Bess Friday
Transitional dark wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with white walls and a standard fireplace

Open concept kitchen renovation. Custom cabinetry mixed on upper and lower cabinetry is the perfect balance between warm and cool. Custom open shelving adds to openness while being functional. Subway tiles add a classic and clean background. Mark Campbell Creative Photography.

Christian Garibaldi
Kids' room - mid-sized transitional girl dark wood floor and brown floor kids' room idea in New York with pink walls

Dan Cutrona
Mid-sized trendy straight staircase photo in Boston

Trendy gray tile alcove shower photo in San Francisco with a two-piece toilet

Large stone landings and landscape boulders create a much more natural feeling landscape. Large Arctic Willows , blankets of Sweet Woodruff, and clusters of various Hosta species soften the edges.

The lifestyle shift to empty-nesters inspires the creation of a dream space to entertain and enjoy. Photographed by David Lauer Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard concrete patio remodel in Denver with no cover

Example of a mid-sized transitional gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor nursery design in San Francisco with multicolored walls

Robert Miller Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

We laid out all of the essentials with maximum function. Once we had a the layout finalized, we started looking for specifics. The color palette we came up with is grounded in neutrals with blush accents to add a touch of baby girl. We always want to maximise function in a room, so all our bigger purchases are gender neutral and convertible so they can be used when our clients have their second baby. We left plenty of empty space in the middle of the room for the essential tummy time and block building.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Example of a mid-sized beach style boy medium tone wood floor nursery design in Los Angeles with blue walls

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in San Francisco

Example of a small transitional kids' blue tile and ceramic tile bathroom design in San Francisco with a wall-mount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

TEAM: Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder (Kitchen/ Mudroom Addition): Shanks Engineering & Construction Builder (Master Suite Addition): Hampden Design Photographer: Greg Premru

Danish galley light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Lots of counter space in this laundry featuring silestone tops and shaker cabinets
Mid-sized elegant galley ceramic tile dedicated laundry room photo in Sacramento with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Walk-in closet - mid-sized country gender-neutral light wood floor and brown floor walk-in closet idea in Boston with open cabinets and white cabinets

Modern Desert Home | Guest House | Imbue Design
Small industrial one-story metal exterior home idea in Salt Lake City