The new bumped out semi-circular room off of the family room added a new place to sit and swivel. so comfy! Steve Buchanan Photography
Example of a beach style open concept multicolored floor living room design in Baltimore with blue walls

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Most porch additions look like an "after-thought" and detract from the better thought-out design of a home. The design of the porch followed by the gracious materials and proportions of this Georgian-style home. The brick is left exposed and we brought the outside in with wood ceilings. The porch has craftsman-style finished and high quality carpet perfect for outside weathering conditions. The space includes a dining area and seating area to comfortably entertain in a comfortable environment with crisp cool breezes from multiple ceiling fans. Love porch life at it's best!

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Whitney Kamman Photography
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Longshadow limestone planters welcome spring with blue hydrangea, white stock, purple pansies, and english ivy. Hannah Goering Photography
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Mocha grass cloth lines the walls, oversized bronze pendant with brass center hangs over custom 7.5 foot square x base dining table, custom faux leather dining chairs. Meghan Beierle

Eat-in kitchen - large coastal l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, blue backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Small 1960s deck photo in Portland

Michael Lewis Architects, PC Location: Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522 Attic addition transforming the entry facade while increasing usable space above the second floor!

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Bruce Damonte
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This laundry room features mint color custom cabinetry, brass/ crystal hardware, and capiz shell backsplash.
Small beach style gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, white walls, white countertops, blue cabinets and mosaic tile backsplash

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Transitional kitchen photo in Denver

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Portland with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, black appliances, an island and white countertops

We are obsessed with the mix of geometric & organic textures and shapes in this full home design for a young, busy family. Kid friendly can be stylish too! We love the balance of clean lines and imperfect natural materials, and a color palette combining cool blues & greens and warm beige & brass. Photo credit: Andy Ryan Photographer LLC 2020

The original kitchen was confined within four walls and our clients were eager to create a more open floor plan to provide more social interaction between the home chef (mom) and the 4 men in her life. By removing walls and borrowing a few extra square feet from the adjacent laundry room we were able to incorporate a 48” refrigerator and range, extra storage, a central island, increased workspaces and banquette seating into this modestly sized kitchen. This project was designed to provide both high function and high style while optimizing the influx of natural light from the enlarged kitchen windows. We maximized the space and created an open floor plan that improved traffic flow between the adjacent rooms. The custom cabinetry, stainless hood, shelves, and the professional faucet gives this rather traditional white kitchen a more modern design sensibility. Photo Credit: Bethany Nauert