This dramatic great room showcases the essence of contemporary California living, where soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, and a sculptural fireplace create an inviting yet architecturally striking gathering space. Layered furnishings, curated textures, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections bring warmth and sophistication to the home, reflecting Andrea Schumacher Interiors' signature approach to timeless luxury and effortless livability.

This great room is stunning! Tall wood windows and doors, exposed trusses and the private view make the room a perfect blank canvas. The room was lacking contrast, lighting, window treatments and functional furniture to make the space usable by the entire family. By creating custom furniture we maximized seating while keeping the furniture scale within proportion for the room. New carpet, beautiful herringbone fabric wallpaper and a very long console to house the children's toys rounds out this spectacular room. Photo Credit: Holland Photography - Cory Holland - hollandphotography.biz

The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

A wall of steel and glass allows panoramic views of the lake at our Modern Northwoods Cabin project.
Example of a large trendy light wood floor, brown floor, vaulted ceiling and wall paneling dining room design in Other with black walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Almost every room in the house offers stunning views of the outdoor living space and golf course. The dining room is subtly elegant creating an intimate dining space but also a space to enjoy looking outdoors. The custom chairs have a curved back design to contrast with the linear dining table. The host and hostess chairs add texture and Texas chic with their velvet alligator skin fabric. Permanently set, the tableware sparkles under the crystal chandelier revitalized by a talented faux finisher. Erika Barczak, By Design Interiors Inc. Photo Credit: Daniel Angulo www.danielangulo.com Builder: Kichi Creek Builders

Jenny Melick
Inspiration for a small timeless galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor laundry room remodel in Charlotte with a side-by-side washer/dryer, raised-panel cabinets, a drop-in sink and white cabinets

After finalizing the layout for their new build, the homeowners hired SKP Design to select all interior materials and finishes and exterior finishes. They wanted a comfortable inviting lodge style with a natural color palette to reflect the surrounding 100 wooded acres of their property. http://www.skpdesign.com/inviting-lodge SKP designed three fireplaces in the great room, sunroom and master bedroom. The two-sided great room fireplace is the heart of the home and features the same stone used on the exterior, a natural Michigan stone from Stonemill. With Cambria countertops, the kitchen layout incorporates a large island and dining peninsula which coordinates with the nearby custom-built dining room table. Additional custom work includes two sliding barn doors, mudroom millwork and built-in bunk beds. Engineered wood floors are from Casabella Hardwood with a hand scraped finish. The black and white laundry room is a fresh looking space with a fun retro aesthetic. Photography: Casey Spring

Klopf Architecture completely remodeled this once dark Eichler house in Palo Alto creating a more open, bright and functional family home. The reconfigured great room with new full height windows and sliding glass doors blends the indoors with the newly landscaped patio and seating areas outside. The former galley kitchen was relocated and was opened up to have clear sight lines through the great room and out to the patios and yard, including a large island and a beautiful walnut bar countertop with seating. An integrated small front addition was added allowing for a more spacious master bath and hall bath layouts. With the removal of the old brick fireplace, larger sliding glass doors and multiple skylights now flood the home with natural light. The goals were to work within the Eichler style while creating a more open, indoor-outdoor flow and functional spaces, as well as a more efficient building envelope including a well insulated roof, providing solutions that many Eichler homeowners appreciate. The original entryway lacked unique details; the clients desired a more gracious front approach. The historic Eichler color palette was used to create a modern updated front facade. Durable grey porcelain floor tiles unify the entire home, creating a continuous flow. They, along with white walls, provide a backdrop for the unique elements and materials to stand on their own, such as the brightly colored mosaic tiles, the walnut bar and furniture, and stained ceiling boards. A secondary living space was extended out to the patio with the addition of a bench and additional seating. This Single family Eichler 4 bedroom 2 bath remodel is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, and Ethan Taylor Contractor: Coast to Coast Construction Landscape Contractor: Discelli Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineer Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2017

Prior to remodeling, this spacious great room was reminiscent of the 1907’s in both its furnishings and window treatments. While the view from the room is spectacular with windows that showcase a beautiful pond and a large expanse of land with a horse barn, the interior was dated. Our client loved his space, but knew it needed an update. Before the remodel began, there was a wall that separated the kitchen from the great room. The client desired a more open and fluid floor plan. Arlene Ladegaard, principle designer of Design Connection, Inc., was contacted to help achieve his dreams of creating an open and updated space. Arlene designed a space that is transitional in style. She used an updated color palette of gray tons to compliment the adjoining kitchen. By opening the space up and unifying design styles throughout, the blending of the two rooms becomes seamless. Comfort was the primary consideration in selecting the sectional as the client wanted to be able to sit at length for leisure and TV viewing. The side tables are a dark wood that blends beautifully with the newly installed dark wood floors, the windows are dressed in simple treatments of gray linen with navy accents, for the perfect final touch. With regard to artwork and accessories, Arlene spent many hours at outside markets finding just the perfect accessories to compliment all the furnishings. With comfort and function in mind, each welcoming seat is flanked by a surface for setting a drink – again, making it ideal for entertaining. Design Connection, Inc. of Overland Park provided the following for this project: space plans, furniture, window treatments, paint colors, wood floor selection, tile selection and design, lighting, artwork and accessories, and as the project manager, Arlene Ladegaard oversaw installation of all the furnishings and materials.

Open concept living and dining great room with a white fireplace, vaulted beam ceiling, and wall of windows on each side.
Inspiration for a cottage open concept light wood floor and vaulted ceiling living room remodel in Austin with white walls and a standard fireplace

Great Room with bow window.
Example of a mountain style formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Seattle with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Natural light exposes the beautiful details of this great room. Coffered ceiling encompasses a majestic old world feeling of this stone and shiplap fireplace. Comfort and beauty combo.

Example of a country great room design in Chicago

Large transitional open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room photo in San Francisco with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

This home is built by Robert Thomas Homes located in Minnesota. Our showcase models are professionally staged. Please contact Ambiance at Home for information on furniture - 952.440.6757

This warm Great Room in a home in Vienna, VA, was transformed by new custom window treatments, including automated Hunter Douglas Solera shades for light control. This photo shows the Solera shades fully lowered. Over the shades are custom draperies on decorative poles, over tailored balloon valances, which coordinated with the balloon valance over the fireplace window. The Duralee fabric complemented the art and existing furnishings, while wide tape trim from Robert Allen along the leading edges of the draperies and cascades on the center window emphasized the grand height of the room. Goblet pleats with custom banding layered above them bring out the teal blue-green accent color in the room. See the before photos to fully realize why this transformation took first place in Specialty Window Treatments at the 2020 International Window Coverings Expo Envision Design Competition. At Masterworks Window Fashions & Design, Your Story is My Inspiration.

KazArts
Large transitional dark wood floor family room photo in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Welcome to the essential refined mountain rustic home: warm, homey, and sturdy. The house’s structure is genuine heavy timber framing, skillfully constructed with mortise and tenon joinery. Distressed beams and posts have been reclaimed from old American barns to enjoy a second life as they define varied, inviting spaces. Traditional carpentry is at its best in the great room’s exquisitely crafted wood trusses. Rugged Lodge is a retreat that’s hard to return from.