Outdoor Movie area
Trendy deck photo in Los Angeles

http://chrisandmalissa.com/
Inspiration for a rustic patio remodel in Seattle with no cover

Ross Van Pelt - RVP Photography
Inspiration for a modern galley open concept kitchen remodel in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white backsplash

Jason Schmidt
Example of a minimalist built-in desk study room design in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts medium tone wood floor and brown floor foyer design in Atlanta with a dark wood front door and white walls

Though DIY living room makeovers and bedroom redecorating can be an exciting undertaking, these projects often wind up uncompleted and with less than satisfactory results. This was the case with our client, a young professional in his early 30’s who purchased his first apartment and tried to decorate it himself. Short on interior décor ideas and unhappy with the results, he decided to hire an interior designer, turning to Décor Aid to transform his one-bedroom into a classy, adult space. Our client already had invested in several key pieces of furniture, so our Junior Designer worked closely with him to incorporate the existing furnishings into the new design and give them new life. Though the living room boasted high ceilings, the space was narrow, so they ditched the client’s sectional in place of a sleek leather sofa with a smaller footprint. They replaced the dark gray living room paint and drab brown bedroom paint with a white wall paint color to make the apartment feel larger. Our designer introduced chrome accents, in the form of a Deco bar cart, a modern chandelier, and a campaign-style nightstand, to create a sleek, contemporary design. Leather furniture was used in both the bedroom and living room to add a masculine feel to the home refresh.

Joe Kwon Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This large open concept kitchen and dining space was created by removing a load bearing wall between the old kitchen and a porch area. The new porch was insulated and incorporated into the overall space. The kitchen remodel was part of a whole house remodel so new quarter sawn oak flooring, a vaulted ceiling, windows and skylights were added. A large calcutta marble topped island takes center stage. It houses a 5’ galley workstation - a sink that provides a convenient spot for prepping, serving, entertaining and clean up. A 36” induction cooktop is located directly across from the island for easy access. Two appliance garages on either side of the cooktop house small appliances that are used on a daily basis. Honeycomb tile by Ann Sacks and open shelving along the cooktop wall add an interesting focal point to the room. Antique mirrored glass faces the storage unit housing dry goods and a beverage center. “I chose details for the space that had a bit of a mid-century vibe that would work well with what was originally a 1950s ranch. Along the way a previous owner added a 2nd floor making it more of a Cape Cod style home, a few eclectic details felt appropriate”, adds Klimala. The wall opposite the cooktop houses a full size fridge, freezer, double oven, coffee machine and microwave. “There is a lot of functionality going on along that wall”, adds Klimala. A small pull out countertop below the coffee machine provides a spot for hot items coming out of the ovens. The rooms creamy cabinetry is accented by quartersawn white oak at the island and wrapped ceiling beam. The golden tones are repeated in the antique brass light fixtures. “This is the second kitchen I’ve had the opportunity to design for myself. My taste has gotten a little less traditional over the years, and although I’m still a traditionalist at heart, I had some fun with this kitchen and took some chances. The kitchen is super functional, easy to keep clean and has lots of storage to tuck things away when I’m done using them. The casual dining room is fabulous and is proving to be a great spot to linger after dinner. We love it!” Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Lisa Petrole
Example of a mid-sized trendy single-wall dark wood floor home bar design in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, brick backsplash and red backsplash

Modern family loft in Boston. New walnut stair treads lead up to the master suite. A wall separating the master bedroom from the double height living space was replaced with a folding glass door to open the bedroom to the living space while still allowing for both visual and acoustical privacy. Surfaces built into the new railing atop the stair create a functional work area with a fantastic view and clear shot to the play space below. The baby nursery below now includes transom windows to share light from the open space. Photos by Eric Roth. Construction by Ralph S. Osmond Company. Green architecture by ZeroEnergy Design. http://www.zeroenergy.com

Example of a large trendy l-shaped porcelain tile and white floor eat-in kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Photos: Eric Lucero
Inspiration for a large rustic l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photography by Laura Rockett
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and black cabinets

This freestanding covered patio with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace is the perfect retreat! Just a few steps away from the home, this covered patio is about 500 square feet. The homeowner had an existing structure they wanted replaced. This new one has a custom built wood burning fireplace with an outdoor kitchen and is a great area for entertaining. The flooring is a travertine tile in a Versailles pattern over a concrete patio. The outdoor kitchen has an L-shaped counter with plenty of space for prepping and serving meals as well as space for dining. The fascia is stone and the countertops are granite. The wood-burning fireplace is constructed of the same stone and has a ledgestone hearth and cedar mantle. What a perfect place to cozy up and enjoy a cool evening outside. The structure has cedar columns and beams. The vaulted ceiling is stained tongue and groove and really gives the space a very open feel. Special details include the cedar braces under the bar top counter, carriage lights on the columns and directional lights along the sides of the ceiling. Click Photography

A 1927 colonial home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, received a breathtaking renovation that required extensive work, transforming it from a tucked away, utilitarian space, to an all-purpose gathering room, a role that most kitchens embrace in a home today. The scope of work changed over the course of the project, starting more minimalistically and then quickly becoming the main focus of the house's remodeling, resulting in a staircase being relocated and walls being torn down to create an inviting focal point to the home where family and friends could connect. The focus of the functionality was to allow for multiple prep areas with the inclusion of two islands and sinks, two eating areas (one for impromptu snacking and small meals of younger family members and friends on island no. two and a built-in bench seat for everyday meals in the immediate family). The kitchen was equipped with all Subzero and Wolf appliances, including a 48" range top with a 12" griddle, two double ovens, a 42" built-in side by side refrigerator and freezer, a microwave drawer on island no. one and a beverage center and icemaker in island no. two. The aesthetic feeling embraces the architectural feel of the home while adding a modern sensibility with the revamped layout and graphic elements that tie the color palette of whites, chocolate and charcoal. The cabinets were custom made and outfitted with beaded inset doors with a Shaker panel frame and finished in Benjamin Moore's OC-17 White Dove, a soft white that allowed for the kitchen to feel warm while still maintaining its brightness. Accents of walnut were added to create a sense of warmth, including a custom premium grade walnut countertop on island no. one from Brooks Custom and a TV cabinet with a doggie feeding station beneath. Bringing the cabinet line to the 8'6" ceiling height helps the room feel taller and bold light fixtures at the islands and eating area add detail to an otherwise simpler ceiling detail. The 1 1/4" countertops feature Calacatta Gold Marble with an ogee edge detail. Special touches on the interiors include secret storage panels, an appliance garage, breadbox, pull-out drawers behind the cabinet doors and all soft-close hinges and drawer glides. A kneading area was made as a part of island no. one for the homeowners' love of baking, complete with a stone top allowing for dough to stay cool. Baskets beneath store kitchen essentials that need air circulation. The room adjacent to the kitchen was converted to a hearth room (from a formal dining room) to extend the kitchen's living space and allow for a natural spillover for family and guests to spill into. Jason Miller, Pixelate

Courtesy Coastal Living, a division of Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, photograph by Jean Allsopp. Coastal Living is a registered trademark and used with permission.

Mr. and Mrs. Eades, the owners of this Chicago home, were inspired to build a Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen because of their love of cooking. “The grill became the center point for doing our outdoor kitchen,” Mr. Eades noted. After working long days, Mr. Eades and his wife, prefer to experiment with new recipes in the comfort of their own home. The Hybrid Fire Grill is the focal point of this compact outdoor kitchen. Weather-tight cabinetry was built into the masonry for storage, and an Artisan Fire Pizza Oven sits atop the countertop and allows the Eades’ to cook restaurant quality Neapolitan style pizzas in their own backyard.

J Weiland
Example of a mid-sized mountain style brown two-story wood gable roof design

Example of a classic dark wood floor living room design in San Francisco with white walls