This is not just any project. This is not just any house. This is a house of healing. My beloved and infinitely inspiring brother, Yeshaia Blakeney owns and runs this treatment center, The Integrity House. When my brother approached me about decorating this 7000 square foot Mediteranean home in Brentwood, I was thrilled. When he told me we had 2 weeks to complete this mission I was, well, admittedly a little bit freaked out. With the indispensable help of Emily, my brothers’ wife and powerhouse, we scoured LA to find a harmonious blend of vintage & contemporary furnishings and art, that would bring this house to life. But, before this creative process, before the decor and the art, I brought the sage and we all sat down on the living room floor, my mother lead the ceremony and we blessed the house. This house is a house of healing, may all who pass through find peace, love, inspiration and fulfillment. Amen! Photographed by Justina Blakeney

Example of a mid-sized trendy wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase design in Minneapolis with metal risers

“We could never have envisioned what could be” – Steiner Ranch Homeowner and Client It is an especially fulfilling Project for an Interior Designer when the outcome exceeds Client expectations, and imagination. This remodeling project required instilling modern sensibilities, openness, styles and textures into a dated house that was past its prime. Strategically, the goal was to tear down where it made sense without doing a complete teardown. Starting with the soul of the home, the kitchen, we expanded out room by room to create a cohesiveness and flow that invites, supports and provides the warmth and relaxation that only a home can. In the Kitchen, we started by removing the wooden beams and adding bright recessed lighting. We removed the old limestone accent wall and moved the sink and cooktop from the island on to the countertop – the key goal was to create room for the family to gather around the kitchen. We replaced all appliances with modern Energy Star ones, along with adding a wine rack. The first order of business for the Living Room was to brighten it up by adding more lighting and replacing an unused section with a glass door to the backyard. Multi-section windows were replaced with large no-split glass overlooking the backyard. Once more, the limestone accent was removed to create a clean, modern look. Replacing the dated wooden staircase with the clean lines of a metal, wire and wooded staircase added interest and freshness. An odd bend in the staircase was removed to clean things up. The Master Bedroom went from what looked like a motel room with green carpet and cheap blinds to an oasis of luxury and charm. A section of the wraparound doors were closed off to increase privacy, accentuate the best view from the bedroom and to add usable space. Artwork, rug, contemporary bed and other accent pieces brought together the seamless look across the home. The Master Bathroom remodel started by replacing the standard windows with a single glass pane that enhanced the view of the outdoors. The dated shower was replaced by a walk-in shower and soaking tub to create the ultimate at-home spa experience. Lighted LED mirrors frame His & Hers sinks and bathe them in a soft light. The flooring was upgraded throughout the house to reflect the contemporary color scheme. Each of the smaller bedrooms were similarly upgraded to match the clean and modern décor of the rest of the house. After such a transformation inside, it was only appropriate that the exterior needed an upgrade as well. All of the legacy limestone accents were replaced by stucco and the color scheme extended from the interior of the house to the gorgeous wrap around balconies, trim, garage doors etc. to complete the inside outside transformation.

Example of a large trendy formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Other with beige walls

Nestled between the tennis court and swimming pool, this pavilion fulfills a Greenwich family’s desire for gracious outdoor entertaining. Gus Cantavero Photography

The home’s façade features several contemporary accents that, combined, create an eye-catching grand entrance. I love to add an organic element to the exterior and the mahogany wood slats fulfill this component. They add a warmth that some contemporary homes are lacking. The experts at Four Seasons Outdoor Living completed my vision with their beautiful landscaping. Several patches of monkey grass line the large, rectangular concrete blocks that lead right up to the 8-foot high door. LBJ Construction brought my vision of a large, stunning doorway to life. The home originally had a standard 6’ 8” door. We removed the outdated window shutters for a more polished appearance. New windows and a brand new roof not only add to the curb appeal, but make for a much more energy efficient home in the heat of the Houston summer. I truly enjoyed working with these amazing professionals. This was an extremely fun project with a phenomenal outcome.

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.

Our NYC studio designed this gorgeous condo for a family of four with the goal of maximizing space in a modest amount of square footage. A custom sectional in the living room was created to accommodate the family without feeling overcrowded, while the son's bedroom features a custom Murphy bed to optimize space during the day. To fulfill the daughter's wish for fairy lighting, an entire wall of them was installed behind her bed, casting a beautiful glow at night. In the kitchen, we added plenty of cabinets below the island for maximum efficiency. Storage units were incorporated in the bedroom and living room to house the TV and showcase decorative items. Additionally, the tub in the powder room was removed to create an additional closet for much-needed storage space.

Example of a trendy light wood floor and beige floor great room design in New York with white walls and no fireplace

To replace an Old World style kitchen, we created a new space with farmhouse elements coupled with our interpretation of modern European detailing. With our focus on improving function first, we removed the old peninsula that closed off the kitchen, creating a location for conversation and eating on the new cantilevered countertop which provides interesting, yet purposeful design. A custom designed European cube shelf system was created, incorporating integrated lighting inside Rift Sawn oak shelves to match our base cabinetry. After building the shelf system, we placed it in front of the handmade art tile backsplash, bringing a very modern element to contrast with our custom inset cabinetry. Our design team selected the Rift sawn oak for the base cabinets to bring warmth into the space and to contrast with the white upper cabinetry. We then layered matt black on select drawer fronts and specific cabinet interiors for a truly custom modern edge. Custom pull outs and interior organizers fulfill our desire for a kitchen that functions first and foremost, while our custom cabinetry and complete design satisfies our homeowners’ desire for wow. Farmhouse style will never be the same.

A custom fireplace is the visual focus of this craftsman style home's living room while the U-shaped kitchen and elegant bedroom showcase gorgeous pendant lights. Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

Initially, this 1800 square foot space was completely unfinished with concrete walls. The clients hoped to use this enormous space to fulfill a variety of functions. After the remodel this previously unfinished space contained a perfect entertaining area with a full bar, home theatre, and large living space; a full bathroom with an electrical warming towel warmers; a workout space somewhat separated from the rest of the basement; and a bedroom with a built in window seats and closets with custom shelving. The basement was trimmed out with columns and woodwork to match the existing woodwork in the home so that it appeared as if the remodel took place when the home was built.

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley medium tone wood floor, brown floor and vaulted ceiling eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, gray backsplash, black appliances, an island, gray countertops, granite countertops and subway tile backsplash

Modern Italian TV Stand Maggie. Create really stunning and super functional tv area in your living room with this ultra modern TV Stand Maggie. Interesting shape and creative design of this media storage cabinet will furnish your interior and fulfill with all the functions you expect from a TV stand. Abundance of internal storage space is provided with the two smaller door-compartments and a really spacious flap-down door-compartment. Two surfaces on different height give lots of open space for electronic devices. Maggie tv stand is available in three color combinations to choose from: Gloss Sand with Dark Oak, or Gloss White with either Natural Oak or Moma finish. MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: E1-Class ecological panels, which are produced exclusively trough a wood recycling production process All panels are FSC certified 100% Made in Italy Assembly: Unassembled, Ready-To-Assemble The starting price is for the TV Stand Maggie. Dimensions: TV Stand: W86.5" x D15.8" x H15.8"/26"

The bedroom in this New York City home is a multifunctional serene space that satisfies the homeowners need to have a comfortable place to sleep, and for the woman of the house, a place to read and makeup. Our rug for Doris Leslie Blau fit the bill perfectly and unifies the space in soothing pale blue silk. A fabulous matte pale blue clay vase turned lamp sits on a custom Brett Design chest of drawers accented with our Brett Design Shagreen wallpaper. Soft blue glass cantelievered side tables, a mirrored dressing table, and an inviting Holly Hunt chair beautifully fulfill the other utilitarian needs of the room. The finishing touch- the etherial atmosphere is amplified the window treatments in a very simple finely crinkled sheer by De Le Cuona. Fifth Avenue Apartment | Interior design by Brett Design

This backyard patio design is inspired by our Blu 60 patio slab. The Travertina Raw patio slab mimics the texture of natural travertine in a concrete material; making it a more durable option in harsher freeze-thaw climates. Pave luxurious poolsides, patios, walkways and backyards with this travertine stone alternative. This product line has enjoyed huge success and has now been improved with an ultra robust mix design, making it far more durable than the natural travertine stone alternative. Techo-Bloc has now extended the collection to a double-sided, structural retaining wall system, two wall caps and pool coping in order to fulfill customer demand for this luxurious product. https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/travertina-raw-slab/

After more than a decade in their new Alexandria home, our clients decided their kitchen was ready for a major refresh, both in form and function. The original stained wood cabinets and granite countertops had served them well, but the traditional design no longer fit with their evolving style which had become less formal and more transitional. The homeowners liked the idea of two-toned kitchen cabinets, so we opted for a combination of pure white and charcoal gray for dramatic contrast. Brushed gold fixtures and statement brass pulls add warmth and sophistication. The distinctive quartzite counters are a showstopper, with unique veining and striking color variation, from blue to gray to ochre. The shimmering blue-gray backsplash unites the entire space. The overall goal was to create an expansive entertaining kitchen that could accommodate our clients’ large gatherings of family and friends, and provide them with several zones for prepping, serving, seating, and socializing. Also high on the clients’ wish list: a more generous island, professional appliances, and better storage. We expanded the island in two directions to allow for comfortable seating at the counter with plenty of room for a table in the breakfast nook. An expandable bar height table in the adjacent dining area offers even more flexibility for eating and socializing. We designed a custom hutch which has a multitude of storage options and functionality – open display shelves, roll-outs, drawers, extra counter/serving space, as well as a beverage fridge and appliance garage/coffee center. On the opposite side of the kitchen, we replaced a small pantry closet with a furniture style built-in that took advantage of underutilized space. Anticipating issues with supply chain, we opted to use a local cabinet maker on this project which allowed us to fully customize the cabinets for optimal functionality. Other stand-out features include a Thermador appliance package, workstation farmhouse sink, ‘touch’ faucet, hot+cold water dispenser, and hidden toe-kick storage. Our clients now have a beautiful, cohesive space that reflects their personal style and fulfills their dream of a having an expansive kitchen where they can cook and entertain for years to come.

With areas for every kind of tool and a proper space to use them, this storage solution fulfills every craftsman's need. • Classic White finish paired with Classic White slab door and drawer fronts creates a seamless, neutral backdrop. • Slat wall with accessories provides storage for tools. • Adjustable shelving provides flexibility for changing needs. • Integrated workstation creates a designated space for projects. • Cabinetry and drawers provide concealed storage.

Jeri Koegel
Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in Orange County