Elegant kitchen photo in Atlanta

Dining Room wallpaper installation – Esther Short, WA. In this eclectic dining space, we used oversized floral wallpaper with a painterly finish to create drama and personality. Installed as a feature wall behind a reclaimed table and mismatched chairs, the design feels intentional, bold, and full of life — perfect for casual hosting.

Dining Room wallpaper installation – Esther Short, WA. In this eclectic dining space, we used oversized floral wallpaper with a painterly finish to create drama and personality. Installed as a feature wall behind a reclaimed table and mismatched chairs, the design feels intentional, bold, and full of life — perfect for casual hosting.

The custom linen cabinet adds both function and refined detail to the Jack & Jill bathroom. Featuring reeded glass doors, the cabinet beautifully showcases everyday essentials while maintaining a sense of warmth and texture. The same round detailing found throughout the space carries into the custom drawer pulls, creating a cohesive design moment that feels intentional, timeless, and uniquely crafted.

We staged this space with a plush, low profile sofa and organic wood accents to complement the room's airy volume without crowding the floor plan. The addition of a small dining bistro set and a tailored workspace demonstrates the casita’s versatility as both a luxury guest suite and a quiet home office. By layering soft textiles and greenery against the clean architectural lines, we’ve created a "home away from home" that feels intentional and sophisticated.

Mid-sized beach style exterior home photo in Minneapolis

This two-story estate home is located on a home-site along the 14th hole of Talis Park's Greg Norman-Pete Dye designed golf course. The 'coastal-California' look was our initial inspiration, then we took that curbside appeal from the exterior all the way through the interior, so it’s upscale, roomy, and easy to enjoy. The home has clean, transitional lines with coastal accents and organic elements infused throughout. The refined coastal feel was brought to life through a blended palette of cream and taupe with touches of pewter and steel blue. The intent was to keep it monochromatic and sophisticated, with a focus on texture, which can be seen through woven wall coverings, stacked stone accent walls and dimensional textiles.

On a sloping 13,700 square foot lot, the design intent of this project was to craft a village of stone masses behind a quiet, landscaped wall. From the curb, the facade feels both understated and timeless - a rooted monument from a time long gone. Yet its essence is communal. Inspired by mediterranean medinas, it is an experience that feels solitary and shared, a retreat and a relic. Behind the front door, a sprawling sanctuary unfolds organized around large outdoor living spaces. Its eroded beauty invites visitors to become immersed in the lush landscaping and serene stone corridors. Leveraging a minimal material palette, the home creates its own transformative context with a deeply rooted connection to nature.

The 2023 Southern Living Idea House is an oasis on the Tennessee hillside. Bill Holloway and Luke Sippel of Lake + Land Studio had the task of building and designing the perfect home for clients who loved dogs, music, and indoor-outdoor living. The 5,600-square-foot contemporary Southern farmhouse in Leiper’s Fork was intentionally placed to fit the surrounding natural landscape. Holloway and Sippel wanted the home to feel as though it had always been there. An important element of Southern living was present in the home’s design and build: porches. The home has a large, covered porch that runs the nearly the entire length of the back of the home on the main floor and one on the lower level. Using Marvin Ultimate multi-slide doors on the porch unified the indoor and outdoor spaces. The multi-slide door has the ability for the door to open fully, seamlessly blending the two spaces. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Elevate Direct Glaze Window Elevate Casement Window Elevate Sliding French Door Elevate French Door Ultimate Glider Window Ultimate Multi-Slide Door Ultimate Outswing Door Architecture Firm: Lake + Land Studio Builder: Hatcliff Construction Interior Design: Laura Hodges Studio Landscape: Southern Creations Landscaping Dealer: AVI Windows and Doors

Tucked into the quiet suburbs of Edmonds, this three-story townhouse got a warm, minimal refresh for a young couple settling into their first home together. We focused on the living and small dining area, spaces they use daily, to create a grounded and cozy atmosphere that still feels modern and uncluttered. Rooted in both Japanese and Scandinavian influences, the design blends soft neutrals, warm oak tones, and bold black accents to create contrast without feeling stark. The slatted wood feature wall adds texture and a natural rhythm, while clean-lined furniture, tonal layering, and sculptural decor bring in depth and warmth. It is a space that feels calm and intentional, with the kind of understated comfort that invites you to slow down. Simple, earthy, and personal—designed for quiet evenings and everyday ease.

Contrast in the Kitchen – Texture to Taste in a Grand Junction, CO custom home We normally associate texture with food, clothes, and even sound. In reality, it is a part of every aspect of our lives. In our Grand Junction, Appleton, Fruita, Palisade, and Redlands, Colorado homes, texture lives on everything from our walls to washcloths. It isn’t something we normally consider holistically or view with intent. While designing interiors, texture becomes our way to bring visual interest and emotion into the space. Adding textures to a space invites touch and evokes an understanding of the design intent. Materials like linen and wood can be combined to make a space feel streamlined yet cozy. Leather and velvet can be paired to create a luxurious retreat. In one of our recent projects, our clients had a distinct vision for their new kitchen and outdoor custom home living spaces. They were in need of a design that combined their kitchen, living, and outdoor spaces into a seamless oasis for their everyday routines. Their home has a unique architectural voice and they wanted to emphasize the character that was already there. Blending textures and colors throughout this project was how everything remained cohesive and spirited. The purpose of contrasting materials We used contrasting materials in the cabinetry to distinguish between the perimeter – high gloss – and the natural gathering space – maple. By contrasting the soft nature of maple in the cabinets and in the flooring with the harder textures of concrete and steel, we were able to offset the space’s tendency to feel like an alpine cabin. However, using contrasting textures does not always provide a dynamic interior. The high-gloss cabinets function as a vessel for various textures. They take on whatever happens to be reflected in them, bringing in elements from unexpected sources. The function of texture Along with rich black hardware, the unique backsplash adds an element of handcrafted care that naturally draws your eye throughout the space. The unevenness of each tile provides the space with intentional imperfections, giving it life and visual delight. Textures like these are great conversation starters or simply eye candy. To extend their living and dining spaces to the exterior, our clients also updated the numerous decks around the home, as well as the cladding. This gave us the opportunity to develop a texture and color story for their exteriors. Considering finishes in a location as distinctive as the Western Slope can either be viewed as a challenge or an opportunity. We have the desert, evergreen groves, riversides, and snowstorms to glean inspiration from while designing. For us, utilizing palettes that compliment the home’s natural surroundings is crucial. This home happens to live on a densely wooded plot of land with mature trees providing plenty of shade. This backdrop informed our color selections, while the existing architecture drove the material selections. The wood decking adds warmth, the horizontal cream siding brightens, the gray cedar leaves a part of the original architectural intent, and the green entry wall adds drama. The existing beams were left original because it is difficult to find materials that match the grandeur of the home. Recognizing good design Next time you walk into a well-designed custom home and immediately feel at ease, take some time to notice why you may be feeling that way. The subtlety of blending textures and colors can have a profound impact on how a space is perceived. You can see some of our other design projects here.

Again, indoor/outdoor living. The concept was to design a family-friendly casual place for playing pool, ping-pong (there is a ping-pong table top that attaches to the pool table), and enjoying time with friends. The intent was to make it comfortable and fun and to make it not feel like a basement even though it’s in the lowest level of the house. The 18’ accordion door opens the space up to the outside, where pool-goers can grab a seat at the bar. An under-counter refrigerator stocks ice-cold beer and soda. Comfort and durability were a top priority. Toward that end: the quartzite countertop, cork flooring and wipeable Plastic barstools. The raised ceiling over the pool table features a light cove with perimeter LED lighting, which offers interest and dimensionality to the space, along a comforting glow.

A sophisticated, calming space was the design intent for this master bedroom. The custom designed grey tufted floor to ceiling headboard is a focal point in the room and draws your eye upward toward the vaulted ceiling. The headboard is flanked with large candlestick light fixtures that not only provide light, but are more like dangling artist sculptures. Custom wall mounted nightstands are streamline and help the space feel free of clutter. A color palette of crisp whites, light greys with a touch of black tie together this soothing and tranquil retreat.

Located in Argyle, Texas, this comprehensive whole-home renovation was conceived by USI Design & Remodeling who reimagined the home's interior architecture, transforming a collection of compartmentalized rooms into a cohesive environment designed for modern living, entertaining, and daily comfort. The project encompassed the kitchen, family room, dining room, lounge, office, primary bathroom, and supporting circulation spaces, creating a unified experience that feels both expansive and intentional. Throughout the home, refined materials, custom millwork, and carefully curated finishes establish a sense of understated luxury while maintaining warmth and livability. The renovation extends beyond aesthetics to create a home tailored to the family's evolving needs. Consistent architectural detailing, layered textures, and thoughtful proportions establish continuity throughout the residence, allowing each room to feel connected to the larger design narrative.

Stepping stone placement and spacing is important within a contemporary backyard design plan. Spacing depends on the size of your stones and the desired aesthetic. For a contemporary look, we chose wider gaps between stones, creating a deliberate and eye-catching pattern. As for layout, we created a clear and intentional path with the stepping stones. You can opt for a straight path, a gently curving one, or even a geometric design, such as a grid or zigzag pattern, to achieve a contemporary feel. Placing the stepping stones and gravel strategically provides easy access to your garden beds and other areas of interest in your backyard. This path is both functional and visually appealing.

On a sloping 13,700 square foot lot, the design intent of this project was to craft a village of stone masses behind a quiet, landscaped wall. From the curb, the facade feels both understated and timeless - a rooted monument from a time long gone. Yet its essence is communal. Inspired by mediterranean medinas, it is an experience that feels solitary and shared, a retreat and a relic. Behind the front door, a sprawling sanctuary unfolds organized around large outdoor living spaces. Its eroded beauty invites visitors to become immersed in the lush landscaping and serene stone corridors. Leveraging a minimal material palette, the home creates its own transformative context with a deeply rooted connection to nature.

This is an intentionally small, simple house, drawing on Bainbridge Island historical references: simple farm structures, Japanese rural dwelling influences due to that unique aspect of the island’s history, and including the warmth and connection to nature that Craftsman architectural elements can offer. Photo: MichaelColePhoto.com

On a sloping 13,700 square foot lot, the design intent of this project was to craft a village of stone masses behind a quiet, landscaped wall. From the curb, the facade feels both understated and timeless - a rooted monument from a time long gone. Yet its essence is communal. Inspired by mediterranean medinas, it is an experience that feels solitary and shared, a retreat and a relic. Behind the front door, a sprawling sanctuary unfolds organized around large outdoor living spaces. Its eroded beauty invites visitors to become immersed in the lush landscaping and serene stone corridors. Leveraging a minimal material palette, the home creates its own transformative context with a deeply rooted connection to nature.

Claw-foot bathtub - eclectic master multicolored tile cork floor and brown floor claw-foot bathtub idea in Austin with medium tone wood cabinets, flat-panel cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and multicolored countertops