jeremy bittermann
Contemporary exterior home idea in Portland

Mudroom - coastal dark wood floor and brown floor mudroom idea in Chicago with gray walls and a dark wood front door

Multiple gables and arches create an attractive exterior for this family-friendly house plan. The Markham makes efficient use of space with garage storage, a full pantry, and a spacious utility room just off the three-car garage. Each bedroom in this house plan has a walk-in closet and decorative ceiling treatments, and the master bedroom includes a sitting area and access to the back porch. The house plan has a screen porch off the dining room which features an inviting fireplace for year-round enjoyment.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A modest dining and stemware display pantry conceals abundant storage for food, containers, wraps, and appliances beyond. Woodruff Brown Photography
Large eclectic u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry photo with glass-front cabinets, an island, a drop-in sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Example of a small classic light wood floor and brown floor wine cellar design in Burlington with storage racks

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.

Santa Barbara lifestyle with this gated 5,200 square foot estate affords serenity and privacy while incorporating the finest materials and craftsmanship. Visually striking interiors are enhanced by a sparkling bay view and spectacular landscaping with heritage oaks, rose and dahlia gardens and a picturesque splash pool. Just two minutes to Marin’s finest private schools.

"Modern Elegance: A stunning backyard oasis featuring a sleek swimming pool with white tiling, a raised spa with overflow design, and comfortable lounge chairs. The patio, paved with Egyptian limestone, complements the serene blue water and lush greenery provided by Japanese yews. String lights add a magical touch for evening enjoyment, creating a perfect space for relaxation and entertainment."

Open concept kitchen - small scandinavian l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and flat-panel cabinets

DJK Custom Homes
Inspiration for a large rustic green two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home remodel in Chicago

Taking out the enclosed shower wall and making a zero entry shower opened up this bathroom space and made room for an angled free standing tub. We painted current cabinets and added new quartz countertops, mirrors, lighting and cabinet hardware.

Entering the home through a floor-to-ceiling full light pivoting front door provides a sense of grandeur that continues through the home with immediate sightlines through the 16-foot wide sliding door at the opposite wall. The distinct black window frames provide a sleek modern aesthetic while providing European performance standards. The Glo A5h Series with double-pane glazing outperforms most North American triple pane windows due to high performance spacers, low iron glass, a larger continuous thermal break, and multiple air seals. By going double-pane the homeowners have been able to realize tremendous efficiency and cost effective durability while maintaining the clean architectural lines of the home design. The selection of our hidden sash option further cements the modern design by providing a seamless aesthetic on the exterior between fixed and operable windows.

Freestanding bathtub - large contemporary master blue tile and mosaic tile slate floor freestanding bathtub idea in New York with wood countertops, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, brown walls and a vessel sink

Michael Moran/OTTO photography We took a predictable suburban spec house and transformed it into a unique home of enduring value and family-centered design. The existing footprint was expanded where it needed it most: in the family and kitchen area, creating a large square room with open views to a protected nature preserve abutting the property. An unexpected glass canopy and teak entry door are clues that what lies beyond is hardly commonplace. The design challenge was to infuse modern-day functionality and architectural quality into a spec house. Working in partnership with Gary Cruz Studio, we designed the pared down, art-filled interiors with the goal of creating comfortable, purposeful living environments. We also sought to integrate the existing pool and rear deck into the overall building design, extending the usable space outside as a screened-in porch, a dining terrace, and a seating area around a stone fire pit.

Dino Tonn
Large trendy formal and open concept marble floor living room photo in Phoenix with a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace, beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a transitional one-car garage design in Seattle

Example of a country living room design in New York

Photography by Erin Little Photo Install by Bilodeau Builders
Example of a transitional entryway design in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops