Example of a trendy galley dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in San Francisco

Bathroom - contemporary white tile and marble tile gray floor bathroom idea in London with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, pink walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with an undermount sink, white backsplash, an island and white countertops

BASWA Phon Acoustical Plaster Ceilings and Walls
Minimalist open concept living room photo in Los Angeles with white walls and a plaster fireplace

Bathroom - small transitional bathroom idea in Seattle with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet and an undermount sink

Trendy concrete floor and gray floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in London with beige walls and no fireplace

Kitchen - large rustic kitchen idea in Other with shaker cabinets and an island

Inspiration for a transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

David Guettler Photography david@guettlerphotography.com
Inspiration for a timeless entryway remodel in Los Angeles

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

Example of a classic medium tone wood floor kitchen design in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Limestone floors imported from France for the main level spaces; combined with walls plastered in a stucco finish, provide a seamless look. From the dramatic foyer, archways lead to adjoining spaces. On one side, the foyer segues into an atrium housing a Steinway piano and a dramatic stairway with a hand-forged rail. Photography Alain Jaramillo

Living Room
Living room - transitional living room idea in Austin

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Toronto with white walls

Graham Yelton for B-Metro
Inspiration for an eclectic enclosed living room remodel in Birmingham with beige walls

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: Stacy Zarin Goldsberg
Example of a transitional freestanding desk home office design in DC Metro with blue walls

Traditional gray two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Seattle