My 1950's ranch kitchen wasn't bad enough to justify a remodel, until I wandered into a cabinet warehouse closing down & selling their inventory for $60 a cabinet. I had 3 hours to get cabinets out of their warehouse. For $1000, I had cabinets close to fitting the space, and a few extra for spare parts. Then my neighbor who was going to install the cabinets for me decided after 3 days that he didn't want to work with me. I finished the remodel myself, my first interior remodel project, not counting hanging shelves, ever. My boyfriend helped with advice, loan of a tile saw & nail gun, and a few of the projects. But I did the bulk of the work on my own - including cutting down and building up cabinets where they didn't exactly fit the space. My favorite things in the kitchen are the bits I had to figure out how to make fit. I hired professionals to run 2 new electrical circuits to meet code on the refrigerator wall. My appliances, fixtures & hardware were all from craigslist, ebay, or re-use stores. My goal was to finish the project under $3000, but it ended up closer to $5000. (That includes the 3 days pay for the neighbor.) It only took me 6 months (often only working 1 day on a weekend per week), and I had a blast. I also found that when you are doing the work yourself, it is not nearly as frustrating at how long it takes.

A custom vanity with storage tower.
Doorless shower - mid-sized traditional master white tile and marble tile porcelain tile and gray floor doorless shower idea in Portland with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Jackie Friberg
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Boston

Stone Veneer: CharcoalLedgestone & Gray Fieldstone 15% Trim Stone: Gray Prestige Siding and Shake: Tuscan Clay Garage Vents: Brown Windows: Bronze Garage Doors: Bronze Haas 660 w/ square windows with Carriage Accessories Front Door: Stained Custom Door with carriage accessories Roof: Pewter Gray Timberline GAF Exterior Porch Decking: Pacific Walnut TimberTech Earthwood Evolutions Wood Ceiling: Stained Clear Pine Railing: Traditional Walnut TimberTech Gwendolyn Lanstrum

Example of a beach style kitchen design in San Francisco

vertical modern house numbers at board formed concrete entry wall
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1950s light wood floor and gray floor front door remodel in Orange County with gray walls and a black front door

Located in the Houston Heights, the Waverly Residence is a modern home on an established street of two story homes boasting front porch typologies. The family’s desire for privacy resulted in a porch that rotates to internalize most of its function while still addressing the street. For this active family, yard activity and it’s visibility from within the home emerged as a priority for approaching the building’s relationship to the lot. Justifying the building mass to the Northern half of the site reinforces the scale of the design to the surrounding buildings and creates a large southern yard dedicated to play and brisket (is a Texas house a house without a barbeque?). The ground floor is clad in metal panel and a wood rainscreen that peels away from the structure to become both a fence and an entry threshold, blending the registration between the yard's privacy enclosure and the building skin. Variable width fiber-cement siding clads the second floor as a nod to the neighborhood vernacular. The pool and outdoor kitchen sit at the center of the yard, forming an island that divides the open play from private vehicular access at the alley. Shifted volumes delineate private space from the open public areas. The second floor extends over the public entryway to create a covered procession with cascading steps into the southern yard that traverses the length of the living spaces. The public program expands beyond the building enclosure to encompass the yard and living spaces. A horizontal shift in the ground floor volume produces both a private courtyard away from the lively public spaces and exterior delineation between private vehicular access and public entry. Within the open, ground floor plan, a change in elevation indicates the boundary between private and public space. Custom millwork provides ample storage for the young family. Playful patterns of enclosed storage with contrasting display boxes creates a cohesive millwork language throughout the home.

Set in the heart of Virginia wine country, Valley View Cottage was created as a place for guests to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with close friends and family. The brand was intentionally built at the intersection of Blue Ridge mountain terrain and elevated residential comfort, blending natural depth with refined ease. We anchored the environment in deep blues to reflect the surrounding landscape and layered warm neutrals to create intimacy and welcome. Every detail was curated to move the experience beyond a place to sleep. This property was designed to evoke a feeling. In a saturated short term rental market, guests do not choose square footage. They choose emotion. Through intentional brand positioning, cohesive storytelling, and thoughtful design execution, Valley View Cottage increased perceived value, strengthened its visual identity, and elevated the overall guest experience. The result was higher quality bookings, stronger guest reviews, justified premium nightly rates, and a growing social media presence driven by a space that photographs beautifully. This project demonstrates how a short term rental can operate as boutique hospitality. When strategy and atmosphere align, a STR becomes more than accommodation. It becomes an experience guests remember and return to.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2016 Houzz
Bedroom - bedroom idea in San Francisco

Set in the heart of Virginia wine country, Valley View Cottage was created as a place for guests to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with close friends and family. The brand was intentionally built at the intersection of Blue Ridge mountain terrain and elevated residential comfort, blending natural depth with refined ease. We anchored the environment in deep blues to reflect the surrounding landscape and layered warm neutrals to create intimacy and welcome. Every detail was curated to move the experience beyond a place to sleep. This property was designed to evoke a feeling. In a saturated short term rental market, guests do not choose square footage. They choose emotion. Through intentional brand positioning, cohesive storytelling, and thoughtful design execution, Valley View Cottage increased perceived value, strengthened its visual identity, and elevated the overall guest experience. The result was higher quality bookings, stronger guest reviews, justified premium nightly rates, and a growing social media presence driven by a space that photographs beautifully. This project demonstrates how a short term rental can operate as boutique hospitality. When strategy and atmosphere align, a STR becomes more than accommodation. It becomes an experience guests remember and return to.

Set in the heart of Virginia wine country, Valley View Cottage was created as a place for guests to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with close friends and family. The brand was intentionally built at the intersection of Blue Ridge mountain terrain and elevated residential comfort, blending natural depth with refined ease. We anchored the environment in deep blues to reflect the surrounding landscape and layered warm neutrals to create intimacy and welcome. Every detail was curated to move the experience beyond a place to sleep. This property was designed to evoke a feeling. In a saturated short term rental market, guests do not choose square footage. They choose emotion. Through intentional brand positioning, cohesive storytelling, and thoughtful design execution, Valley View Cottage increased perceived value, strengthened its visual identity, and elevated the overall guest experience. The result was higher quality bookings, stronger guest reviews, justified premium nightly rates, and a growing social media presence driven by a space that photographs beautifully. This project demonstrates how a short term rental can operate as boutique hospitality. When strategy and atmosphere align, a STR becomes more than accommodation. It becomes an experience guests remember and return to.

Set in the heart of Virginia wine country, Valley View Cottage was created as a place for guests to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with close friends and family. The brand was intentionally built at the intersection of Blue Ridge mountain terrain and elevated residential comfort, blending natural depth with refined ease. We anchored the environment in deep blues to reflect the surrounding landscape and layered warm neutrals to create intimacy and welcome. Every detail was curated to move the experience beyond a place to sleep. This property was designed to evoke a feeling. In a saturated short term rental market, guests do not choose square footage. They choose emotion. Through intentional brand positioning, cohesive storytelling, and thoughtful design execution, Valley View Cottage increased perceived value, strengthened its visual identity, and elevated the overall guest experience. The result was higher quality bookings, stronger guest reviews, justified premium nightly rates, and a growing social media presence driven by a space that photographs beautifully. This project demonstrates how a short term rental can operate as boutique hospitality. When strategy and atmosphere align, a STR becomes more than accommodation. It becomes an experience guests remember and return to.

Dynamic Garage Door specializes in Tuscan Architectural beautification in the Newport Beach, CA through our custom designed and hand made architectural shutters, garden gates and garage doors. This Newport-Mesa Tuscan home was exquisitely decorated with a combination of custom gates, decorative shutters and balcony barn door style shutters all handcrafted out of authentic, century-old reclaimed barn wood specifically harvested for this custom project. Beginning with the balcony shutters which actually slide from side to side like a real barn door we worked a charming rustic shutter design that would typically be seen in the Tuscan Riviera. We opted for sliding shutters as the balcony spacing limited the swing action of even bi-folding shutters. Incorporating real barn door hardware railing and crowing it behind the faux reclaimed wood beam made an excellent statement while adding functional shutters that can be shut close for comfort during the summer morning when the sun beats down into the master suite. The four shutter leafs are decorated with real hand forged dummy straps that were hammered and crafted by hand to achieve that gorgeous rustic charm typical of Tuscan architecture. The reclaimed barn wood from a century-old barn gives off a timeless appearance that increase in characters as the years go by. Because rustic barn wood has already aged beautifully over hundreds of years, the next century will only increase its authentically gorgeous appearance. The culmination of this project has been a meticulous collaborative input of our in-house head designer and the clients themselves. Although the completion of this project is lengthy and intricate, the results speak volumes and the wait simply justifies the outcome. The rest of thew windows on this Tuscan home have been accessorized with rustic barn wood as well and accentuated with our custom designed and handmade dummy iron hinge straps. Our dummy hardware is so authentically done in the same tradition used for hundreds of years in Europe to create shutter hardware that looks authentic and functional although it is only decorative. The details of our custom shutters is evident in the slightest of details including the bolts used to hold the shutter straps in place. Each of the shutter also has a decorative ring pull with a hand-hammered back plate which enhances the appearance of true functional shutters and defining that authentic Tuscan look. The beauty of this Tuscan home is visible throughout the entire property including the garden gates, garage doors and entry door. Again, for the garden gates, we went with rustic barn wood carefully crafted to preserve the original surface that has aged over hundreds of years but building the gates on galvanized steel frames that will ensure structural durability for the next few hundred years. The gates are highly secure, sound and can definitely hold back a crowd with authentic rustic charm. Don't be fooled with the simple-looking gate design. It is quite intricate with its 45 degree angle cuts around the perimeter of the trim which deviates water away from crevices that would otherwise make the gates vulnerable to the accumulation of moisture from the elements, sprinkler system or simply air humidity since the home is located near the ocean. Each one of the garden gates is equipped with European style mortise lock mechanisms and roller catches. Dynamic Garage Door gates are not your typical garden gates, they are truly made with quality and durability in mind as well as aesthetic attention to detail. Everything, from the hardware used, the core steel frame and overlay material used is hand selected and approved individually for maximum beauty and timeless appreciation. At Dynamic Garage Door, we specialize in multiple facet projects that include garden gates, driveway gates as well as barn doors and shutters. It is very important because these are the accessories that can make or break the beauty and continuity of your home's architectural style and authenticity. Increase your curb appeal and home value with Dynamic Garage Door's gates, shutters and automatic custom garage doors. Our in-house designers would love to speak with you today! Design Consultation Center: (855) 343-3667

Beth Skogen Photography
Inspiration for a modern tub/shower combo remodel with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and granite countertops

Located in the Houston Heights, the Waverly Residence is a modern home on an established street of two story homes boasting front porch typologies. The family’s desire for privacy resulted in a porch that rotates to internalize most of its function while still addressing the street. For this active family, yard activity and it’s visibility from within the home emerged as a priority for approaching the building’s relationship to the lot. Justifying the building mass to the Northern half of the site reinforces the scale of the design to the surrounding buildings and creates a large southern yard dedicated to play and brisket (is a Texas house a house without a barbeque?). The ground floor is clad in metal panel and a wood rainscreen that peels away from the structure to become both a fence and an entry threshold, blending the registration between the yard's privacy enclosure and the building skin. Variable width fiber-cement siding clads the second floor as a nod to the neighborhood vernacular. The pool and outdoor kitchen sit at the center of the yard, forming an island that divides the open play from private vehicular access at the alley. Shifted volumes delineate private space from the open public areas. The second floor extends over the public entryway to create a covered procession with cascading steps into the southern yard that traverses the length of the living spaces. The public program expands beyond the building enclosure to encompass the yard and living spaces. A horizontal shift in the ground floor volume produces both a private courtyard away from the lively public spaces and exterior delineation between private vehicular access and public entry. Within the open, ground floor plan, a change in elevation indicates the boundary between private and public space. Custom millwork provides ample storage for the young family. Playful patterns of enclosed storage with contrasting display boxes creates a cohesive millwork language throughout the home.

When re-purposing authentic antique gates it is important to take a few things into consideration as some of these projects can get costly and you'll want to make sure your results justify your investment. One of the details you'll want to consider if you're planning or have already purchased an antique gate is to make sure it can be modified to fit the opening you would like to use it in. In this case, the door was larger so a cut-down was easily done. Because the gate came with the original rustic iron hinges we opted to keep those as decorative features wile we retrofitted the gate with new operational hinges which will carry the weight of the gate for at least another century. Preserving the authentic characteristics of antique gates is of essence so you'll want to make sure you keep as much of the original elements when the retrofitting project is planned out. The challenge you'll have when pairing an antique gate with functional locking hardware is making sure the hardware will complement your gate's original character. This architectural gate was graciously fitted with a surface mounted mortise and lever box which allows the gate to be used conveniently as any other door in the house while having the option to lock it safely at night or while the homeowners are away on vacation. We opted for a rustic surface mounted lever and mortise lock system because the gate's thickness wasn't enough to install a regular inset roller catch and mortise box as in the gates we build from scratch. Check out the tag on the image to see what this antique gate looks like from inside when it's open. Although Dynamic Garage Door specializes in recreating antique European garden gates we also enjoy working on retrofits that make us part of a historic preservation that will carry our name for many decades more! Get project pricing and/or design consultations by calling us at: (855) 343-3667 (855) 343-DOOR

This exquisite wine cellar niche is adjacent to the kitchen making it both functional, convenient, and stylish. Finished solid black walnut with an ML Campbell Conversion Varnish. Built right into the niche space was pre-existing.

Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized modern master green tile and glass tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub idea in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

Located in the Houston Heights, the Waverly Residence is a modern home on an established street of two story homes boasting front porch typologies. The family’s desire for privacy resulted in a porch that rotates to internalize most of its function while still addressing the street. For this active family, yard activity and it’s visibility from within the home emerged as a priority for approaching the building’s relationship to the lot. Justifying the building mass to the Northern half of the site reinforces the scale of the design to the surrounding buildings and creates a large southern yard dedicated to play and brisket (is a Texas house a house without a barbeque?). The ground floor is clad in metal panel and a wood rainscreen that peels away from the structure to become both a fence and an entry threshold, blending the registration between the yard's privacy enclosure and the building skin. Variable width fiber-cement siding clads the second floor as a nod to the neighborhood vernacular. The pool and outdoor kitchen sit at the center of the yard, forming an island that divides the open play from private vehicular access at the alley. Shifted volumes delineate private space from the open public areas. The second floor extends over the public entryway to create a covered procession with cascading steps into the southern yard that traverses the length of the living spaces. The public program expands beyond the building enclosure to encompass the yard and living spaces. A horizontal shift in the ground floor volume produces both a private courtyard away from the lively public spaces and exterior delineation between private vehicular access and public entry. Within the open, ground floor plan, a change in elevation indicates the boundary between private and public space. Custom millwork provides ample storage for the young family. Playful patterns of enclosed storage with contrasting display boxes creates a cohesive millwork language throughout the home.