Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor basement remodel in Portland with beige walls

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

To create this incredible entertaining space, we started with all new cabinets, new countertops, and new lighting. The variegated hardwood floors bring an eye catching element to the room. Special space was designated for the flat screen TV, the focal point of the room. Finally, a wine closet and a custom color pool table were brought in as the main attractions, making this space the place to be for game nights (football or board), house parties, or just relaxing with guests.

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

This living space with adjoining game room and library is one of several living spaces in this modern rustic home.
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic open concept dark wood floor living room library remodel in Atlanta with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

To create this incredible entertaining space, we started with all new cabinets, new countertops, and new lighting. The variegated hardwood floors bring an eye catching element to the room. Special space was designated for the flat screen TV, the focal point of the room. Finally, a wine closet and a custom color pool table were brought in as the main attractions, making this space the place to be for game nights (football or board), house parties, or just relaxing with guests.

This home was a brand-new construction bought by a single father of two. With no furnishings, color palette, or concept for design, we started from scratch. We designed the floor plan for the home, deciding what each space would be dedicated to. By selecting custom colors and furniture that was neither too feminine or too masculine, we made the space enjoyable and functional for both him and his children. Scott Nelson Photography

My clients contacted me when they were ready to make some improvements to their basement bar. We started by updating the cabinetry, adding new counter-tops, adding additional lighting and finishing off the space with a fresh coat of paint. The finished space is very warm and inviting. It also gives the owners plenty of wall space to display their photography. Images by Blitz Media Design

Three sets of French doors starting in the dining area and extending throughout this open floor plan bring in lights and views of the lake. Tom Grimes Photography

Don't let the looks of this simple and modern home court fool you. As soon as the balls start bouncing, there will be nothing but energy, excitement and fun for the Minnesota Twin's pitcher that purchased this house and had our local SnapSports Builder created this custom home gym Features our patented Classic XL® Sports Floor in Alloy http://www.snapsports.com

To create this incredible entertaining space, we started with all new cabinets, new countertops, and new lighting. The variegated hardwood floors bring an eye catching element to the room. Special space was designated for the flat screen TV, the focal point of the room. Finally, a wine closet and a custom color pool table were brought in as the main attractions, making this space the place to be for game nights (football or board), house parties, or just relaxing with guests.

Terrific family room and two new double hung windows with decorative grilles we installed. With plush carpeting and sports-inspired accents, this fun game room looks outstanding with sharp looking windows, complete with colonial grilles that match the room's style nicely. Get started with a free design consultation for new windows and doors from Renewal by Andersen of Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta and all of Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . Get more information about replacing your windows -- Contact us at: (866) 531-9672 -- www.windowanddoorsavings.com

To create this incredible entertaining space, we started with all new cabinets, new countertops, and new lighting. The variegated hardwood floors bring an eye catching element to the room. Special space was designated for the flat screen TV, the focal point of the room. Finally, a wine closet and a custom color pool table were brought in as the main attractions, making this space the place to be for game nights (football or board), house parties, or just relaxing with guests.

Beautiful new wood interior windows we installed in this fantastic game and music room. This delightful space with round table and upright piano looks outstanding with these two new wood double hung windows installed side-by-side. Get started replacing your windows today with Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey, NYC, Staten Island and The Bronx. . . . . . . . . . . We are a full service window retailer and installer -- Contact Us Today! 844-245-2799

Don't let the looks of this simple and modern home court fool you. As soon as the balls start bouncing, there will be nothing but energy, excitement and fun for the Minnesota Twin's pitcher that purchased this house and had our local SnapSports Builder created this custom home gym Features our patented Classic XL® Sports Floor in Alloy http://www.snapsports.com

This contemporary rustic basement remodel transformed an unused part of the home into completely cozy, yet stylish, living, play, and work space for a young family. Starting with an elegant spiral staircase leading down to a multi-functional garden level basement. The living room set up serves as a gathering space for the family separate from the main level to allow for uninhibited entertainment and privacy. The floating shelves and gorgeous shiplap accent wall makes this room feel much more elegant than just a TV room. With plenty of storage for the entire family, adjacent from the TV room is an additional reading nook, including built-in custom shelving for optimal storage with contemporary design. This basement remodel planned for plenty of space for play and creativity. A wide-open floor plan creates space for games and movement on the hardwood flooring. Off the main open play area is an arts & crafts room partitioned off by a single maple sliding barn door — the perfect space for a young family to feel inspired and to create art together. Photo by Mark Quentin / StudioQphoto.com

Cozy video game and craft room with newly installed sliding window with privacy glass. This modern space with light wood floors and a comfortable design looks perfect with this new stylish black window, letting in lots of natural light. Get started replacing your windows and door with Renewal by Andersen of Greater Toronto, Ottawa and most of Ontario. . . . . . . . . . . Find out more about replacing your windows and doors -- Contact us today: (844) 819-3040

In addition to needing some updates, our clients were struggling with too much space and not enough functionality. They requested a kitchen remodel and a family room family room redesign. So, we started by partitioning off part of the oversized family room to create a custom mud bench and drop zone by the back door to limit mess. We relocated the fireplace and added built-in cabinetry to store toys, games, and books and to accommodate a better furniture layout. And we ended with a beautiful new kitchen with tons of storage and modern touches. This is an upgrade that will be enjoyed for years in Huntington Woods, MI.

The redesign of the fireplace was the starting point for the project and it was totally reimagined. We started with classic stacked stone. Custom floating cabinets were built to not only accommodate the floor vent but also for firewood storage. The mantel was the final piece of the puzzle and the shape was designed to follow the profile of the wall, then stained to match the home’s original woodwork. Seating was designed to encourage conversations and board games. Accents in gold, teal, and orange add personality. Unique wall sconces and an overhead pendant are the jewelry of the room. Photography by Picture Perfect House