Foster Customs Kitchens; Photos by Robyn Wishna
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional marble floor kitchen remodel in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, a farmhouse sink, white backsplash and stone slab backsplash

Elegant brown floor laundry room photo in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

A colorful garden and patio seating area outside of Boston was designed by APLD member Pete Cadieux.
Design ideas for a traditional backyard landscaping in Boston.

Luxe Bathroom Remodel – Menlo Park, CA This serene and sophisticated master bathroom remodel in Menlo Park, California, is a stunning example of Casa Utopia Builders’ attention to modern luxury, fine detail, and seamless integration of natural textures. The space blends spa-inspired tranquility with clean architectural lines, warm materials, and thoughtful functionality. Key Features: Custom wall-mounted travertine sink vanity with integrated stone basin Curbless walk-in shower with large-format marble-effect tile and brushed gold fixtures Wall-mounted smart toilet for a sleek, minimal footprint Designer sconces paired with a floating mirror and textured vertical tile wall Built-in skylight and window to maximize natural light Custom linen cabinet and wall niche for practical storage Elegant palette of white, beige, and wood tones with modern brass accents This remodel reimagined the original layout with a bump-out for the wall-mounted toilet, custom skylight installation, and all-new plumbing and electrical. High-end details and natural textures deliver a warm, minimalist feel while retaining every ounce of everyday luxury. Project Location: Menlo Park, California Scope: Master Bathroom Remodel Value: $44,000 Timeline: ~4–5 weeks Style Tags: Warm Modern | Japandi | Organic Minimalism | Spa-Inspired

We designed this writer's studio in tandem with an urban backyard and hardscaping renovation. Originally this building was to be a new garage, but the owner liked it so much that halfway through the process, he decided to forgo a garage in favor of an office. Photo: Anna M Campbell: annamcampbell.com

Example of a large trendy single-wall light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Our New England customers typically save up to half the cost of buying new custom cabinets. By preserving your existing cabinetry, you can save enough to truly create the kitchen of your dreams. This makes cabinet refacing a second-to-none money saving option for your kitchen remodeling project. You can finally upgrade to a luxury counter-top, add storage accessories, decorative moldings…build in all of those bells and whistles you might have otherwise gone without due to budget concerns.

Photos: Paul Finkel, Piston Design GC: Hudson Design Development, Inc.
Large farmhouse white two-story wood exterior home idea in Austin with a mixed material roof

Patio - 1950s courtyard patio idea in Other with no cover

Pride&Joy Home Improvements
Inspiration for a modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash and stainless steel appliances

The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Barry Grossman Photography
Trendy master carpeted bedroom photo in Miami with no fireplace and gray walls

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Photos: Paul Finkel, Piston Design GC: Hudson Design Development, Inc.
Large cottage white two-story wood exterior home idea in Austin with a mixed material roof and a black roof

Project by: Dichotomy Interiors
Example of a small trendy single-wall home bar design in New York with wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and brown countertops

Example of a mid-sized minimalist single-wall concrete floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Living room - mid-sized eclectic formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and beige floor living room idea in San Francisco with white walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless 3/4 mosaic tile floor and beige floor walk-in shower remodel in San Diego with dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, a vessel sink, glass countertops, a hinged shower door and shaker cabinets