west facing sunroom with views of the barns. This space is located just off the Great Room and offers a warm cozy retreat in the evening.
Small country medium tone wood floor and brown floor sunroom photo in Detroit with a wood stove and a standard ceiling

A freestanding tub anchored by art on one wall and a cabinet with storage and display shelves on the other end has a wonderful view of the back patio and distant views.

Tessa Neustadt http://tessaneustadt.com
Trendy gender-neutral nursery photo in Los Angeles with white walls

The concept of a modern design was created through the use of two-toned acrylic Grabill cabinets, stainless appliances, quartz countertops and a glass tile backsplash. The simple stainless hood installed in front of large format Porcelanosa tile creates a striking focal point, while a monochromatic color palette of grays and whites achieve the feel of a cohesive and airy space. Additionally, ample amounts of artificial light, was designed to keep this kitchen bright and inviting.

Windows flood the this double shower with light. www.marikoreed.com
Double shower - mid-sized contemporary master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile double shower idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Mid-sized transitional master white floor, porcelain tile and double-sink alcove shower photo in Chicago with light wood cabinets, white walls, white countertops, shaker cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and a built-in vanity

Fotografía: Raul Candales Estilismo: Susana Ocaña
Living room - large scandinavian formal and open concept concrete floor and brown floor living room idea in Barcelona with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Example of a transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Other with gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, white countertops, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, colored appliances and slate backsplash

Bob Narod
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, brown backsplash, an undermount sink and wood countertops

Kids' room - transitional girl carpeted kids' room idea in Denver with gray walls

Inspiration for a coastal kitchen remodel in Orange County

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage medium tone wood floor entryway remodel in Calgary with green walls and a medium wood front door

Open concept, loft living makes this one bedroom with home office feel spacious, bright and airy. With strategically placed and well thought out built-ins and a wall hung media cabinet, everything has its place while being visual pleasing.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a cottage l-shaped dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an island and white countertops

Sam Oberter Photography
Nursery - mid-century modern gender-neutral medium tone wood floor nursery idea in Philadelphia with green walls

Example of a transitional family room design in New York