Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

Mitered corners creating a waterfall grain effect and the dovetailed walnut shelf. This stand alone cabinet was designed to house stereo equipment. It features a 360 degree rotating top to allow access to the backs of stereo components and tall legs to stand over a subwoofer. Alaskan hemlock, dovetailed walnut and raw steel legs. The design can be manipulated to fit your exact needs!

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Madera is a beautiful new addition to our popular Naturals Collection. This block pattern blends clean, straight lines with the influence of natural, handcrafted materials. Inspired by sustainable, green design, Madera has subtle yarn striations that exhibit organic variations in color and add a rustic, distressed aesthetic to any room. Constructed of STAINMASTER® Luxerell® nylon fiber and part of the Active Family™ brand, this patterned loop is offered in eighteen dramatic colors that have been custom blended to create a beautiful visual effect. Perfect for wall-to-wall installations, staircases, and area rugs, Madera is sure to make a statement on the floor.

Sculptural Powder Room with Texture & Light This vanity area is a masterclass in using subtle textures and geometric forms to create a high-impact, tranquil space. By focusing on vertical light and organic patterns, we transformed a functional nook into a design-forward sanctuary. Design Highlights: Dimensional Feature Wall: The backsplash features a white 3D textured tile with a gentle wave pattern. This subtle movement adds architectural depth and tactile interest without overwhelming the clean, neutral palette. Sleek Floating Vanity: Continuing the home’s material story, the wood-grain slab cabinetry provides a floating effect that keeps the floor space open and airy. Modern Lighting Design: A pair of slim vertical LED sconces flank the mirror, providing soft, shadow-free task lighting. The frosted bars echo the minimalist industrial lines found in the home’s cable railing. Geometric Contrast: The large circular mirror acts as a soft counterpoint to the sharp, straight lines of the vanity and lighting, creating a balanced and harmonious focal point. High-End Finishes: A white quartz countertop with a clean-profile under-mount sink is paired with a brushed nickel faucet, reinforcing the premium quality of the renovation.

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Metal & Glass Kitchen backsplash: Eden Mosaic Tile Stainless Steel And Crackled Glass Mosaic Mix - EMT_W1219-MIX-SM - This metal tile is comprised of stainless steel bricks in silver and dark pewter colors in addition to black glass that has a crackled effect. The surface of the glass is not sharp, it has been manufactured to contain the cracked glass inside an outer glass shell. There are two types of brush patterns on the stainless steel, the first being a straight snow matte linear brush pattern, and the second being a circular brushed pattern. The different steel brush patterns appear to give the stainless steel a different color because of the way the light reflects off the tile, when in fact both are a regular stainless steel color. The result is a visually stunning array of colors and textures which will surely make your wall pop. Use this steel and glass mixed mosaic on kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, fireplaces and even accent walls.

Kitchen backsplash tile: Eden Mosaic Tile Stainless Steel And Crackled Glass Mosaic Mix - EMT_W1219-MIX-SM. This metal tile is comprised of stainless steel bricks in silver and dark pewter colors in addition to black glass that has a crackled effect. The surface of the glass is not sharp, it has been manufactured to contain the cracked glass inside an outer glass shell. There are two types of brush patterns on the stainless steel, the first being a straight snow matte linear brush pattern, and the second being a circular brushed pattern. The different steel brush patterns appear to give the stainless steel a different color because of the way the light reflects off the tile, when in fact both are a regular stainless steel color. The result is a visually stunning array of colors and textures which will surely make your wall pop. Use this steel and glass mixed interlocking mosaic on kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, fireplaces and even accent walls. The tiles in this sheet are mounted on a nylon mesh which allows for an easy installation.

Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

Floating shelves and a straight hood create a lofty effect.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, beige backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

K. Dakin Design won the 2018 CARE award from the Custom Builder and Remodeler Council of Denver for the reimagination of the landscape around this classic organic-modernist home designed by Charles Haertling. The landscape design is inspired by the original home and it’s materials, especially the distinct, clean lines of the architecture and the natural, stone veneer found on the house and landscape walls. The outlines of garden beds, a small patio and a water feature reiterate the home’s straight walls juxtaposed against rough, irregular stone facades and details. This sensitivity to the architecture is clearly seen in the triangular shapes balanced with curved forms. The clients, a couple with busy lives, wanted a simple landscape with lawn for their dogs to fetch balls. The amenities they desired were a spa, vegetable beds, fire pit, and a water feature. They wanted to soften the tall, site walls with plant material. All the material, such as the discarded, stone veneer and left-over, flagstone paving was recycled into new edging around garden areas, new flagstone paths, and a water feature. The front entry walk was inspired by a walkway at Gunnar Asplund’s cemetary in Sweden. All plant material, aside from the turf, was low water, native or climate appropriate.

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This contemporary home features two striking staircases with integrated LED lighting, glass railing, and thick wood treads. The color-changing LEDs shift from red to blue to yellow, transforming the staircases into dynamic focal points throughout the day. Wood treads and handrails are paired with frameless glass balustrades secured by black pins. Open risers amplify the LED lighting effect while maximizing transparency. The first-level staircase uses cantilevered and field-supported construction, while the second rises on dual metal stringers. Glass railing continues on the second-floor balcony, creating a cohesive system where light and glass elevate the design beyond the purely functional. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company