This was a large job with many challenges. The space was large and the items in it are as well. The space is used for private parties and has all the accomodations any group would ever need. We created nearly 200 square feet of countertops in a black wash stain with areas of exposed aggregate. The curved lower bartop is over 21 feet long with an apron front farm sink and 2 ice basins to keep beverages cool. The back bar holds the double tap for the drafts. The galley kitchen consists of over 10 linear feet of top with a cook top and a 10 foot long counter with an oversized farm sink with an apron front and drain boards flanking either side. The drainboards are designed to hold cutting boards for extra work space. We also created a 22 foot long curved fireplace hearth that matches the counters, tying the pieces together and adding additional seating during large gatherings. Everyone’s favorite pieces are the two vanity sinks. These sinks were cast into live edge walnut vanity tops. The shape of the sinks follow the grain of the wood creating a natural flow. We hand formed the sink molds to be as organic as the wood they sat in. The most interesting of the sinks is the vanity that contains a knot. We couldn’t bring ourselves to eliminate the beautiful knot, so we created the sink to drop underneath it. If you were to peer into the knot you will see all of the water disappear into the drain. This job had challenges of an extremely tight deadline, the creation of 6 custom sinks, the large pieces, intricate shapes and the installation in and around the custom woodwork and large wooden posts. Definitely a one of a kind project!

Dialogue Design
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Toronto

Details: Dishes, once stored in upper cabinets, are now located in base cabinet drawers — a request by the client for aging in place. Heavy duty drawer hardware makes for easy operation. While it looks a bit tight, the adjacency to the dishwasher functions very well, our client reports. The flooring is sheet Marmoleum, and serves to nicely set apart the kitchen from adjacent spaces.

The dramatic vanity wall tile offers the first breathtaking play on lighting in the room. New walls separating different zones provide visual separations while providing built-in niches for everyday necessities. Framed-in linen tower offers a bit of rustic glam to the space with its dark handles. Many walls were removed and items relocated to offer this large open-concept bathroom & walk-in closet. Large custom shower with 24”x24” subtle textured wall tiles provides a nice contract to the texture pattern of the floor tile. Knee wall providing toilet privacy holds the shower niche. High end custom plumbing fixtures offers clean simple lines. Center island with chandelier centers the room while providing glam to the space. Swarovski handle amplifies the glam look of the island. Simple shaker doors and wall-to-wall custom closet with large handles don’t overpower the space. Gorgeous 24”x24” patented textured floor tiles with slight sheen ground the large open space while providing overall warmth and glam.

As you walk through the family room or the kitchen you come to this beautiful sun room, which features a custom Coffee Station/Dry Bar with quartz counter tops, featuring honey bronze hardware and plenty of storage and the ability to display your favorite items behind the glass display cabinets. Beautiful white oak floors through out the home, finished with soft touches such as a neutral colored area rug, custom window treatments, large windows allowing plenty of natural light, custom Lee slipcovers, perfectly placed bronze reading lamps and a woven basket to hold your favorite reading materials.

The garage is fully air conditioned and includes five double-wide garage doors, a two-ton overhead hoist and an in-ground lift well. It has none of the dirt and grime one would expect to see in a bustling automotive nerve center. Floors, walls and ceiling gleam white and are home to grand formations of retro rides and sentry-like, red and black Lista storage cabinets, workbenches and shelves. These include drawer storage cabinets with butcher block counter tops for housing an immense array of tools and parts, and workbenches for repairs – one of which doubles as an office desk complete with a computer station. Lista overhead cabinets hold larger, bulkier items, while Lista Storage Wall systems are used for storage and coveralls. Living the dream. "I chose Lista after looking at all the other brands around," Mitch says. "Lista's overall form, fit and function was the perfect package. I also appreciated the overall value for the quality of the product and the ability to customize to my needs." He continues, "My main goal was the creation of the ultimate garage space. As far as my dream garage goes, this is it!"

Snowberry Lane Photography
Example of a large transitional master white tile and glass tile porcelain tile and gray floor freestanding bathtub design in Seattle with turquoise cabinets, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, recessed-panel cabinets and white walls

[ Houzz Furniture - Bestier.net ] The on-trend style should extend to all the items in your home, and fit easily into taller, narrower spaces. The bookshelf is designed for a clean, open silhouette, enabling you to show off not only your titles but also decor objects and knickknacks. This piece features a powder-coated steel frame and four laminated wood shelves of decreasing depth, delivering a budget-friendly industrial-inspired look. Adjustable Storage Shelves Our Multifunctional Storage Rack has 5 adjustable shelves, so you can customize the heights of each shelf to meet your different needs. You also can turn it into a chef helper when placing it in your kitchen or make an awesome display rack that fits anywhere - like on top of a table or inside any cabinet! Solid Construction This 5-tier shelving unit is made of a heavy steel frame and MDF boards. It can hold up to 25 pounds per shelf, making it perfect for storing books or clothes in any corner of the room Dimension 23.6" x 11" x 61"

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Hallways are often left for clutter or are minimally wide. Historic structures for purposes of air flow and grace tended to be wide and allow at least, for the passage of two people. This hallway utilizes the space to augment the closets of the new addition and to provide extra storage for the lack of closets in the original bedrooms of the home. Closets are a relatively modern amenity. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries closets were rare or missing entirely. Wardrobes, chests, and highboys stood to serve for storage of clothing and incidentals. We are well versed in the language of these pieces of furniture and were able to design and create a suitable cabinet for the hall to hold a myriad of items for one's wardrobe: simple, clean and properly proportioned. Jaeger & Ernst cabinetmakers: 434-973-7018

Mid-sized cottage 3/4 white tile and stone slab ceramic tile drop-in bathtub photo in Milwaukee with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, a trough sink and solid surface countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office remodel with yellow walls and no fireplace

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2014 Houzz
Living room - coastal living room idea in Seattle

The image depicts a modern living room with an open and airy layout. A teal green sectional sofa with light-colored cushions and a grey throw blanket is positioned near large windows with black blinds, allowing natural light to brighten the space. In front of the sofa, a wooden coffee table with a black metal frame holds a white vase with dried branches, a small decorative item, and a black tray. A round table with a dark top and black metal legs, accompanied by two black chairs, is decorated with a vase of dried flowers and a light throw blanket. Several potted indoor plants add greenery to the room, placed near the sofa and windows. In the background, a modern kitchen area with wooden cabinets and a countertop is visible, creating a seamless open-plan design. A wicker basket with a blanket sits near the sofa, and the light wooden floor, paired with a patterned rug, enhances the contemporary yet cozy atmosphere of the space.

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
1950s living room photo in San Francisco

[ Houzz Furniture - Bestier.net ] The on-trend style should extend to all the items in your home, and fit easily into taller, narrower spaces. The bookshelf is designed for a clean, open silhouette, enabling you to show off not only your titles but also decor objects and knickknacks. This piece features a powder-coated steel frame and four laminated wood shelves of decreasing depth, delivering a budget-friendly industrial-inspired look. Adjustable Storage Shelves Our Multifunctional Storage Rack has 5 adjustable shelves, so you can customize the heights of each shelf to meet your different needs. You also can turn it into a chef helper when placing it in your kitchen or make an awesome display rack that fits anywhere - like on top of a table or inside any cabinet! Solid Construction This 5-tier shelving unit is made of a heavy steel frame and MDF boards. It can hold up to 25 pounds per shelf, making it perfect for storing books or clothes in any corner of the room Dimension 23.6" x 11" x 61"

Black walls set off the room's cream furnishings and gold accents. Touches of pink add personality. A huge custom rug unifies the seating and working areas and further contributes to the hushed atmosphere. In order for this room to feel more like a retreat and less like an office, we used regular furniture pieces in non-standard ways. The client’s heirloom dining table serves as a writing table. A pair of brass and glass consoles holds printer, stationery, and files as well as decorative items. A cream lacquered linen sideboard provides additional storage. A pair of cushy swivel chairs serves multiple functions – facing a loveseat and bench to create a cozy seating area, facing each other for intimate discussions, and facing the desk for more standard business meetings.

[ Houzz Furniture - Bestier.net ] The on-trend style should extend to all the items in your home, and fit easily into taller, narrower spaces. The bookshelf is designed for a clean, open silhouette, enabling you to show off not only your titles but also decor objects and knickknacks. This piece features a powder-coated steel frame and four laminated wood shelves of decreasing depth, delivering a budget-friendly industrial-inspired look. Adjustable Storage Shelves Our Multifunctional Storage Rack has 5 adjustable shelves, so you can customize the heights of each shelf to meet your different needs. You also can turn it into a chef helper when placing it in your kitchen or make an awesome display rack that fits anywhere - like on top of a table or inside any cabinet! Solid Construction This 5-tier shelving unit is made of a heavy steel frame and MDF boards. It can hold up to 25 pounds per shelf, making it perfect for storing books or clothes in any corner of the room Dimension 23.6" x 11" x 61"

Find these items on www.starfurniture.com or contact Mary Strong for more details: Mary Strong, Interior Designer Star Furniture 16666 Barker Springs Road, Houston, TX 281-492-5494 mstrong@starfurniture.com Mary has over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial interior design. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Nesbitt School of Design at Drexel University. Strong relocated to the Houston area in 2008 from New York, and loves the diversity of Houston because it allows her to work with many different home styles. She enjoys interacting with people, and her skills and experience create beautiful results for her new and returning clients. Mary's preferred style is what she calls "today's traditional." It is a mix of old and new, a fresh version of traditional design. One of her specialties is window treatments. She works closely with Star's drapery designers to create custom treatments for her clients' homes. Contact Mary today for your complimentary design consultation service.