Do you ever think about DIYing your closet renovation, but you’re just not sure it’ll turn out the way you want? This is where we found our recent client, Amanda, and her husband, Terry. DIY Dreamers The couple was in the middle of renovating their master bath when Amanda went down a Pinterest ‘rabbit hole.’ There in her endless scrolling, she was mesmerized by photos of beautiful master closets…efficient master closets…organized master closets…inspired master closets. Amanda began thinking…If she and Terry were already redoing their master bath, it only made sense to renovate their ensuite closet at the same time. They could even DIY it and save a little bit of money, too. Right? Amanda took measurements, researched closet organization systems online, and prepared to become a closet DIY warrior. But a little thought was holding her back. It wasn’t that she didn’t think they could do it themselves. Could they survive the stress of the renovation process? What if they ended up hating the result? What if they ended up hating each other in the process? That’s when Amanda found us and decided to explore a different option. A Professional Job – At the Same Price  Our Designer Felicity arrived for a consultation, worked up a complete closet renovation plan, explained our signature stress-free installation process, and gave the couple a price. The number ended up rivaling the final DIY cost. Amanda and Terry were sold (and relieved). The couple’s professional closet renovation & end-to-end installation took place over just 2 days last summer. They now have custom floor-to-ceiling closet organization – and new weight off of their shoulders that only comes with a clean, organized space. We later returned to revamp their daughter Savannah’s closet a few weeks later. Before you DIY your closet revamp, give us a quick call. We’d love to show you what we can do. Request a free consultation to get started on your dream closet here: https://www.inspiredclosets.com/locations/baton-rouge/contact/

Meet Kim: a partner in a downtown law firm. To say that she is short on time is a giant understatement. In the rare event she has a free moment, she wants to spend it with her kids, not fussing over home decor. That’s my cue! Kim is my favorite type of client. She didn’t know where to go or what to do. She leaned on me to explain and articulate design and style. She looked to me to make her home a mirror of her best self. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Fantastic human giving me a blank slate? Yes please! While Kim’s traditional home had a great layout and good bones, it needed updating to make it contemporary and fresh. It needed fixtures and knobs from this century. It needed a Lulu DK roman shade in the powder room. It needed a durable, snuggle-ready sofa with tufting and little patterns of texture. It needed drapery with small-scale drama. Throw in a Thomas O’ Brian cocktail table, and now there’s no shortage of conversation pieces. Little spaces make me happy – they are the most intimate snapshot of your entire home’s aesthetic – and this house has some good ones. I couldn’t wait to work with the nooks and crannies of this house. Kim’s sitting room, a small den off of the master bedroom, morphed into a craveable cozy space, a quiet adult respite from the occasional chaos of raising a family. The kitchen evolved into something quite unique: playful yet modest, dressed-up but centered. We used a favorite Lucy Rose fabric and Galbraith & Paul pillows to work perfectly with a fresh color palette selected during a prior-to-me renovation. A locally made kitchen farm table fit right in with the high-fashioned quirky blend of color, texture, and pattern. High-End + Color = Fun + Functional This is how we articulated Kim’s style and personality. She trusted me with her inner self, allowing me to get to know her and her real, everyday life. I built her a special space to reflect the beautiful life she made for herself. Nothing too fancy or off-limits to little hands, nothing too stuffy (snore!). Everything 100% HER. #nailedit See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed the kitchen, laundry room and bookcase in this multi-room project, a mixture of traditional and transitional styles featuring Masterpiece Cabinetry Gannon door style. The kitchen perimeter, bookcase, and laundry cabinets feature a Warm White finish, while the kitchen island cabinets are a Cherry Kaffe finish with Cambria Brittanicca Gold countertops. The kitchen also includes Emotive Astonished White Silk Florida Tile and Kohler’s Whitehaven farm sink and Simplice faucet. The client expressed their gratitude, stating, "Nancy was great about providing suggestions, and with her experience, she knew what would work well together. We are especially happy with our floor tile, backsplash, and countertops, which she recommended. She was easy to work with, honest, knowledgeable, and hardworking. We knew that she would keep our project on task and that we could count on her to take care of any issues we had.” "It is so elegant and provides so much more natural light than our old kitchen. The design provides more space for cooking and entertaining. Our favorite cabinet accessory is the lighted cabinet with glass door. It provides background lighting and elegance to our kitchen," said the client. Nancy explained how the project consisted of updating the kitchen and widening the opening to the family room. "We removed the peninsula and installed an island to improve flow. To have adequate clearance for the island, we had to take some space from their family room. This construction required a new support beam. We removed the existing soffits to accommodate taller cabinetry.” "The new design is great for their family. I love the color combinations and the overall look of the space. It's updated and still reflects the traditional style of their home." Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Southern Pines, NC, collaborated with Tod Reid to design a transitional-style kitchen featuring Merillat Autograph and Masterpiece cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets are Merillat Autograph in the Bayard door style in Warm White, while the island features Masterpiece cabinetry in the Bolton door style in Rainfall. The kitchen also includes MSI Q Calacatta Laza countertops, 8x8 Angela Harris Florista Leave backsplash tile from Tile Inc. and KitchenAid range with downdraft, dishwasher and refrigerator. The client shared, “My experience with Reico was very pleasant from the start. Nancy was proficient and knowledgeable. Her timeline went as planned, and she presented several design options while adjusting to my preferences. Her attention to detail paid off—she found the perfect backsplash to complement my kitchen and home. Nancy also communicated well with my contractor. He appreciated the organized binder she prepared, which clearly laid out all the plans and specifications. The project went smoothly, and now I have a more efficient kitchen that has become the focal point of my home. I’m confident we’ll enjoy it for years to come.” Nancy explained, “The homeowners were ready for a change. We kept the same layout but updated the cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. We also installed large 12x24 floor tile. Because the home has an open floor plan, we needed the kitchen to blend with the rest of the space. The Warm White perimeter cabinets keep things bright, while the Rainfall island adds a pop of color. The backsplash tile, which reflects the homeowner’s love of plants, is visible from the front door and is my favorite part of the design.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed the kitchen, laundry room and bookcase in this multi-room project, a mixture of traditional and transitional styles featuring Masterpiece Cabinetry Gannon door style. The kitchen perimeter, bookcase, and laundry cabinets feature a Warm White finish, while the kitchen island cabinets are a Cherry Kaffe finish with Cambria Brittanicca Gold countertops. The kitchen also includes Emotive Astonished White Silk Florida Tile and Kohler’s Whitehaven farm sink and Simplice faucet. The client expressed their gratitude, stating, "Nancy was great about providing suggestions, and with her experience, she knew what would work well together. We are especially happy with our floor tile, backsplash, and countertops, which she recommended. She was easy to work with, honest, knowledgeable, and hardworking. We knew that she would keep our project on task and that we could count on her to take care of any issues we had.” "It is so elegant and provides so much more natural light than our old kitchen. The design provides more space for cooking and entertaining. Our favorite cabinet accessory is the lighted cabinet with glass door. It provides background lighting and elegance to our kitchen," said the client. Nancy explained how the project consisted of updating the kitchen and widening the opening to the family room. "We removed the peninsula and installed an island to improve flow. To have adequate clearance for the island, we had to take some space from their family room. This construction required a new support beam. We removed the existing soffits to accommodate taller cabinetry.” "The new design is great for their family. I love the color combinations and the overall look of the space. It's updated and still reflects the traditional style of their home." Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

This young family purchased their first home in 2021, and let's say it was full of original 1970s charm - i.e., nothing had been done to this house in the past 50 years. We had recently completed a project for a family member, so they called us in to help. During our initial consultation, they shared a modest project budget, and we explained that we wouldn't be able to accomplish much on such a limited budget. Several weeks passed, and they ultimately raised their funding, and we signed on for the job. Even after doubling their budget, we still had our work cut out for us. The original kitchen was very small in comparison to the square footage of the home, and opening up the space meant we needed to add two structural beams between the first and second stories. These homeowners already had one small child, and were expecting another in the coming months. They also have large families in the area, so creating an ample gathering space for multiple cooks was crucial to the final layout. Some of their wish list items included a bar and a large island with plenty of seating. They also wanted the kitchen open to the family room. This home had a formal and informal dining area, so we opted to absorb the casual eating area into the newly expanded kitchen floorplan. We relocated their laundry room to create an extended family room, which included the new bar area. We were also able to use the under-stair space to create a kitchen pantry. The kitchen transformed from 115 sq. ft. to a spacious 260 sq. ft., all within existing poorly used space. We were able to create clear sightlines to the backyard and pool from the new kitchen and family room, perfect for a young family. Aesthetically speaking, our clients wanted a neutral space that could grow and change with their family. We kept the expensive items like cabinets, countertops, and tile in classic finishes like whites and navy blues, while we had more fun with things like the faucet, hardware, and light fixtures that could easily be updated over the years. The finished product is a warm, clean, family-friendly space that invites you to come in and pull up a chair.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed multiple rooms for this project. This included the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and desk area, highlighting a traditional design style and featuring both Ultracraft Cabinetry and Merillat Classic Cabinetry. The kitchen features Ultracraft Winchester cabinets in an Artic White finish. The pantry showcases Merillat Classic cabinets in the Portrait door style with a Cotton finish. Both the laundry and desk areas include Merillat Classic Marlin cabinets in a Cotton White finish. Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold and Lagoon countertops are featured in all rooms. The client expressed their appreciation for Nancy saying, “She has a great eye for detail and worked with my vision, even improving on it. I wanted to keep the wood paneling in the kitchen and den and she worked with me on this little challenge. She was honest with me, stayed on the project, ensured our orders came in on time and made sure the cabinets were what we ordered.” “I love everything about my spacious new kitchen and my laundry room. It's like being in a new home every time I walk in the house. I needed Nancy to design a lovely spacious kitchen with a good flow plan and she did it beautifully,” said the client. Nancy explained how the project was more than moving a couple of doors and appliances. “In the original plan, the range was in a peninsula. The peninsula was removed and an island added. The new island design houses a microwave drawer, spice pullout, trash/recycle, three large drawers, ample working surface and seating! The door to the walk-in pantry was relocated to the hallway between the kitchen and laundry area. This allows for a convenient countertop beside the refrigerator and gives more open space entering the kitchen.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed the kitchen, laundry room and bookcase in this multi-room project, a mixture of traditional and transitional styles featuring Masterpiece Cabinetry Gannon door style. The kitchen perimeter, bookcase, and laundry cabinets feature a Warm White finish, while the kitchen island cabinets are a Cherry Kaffe finish with Cambria Brittanicca Gold countertops. The kitchen also includes Emotive Astonished White Silk Florida Tile and Kohler’s Whitehaven farm sink and Simplice faucet. The client expressed their gratitude, stating, "Nancy was great about providing suggestions, and with her experience, she knew what would work well together. We are especially happy with our floor tile, backsplash, and countertops, which she recommended. She was easy to work with, honest, knowledgeable, and hardworking. We knew that she would keep our project on task and that we could count on her to take care of any issues we had.” "It is so elegant and provides so much more natural light than our old kitchen. The design provides more space for cooking and entertaining. Our favorite cabinet accessory is the lighted cabinet with glass door. It provides background lighting and elegance to our kitchen," said the client. Nancy explained how the project consisted of updating the kitchen and widening the opening to the family room. "We removed the peninsula and installed an island to improve flow. To have adequate clearance for the island, we had to take some space from their family room. This construction required a new support beam. We removed the existing soffits to accommodate taller cabinetry.” "The new design is great for their family. I love the color combinations and the overall look of the space. It's updated and still reflects the traditional style of their home." Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed multiple rooms for this project. This included the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and desk area, highlighting a traditional design style and featuring both Ultracraft Cabinetry and Merillat Classic Cabinetry. The kitchen features Ultracraft Winchester cabinets in an Artic White finish. The pantry showcases Merillat Classic cabinets in the Portrait door style with a Cotton finish. Both the laundry and desk areas include Merillat Classic Marlin cabinets in a Cotton White finish. Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold and Lagoon countertops are featured in all rooms. The client expressed their appreciation for Nancy saying, “She has a great eye for detail and worked with my vision, even improving on it. I wanted to keep the wood paneling in the kitchen and den and she worked with me on this little challenge. She was honest with me, stayed on the project, ensured our orders came in on time and made sure the cabinets were what we ordered.” “I love everything about my spacious new kitchen and my laundry room. It's like being in a new home every time I walk in the house. I needed Nancy to design a lovely spacious kitchen with a good flow plan and she did it beautifully,” said the client. Nancy explained how the project was more than moving a couple of doors and appliances. “In the original plan, the range was in a peninsula. The peninsula was removed and an island added. The new island design houses a microwave drawer, spice pullout, trash/recycle, three large drawers, ample working surface and seating! The door to the walk-in pantry was relocated to the hallway between the kitchen and laundry area. This allows for a convenient countertop beside the refrigerator and gives more open space entering the kitchen.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Southern Pines, NC, collaborated with Tod Reid to design a transitional-style kitchen featuring Merillat Autograph and Masterpiece cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets are Merillat Autograph in the Bayard door style in Warm White, while the island features Masterpiece cabinetry in the Bolton door style in Rainfall. The kitchen also includes MSI Q Calacatta Laza countertops, 8x8 Angela Harris Florista Leave backsplash tile from Tile Inc. and KitchenAid range with downdraft, dishwasher and refrigerator. The client shared, “My experience with Reico was very pleasant from the start. Nancy was proficient and knowledgeable. Her timeline went as planned, and she presented several design options while adjusting to my preferences. Her attention to detail paid off—she found the perfect backsplash to complement my kitchen and home. Nancy also communicated well with my contractor. He appreciated the organized binder she prepared, which clearly laid out all the plans and specifications. The project went smoothly, and now I have a more efficient kitchen that has become the focal point of my home. I’m confident we’ll enjoy it for years to come.” Nancy explained, “The homeowners were ready for a change. We kept the same layout but updated the cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. We also installed large 12x24 floor tile. Because the home has an open floor plan, we needed the kitchen to blend with the rest of the space. The Warm White perimeter cabinets keep things bright, while the Rainfall island adds a pop of color. The backsplash tile, which reflects the homeowner’s love of plants, is visible from the front door and is my favorite part of the design.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

Mid-century modern dining room photo in Vancouver

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client’s art collection. The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors,” says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. “When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator – through which all materials and team members had to go. “Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we’re used to handling that kind of thing.” The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn’t really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display – and the look – more streamlined. “She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork,” says Maxey. “So we made the space a palette for that.” Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: “It’s halfway between satin and flat,” explains Maxey. “It’s not glossy and it’s not chalky – just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. “This lighting has no wires,” notes Maxey. “It’s powered by a positive and negative conduit.” The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. “It’s gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile,” says Maxey. “We used it throughout the condo to unify the space.” After Maxey started looking at the client’s bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn’t stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around – a key to designing spaces for loft living. “The table in the living room is very interesting,” notes Maxey. “It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said ‘It’s not really going to go.’” However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table – from Design Within Reach – is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. “The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet,” says Maxey. “It’s a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture.”The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with new, white contemporary cabinetry, quartz countertops mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color.The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern).In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches.The client’s artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There’s a huge bowl of shells from the client’s diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that’s been in her family forever. “Her collection is quite impressive,” says Maxey. “There’s even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon.” (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). “We’re extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client,” says Maxey. “No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it.”

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed multiple rooms for this project. This included the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and desk area, highlighting a traditional design style and featuring both Ultracraft Cabinetry and Merillat Classic Cabinetry. The kitchen features Ultracraft Winchester cabinets in an Artic White finish. The pantry showcases Merillat Classic cabinets in the Portrait door style with a Cotton finish. Both the laundry and desk areas include Merillat Classic Marlin cabinets in a Cotton White finish. Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold and Lagoon countertops are featured in all rooms. The client expressed their appreciation for Nancy saying, “She has a great eye for detail and worked with my vision, even improving on it. I wanted to keep the wood paneling in the kitchen and den and she worked with me on this little challenge. She was honest with me, stayed on the project, ensured our orders came in on time and made sure the cabinets were what we ordered.” “I love everything about my spacious new kitchen and my laundry room. It's like being in a new home every time I walk in the house. I needed Nancy to design a lovely spacious kitchen with a good flow plan and she did it beautifully,” said the client. Nancy explained how the project was more than moving a couple of doors and appliances. “In the original plan, the range was in a peninsula. The peninsula was removed and an island added. The new island design houses a microwave drawer, spice pullout, trash/recycle, three large drawers, ample working surface and seating! The door to the walk-in pantry was relocated to the hallway between the kitchen and laundry area. This allows for a convenient countertop beside the refrigerator and gives more open space entering the kitchen.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

This young family purchased their first home in 2021, and let's say it was full of original 1970s charm - i.e., nothing had been done to this house in the past 50 years. We had recently completed a project for a family member, so they called us in to help. During our initial consultation, they shared a modest project budget, and we explained that we wouldn't be able to accomplish much on such a limited budget. Several weeks passed, and they ultimately raised their funding, and we signed on for the job. Even after doubling their budget, we still had our work cut out for us. The original kitchen was very small in comparison to the square footage of the home, and opening up the space meant we needed to add two structural beams between the first and second stories. These homeowners already had one small child, and were expecting another in the coming months. They also have large families in the area, so creating an ample gathering space for multiple cooks was crucial to the final layout. Some of their wish list items included a bar and a large island with plenty of seating. They also wanted the kitchen open to the family room. This home had a formal and informal dining area, so we opted to absorb the casual eating area into the newly expanded kitchen floorplan. We relocated their laundry room to create an extended family room, which included the new bar area. We were also able to use the under-stair space to create a kitchen pantry. The kitchen transformed from 115 sq. ft. to a spacious 260 sq. ft., all within existing poorly used space. We were able to create clear sightlines to the backyard and pool from the new kitchen and family room, perfect for a young family. Aesthetically speaking, our clients wanted a neutral space that could grow and change with their family. We kept the expensive items like cabinets, countertops, and tile in classic finishes like whites and navy blues, while we had more fun with things like the faucet, hardware, and light fixtures that could easily be updated over the years. The finished product is a warm, clean, family-friendly space that invites you to come in and pull up a chair.