Kat Alves
Example of a small trendy master beige tile and stone tile limestone floor bathroom design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and multicolored walls

Example of a mountain style galley brick floor and red floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, an integrated sink, wood countertops, white backsplash and brown countertops

Great room - contemporary great room idea in Miami with beige walls

John Evans
Inspiration for a timeless white tile and marble tile bathroom remodel in Columbus with gray walls

this professionally equipped outdoor kitchen features top-of-the-line appliances and a built-in smoker Eric Rorer Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard concrete paver patio kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a pergola

Window treatments - sheer drapes covering large, sunny windows in this residential South Beach apartment - Miami, FL. Photos Alexia Fodere.
Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in Miami with beige walls

Werner Segarra
Example of a mid-sized tuscan galley enclosed kitchen design in Phoenix with black cabinets, multicolored backsplash, an island, wood countertops, an undermount sink, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photography by Grace Laird Photography
Inspiration for a large farmhouse master freestanding bathtub remodel in Houston

studiⓞbuell, Photography
Small trendy bedroom photo in Nashville

Trendy kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and wood countertops

LIz Daly
Example of a mid-sized classic master white tile and subway tile marble floor bathroom design in San Francisco with marble countertops, gray walls, a two-piece toilet and a console sink

Tim Murphy
Contemporary wood exterior home idea in Denver

Living room - transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in DC Metro with white walls, a concrete fireplace and a standard fireplace

Matt Wier
Inspiration for a 1950s master gray tile light wood floor bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets and white walls

Leslie Williamson
Inspiration for an eclectic bedroom remodel in San Francisco with pink walls

Powder room - small cottage marble floor, white floor and wallpaper powder room idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multicolored walls, a drop-in sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Jeff Herr
Small transitional formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in Atlanta with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Example of a mountain style beige tile and travertine tile pebble tile floor alcove shower design in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls and white countertops

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”