This new basement design starts The Bar design features crystal pendant lights in addition to the standard recessed lighting to create the perfect ambiance when sitting in the napa beige upholstered barstools. The beautiful quartzite countertop is outfitted with a stainless-steel sink and faucet and a walnut flip top area. The Screening and Pool Table Area are sure to get attention with the delicate Swarovski Crystal chandelier and the custom pool table. The calming hues of blue and warm wood tones create an inviting space to relax on the sectional sofa or the Love Sac bean bag chair for a movie night. The Sitting Area design, featuring custom leather upholstered swiveling chairs, creates a space for comfortable relaxation and discussion around the Capiz shell coffee table. The wall sconces provide a warm glow that compliments the natural wood grains in the space. The Bathroom design contrasts vibrant golds with cool natural polished marbles for a stunning result. By selecting white paint colors with the marble tiles, it allows for the gold features to really shine in a room that bounces light and feels so calming and clean. Lastly the Gym includes a fold back, wall mounted power rack providing the option to have more floor space during your workouts. The walls of the Gym are covered in full length mirrors, custom murals, and decals to keep you motivated and focused on your form.

Photo: Jordana Nicholson © 2016 Houzz
Eclectic entryway photo in Nashville

A flip top console table was chosen for the space adjacent to the dining room to provide additional seating when needed. When opened, the console widens from 17 inches to just under three feet wide. Two ottomans flank the table for additional seating, combining décor with function. Michael Hunter Photography

Melanie Roy’s challenge in designing an extremely functional mud room to accommodate a busy family’s needs was to create a place for everything from crab nets and straw mats in metal buckets to beach towels, flip flops, balls and various summer paraphernalia in wire baskets. The challenge was that the room had no cubbies so boat cleats were used for hanging items up and out of the way and baskets and buckets for easy-access storage under a rough-hewn table. She created a beach theme by anchoring the space with a Stark rug with a wave design. Artists’ rendered surfboards are decorative but often accompany surfboards that are constantly in use. A window seat/bench is upholstered in a waterproof Duralee fabric, piped with jute, so you can sit on it even in a wet bathing suit. A painted blue rock coffee table is reflective of a bolder on the beach. Photo by Eric Striffler.

Expansive master bedroom with textured grey accent wall, custom white trim, crown, and white walls, and dark hardwood flooring. Large bay window with park view. Dark grey velvet platform bed with velvet bench and headboard. Gas-fired fireplace with custom grey marble surround. White tray ceiling with recessed lighting.

Photography by Greg Premru
Mid-sized transitional master beige tile and white tile mosaic tile floor bathroom photo in Boston with a hinged shower door

This new basement design starts The Bar design features crystal pendant lights in addition to the standard recessed lighting to create the perfect ambiance when sitting in the napa beige upholstered barstools. The beautiful quartzite countertop is outfitted with a stainless-steel sink and faucet and a walnut flip top area. The Screening and Pool Table Area are sure to get attention with the delicate Swarovski Crystal chandelier and the custom pool table. The calming hues of blue and warm wood tones create an inviting space to relax on the sectional sofa or the Love Sac bean bag chair for a movie night. The Sitting Area design, featuring custom leather upholstered swiveling chairs, creates a space for comfortable relaxation and discussion around the Capiz shell coffee table. The wall sconces provide a warm glow that compliments the natural wood grains in the space. The Bathroom design contrasts vibrant golds with cool natural polished marbles for a stunning result. By selecting white paint colors with the marble tiles, it allows for the gold features to really shine in a room that bounces light and feels so calming and clean. Lastly the Gym includes a fold back, wall mounted power rack providing the option to have more floor space during your workouts. The walls of the Gym are covered in full length mirrors, custom murals, and decals to keep you motivated and focused on your form.

The functionality of this spacious kitchen is a far cry from its humble beginnings as a lackluster 9 x 12 foot stretch. The exterior wall was blown out to allow for a 10 ft addition. The daring slab of Calacatta Vagli marble with intrepid British racing green veining was the inspiration for the expansion. Spanish Revival pendants reclaimed from a local restaurant, long forgotten, are a pinnacle feature over the island. Reclaimed wood drawers, juxtaposed with custom glass cupboards add gobs of storage. Cabinets are painted the same luxe green hue and the warmth of butcher block counters create a hard working bar area begging for character-worn use. The perimeter of the kitchen features soapstone counters and that nicely balance the whisper of mushroom-colored custom cabinets. Hand-made 4x4 zellige tiles, hung in a running bond pattern, pay sweet homage to the 1950’s era of the home. A large window flanked by antique brass sconces adds bonus natural light over the sink. Textural, centuries-old barn wood surrounding the range hood adds a cozy surprise element. Matte white appliances with brushed bronze and copper hardware tie in the mixed metals throughout the kitchen helping meld the overall dramatic design.

This project was completed for clients who wanted a comfortable, accessible 1ST floor bathroom for their grown daughter to use during visits to their home as well as a nicely-appointed space for any guest. Their daughter has some accessibility challenges so the bathroom was also designed with that in mind. The original space worked fairly well in some ways, but we were able to tweak a few features to make the space even easier to maneuver through. We started by making the entry to the shower flush so that there is no curb to step over. In addition, although there was an existing oversized seat in the shower, it was way too deep and not comfortable to sit on and just wasted space. We made the shower a little smaller and then provided a fold down teak seat that is slip resistant, warm and comfortable to sit on and can flip down only when needed. Thus we were able to create some additional storage by way of open shelving to the left of the shower area. The open shelving matches the wood vanity and allows a spot for the homeowners to display heirlooms as well as practical storage for things like towels and other bath necessities. We carefully measured all the existing heights and locations of countertops, toilet seat, and grab bars to make sure that we did not undo the things that were already working well. We added some additional hidden grab bars or “grabcessories” at the toilet paper holder and shower shelf for an extra layer of assurance. Large format, slip-resistant floor tile was added eliminating as many grout lines as possible making the surface less prone to tripping. We used a wood look tile as an accent on the walls, and open storage in the vanity allowing for easy access for clean towels. Bronze fixtures and frameless glass shower doors add an elegant yet homey feel that was important for the homeowner. A pivot mirror allows adjustability for different users. If you are interested in designing a bathroom featuring “Living In Place” or accessibility features, give us a call to find out more. Susan Klimala, CKBD, is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) and particularly enjoys helping her clients with unique needs in the context of beautifully designed spaces. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel

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photography by Rob Karosis
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The back patio is an entertainer's dream, with special features that allow guests to enjoy year-round comfort. The ceiling contains recessed heating panels, providing warmth in cool months, while rotating fans cool in hot months. A garage door style window enables pass through of food and drink, opening the space to the kitchen.

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