Floating shelves keep the essentials at hand, while adding a modern flair to the kitchen. Cabinetry is finished in Truly Taupe. Hardware is un-laquered brass. Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry

Photography by Jim Tetro This house, built in the 1960s, sits southfacing on a terrific wooded lot in Bethesda, Maryland. The owners desire a whole-house renovation which would improve the general building fabric and systems, and extend the sense of living out of doors in all seasons. The original sixties-modern character is preserved and the renovation extends the design forward into a contemporary, modern approach. Connections to and through the site are enhanced through the creation of new larger window and door openings. Screened porches and decks perch above the sloped and wooded site. The new kitchen and bathrooms allow for opportunities to feel out-of -doors while preparing, cooking, dining, and bathing. Smart passive strategies guide the environmental choices for this project, including envelope improvements, updated mechanical systems, and on-site stormwater management.

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Houston

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Angle Eye Photography
Family room - large traditional open concept brown floor family room idea in Philadelphia with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a media wall

Kitchen. Photo by Clark Dugger
Inspiration for a small contemporary galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, brown backsplash, wood backsplash, paneled appliances and no island

Example of a mountain style beige tile and travertine tile pebble tile floor alcove shower design in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls and white countertops

Casey Dunn
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets

This outdoor kitchen/bar provides everything you need to entertain your guests outdoors. The stainless steel cabinets along the wall house a sink, refrigerator and plenty of storage.

Photographer: Julie Soefer
Inspiration for a large contemporary gender-neutral dark wood floor kids' room remodel in Houston with white walls

Room Addition & Full Home Remodel
Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in San Francisco

Elegant laundry room photo in Orange County

Example of a mid-sized country master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor walk-in shower design in Austin with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Michael Stadler - Stadler Studio
Mid-sized urban concrete floor and gray floor family room photo in Seattle with no fireplace, beige walls and a music area

Sean Malone
Living room - large traditional formal and enclosed living room idea in San Francisco with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room photo in New York with gray walls, a wall-mounted tv, no fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Jim Bartsch Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Los Angeles with a wall-mount sink, gray walls, a hinged shower door and a niche

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and beige floor wet bar remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and blue cabinets

Kat Alves
Transitional master cement tile and black and white tile bathroom photo in Sacramento with white walls, quartz countertops, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door