The home has a Genkan entry - a feature of Japanese houses – where the exterior stone paving continues into the entry, and then the interior floor raises 6” – where one then walks with their shoes off. Banding the top of the first floor is an 18-ich tall slot window that wraps around all sides. This window acts to create a visual separation between the box volume of the second floor and the walls of the first floor. It also allows for interior views to the tree canopies beyond, and to bring in soft light. Photographer: Joe Fletcher

Ray Olivares
Living room - industrial formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in New York with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Atlanta is the largest of The Curtain Exchange stores specializing in quickly-made custom curtains, shades and hardware. 1082A Huff Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 352-8849 www.thecurtainexchange.com

Jim Westphalen
Great room - mid-sized contemporary concrete floor and gray floor great room idea in Burlington with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a large trendy formal and open concept living room design in Miami with green walls, no fireplace and no tv

Mid-sized cottage master carpeted and beige floor bedroom photo in Boston with white walls

Photo by Ed Golich
Example of a classic dutch front door design in San Diego

This room was done by Scot Meacham Wood for the "Antiques in Modern Design" project. This office uses a 19th century Chinese coromandel screen as a backdrop for a midcentury glass dining table refashioned as a desk. The red lacquered Chinese Chippendale style armchair adds a pop of color to the otherwise subtle colors in the screen. On the desk is a contemporary print bringing out the colors in the pattern rug. In front of the print is a 19th century portrait of a gentleman. The modern lamp used as a desk lamp with brass shade provides additional lighting on the workspace.

This room was done by Eugene Anthony for the "Antiques in Modern Design" project. This room is reminiscent of a 19th century Paris apartment with a modern twist. The use of the yellow wall color and the vibrant black and white patterned rug brings this room into the 21st century. Used in this room is an 18th century Italian painted and gilt wood console, possibly Roman. On top of the console are a pair of 19th century French painted finials that once adorned the top of a building. The large flower urn on a pedestal brings additional life into this room and gives it a more classic feel. The sconces offset the abstract paintings, providing a contrast between the classic and the modern. The armchair covered in a bright yellow fabric brings this chair from the 19th century to the present.

Inspiration for a contemporary family room remodel in Denver with a music area

Photography by: Werner Straube
Beach style dark wood floor bedroom photo in Chicago with white walls

Kitchen - traditional u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

A modern entry complemented with a hanging gas lantern. Featured lanterns: Cotton Exchange Square Yoke http://ow.ly/7UPq30nCqyv | Cotton Exchange Flush Mount http://ow.ly/I8Xc30nCqxe

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean white one-story stucco exterior home remodel in Miami

The goal of this project was to build a house that would be energy efficient using materials that were both economical and environmentally conscious. Due to the extremely cold winter weather conditions in the Catskills, insulating the house was a primary concern. The main structure of the house is a timber frame from an nineteenth century barn that has been restored and raised on this new site. The entirety of this frame has then been wrapped in SIPs (structural insulated panels), both walls and the roof. The house is slab on grade, insulated from below. The concrete slab was poured with a radiant heating system inside and the top of the slab was polished and left exposed as the flooring surface. Fiberglass windows with an extremely high R-value were chosen for their green properties. Care was also taken during construction to make all of the joints between the SIPs panels and around window and door openings as airtight as possible. The fact that the house is so airtight along with the high overall insulatory value achieved from the insulated slab, SIPs panels, and windows make the house very energy efficient. The house utilizes an air exchanger, a device that brings fresh air in from outside without loosing heat and circulates the air within the house to move warmer air down from the second floor. Other green materials in the home include reclaimed barn wood used for the floor and ceiling of the second floor, reclaimed wood stairs and bathroom vanity, and an on-demand hot water/boiler system. The exterior of the house is clad in black corrugated aluminum with an aluminum standing seam roof. Because of the extremely cold winter temperatures windows are used discerningly, the three largest windows are on the first floor providing the main living areas with a majestic view of the Catskill mountains.

Transitional bathroom photo in Minneapolis

Susan Teare
Example of a small mountain style two-story wood exterior home design in Burlington

A short stroll through live oaks leads to a small pier employing salvaged steel structural elements. Photo: Rob Karosis, Robert Cain,
Cottage dock photo in Charleston

The 1,500 sq. ft. GO Home offers two story living with a combined kitchen/living/dining space on the main level and three bedrooms with full bath on the upper level. Amenities include covered entry porch, kitchen pantry, powder room, mud room and laundry closet. LEED Platinum certification; 1st Passive House–certified home in Maine, 12th certified in U.S.; USGBC Residential Project of the Year Award 2011; EcoHome Magazine Design Merit Award, 2011; TreeHugger, Best Passive House of the Year Award 2012 photo by Trent Bell