This 3200 square foot home features a maintenance free exterior of LP Smartside, corrugated aluminum roofing, and native prairie landscaping. The design of the structure is intended to mimic the architectural lines of classic farm buildings. The outdoor living areas are as important to this home as the interior spaces; covered and exposed porches, field stone patios and an enclosed screen porch all offer expansive views of the surrounding meadow and tree line. The home’s interior combines rustic timbers and soaring spaces which would have traditionally been reserved for the barn and outbuildings, with classic finishes customarily found in the family homestead. Walls of windows and cathedral ceilings invite the outdoors in. Locally sourced reclaimed posts and beams, wide plank white oak flooring and a Door County fieldstone fireplace juxtapose with classic white cabinetry and millwork, tongue and groove wainscoting and a color palate of softened paint hues, tiles and fabrics to create a completely unique Door County homestead. Mitch Wise Design, Inc. Richard Steinberger Photography

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master blue tile and glass tile porcelain tile, gray floor and double-sink corner shower remodel in Detroit with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and a floating vanity

brass hardware, sage green cabinets, inset hood, old house, soapstone countertops, terra cotta floor tile, tudor house, vintage lighting
Example of a classic l-shaped red floor kitchen design in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, black backsplash, an island and black countertops

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, United States Our clients were looking to renovate their existing master bedroom into a more luxurious, modern space with an open floor plan and expansive modern bath design. The existing floor plan felt too cramped and didn’t offer much closet space or spa like features. Without having to make changes to the exterior structure, we designed a space customized around their lifestyle and allowed them to feel more relaxed at home. Our modern design features an open-concept master bedroom suite that connects to the master bath for a total of 600 square feet. We included floating modern style vanity cabinets with white Zen quartz, large black format wall tile, and floating hanging mirrors. Located right next to the vanity area is a large, modern style pull-out linen cabinet that provides ample storage, as well as a wooden floating bench that provides storage below the large window. The centerpiece of our modern design is the combined free-standing tub and walk-in, curb less shower area, surrounded by views of the natural landscape. To highlight the modern design interior, we added light white porcelain large format floor tile to complement the floor-to-ceiling dark grey porcelain wall tile to give off a modern appeal. Last not but not least, a frosted glass partition separates the bath area from the toilet, allowing for a semi-private toilet area. Jim Tetro Architectural Photography

The homeowners loved the location of their small Cape Cod home, but they didn't love its limited interior space. A 10' addition along the back of the home and a brand new 2nd story gave them just the space they needed. With a classy monotone exterior and a welcoming front porch, this remodel is a refined example of a transitional style home. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders Photos by Andrea Rugg Photography

A serene master en-suite in soft pale blues and taupes. The wall tile looks like wallpaper when you first look at it with a hint of Indian influence in the design motifs. To the touch, the wall tile feels like paper. Beautifully imperfect, these irregular concrete floor tiles are laid in a herringbone pattern to bring interest and texture. A modern, architectural oak stool is chosen to contrast with the other more organic elements. Designed by: Stephanie Houghton, principal partner at Emily Griffin Design.

Open family style kitchen with pocket sliders to the deck and outdoor space. This kitchen is simple, with open shelves for the uppers and a duck egg blue island. The dining area separates the kitchen and livingroom.

The pool bath features a tile inlaid floor that repeats the pattern found on the entry fountain. A stone vessel sink mounted atop a custom freestanding metal vanity with limestone countertop echoes the ancient villas of Andalusia.

Jaime Alvarez jaimephoto.com
Example of an urban black and white tile mosaic tile floor and black floor bathroom design in Philadelphia with a wall-mount sink and white walls

The clients believed the peninsula footprint was required due to the unique entry points from the hallway leading to the dining room and the foyer. The new island increases storage, counters and a more pleasant flow of traffic from all directions. The biggest challenge was trying to make the structural beam that ran perpendicular to the space work in a new design; it was off center and difficult to balance the cabinetry and functional spaces to work with it. In the end it was decided to increase the budget and invest in moving the header in the ceiling to achieve the best design, esthetically and funcationlly. Specific storage designed to meet the clients requests include: - pocket doors at counter tops for everyday appliances - deep drawers for pots, pans and Tupperware - island includes designated zone for baking supplies - tall and shallow pantry/food storage for easy access near island - pull out spice near cooking - tray dividers for assorted baking pans/sheets, cutting boards and numerous other serving trays - cutlery and knife inserts and built in trash/recycle bins to keep things organized and convenient to use, out of sight - custom design hutch to hold various, yet special dishes and silverware Elements of design chosen to meet the clients wishes include: - painted cabinetry to lighten up the room that lacks windows and give relief/contrast to the expansive wood floors - monochromatic colors throughout give peaceful yet elegant atmosphere o stained island provides interest and warmth with wood, but still unique in having a different stain than the wood floors – this is repeated in the tile mosaic backsplash behind the rangetop - punch of fun color used on hutch for a unique, furniture feel - carefully chosen detailed embellishments like the tile mosaic, valance toe boards, furniture base board around island, and island pendants are traditional details to not only the architecture of the home, but also the client’s furniture and décor. - Paneled refrigerator minimizes the large appliance, help keeping an elegant feel Superior cooking equipment includes a combi-steam oven, convection wall ovens paired with a built-in refrigerator with interior air filtration to better preserve fresh foods. Photography by Gregg Willett

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

This beautiful secondary bathroom is a welcoming space that will spoil and comfort any guest. The 8x8 decorative Nola Orleans tile is the focal point of the room and creates movement in the design. The 3x12 cotton white subway tile and deep white Kohler tub provide a clean backdrop to allow the flooring to take center stage, while making the room appear spacious. A shaker style vanity in Harbor finish and shadow storm vanity top elevate the space and Kohler chrome fixtures throughout add a perfect touch of sparkle. We love the mirror that was chosen by our client which compliments the floor pattern and ties the design perfectly together in an elegant way. You don’t have to feel limited when it comes to the design of your secondary bathroom. We can design a space for you that every one of your guests will love and that you will be proud to showcase in your home.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

This detail-obsessed addition brings light and warmth to this Minneapolis home with stunning patterns and textures in earthy, natural tones. Bush hammered limestone tile and vertical bejmat zellige tiles give this primary bath texture and visual interest in soft, off-white tones. Brass and honey bronze hardware add a unique, modern touch to the primary bath, accenting two stunning white onyx wall sconces above a creamy concrete double vanity. Fired earth cotto tile lines the floors of the nearby powder room, creating a continuous feel throughout the home.

This home is built by Robert Thomas Homes located in Minnesota. Our showcase models are professionally staged. Please contact Ambiance at Home for information on furniture - 952.440.6757

Into all of this, our cement floor tiles in our Cluny pattern fit in perfectly with their crisp black and white palette Doherty selected for the room and serve as a strong counterpoint to the white subway tiles that line the walls. It also provides a bit of softness to the space with its more curvilinear design, offsetting some of the harder edges found. It’s another inspired project and a testament to the fabulous versatility of Granada Tile. Interior Design: Deirdre Doherty / Cement tiles: Granada Tile / Photograph: Ryan Phillips

Mountain style mudroom photo in Minneapolis with beige walls

Photo by: Valerie Wilcox
Dedicated laundry room - scandinavian single-wall dedicated laundry room idea in Toronto with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige countertops

Patrick O'Loughlin, Content Craftsmen
Double shower - traditional 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor double shower idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops