Eat-in kitchen - contemporary u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and an island

Exterior of modern farmhouse style home, clad in corrugated grey steel with wall lighting, offset gable roof with chimney, detached guest house and connecting breezeway. Photo by Tory Taglio Photography

Mudroom - rustic gray floor mudroom idea in Denver

Example of a large classic backyard brick and custom-shaped hot tub design in New Orleans

Photo: Jason Snyder © 2014 Houzz Design: Luca Construction and Design

The original kitchen was disjointed and lacked connection to the home and its history. The remodel opened the room to other areas of the home by incorporating an unused breakfast nook and enclosed porch to create a spacious new kitchen. It features stunning soapstone counters and range splash, era appropriate subway tiles, and hand crafted floating shelves. Ceasarstone on the island creates a durable, hardworking surface for prep work. A black Blue Star range anchors the space while custom inset fir cabinets wrap the walls and provide ample storage. Great care was given in restoring and recreating historic details for this charming Foursquare kitchen.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Barry Grossman Photography
Example of a trendy freestanding desk dark wood floor home office design in Miami

Coronado, CA The Alameda Residence is situated on a relatively large, yet unusually shaped lot for the beachside community of Coronado, California. The orientation of the “L” shaped main home and linear shaped guest house and covered patio create a large, open courtyard central to the plan. The majority of the spaces in the home are designed to engage the courtyard, lending a sense of openness and light to the home. The aesthetics take inspiration from the simple, clean lines of a traditional “A-frame” barn, intermixed with sleek, minimal detailing that gives the home a contemporary flair. The interior and exterior materials and colors reflect the bright, vibrant hues and textures of the seaside locale.

Werner Segarra
Tuscan beige two-story exterior home photo in Phoenix

Family room - mid-sized contemporary concrete floor and gray floor family room idea in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, no tv and a metal fireplace

Renovation in Mill Valley, Marin. Photos: Jeff Zaruba. Bedroom.
Bedroom - country carpeted bedroom idea in San Francisco with gray walls

Photo: Andrew Snow © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a contemporary gray two-story mixed siding gable roof remodel in Toronto

Private Residence, Laurie Demetrio Interiors, Photo by Dustin Halleck, Millwork by NuHaus
Example of a small transitional built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor home office library design in Chicago with no fireplace and brown walls

Ground level Fiberon deck located in Emmitsburg MD includes Azek PVC fascia, Benches, circular paver patio with fire pit, low voltage lighting.
Mid-sized elegant backyard deck photo in Baltimore with a fire pit and no cover

A tile wall and floating vanity complement the modern powder room chandelier. Photo Credit: Garrett Rowland
Example of a trendy marble tile and gray tile medium tone wood floor powder room design in New York with a wall-mount sink, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

A striking rustic staircase crafted from reclaimed wood integrates seamlessly with the organic modern design of this sustainable mountain home, reflecting meticulous craftsmanship.

kyle caldwell
Example of a farmhouse medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Boston with an island, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and gray countertops

There’s something timeless about a traditional living room—its ability to feel both refined and deeply livable is what makes it such a lasting favorite. In this recent project, we set out to create a space that honored classic design principles while thoughtfully adapting to the realities of modern life—especially in a home shared with two large, beloved dogs. The foundation of the room begins with color. We selected Sherwin-Williams SW 7741 “Willow Tree” for both the walls and trim, creating a rich, enveloping tone that immediately establishes warmth and cohesion. By carrying the same hue across architectural elements, the space feels grounded and intentional, allowing texture and detail to take center stage rather than contrast alone. To elevate the architecture, we introduced a series of custom ceiling beams that draw the eye upward and add a sense of structure and craftsmanship. These were complemented by wall and ceiling ogee molding, bringing in a layer of traditional ornamentation that feels both elegant and tailored. The subtle curves of the ogee profiles soften the room while reinforcing its classic character. Lighting played a key role in enhancing both ambiance and functionality. We incorporated wall sconces to provide a warm, diffused glow in the evenings, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. These are balanced by crinkle metal floor lamps, which add a touch of modern texture and visual interest without straying from the overall aesthetic. At the heart of the room sits a custom-designed sofa—arguably the most important piece in any living space. Given the homeowners’ lifestyle, durability was just as important as beauty. We upholstered the sofa in outdoor-grade Sunbrella fabric, a decision that ensures long-term performance without sacrificing style. The fabric resists wear, stains, and fading, making it an ideal solution for a home with pets while maintaining a polished, tailored look. Layering was essential in completing the design. A generously sized 9' x 12' area rug anchors the seating arrangement, adding softness underfoot and defining the space. Decorative mirrors were strategically placed to reflect light and create depth, while faux plants introduce greenery without the maintenance—an ideal choice for busy households. The result is a living room that feels elevated yet approachable, traditional yet practical. It’s a space designed not just to be admired, but to be lived in—where thoughtful material choices and timeless details come together to support both style and everyday life.