Rickie Agapito
Beach style dark wood floor family room photo in Orlando with a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and gray walls

Alex Lucaci
Large transitional master medium tone wood floor and gray floor bedroom photo in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

To make the great room more inviting for the family, we removed existing wallpaper, updated the carpet and painted the fireplace mantel. Adding comfy furniture made this the primary hang-out space in the house.

Photo by Ross Anania
Living room - mid-sized industrial open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Seattle with yellow walls, a wood stove and a tv stand

Living room - mid-sized modern formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room idea in Cleveland with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Mid-sized transitional white two-story brick gable roof photo in Atlanta with a shingle roof

Example of a large transitional formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room design in New York with a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace and white walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Boston with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Example of a large transitional walk-out vinyl floor and gray floor basement design in Chicago with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

Caroline Merrill Real Estate Photography
Living room - large traditional open concept dark wood floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Jennifer Brown
Living room - large scandinavian formal and enclosed light wood floor living room idea in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Transitional dark wood floor and brown floor foyer photo in Columbus with gray walls and a medium wood front door

This Houston kitchen remodel turned an outdated bachelor pad into a contemporary dream fit for newlyweds. The client wanted a contemporary, somewhat commercial look, but also something homey with a comfy, family feel. And they couldn't go too contemporary, since the style of the home is so traditional. The clean, contemporary, white-black-and-grey color scheme is just the beginning of this transformation from the previous kitchen, The revamped 20-by-15-foot kitchen and adjoining dining area also features new stainless steel appliances by Maytag, lighting and furnishings by Restoration Hardware and countertops in white Carrara marble and Absolute Black honed granite. The paneled oak cabinets are now painted a crisp, bright white and finished off with polished nickel pulls. The center island is now a cool grey a few shades darker than the warm grey on the walls. On top of the grey on the new sheetrock, previously covered in a camel-colored textured paint, is Sherwin Williams' Faux Impressions sparkly "Striae Quartz Stone." Ho-hum 12-inch ceramic floor tiles with a western motif border have been replaced with grey tile "planks" resembling distressed wood. An oak-paneled flush-mount light fixture has given way to recessed lights and barn pendant lamps in oil rubbed bronze from Restoration Hardware. And the section housing clunky upper and lower banks of cabinets between the kitchen an dining area now has a sleek counter-turned-table with custom-milled legs. At first, the client wanted to open up that section altogether, but then realized they needed more counter space. The table - a continuation of the granite countertop - was the perfect solution. Plus, it offered space for extra seating. The black, high-back and low-back bar stools are also from Restoration Hardware - as is the new round chandelier and the dining table over which it hangs. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston also took out a wall between the kitchen and living room and remodeled the adjoining living room as well. A decorative cedar beam stained Minwax Jacobean now spans the ceiling where the wall once stood. The oak paneling and stairway railings in the living room, meanwhile, also got a coat of white paint and new window treatments and light fixtures from Restoration Hardware. Staining the top handrailing with the same Jacobean dark stain, however, boosted the new contemporary look even more. The outdoor living space also got a revamp, with a new patio ceiling also stained Jacobean and new outdoor furniture and outdoor area rug from Restoration Hardware. The furniture is from the Klismos collection, in weathered zinc, with Sunbrella fabric in the color "Smoke."

JANE BEILES
Example of a large transitional gray three-story stone gable roof design in New York with a shingle roof

Transitional open concept kitchen photo in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, beige walls and an island

Using large tiles in a space is going to be even more popular in 2014 because it has fewer grout lines in the final layout. Normandy Designer Karen Chanan went with large, creamy gray tile for this contemporary fireplace design.

Belathée Photography
Inspiration for a cottage gable roof remodel in Seattle

photos by Steve Chenn
Elegant patio photo in Houston with a fire pit and a roof extension

The natural light pours right into this stunning living room thanks to the newly refurbished windows.
Inspiration for a large craftsman enclosed brown floor and medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Atlanta with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace