Brad + Jen Butcher
Family room library - large contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library idea in Nashville with gray walls

Layered in timeless blues, soft greens, and warm creams, this space balances tradition with everyday comfort. Thoughtfully designed with family in mind, the room invites both connection and quiet moments—ample seating encourages gathering, while a dedicated game table sets the stage for friendly competition and shared memories. A traditional secretary desk adds a functional, collected touch, perfect for homework, correspondence, or simply keeping life organized. Comfortable, classic, and meant to be lived in—this is a living room where style and family life coexist beautifully.

Modern office space with custom built-in shelves
Inspiration for a transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in New York with gray walls

Easton, Maryland Traditional Kitchen Design by #JenniferGilmer with a lake view http://gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

This beautiful kitchen built by Peppertree Kitchen and Bath with cabinets of architectural-grade, rift-sawn white oak veneer. It has a wire-brushed texture with a custom satin and glaze.

Our homeowners approached us for design help shortly after purchasing a fixer upper. They wanted to redesign the home into an open concept plan. Their goal was something that would serve multiple functions: allow them to entertain small groups while accommodating their two small children not only now but into the future as they grow up and have social lives of their own. They wanted the kitchen opened up to the living room to create a Great Room. The living room was also in need of an update including the bulky, existing brick fireplace. They were interested in an aesthetic that would have a mid-century flair with a modern layout. We added built-in cabinetry on either side of the fireplace mimicking the wood and stain color true to the era. The adjacent Family Room, needed minor updates to carry the mid-century flavor throughout.

Our homeowners approached us for design help shortly after purchasing a fixer upper. They wanted to redesign the home into an open concept plan. Their goal was something that would serve multiple functions: allow them to entertain small groups while accommodating their two small children not only now but into the future as they grow up and have social lives of their own. They wanted the kitchen opened up to the living room to create a Great Room. The living room was also in need of an update including the bulky, existing brick fireplace. They were interested in an aesthetic that would have a mid-century flair with a modern layout. We added built-in cabinetry on either side of the fireplace mimicking the wood and stain color true to the era. The adjacent Family Room, needed minor updates to carry the mid-century flavor throughout.

Trendy second story cable railing deck photo in San Francisco with no cover

Mikiko Kikuyama
Example of a 1960s light wood floor dining room design in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Family room library - rustic light wood floor family room library idea in Burlington with white walls

The industrious clients came to us with dreams of a new garage structure to provide a home for all of their passions. The design came together around a three car garage with room for a micro-brewery, workshop and bicycle storage – all attached to the house via a new three season porch – and a native prairie landscape and sauna structure on the roof. Designed by Jody McGuire Photographed by Corey Gaffer

Paula Casentini
Family room - contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor family room idea in Austin with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls

Open concept kitchen - 1950s single-wall brown floor and dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Columbus with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, blue backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Mid-sized arts and crafts blue three-story mixed siding gable roof photo in DC Metro with a shingle roof

This VIP Design Day project transformed two key spaces in a DC-area home — a dining room and powder room — into rooms that feel both curated and livable. The dining room balances warm walnut tones, mixed seating, and bold artwork against moody gray walls and classic wainscoting, creating a space that's elegant without being precious. The powder room makes a strong first impression with floor-to-ceiling botanical wallpaper, a navy reeded vanity, Calacatta marble countertop, and antique brass fixtures layered with vintage equestrian art. Margaret Carroll Interiors specializes in architecture-informed interior design for homes in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Every project integrates spatial thinking with intentional material selection — the result is interiors that look professionally designed and feel deeply personal. This project is an example of our VIP Design Day service, a focused one-day design experience for homeowners ready to elevate specific rooms quickly and decisively. Services: Residential Interior Design · VIP Design Day · Space Planning · Furniture Selection · Art Curation Location: Washington DC Metro Area · Maryland · Virginia · DMV

Peter Vanderwarker
Mid-sized minimalist brown one-story wood flat roof photo in Boston with a medium wood front door

Custom recessed wine storage and custom walnut & brass beer tap (Photographs by Daniel O' Connor)
Home bar - small transitional home bar idea in Denver with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Kitchen - large transitional l-shaped kitchen idea in Toronto with shaker cabinets and an island