Build for the smallest space yet organized and useful. Maple Melamine with Espresso Counters and oil rubbed bronze accents
Small trendy single-wall laundry room photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate countertops and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Ramona d'Viola - ilumus photography
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped bamboo floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with tile countertops

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Inspiration for a large contemporary laminate floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, light wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash and mosaic tile backsplash

Kitchen Photo: Van Inwegen Digital Arts
Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped concrete floor open concept kitchen design in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, recycled glass countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Small trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and no island

Master Bathroom with a gray monochromatic look with accents of porcelain tile and floating wood vanity and brass hardware. Also featuring modern lighting, jack and jill sinks, and textured wall finish.

photo patirobins
Inspiration for a small eclectic u-shaped multicolored floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Cardiff with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and brown countertops

Holland Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in Seattle

Kim Cornelison Photography
Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Example of a large transitional open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room design in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace

Mid-sized craftsman brown three-story wood gable roof idea in Burlington

Trendy wooden u-shaped staircase photo in Kobe with painted risers

This remodel went from a tiny story-and-a-half Cape Cod, to a charming full two-story home. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.

Wing Wong/Memories TTL
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped slate floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, brick backsplash, paneled appliances and a peninsula

Example of a huge tuscan backyard stone patio design in Dallas with a fire pit and no cover

This Garage Guesthouse was born when my wife and I built a new home and I realized that it was perfect except for one thing: I really wanted and needed a space of my own. That, and a good friend once told me that if one could ever justify the cost of a Guest House, we and our guests would prefer the arrangement. And so was born a simple, yet attractive, highly energy-efficient 18' x 22' timber framed Garage/Workshop with an upstairs that currently serves as a Guest House--but could also be a studio, home office, or Airbnb. The White Oak timber frame is enclosed by highly efficient pre-cut structural insulated panels, and is heated and cooled by a Mitsubishi split unit. We plan to offer this as a timber frame kit in the coming year--please give Eric Morley a call for more information. Photo copyright 2017 Carolina Timberworks