When Cornerstone Architects teamed up with Wheelhouse Design to create a home in Central Austin, they sought to exhibit a balance between clean, modern design and tactile, organic materials all the while situated in Austin, Texas’s, unique natural environment. The intention for the home was to layer texture through the use of natural materials, so of course LIFECORE engineered hardwood floors fit right in. The home features abundant natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and transom windows throughout, and LIFECORE Anew Gentling oak hardwood floors add natural wood to the space for a truly unique aesthetic. “We wanted light wood with some visual texture and open grain, matte finished, random length wide planks,” said Cecile Gottlich, interior designer with Wheelhouse. “Since there are such wide open spaces in this house, the scale and variation per piece were key features in our selection.” The light brown reclaim-inspired engineered wood flooring is wire brushed for a distressed look. As with all LIFECORE hardwood floors, it features a matte finish that allows for a much more natural look than high-gloss floors. Thanks to our organic reactive process, each plank features natural darkening and highlighting of the grain pattern. This reactive look is achieved by briefly exposing the wood to an environment in which organic substances are introduced directly to the wood to bring tannins and natural sugars to the surface. The 1.5” by 7.5” planks come in random lengths and feature a nine-coat UV hardened finish for added durability. Plus, all LIFECORE engineered hardwood floors feature our proprietary ZERO-ADD technology, for flooring that has among the lowest levels of formaldehyde on the market. Interior Designer: Wheelhouse Design Builder: LECASA Homes & Renovations Architect: Cornerstone Architects Photographer: Molly Culver

Inspiration for a huge timeless light wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige countertops and an island

Jeri Koegel
Inspiration for a small timeless gray one-story wood gable roof remodel in Orange County

Mid-sized elegant l-shaped black floor utility room photo in San Francisco with quartz countertops, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Giovani Lunardi
Photo of a mid-century modern shade brick landscaping in Portland.

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Situated in Kenwood, Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C., this whole-house renovation reinterprets a 1950s split-level into a rustic French country house. Published 3 times, The French country house plans for this renovation inform and guide the remodel. Short double-hung existing windows of various sizes on a 1950s brick front wall (see below) were replaced by straightforward openings along the front facade. By replacing them with a series of similar openings, the end result is a principled, simple elegance inspired by French country style homes. The rustic application of field stone arches and rough stucco are both inviting and enchanting, echoing French country interior design. Elements of French country home decor complement the home. The traditional French country home design has been widely published, including features in Renovation Style and Maryland Life magazines, among others. One singular continuous walkway runs the entire length of the main front under each of the French doors, and a courtyard created by stucco walls and stone piers create an inner sanctum in the front yard. In the back of the property, added French gates lead to a newly constructed pavilion.

Outdoor living is an important part of Minnesota life. Whether we're warming up in the spring, sweating out the summer or cooling off in the fall, we Minnesotans take full advantage of our outdoor spaces. Built by Great Neighborhood Homes, Photography by Troy Thies, Landscaping by Moms Landscaping

Bob Greenspan
Inspiration for a craftsman medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, blue backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Eric Roth Photography
Bedroom - large traditional master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Boston with gray walls and no fireplace

Living room - coastal living room idea in Boston

A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

Annual mix on path to pool.
Photo of a craftsman backyard stone landscaping in DC Metro.

We love this cozy but bright living room, it's perfect for snuggling up with the family!
Inspiration for a large farmhouse open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Calgary with white walls, a tile fireplace and a standard fireplace