While kitchens and bathrooms are focal points for buyers, they won’t ignore the rest of the home — and neither should you. The work-from-home revolution has changed what buyers are looking for in a home purchase, and the result is an increased focus on flex spaces and living spaces. Living spaces can include areas both small and grand. They can also have a multitude of purposes, but regardless of how they are used, they should be up-to-date and modern before the house goes on the market. Flex spaces are rooms that serve multiple purposes. That means the square footage is set up in such a way that it can be adapted to changing needs, interests, and lifestyles without extensive modifications. A flex space could be turned into a home office, game room, exercise room, and more. To highlight the versatility of these areas, it is important to update flex spaces before selling.

This bathroom remodel blends modern design with practical upgrades, resulting in a clean and cohesive space. The renovation includes the installation of a new white shaker-style vanity with a white quartz countertop and matte black plumbing fixtures, complemented by sleek chrome hardware for a balanced look. Above the vanity, a pair of elegant matte black wall-mounted light sconces provide focused illumination and add a touch of sophistication. A striking black hexagon tile floor adds bold contrast and a contemporary edge to the soft gray painted walls. A major layout update involved removing a full wall and replacing it with a stylish pony wall beside the tub, creating a more open and airy feel. The tub is surrounded by classic white subway tile that extends to the ceiling, featuring a recessed shampoo niche with a mosaic tile backing for both functionality and visual interest. Additional upgrades include a new toilet, the removal of a ceiling soffit to raise the ceiling height, updated recessed lighting, a new modern exhaust fan, and the relocation of the air conditioning duct outlet for improved airflow and aesthetics. Altogether, this bathroom remodel delivers a fresh, bright, and sophisticated space with high-end touches and improved functionality.

This small kitchen remodel by Revival House's Bre Perrigo is a dramatic update, bringing the kitchen into the 21st century! The main elements include white shaker cabinetry with blue accents, bronze hardware, and stainless steel appliances. These new selections along with the new layout add some serious aesthetic value, not to mention functionality, creating a space that feels fresh and inviting. The Decor's shaker cabinetry in Chantilly Lace is the main focal point of the kitchen, accented by touches of Santorini Blue. The simplicity of the shaker style contributes to the overall clean and timeless look. Top Knobs' Ellis Pull in Honey Bronze hardware adds a touch of elegance and warmth to the space. This combination of white and bronze creates a classic and sophisticated feel. The blue accents break up the white and bronze color scheme, adding depth and visual interest to the space. The new kitchen design focuses on maximizing storage and improving the layout. The new cabinetry provides ample storage space while ensuring that everything has its designated place. The layout was reconfigured to create a more efficient and user-friendly space, making cooking and entertaining a breeze. Overall, this small kitchen remodel aims to create a clean and quaint space with white shaker cabinetry, bronze hardware, stainless steel appliances, and blue accents. The result is a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also offers improved storage and layout functionality compared to the original kitchen.

This small kitchen remodel by Revival House's Bre Perrigo is a dramatic update, bringing the kitchen into the 21st century! The main elements include white shaker cabinetry with blue accents, bronze hardware, and stainless steel appliances. These new selections along with the new layout add some serious aesthetic value, not to mention functionality, creating a space that feels fresh and inviting. The Decor's shaker cabinetry in Chantilly Lace is the main focal point of the kitchen, accented by touches of Santorini Blue. The simplicity of the shaker style contributes to the overall clean and timeless look. Top Knobs' Ellis Pull in Honey Bronze hardware adds a touch of elegance and warmth to the space. This combination of white and bronze creates a classic and sophisticated feel. The blue accents break up the white and bronze color scheme, adding depth and visual interest to the space. The new kitchen design focuses on maximizing storage and improving the layout. The new cabinetry provides ample storage space while ensuring that everything has its designated place. The layout was reconfigured to create a more efficient and user-friendly space, making cooking and entertaining a breeze. Overall, this small kitchen remodel aims to create a clean and quaint space with white shaker cabinetry, bronze hardware, stainless steel appliances, and blue accents. The result is a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also offers improved storage and layout functionality compared to the original kitchen.

GOALS After recently completing indoor renovations, the homeowners were now ready to focus on updating and improving their property. The home lacked curb appeal and was void of any landscape. The land sloped down to the right of the house where decaying retaining walls needed to be addressed and the backyard needed a complete overhaul. – Add curb appeal – Create seasonal interest – Replace failing retaining walls – Create a cohesive space in both the front and rear yards APPROACH The timber wall in the rear yard was removed along with the decaying wall in the front yard. The updated design incorporated a new masonry retaining wall to complement the stucco finish on the house. A natural moss rock wall was added to the front right side of the house to help even out the grade along the foundation. A selection of hardy plants were selected to soften the architecture of the home, providing year-round interest and immense curb appeal. PLANTING COMPONENTS • Large specimen trees, such as hinoki cypress and holly were used to add height and to anchor the home within the landscape. • Southern magnolia and birch trees were placed in the lawn to add color and shade. • Flowering hydrangea, carpet roses, azaleas and perennials such as geranium, liriope, astilbe, coreopsis and nepeta were used to create seasonal interest. RESULT The redesigned landscape provided the finishing touch to the home’s renovations, restoring its curb appeal and adding tremendous value to the home overall.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Denver with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

Photo: Paul Finkel
Huge contemporary white two-story stucco flat roof idea in Austin

The objective was to create a warm neutral space to later customize to a specific colour palate/preference of the end user for this new construction home being built to sell. A high-end contemporary feel was requested to attract buyers in the area. An impressive kitchen that exuded high class and made an impact on guests as they entered the home, without being overbearing. The space offers an appealing open floorplan conducive to entertaining with indoor-outdoor flow. Due to the spec nature of this house, the home had to remain appealing to the builder, while keeping a broad audience of potential buyers in mind. The challenge lay in creating a unique look, with visually interesting materials and finishes, while not being so unique that potential owners couldn’t envision making it their own. The focus on key elements elevates the look, while other features blend and offer support to these striking components. As the home was built for sale, profitability was important; materials were sourced at best value, while retaining high-end appeal. Adaptations to the home’s original design plan improve flow and usability within the kitchen-greatroom. The client desired a rich dark finish. The chosen colours tie the kitchen to the rest of the home (creating unity as combination, colours and materials, is repeated throughout). Photos- Paul Grdina

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

The objective was to create a warm neutral space to later customize to a specific colour palate/preference of the end user for this new construction home being built to sell. A high-end contemporary feel was requested to attract buyers in the area. An impressive kitchen that exuded high class and made an impact on guests as they entered the home, without being overbearing. The space offers an appealing open floorplan conducive to entertaining with indoor-outdoor flow. Due to the spec nature of this house, the home had to remain appealing to the builder, while keeping a broad audience of potential buyers in mind. The challenge lay in creating a unique look, with visually interesting materials and finishes, while not being so unique that potential owners couldn’t envision making it their own. The focus on key elements elevates the look, while other features blend and offer support to these striking components. As the home was built for sale, profitability was important; materials were sourced at best value, while retaining high-end appeal. Adaptations to the home’s original design plan improve flow and usability within the kitchen-greatroom. The client desired a rich dark finish. The chosen colours tie the kitchen to the rest of the home (creating unity as combination, colours and materials, is repeated throughout). Photos- Paul Grdina

We recently enjoyed the opportunity to remodel three floors of a nineteenth-century Cambridge home with our project partners, architect Tom Downer and designer Jayme Kennerknecht/LDa Architects. . • The owners – a family of four that includes both a teenager and a toddler - wanted a house better suited to entertaining but also appropriate for family together time. Specific improvements on their wish list included a playroom that could handle differing family needs, a custom bar for entertaining, a new fireplace, and an inviting kitchen that would remain distinct but be better connected to adjoining rooms. • Adding a fireplace to the living room involved rebuilding the entire back wall of the home. The fireplace mantel was custom designed to match an existing mantel in the nearby dining room, which is original to the home. • In the playroom, care was taken to create zones for three members of the family: The mother enjoys crafting and now has a station directly below existing skylights, the teenager has a semi-private nook at the back of the space for relaxing, and the youngest in the family can enjoy toys and games placed along one wall alongside a rug for playing on the floor. On the same level, we created a separate guest bedroom with a new closet and a window designed to match other windows throughout the home. • The kitchen is fully upgraded and custom designed to accommodate the mother’s cooking habits, with specific elements including a farmer’s sink in the island and a stainless steel counter with an integrated sink for food preparation placed behind it on the counter. To improve storage in the much-used room, corner drawer units were installed instead of lazy Susan cabinets. Also, the homeowners were not interested in an open floor plan, but did want to improve access to the living room and yard beyond. This was achieved by expanding the opening between the two rooms allowing the cook to engage with family and guests and have a clear view when children are playing in the yard. Photo by Shelly Harrison

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

Conversion of adjoining bedroom into master bathroom suite with walk-in closet, water closet, powder room, walk-in shower and standalone tub, Waterworks standing faucet, marble vanity with dual sinks. Photo by Madeux Home Improvements