Example of a trendy porcelain tile and gray floor mudroom design in Los Angeles with white walls

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

Entryway - small contemporary slate floor and gray floor entryway idea in Minneapolis with gray walls and a white front door

Vincent Ivicevic
Large transitional master white tile ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom photo in Orange County with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA Warren Jagger Photography
Bedroom - french country carpeted and gray floor bedroom idea in New York with gray walls

The bathrooms in our homes are serene respites from busy lives. Exquisite cabinets and plumbing hardware complement the subtle stone and tile palette. Photo by Nat Rea Photography

We designed a spacious shower area with an exterior window (out of view). The double sink serves two users simultaneously without requiring a large vanity area. This niche features a slab of statuary marble.

Mid-sized trendy concrete floor and gray floor bedroom photo in Seattle with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a transitional master medium tone wood floor and gray floor bedroom design in Sacramento with white walls

Leo McKillop Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless master green tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom remodel in Boston with beige walls and a hinged shower door

Inspiration for a large rustic enclosed carpeted and gray floor home theater remodel in Other with gray walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless concrete floor and gray floor hallway remodel in Las Vegas with gray walls

This spectacular home theater features a 149" Stewart FilmScreen UltraMatte 130 Microperf fixed screen. Three rows of deluxe leather seating is by Cinematech. The lighting is particularly cool: 13 wash downlights, fiber optic ceiling lights with dimming, Soffit RGB LED lighting with dimming, step LEDs with dimming, and Column LEDs with dimming, operated through the Control4 Lighting Control system. JBL speakers provide surround sound as well as front speakers but the acoustic panels keep most of the equipment out of sight. Greg Premru Photography

Example of a classic gray tile and glass tile gray floor bathroom design in Richmond with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

The colors from the wallpaper are repeated in the green paint and blue Ann Saks tile. This boldness is balanced by the sleek white Ikea cabinets, countertops and stainless steel hardware. The large copper pendants add warmth to the space and coordinate with the dark blue and light green jewel tones. Photographer: Lauren Edith Andersen

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and gray floor family room remodel in Other with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Trendy gray tile gray floor freestanding bathtub photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

Example of a transitional dark wood floor and gray floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court design in Minneapolis with gray walls

Lara Palset Photography
Mid-sized trendy kids' white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom photo in Calgary with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, an undermount sink and white walls