Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle. This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen. The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light! Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light. The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room. Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Modern family loft in Boston. New walnut stair treads lead up to the master suite. A wall separating the master bedroom from the double height living space was replaced with a folding glass door to open the bedroom to the living space while still allowing for both visual and acoustical privacy. Surfaces built into the new railing atop the stair create a functional work area with a fantastic view and clear shot to the play space below. The baby nursery below now includes transom windows to share light from the open space. Photos by Eric Roth. Construction by Ralph S. Osmond Company. Green architecture by ZeroEnergy Design. http://www.zeroenergy.com

Deborah Wecselman Design, Inc
Large trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and solid surface countertops

Example of a transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

Interior Design by ecd Design LLC This newly remodeled home was transformed top to bottom. It is, as all good art should be “A little something of the past and a little something of the future.” We kept the old world charm of the Tudor style, (a popular American theme harkening back to Great Britain in the 1500’s) and combined it with the modern amenities and design that many of us have come to love and appreciate. In the process, we created something truly unique and inspiring. RW Anderson Homes is the premier home builder and remodeler in the Seattle and Bellevue area. Distinguished by their excellent team, and attention to detail, RW Anderson delivers a custom tailored experience for every customer. Their service to clients has earned them a great reputation in the industry for taking care of their customers. Working with RW Anderson Homes is very easy. Their office and design team work tirelessly to maximize your goals and dreams in order to create finished spaces that aren’t only beautiful, but highly functional for every customer. In an industry known for false promises and the unexpected, the team at RW Anderson is professional and works to present a clear and concise strategy for every project. They take pride in their references and the amount of direct referrals they receive from past clients. RW Anderson Homes would love the opportunity to talk with you about your home or remodel project today. Estimates and consultations are always free. Call us now at 206-383-8084 or email Ryan@rwandersonhomes.com.

Casey Dunn
Example of a trendy freestanding bathtub design in Austin with beige walls

Inspiration for a large timeless enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room library remodel in Houston with a standard fireplace, beige walls, a wood fireplace surround and no tv

There is a mix of high and low all throughout the Novogratzes' home, especially in the kids' rooms. Finding pieces that strike a balance between value and style is a key component to the success of the space. With vast floor space to play, Major has the freedom he needs to explore and exercise his creativity. Inexpensive rugs mean less worrying and more experimenting and learning. The couple also believes in storage that is easy for little ones to navigate, like the red IKEA PS locker cabinet. By giving the kids an easy means of picking up, they are more likely to enjoy tidiness. Pendant light: Gossamer Pendant, Matter, NYC Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz Design: Cortney and Robert Novogratz

Lance Selgo of Unique Exposure Photography
Living room - small transitional formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in Dallas with a wall-mounted tv and beige walls

Inspiration for a rustic seated home bar remodel in Boise with open cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Emily Minton Redfield
Bedroom - eclectic medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Denver with gray walls

Roger Wade Studio

Example of a bedroom trendy gender-neutral kids' bedroom design in Salt Lake City with multicolored walls

Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Salt Lake City with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and ceramic backsplash

Photo by:Chad Holder
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Minneapolis with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Design ideas for a traditional courtyard landscaping in Little Rock.

This couple purchased a second home as a respite from city living. Living primarily in downtown Chicago the couple desired a place to connect with nature. The home is located on 80 acres and is situated far back on a wooded lot with a pond, pool and a detached rec room. The home includes four bedrooms and one bunkroom along with five full baths. The home was stripped down to the studs, a total gut. Linc modified the exterior and created a modern look by removing the balconies on the exterior, removing the roof overhang, adding vertical siding and painting the structure black. The garage was converted into a detached rec room and a new pool was added complete with outdoor shower, concrete pavers, ipe wood wall and a limestone surround. Dining Room and Den Details: Features a custom 10’ live edge white oak table. Linc designed it and built it himself in his shop with Owl Lumber and Home Things. This room was an addition along with the porch. -Large picture windows -Sofa, Blu Dot -Credenza, Poliform -White shiplap ceiling with white oak beams -Flooring is rough wide plank white oak and distressed

Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

Lincoln Barbour
Example of a mid-sized 1960s galley terrazzo floor and multicolored floor open concept kitchen design in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, orange walls and an island