CBA Interiors.

Douglas Fir wood paneling on walls and upper cabinets, lower cabinets are stainless steel. Globe pendant lights from Cedar & Moss, Douglas fir wood ceiling with skylight, clerestory windows and oak wood floors, in mid-century-modern home renovation in Berkeley, California - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

After a not-so-great experience with a previous contractor, this homeowner came to Kraft Custom Construction in search of a better outcome. Not only was she wanting a more functional kitchen to enjoy cooking in, she also sought out a team with a clear process and great communication. Two elements of the original floorplan shaped the design of the new kitchen: a protruding pantry that blocked the flow from the front door into the main living space, and two large columns in the middle of the living room. Using a refined French-Country design aesthetic, we completed structural modifications to reframe the pantry, and integrated a new custom buffet cabinet to tie in the old columns with new wood ceiling beams. Other design solutions include more usable countertop space, a recessed spice cabinet, numerous drawer organizers, and updated appliances and finishes all around. This bright new kitchen is both comfortable yet elegant, and the perfect place to cook for the family or entertain a group of guests.

Photography by Tim Schultz
Bathroom - traditional white tile and subway tile bathroom idea in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet and yellow cabinets

The design of this remodel of a small two-level residence in Noe Valley reflects the owner's passion for Japanese architecture. Having decided to completely gut the interior partitions, we devised a better-arranged floor plan with traditional Japanese features, including a sunken floor pit for dining and a vocabulary of natural wood trim and casework. Vertical grain Douglas Fir takes the place of Hinoki wood traditionally used in Japan. Natural wood flooring, soft green granite and green glass backsplashes in the kitchen further develop the desired Zen aesthetic. A wall to wall window above the sunken bath/shower creates a connection to the outdoors. Privacy is provided through the use of switchable glass, which goes from opaque to clear with a flick of a switch. We used in-floor heating to eliminate the noise associated with forced-air systems.

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

The remodeled kitchen expanded into the oversized dining room, making space for a large island, double ovens, ample storage, custom cabinetry, and a large range top, perfect for entertaining. A coffered ceiling adds character and elegance. Recessed lighting, pendants, and in- and under-cabinet lighting offer a warm glow and provide task lighting for meal prep. The room is a mix of rustic and refined, with a distressed cherry island top and a coffered ceiling and white cabinetry. Photo Credit: David Bader Interior Design Partner: Becky Howley

The butler's pantry is lined in deep blue cabinets with intricate details on the glass doors. The ceiling is also lined in wood panels to make the space and enclosed jewel. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.

Incredible double island entertaining kitchen. Rustic douglas fir beams accident this open kitchen with a focal feature of a stone cooktop and steel backsplash. Surrounded by Pella windows to allow light to invite this space with natural light.

Complete overhaul of the common area in this wonderful Arcadia home. The living room, dining room and kitchen were redone. The direction was to obtain a contemporary look but to preserve the warmth of a ranch home. The perfect combination of modern colors such as grays and whites blend and work perfectly together with the abundant amount of wood tones in this design. The open kitchen is separated from the dining area with a large 10' peninsula with a waterfall finish detail. Notice the 3 different cabinet colors, the white of the upper cabinets, the Ash gray for the base cabinets and the magnificent olive of the peninsula are proof that you don't have to be afraid of using more than 1 color in your kitchen cabinets. The kitchen layout includes a secondary sink and a secondary dishwasher! For the busy life style of a modern family. The fireplace was completely redone with classic materials but in a contemporary layout. Notice the porcelain slab material on the hearth of the fireplace, the subway tile layout is a modern aligned pattern and the comfortable sitting nook on the side facing the large windows so you can enjoy a good book with a bright view. The bamboo flooring is continues throughout the house for a combining effect, tying together all the different spaces of the house. All the finish details and hardware are honed gold finish, gold tones compliment the wooden materials perfectly.

Example of a mountain style light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Other with an undermount sink, brown cabinets, window backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands, gray countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

This new modern house is located in a meadow in Lenox MA. The house is designed as a series of linked pavilions to connect the house to the nature and to provide the maximum daylight in each room. The center focus of the home is the largest pavilion containing the living/dining/kitchen, with the guest pavilion to the south and the master bedroom and screen porch pavilions to the west. While the roof line appears flat from the exterior, the roofs of each pavilion have a pronounced slope inward and to the north, a sort of funnel shape. This design allows rain water to channel via a scupper to cisterns located on the north side of the house. Steel beams, Douglas fir rafters and purlins are exposed in the living/dining/kitchen pavilion. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Wing Wong, Memories TTL
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Chris Veith
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This custom mountain cabin kitchen brings together three Manomin products in one cohesive interior. Reclaimed Douglas Fir ceiling joists and beams run in a coffered grid pattern overhead, their original checking, saw marks, and warm reddish brown tones filling the ceiling with character. Reclaimed wood paneling runs floor to ceiling on the perimeter walls, and reclaimed wood flooring extends the warm palette underfoot in rich, deep tones. Our Reclaimed Douglas Fir Timbers are rescued from Industrial Revolution era warehouses and factories, bringing rich textures and colors from deep red to sandy brown that only come from old growth timber. At Manomin Resawn Timbers, every piece goes through a detailed process of denailing, kiln drying, and precision milling so that antique character is preserved while performing beautifully in a modern home. Whether you are a homebuilder, a home remodeling contractor, or a homeowner looking for a complete reclaimed wood kitchen package including ceiling beams, wall paneling, and flooring, Manomin Resawn Timbers has been helping people discover the antique charm of reclaimed wood since 2002. We serve homebuilders, contractors, and designers across the country. Visit our showroom in Hugo, MN or reach out to us with a call or a message to get started.

©Spacecrafting
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island