Photo: Lauren Andersen © 2018 Houzz
Kitchen - eclectic kitchen idea in San Francisco

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath.

When you first walk into this dressing room, it’s the lighting that jumps out at you first. Each shelf is illuminated to show the brilliant colors and texture of the clothing. Light even pours through the big windows and draws your eye across the rooftops of Brooklyn to see the NYC skyline. It creates a feeling of brightness and positivity that energizes and enlivens. It’s a dressing room where you can look and feel your best as you begin your day. Featured in a modern Italian Melamine and tastefully accented with complementing Matte Nickel hardware and Clear Acrylic handle pulls, this Chic Brooklyn Dressing Room proves to be not only stylish, but functional too. This custom closet combines both high and low hanging sections, which afford you enough room to organize items based on size. This type of mechanism offers more depth than a standard hanging system. The open shelving offers a substantial amount of depth, so you have plenty of space to personalize your room with mementos, collectibles and home decor. Adjustable shelves also give you the freedom to store items of all sizes from large shoe and boot boxes to smaller collectibles and scarves. A functional key to closet design is being able to visualize and conveniently access items. There’s also something very appealing about having your items neatly displayed - especially when it comes to shoes. Our wide shoe shelves were purposely installed on a slant for easy access, allowing you to identify and grab your favorite footwear quickly and easily. A spacious center island provides a place to relax while spreading out accessories and visualizing more possibilities. This center island was designed with extra drawer storage that includes a velvet lined jewelry drawer. Double jewelry drawers can add a sleek and useful dimension to any dressing room. An organized system will prevent tarnishing and with a designated spot for every piece, your jewelry stays organized and in perfect condition. The space is maximized with smart storage features like an Elite Belt Rack and hook as well as Elite Valet Rods and a pull-out mirror. The unit also includes a Deluxe Pant Rack in a Matte Nickel finish. Thanks to the full-extension ball-bearing slides, everything is in complete view. This means you no longer have to waste time desperately hunting for something you know is hiding somewhere in your closet. Lighting played a huge role in the design of this dressing room. In order to make the contents of the closet fully visible, we integrated a combination of energy efficient lighting options, including LED strip lights and touch dimmers as well as under-mounted shelf lights and sensor activated drawer lights. Efficient lighting options will put your wardrobe in full view early in the mornings and in the evenings when dressing rooms are used most. Dressing rooms act as a personal sanctuary for mixing and matching the perfect ensemble. Your closet should cater to your personal needs, whether it’s top shelving or extra boot and hat storage. A well designed space can make dressing much easier - even on rushed mornings.

Eichler in Marinwood - At the larger scale of the property existed a desire to soften and deepen the engagement between the house and the street frontage. As such, the landscaping palette consists of textures chosen for subtlety and granularity. Spaces are layered by way of planting, diaphanous fencing and lighting. The interior engages the front of the house by the insertion of a floor to ceiling glazing at the dining room. Jog-in path from street to house maintains a sense of privacy and sequential unveiling of interior/private spaces. This non-atrium model is invested with the best aspects of the iconic eichler configuration without compromise to the sense of order and orientation. photo: scott hargis

Dining room - huge farmhouse dining room idea in Boston

These clients wanted a new kitchen that was efficient and easy to use, as well as a bright caribbean feel. Photography by Scott Sherman
Elegant u-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

energy efficiency, exposed beams, LED lighting, LEED, open plan, walnut flooring
Kitchen - contemporary l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

This inviting rustic cabin kitchen combines authentic log construction, exposed wood beams, warm wood finishes, and timeless craftsmanship to create the perfect gathering space. Designed and built by Tamarack Construction, this custom cabin near Georgetown Lake, Montana blends traditional log home character with modern comfort. Save this kitchen for inspiration if you're dreaming of building a custom mountain cabin or luxury lake home.

Inspiration for a transitional open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Phoenix with white walls

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in New York

This bright Santa Monica ADU features a cheerful palette with a bold blue tile backsplash, warm oak accents, and clean white cabinetry, creating a welcoming retreat in a compact footprint. Vaulted ceilings, natural light, and efficient built-in storage make the space feel open and airy, while a cozy sitting area and functional kitchenette offer comfort and style for guests or extended stays.

Build a Custom Home in 6 Months! Livio, formerly Aron Builders, is a technology driven, licensed, bonded and insured Home Builder. We build high quality single family homes. We have a five phase process that covers everything a homeowner may experience when designing and building their dream home. Services include California net zero energy building and guaranteed fixed pricing. Our approach is to employ highly trained professionals as relationship managers along with proprietary technology platform to deliver hassle free, efficient, transparent construction experience to its clients. Services Provided Custom Home, Demolition, Energy-Efficient Homes, Floor Plans, Foundation Construction, Green Building, Guesthouse Design & Construction, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Multigenerational Homes, New Home Construction, Pool House Design & Construction, Site Planning, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Design Areas Served Atherton, Belmont, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Loyola, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale, West Menlo Park, Woodside

This project is a 3,400 square foot custom single-family home, designed and built to passive house standards, which are more stringent than those required to obtain LEED certification. This home is eco-friendly and has incredible energy efficiency. It’s energy-saving features include: double-stud super insulated walls, triple-glazed windows and doors, solar power, and geothermal heating and cooling.

Example of a cottage exterior home design

In collaboration with architect Gustavo Penengo of PRDG Architecture & Design, Better Builders brought this bold contemporary vision to life. Built using modular construction on a steep lot once considered “unbuildable,” the home required a highly engineered foundation with H-piles driven 40 feet into the hillside. The offsite-built sections allowed for precision assembly and made possible dramatic cantilevers, expansive views of the Sound, and an energy-efficient design. The finished home showcases modern architecture at its finest—creative, sustainable, and perfectly suited to its unique site.

sustainable building, eco-friendly construction, energy-efficient home, passive house
Inspiration for a transitional single-wall beige floor wet bar remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black backsplash, stone slab backsplash and black countertops

Gather around a beautiful custom stone fire pit and enjoy Montana evenings under the stars. This outdoor living space was designed to extend the home's entertaining area while complementing the surrounding mountain landscape. Built by Tamarack Construction, it's the perfect finishing touch for a luxury custom home.

An organic modern home seamlessly blends minimalist design with natural materials to create a sustainable and eco-friendly living space. Featuring neutral tones, clean lines, and organic shapes, it emphasizes biophilic design by incorporating abundant natural light and a strong connection to the outdoors, often through open floor plans and indoor-outdoor flow. Wood accents, reclaimed materials, and natural stone add warmth and texture, while sculptural elements and timeless finishes maintain a sophisticated, yet serene ambiance. The home prioritizes energy efficiency and low impact living, fostering a harmonious balance between modern convenience and nature’s beauty.

In collaboration with architect Gustavo Penengo of PRDG Architecture & Design, Better Builders brought this bold contemporary vision to life. Built using modular construction on a steep lot once considered “unbuildable,” the home required a highly engineered foundation with H-piles driven 40 feet into the hillside. The offsite-built sections allowed for precision assembly and made possible dramatic cantilevers, expansive views of the Sound, and an energy-efficient design. The finished home showcases modern architecture at its finest—creative, sustainable, and perfectly suited to its unique site.