In today's modern family home, the utility/laundry room has become the new must have space. This room must be functionally organized and well appointed. The go-to storage spot for life's messiest and untidiest bits. It had become the drop zone for coats, shoes, laundry, and the list went on........ With that being said, getting the storage solutions right was essential. Wall cabinets, open shelves, hooks and under-seat storage all combine to create flexible, useful spaces for an array of everyday items. The chevron tiles add a beautiful statement behind the custom drying rack.

This is a great example of a Victorian Tiled floor refurbishment which I recently completed at a property in Stoke-on-Trent. If you look closely at the photographs below you will see the white tiles are looking grubby and paint splash staining from decorating. The owner was unhappy with how the floor now looked and wanted it refurbished. Black and White Victorian tiles laid in a chequered diamond pattern is a classic style and a very popular choice for hallways at the turn of the 20th century. Over the years many have been replaced or covered up with carpet and those that survived are now a sought-after period feature that adds value to your property. I initially cleaned the floor by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was sprayed onto the floor and then left to soak in for ten minutes. Pro-Clean is our goto tile and grout cleaning product that is designed to break down dirt and remove old sealers. After ten minutes the solution was scrubbed in with a rotary machine fitted with a coarse 200-grit pad. The soil generated was rinsed off the tiles and extracted with a wet vacuum and the floor inspected. I would see more work was needed to get the floor clean and free of staining, so I spot treated the problem areas with Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a coatings remover. I worked in small sections leaving the product to dwell as before for 10 minutes, I then used a wallpaper steamer with handheld diamond blocks to get the ingrained dirt out of the floor. After a final rinse and extraction, the floor looked clean so, so much better than when I started. I then left the floor to dry off overnight and came back the second day to seal the tiles first checking the moisture levels with a damp meter. Applying sealer to a damp floor will result in the floor looking patchy when it dries so I always check first. The readings were good, so I started to apply the first of five coats of sealer which for this floor I chose Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra. Old Victorian floors do not have a damp-proof membrane installed under the floor so its important to select a sealer that will allow moisture to rise through the tiles and evaporate on the surface, Seal and Go Extra allows for this. Choosing a non-breathable sealer can result in moisture being trapped under the floor where it can reach out to the walls leading to rising damp. Once the floor dried it looked fantastic. In fact, my customer was so happy with the transformation she was taking pictures and sending them to her daughters as I worked; she couldn’t believe how well it was turning out. Trevor Preece Staffordshire Tile Doctor

Show off your impeccable style with the super on-trend color of this Exposed Socket Pendant. The tantalizing teal of the cloth cord mixes with a brass socket to elevate this basic design to a whole new world, and will be the center of attention in your space. You'll love all the compliments you get from hanging this in your home. Perfect for any room you desire, simply add your favorite vintage or designer bulb to complete the look.

“The tree stood where the grill is now,” the husband adds. “One of the toughest things was my wife spent so much time searching for granite stones that matched the old ones. After finding a supplier, she had to hand-pick each one from piles of stone.” Stone for the walls, outdoor kitchen and hot tub facades were chosen by the wife who also asked that niches be left in the wall behind the hot tub to hold mood-setting candles.

Show off your impeccable style with the super on-trend color of this Exposed Socket Pendant. The tantalizing teal of the cloth cord mixes with a brass socket to elevate this basic design to a whole new world, and will be the center of attention in your space. You'll love all the compliments you get from hanging this in your home. Perfect for any room you desire, simply add your favorite vintage or designer bulb to complete the look.

Show off your impeccable style with the super on-trend color of this Exposed Socket Pendant. The tantalizing teal of the cloth cord mixes with a brass socket to elevate this basic design to a whole new world, and will be the center of attention in your space. You'll love all the compliments you get from hanging this in your home. Perfect for any room you desire, simply add your favorite vintage or designer bulb to complete the look.

We designed and delivered a perfectly hidden kitchen laundry and, can you believe, it adds tremendous style to this new open space Moorestown, New Jersey kitchen?! Besides figuring out what to do with the washer and dryer, the client asked for a large table island, fun green accenting, and wood details. To truly understand the challenge we had with this project, please look at the befores first — a small space condo kitchen that had a stacked washer & dryer fully exposed. Solutions: knock out a wall to open things up to the dining room, and somehow enclose the washer and dryer. Besides now having a tremendously functional open space kitchen with an electic mix of modern and transitional that is ‘perfectly Theresa’, the laundry space now adds style. It’s amazing how the caning on the doors became a statement element! How fun! We truly managed to hide a washer & dryer in plain sight and add beauty!

Show off your impeccable style with the super on-trend color of this Exposed Socket Pendant. The tantalizing teal of the cloth cord mixes with a brass socket to elevate this basic design to a whole new world, and will be the center of attention in your space. You'll love all the compliments you get from hanging this in your home. Perfect for any room you desire, simply add your favorite vintage or designer bulb to complete the look.

Liz selected IKEA BODBYN cabinetry for two simple reasons: Cost, and the abundance of organizational options IKEA cabinetry provided. “I could’ve gotten non-stick cabinets or previously assembled cabinets from big box stores for around the same price, but they all would’ve been bare-bones with a stationary shelf. I love that IKEA uses BLUM hardware with soft-close glides as standard,” she says. To that end, the off white IKEA BODBYN upper cabinetry provides tremendous storage and organizational options. It flows from the refrigerator, around to the sink and onto the other side (on either side of the sink-side window) where it continues to the other side of the pantry, then around the microwave and ending above the peninsula countertop. This is complemented stylistically and functionally by the gray IKEA BODBYN base cabinetry, which follows the same path, running around the dishwasher to the pantry door and continuing on the other side to the range and ending at the peninsula. She adds: “The MAXIMERA drawers are awesome and they were one of the easiest things to assemble. I love all of the drawers and pull out trays in the kitchen. It’s so much easier to see everything in the back of the cabinet. I also love the IKEA warranty and the consistently excellent ratings on the cabinets.” She also used IKEA SEKTION toekicks, cover panels, and deco strips throughout.

By Design "I WANT THAT" Wednesday find of the week . . . pull out drawers in the kitchen, pantry and bathrooms are not new. This feature has been making stationary shelves obsolete BUT add some LED tape light and an "instant on" or "motion sensor" feature to the space and you've REALLY got something! The possibilities are endless.

Roman style posts. Keller, TX
Large elegant backyard stamped concrete patio kitchen photo in Dallas with a pergola

Modern Italian Wall Unit VV 3924 Made in Italy Perfect for both modern and contemporary styled interiors, this modular wall unit line offers lots of customization options so everyone could adjust the composition according to the individual's size and color requirements, creating an entertainment center of the dream. The wall unit line features lots of different units, that are available in several sizes and can wall mounted both vertically and horizontally. All the units from this entertainment center furniture collection are available in walnut, white ash, ivory ash and mink ash wood structure finishes as well as white and mud high gloss lacquers. The structure and the front doors of the same unit can be ordered in different finishes/lacquers to add unique and elegant contrast look to the wall unit design. Features: E1-Class ecological panels, which are produced exclusively through a wood recycling production process The structure and the front in wood finishes are made of chipboard The lacquered structures and fronts are made of REAL POLISH SCRATCH PROOF LACQUERING, which is non toxic and non allergic products All the panels are 0.7" thick Drawers mounted on metal runners with MDF bottom panel, height adjustable and soft-close system Metal snap-on hinges with adjustable height The starting price is for the VV Wall Unit Composition 3924 as shown in the main picture in Mink Ash / Mud Lacquer finishes. (Consists of: Hanging Base Drawer Cabinet H10.2" x W35.4", Hanging Base Drawer Cabinet H10.2" x W59", Six Horizontal Hanging Units W35.4" each). Dimensions: Wall Unit: W106.3" x D18.3" x H74.8" Individual Components: Hanging Base Drawer Cabinet H10.2": W35.4" x D18.3" x H10.2" Hanging Base Drawer Cabinet H10.2": W59" x D18.3" x H10.2" Horizontal Hanging Unit: W35.4" x D13.8" x H13.4"

Cabinets refinished to a factory smooth antique white painted finish with glaze lines. Add-ons and embellishments include: custom Island built and designed by CCFF, stainless hood,end panels, crown and lightrail molding, refrigerator built in. custom pullouts, solid doors replacing glass doors, backsplash, granite on island and updated neutral wall color.

This off-grid mountain barn home located in the heart of the Rockies sits at 7,500 feet and has expansive, beautiful views of the foothills below. The model is a Barn Pros 36 ft. x 36 ft. Denali barn apartment with a partially enclosed shed roof on one side for outdoor seating and entertainment area. The deck off the back of the building is smaller than the standard 12 ft. x 12 ft. deck included in the Denali package. Roll-up garage doors like the one shown at the front of the home are an add-on option for nearly any Barn Pros kit. Inside, the finish is decidedly rustic modern where sheetrock walls contrast handsomely with the exposed posts and beams throughout the space. The owners incorporated garage parking, laundry, kitchenette with wood-burning stove oven, bathroom, workout area and a pool table all on the first floor. The upper level houses the main living space where contemporary décor and finished are combined with natural wood flooring and those same exposed posts and beams. Lots of natural light fills the space from the 18 ft. vaulted ceilings, dormer windows and French doors off the living room. The owners added a partial loft for additional sleeping and a functional storage area.

Acadian Heights flooring by Shaw comes in 7" wide planking for today's most on-trend hardwood look. Add hand scraping-grooved and chattered, with a great deal of character - and you have a stunning style in much-loved maple. Multi-step staining process - each color layer hand rubbed - gives a rich, deep color saturation with beautiful variation within each plank. Lustrous satin finish - for a warm elegant look that goes with various styles of furniture and tastes. In the flooring industry, there’s no shortage of competition. If you’re looking for hardwoods, you’ll find thousands of product options and hundreds of people willing to install them for you. The same goes for tile, carpet, laminate, etc. At Fantastic Floors, our mission is to provide a quality product, at a competitive price, with a level of service that exceeds our competition. We don’t “sell” floors. We help you find the perfect floors for your family in our design center or bring the showroom to you free of charge. We take the time to listen to your needs and help you select the best flooring option to fit your budget and lifestyle. We can answer any questions you have about how your new floors are engineered and why they make sense for you…all in the comfort of our home or yours. We work with designers, retail customers, commercial builders, and real estate investors to improve an existing space or create one that is totally new and unique...and we’d love to work with you.

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz A mix of clean lines and natural materials give the couple's home an urban edge. "We wanted to keep as many of the old, original details as possible, but add our own spin to it," says Catherine. A leather club chair, Bryan's favorite piece in the house, anchors the grouping and imbues the space with a loft-like feel. Classically styled furnishings allow the home's interesting qualities to take center stage, as well as provide Bryan and Catherine with a neutral canvas for decorating throughout the year. "We would rather have a plain beige comfy couch that we can easily add different pillows to as moods and seasons change," Catherine explains. Leather chair: Crate & Barrel

New staircase for the add-a-level.
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless wooden straight staircase remodel in New York with painted risers

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed