Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Photos: Donna Dotan Photography; Instagram: @donnadotanphoto
Example of a bedroom trendy boy medium tone wood floor and brown floor kids' bedroom design in New York with gray walls

Photos: Donna Dotan Photography; Instagram: @donnadotanphoto
Example of a trendy master carpeted and gray floor bedroom design in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Photo: Jessica Cain © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless open concept living room remodel in Kansas City with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

A bright and vibrant room for a teen girl. The white board on the barn door over the closet acts as an inspiration space. photo: Finger Photography
Example of a bedroom and mid-sized transitional boy carpeted and beige floor kids' bedroom design in San Francisco with green walls

It’s #transformationtuesday which means we are sharing before and after photos of a #stairrunner project our installation team completed recently! We interviewed the homeowner to learn more about how she discovered us and why she selected the style she chose for her stair runner! Here are is the response! “I found you on Instagram from Candace of House of Paige (@_houseofpaige_)and also have seen Brenna Smith of Hope and Bay Design (@hopeandbay) go there too. You guys were local and I loved your instagram page - it was super easy to find inspiration ideas so I knew I needed to reach out. We have two dogs and a toddler (with another baby on the way!) so we wanted something that would be durable but would match our style a bit more! We did Oil Nut Bay in Charcoal. From my first visit to your work room to working with Billy over email, you made the process so easy! I really appreciated the honest feedback and opinions on the different styles we liked and if it would fit our lifestyle with dogs and kids at home. We must have had a dozen samples sent to us over the 2 months we worked together and it was just so easy to work with you virtually. We are so happy with the final product :)” We thank every single one of you for sharing your story and experience with us at The Carpet Workroom!

Photos: Donna Dotan Photography; Instagram: @donnadotanphoto
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal master brown floor and slate floor double shower remodel in New York with light wood cabinets, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, beige walls and flat-panel cabinets

Dan Cutrona
Bathroom - coastal bathroom idea in Boston with yellow walls

KitchenLab Interiors’ first, entirely new construction project in collaboration with GTH architects who designed the residence. KLI was responsible for all interior finishes, fixtures, furnishings, and design including the stairs, casework, interior doors, moldings and millwork. KLI also worked with the client on selecting the roof, exterior stucco and paint colors, stone, windows, and doors. The homeowners had purchased the existing home on a lakefront lot of the Valley Lo community in Glenview, thinking that it would be a gut renovation, but when they discovered a host of issues including mold, they decided to tear it down and start from scratch. The minute you look out the living room windows, you feel as though you're on a lakeside vacation in Wisconsin or Michigan. We wanted to help the homeowners achieve this feeling throughout the house - merging the causal vibe of a vacation home with the elegance desired for a primary residence. This project is unique and personal in many ways - Rebekah and the homeowner, Lorie, had grown up together in a small suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Lorie had been Rebekah's babysitter and was like an older sister growing up. They were both heavily influenced by the style of the late 70's and early 80's boho/hippy meets disco and 80's glam, and both credit their moms for an early interest in anything related to art, design, and style. One of the biggest challenges of doing a new construction project is that it takes so much longer to plan and execute and by the time tile and lighting is installed, you might be bored by the selections of feel like you've seen them everywhere already. “I really tried to pull myself, our team and the client away from the echo-chamber of Pinterest and Instagram. We fell in love with counter stools 3 years ago that I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger on, thank god, because then they started showing up literally everywhere", Rebekah recalls. Lots of one of a kind vintage rugs and furnishings make the home feel less brand-spanking new. The best projects come from a team slightly outside their comfort zone. One of the funniest things Lorie says to Rebekah, "I gave you everything you wanted", which is pretty hilarious coming from a client to a designer.

It’s #transformationtuesday which means we are sharing before and after photos of a #stairrunner project our installation team completed recently! We interviewed the homeowner to learn more about how she discovered us and why she selected the style she chose for her stair runner! Here are is the response! “I found you on Instagram from Candace of House of Paige (@_houseofpaige_)and also have seen Brenna Smith of Hope and Bay Design (@hopeandbay) go there too. You guys were local and I loved your instagram page - it was super easy to find inspiration ideas so I knew I needed to reach out. We have two dogs and a toddler (with another baby on the way!) so we wanted something that would be durable but would match our style a bit more! We did Oil Nut Bay in Charcoal. From my first visit to your work room to working with Billy over email, you made the process so easy! I really appreciated the honest feedback and opinions on the different styles we liked and if it would fit our lifestyle with dogs and kids at home. We must have had a dozen samples sent to us over the 2 months we worked together and it was just so easy to work with you virtually. We are so happy with the final product :)” We thank every single one of you for sharing your story and experience with us at The Carpet Workroom!

Example of a large danish outdoor shower deck design in Copenhagen with no cover

Inspiration for a contemporary master gray tile gray floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Hobart with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a vessel sink and wood countertops

Here's a bit more about the project: Project Los Gatos Ranch House Remodel Tom McElroy of McElroy Architecture hired Feather Weight to photograph the firm’s completed remodel of a ranch house located in Los Gatos. The final photos are McElroy Architecture’s portfolio pieces. Read more about the progress of Tom’s lovely work here: tothestuds.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/los-gatos-ranch-house Architect McElroy Architecture Tom McElroy mcelroyarch.com / 415-814-3256 / tom@mcelroyarch.com instagram @mcelroyarch twitter @mcelroyarch blog tothestuds.wordpress.com Photographer Feather Weight / feather-weight.com Rachel Styer / 415.218.1292 / rachel@feather-weight.com instagram @officialfeatherweight twitter @hifeatherweight

Here's a bit more about the project: Project Los Gatos Ranch House Remodel Tom McElroy of McElroy Architecture hired Feather Weight to photograph the firm’s completed remodel of a ranch house located in Los Gatos. The final photos are McElroy Architecture’s portfolio pieces. Read more about the progress of Tom’s lovely work here: tothestuds.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/los-gatos-ranch-house Architect McElroy Architecture Tom McElroy mcelroyarch.com / 415-814-3256 / tom@mcelroyarch.com instagram @mcelroyarch twitter @mcelroyarch blog tothestuds.wordpress.com Photographer Feather Weight / feather-weight.com Rachel Styer / 415.218.1292 / rachel@feather-weight.com instagram @officialfeatherweight twitter @hifeatherweight

KitchenLab Interiors’ first, entirely new construction project in collaboration with GTH architects who designed the residence. KLI was responsible for all interior finishes, fixtures, furnishings, and design including the stairs, casework, interior doors, moldings and millwork. KLI also worked with the client on selecting the roof, exterior stucco and paint colors, stone, windows, and doors. The homeowners had purchased the existing home on a lakefront lot of the Valley Lo community in Glenview, thinking that it would be a gut renovation, but when they discovered a host of issues including mold, they decided to tear it down and start from scratch. The minute you look out the living room windows, you feel as though you're on a lakeside vacation in Wisconsin or Michigan. We wanted to help the homeowners achieve this feeling throughout the house - merging the causal vibe of a vacation home with the elegance desired for a primary residence. This project is unique and personal in many ways - Rebekah and the homeowner, Lorie, had grown up together in a small suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Lorie had been Rebekah's babysitter and was like an older sister growing up. They were both heavily influenced by the style of the late 70's and early 80's boho/hippy meets disco and 80's glam, and both credit their moms for an early interest in anything related to art, design, and style. One of the biggest challenges of doing a new construction project is that it takes so much longer to plan and execute and by the time tile and lighting is installed, you might be bored by the selections of feel like you've seen them everywhere already. “I really tried to pull myself, our team and the client away from the echo-chamber of Pinterest and Instagram. We fell in love with counter stools 3 years ago that I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger on, thank god, because then they started showing up literally everywhere", Rebekah recalls. Lots of one of a kind vintage rugs and furnishings make the home feel less brand-spanking new. The best projects come from a team slightly outside their comfort zone. One of the funniest things Lorie says to Rebekah, "I gave you everything you wanted", which is pretty hilarious coming from a client to a designer.

Here's a bit more about the project: Project Los Gatos Ranch House Remodel Tom McElroy of McElroy Architecture hired Feather Weight to photograph the firm’s completed remodel of a ranch house located in Los Gatos. The final photos are McElroy Architecture’s portfolio pieces. Read more about the progress of Tom’s lovely work here: tothestuds.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/los-gatos-ranch-house Architect McElroy Architecture Tom McElroy mcelroyarch.com / 415-814-3256 / tom@mcelroyarch.com instagram @mcelroyarch twitter @mcelroyarch blog tothestuds.wordpress.com Photographer Feather Weight / feather-weight.com Rachel Styer / 415.218.1292 / rachel@feather-weight.com instagram @officialfeatherweight twitter @hifeatherweight

Here's a bit more about the project: Project Los Gatos Ranch House Remodel Tom McElroy of McElroy Architecture hired Feather Weight to photograph the firm’s completed remodel of a ranch house located in Los Gatos. The final photos are McElroy Architecture’s portfolio pieces. Read more about the progress of Tom’s lovely work here: tothestuds.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/los-gatos-ranch-house Architect McElroy Architecture Tom McElroy mcelroyarch.com / 415-814-3256 / tom@mcelroyarch.com instagram @mcelroyarch twitter @mcelroyarch blog tothestuds.wordpress.com Photographer Feather Weight / feather-weight.com Rachel Styer / 415.218.1292 / rachel@feather-weight.com instagram @officialfeatherweight twitter @hifeatherweight

A 1900s historic home's kitchen is transformed in this project by Red House Design Build. Recessed panel and glass cabinetry keep with the traditional style of the home. Black soapstone adds contrast. Photography by Aaron Usher III. Instagram: @Redhousedesignbuild.

Photo Via Instagram: @lewisandweldon ZLINE Product: 436-SX44S-36
Mid-sized 1950s kitchen photo