The open floor plan of the main living space of this house was designed with the owners extensive art collection in mind. With built in displays and appropriate lighting, the living room becomes a live-in gallery space complimented with a collection of contemporary furnishings and design features.

Spanish style upholstered banquete seating in kitchen. A clean, contemporary white palette in this traditional Spanish Style home in Santa Barbara, California. Soft greys, beige, cream colored fabrics, hand knotted rugs and quiet light walls show off the beautiful thick arches between the living room and dining room. Stained wood beams, wrought iron lighting, and carved limestone fireplaces give a soft, comfortable feel for this summer home by the Pacific Ocean. White linen drapes with grass shades give warmth and texture to the great room. The kitchen features glass and white marble mosaic backsplash, white slabs of natural quartzite, and a built in banquet nook. The oak cabinets are lightened by a white wash over the stained wood, and medium brown wood plank flooring througout the home. Project Location: Santa Barbara, California. Project designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

Copyright Carl Mayfield Photography
Example of a trendy black floor bedroom design in Houston with gray walls

A Gilmans Kitchens and Baths - Design Build Project The original space consisted of two separate rooms - a dining room and a small galley kitchen. The homeowners desired a space that was open and functional for their growing family. White cabinets were used to lighten up the space and the island was designed so that their dining table could be placed against it or moved, creating a truly versatile kitchen and dining area. Check out more kitchens by Gilmans Kitchens and Baths! http://www.gkandb.com/ DESIGNER: JANIS MANACSA PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVE JOHNSON CABINETRY: DURA SUPREME CABINETRY COUNTERTOP: CAESARSTONE PIATRA GREY

Beach style open concept light wood floor family room photo in Raleigh with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

A gorgeous kitchen/breakfast area designed for an equestrian family in Wellington, FL. by Krista Watterworth Design Studio, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Chairs designed by Wegner for Carl Hansen and Son. Table provided by client. Light fixture by LZF. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter Photography by Jessica Glynn.

Rebecca Britt Photography
Living room - tropical open concept living room idea in Austin with blue walls and a wall-mounted tv

This used to be a completely unfinished basement with concrete floors, cinder block walls, and exposed floor joists above. The homeowners wanted to finish the space to include a wet bar, powder room, separate play room for their daughters, bar seating for watching tv and entertaining, as well as a finished living space with a television with hidden surround sound speakers throughout the space. They also requested some unfinished spaces; one for exercise equipment, and one for HVAC, water heater, and extra storage. With those requests in mind, I designed the basement with the above required spaces, while working with the contractor on what components needed to be moved. The homeowner also loved the idea of sliding barn doors, which we were able to use as at the opening to the unfinished storage/HVAC area.

As a neutral backdrop or a feature wall, greys can be modern or classic, soothing or dramatic. Combine light and dark greys for this layered effect. Wall colours Grey Putty and Granite dust, available in Matt or Mid Sheen Breatheasy emulsion. Woodwork Pure Brilliant White Quick Dry Satin.

The formal living area in this Brooklyn brownstone once had an awful marble fireplace surround that didn't properly reflect the home's provenance. Sheetrock was peeled back to reveal the exposed brick chimney, we sourced a new mantel with dental molding from architectural salvage, and completed the surround with green marble tiles in an offset pattern. The chairs are Mid-Century Modern style and the love seat is custom-made in gray leather. Custom bookshelves and lower storage cabinets were also installed, overseen by antiqued-brass picture lights.

With no windows or natural light, we used a combination of artificial light, open space, and white walls to brighten this master bath remodel. Over the white, we layered a sophisticated palette of finishes that embrace color, pattern, and texture: 1) long hex accent tile in “lemongrass” gold from Walker Zanger (mounted vertically for a new take on mid-century aesthetics); 2) large format slate gray floor tile to ground the room; 3) textured 2X10 glossy white shower field tile (can’t resist touching it); 4) rich walnut wraps with heavy graining to define task areas; and 5) dirty blue accessories to provide contrast and interest. Photographer: Markert Photo, Inc.

An existing 70’s brick home nestled streets away from the beach, is in dire need of a transformation. The existing home had the bones to accommodate a substantial renovation, some modifications to the layout, adding an extension and exaggerating the existing raked ceilings in the main living area impacts the new home. The home itself is a relatively disjointed 70’s home, so cleaver planning was imperative to make the most of the interior space. Large open plan living areas with adjoining outdoor entertaining was important. The owners are a young family who enjoy family and entertaining so interaction with the outdoor alfresco was essential not only for quality of living but to appear as a continuation of the main living area to increase the zone visually. My client’s fresh approach; introduction of modern materials with a hint of Scandinavian and industrial, an improved working area and a functional space for cooking and preparing meals.

Steve Henke Studio
Kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Blue Gator Photography
Living room - large transitional open concept carpeted living room idea in San Francisco with blue walls

This stylish family of four came to us yearning for added functionality with flair. The couple recently updated other areas of the home on their own quite beautifully, but realized they needed the help of professionals when it came to the kitchen and mudroom. The new kitchen plan enlarged the island with additional seating, eliminated soffits for extra storage and an updated look, and swapped out the desk for a message center with a hidden charging/drop area. A cozy banquette was designed for the eat-in area of the kitchen. Drawers below the bench add storage to this gathering spot. Aesthetic elements with a soft industrial feel to compliment the new interiors were desired. Beautiful island detailing with tall brackets, panels and base molding in a lovely grey paint in contrast to the white perimeter create a focal point for the space. The homeowner sourced a fun light fixture to top off the island. This along with a stainless chimney hood and appliances add to the overall industrial appeal. Grey cabinetry in the mudroom flows with the kitchen while adding cubbies and a bench with lockers above. A cabinetry surround for the washer and dryer integrates the built-ins in a space that works hard while looking pretty.

Matthew Harrer Photography
Mid-sized trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in New York with white walls

Julie Mifsud Interior Design www.juliemifsuddesign.com/
Inspiration for a timeless gray tile freestanding bathtub remodel in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and gray walls

Creating an indoor/outdoor connection was paramount for the master suite. This was to become the owner’s private oasis. A vaulted ceiling and window wall invite the flow of natural light. A fireplace and private exit to the garden house provide the perfect respite after a busy day. The new master bath, flanked by his and her walk-in closets, has a tile shower or soaking tub for bathing. Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore HC 167, Amherst Gray flat. Architectural Design: Sennikoff Architects. Kitchen Design. Architectural Detailing & Photo Staging: Zieba Builders. Photography: Ken Henry.