In this Minneapolis, MN Townhome the open concept Living Room had to blend with all the surrounding spaces while serving as a more formal seating area for guests. Brandi Hagen of Eminent Interior Design used two different sofas with similar fabrics along with a pair of matching armchairs to create the seating arrangement. Using beige and gray as the backgrounds for this Living Room, shades of green and blue were accented in the rug, pillows, artwork and fireplace accent wall. The over scaled stripe rug acts as an anchor to the room by pulling together the seating arrangement and defining the space in this open floor plan. Troy Thies Photography

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  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Regan Wood Photography
Kitchen - transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in New York with shaker cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Jim Brady
Large trendy master blue tile and mosaic tile porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom photo in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and medium tone wood cabinets

Example of a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stacked stone fireplace and a media wall

Situated in old Palo Alto, CA, this historic 1905 Craftsman style home now has a stunning landscape to match its custom hand-crafted interior. Our firm had a blank slate with the landscape, and carved out a number of spaces that this young and vibrant family could use for gathering, entertaining, dining, gardening and general relaxation. Mature screen planting, colorful perennials, citrus trees, ornamental grasses, and lots of depth and texture are found throughout the many planting beds. In effort to conserve water, the main open spaces were covered with a foot friendly, decorative gravel. Giving the family a great space for large gatherings, all while saving water.

Kat Alves Photography
Inspiration for a rustic wooden cable railing staircase remodel in Sacramento with wooden risers

An addition wrapping an existing 1920's cottage. PEric Rorer
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in San Francisco with white walls, a stone fireplace and a concealed tv

Converted from an existing Tuff Shed garage, the Beech Haus ADU welcomes short stay guests in the heart of the bustling Williams Corridor neighborhood. Natural light dominates this self-contained unit, with windows on all sides, yet maintains privacy from the primary unit. Double pocket doors between the Living and Bedroom areas offer spatial flexibility to accommodate a variety of guests and preferences. And the open vaulted ceiling makes the space feel airy and interconnected, with a playful nod to its origin as a truss-framed garage. A play on the words Beach House, we approached this space as if it were a cottage on the coast. Durable and functional, with simplicity of form, this home away from home is cozied with curated treasures and accents. We like to personify it as a vacationer: breezy, lively, and carefree.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional ceramic tile and black floor entryway remodel in New York with gray walls and a black front door

Ron Rosenzweig
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical backyard rectangular pool remodel in Miami

Designed by Interior Designer, A. Lantz Design, this Lake Charlevoix project was featured on the cover of Traditional Home magazine! This whimsy guest bedroom suite encompasses all things sailing! An ode to lake life, custom sail boat drapery adorns the windows while a vintage sail boat lithograph art piece hangs above the iron bed. Red stripe bedding with blue and tab pillows pop on the crisp white bed sheets while a vintage quilt hangs off the bed. The wall sconces allow for more room on the navy blue wicker side tables and the room is anchored by a beautiful, cozy navy and cream striped rug.

Example of a large transitional master beige floor freestanding bathtub design in Atlanta with beige walls

Colin Price Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional great room remodel in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photos: Susan Gilmore Photography
Arts and crafts brown two-story wood exterior home photo in Minneapolis with a hip roof

Example of a large tuscan l-shaped kitchen design in Hyderabad with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

The knee wall between the original kitchen and living room was removed. The island was planned with seating and the sink. Another opening to the back butlers pantry are was opened to allow easy access to stock items and an extra refrigerator.