We converted the never-used bathtub to a larger, walk-in shower. The sunny yellow subway tile is a bright welcome to the four pre-teens/teens that use this bathroom each day. Even the decor is encouraging with framed inspiration statements. Oil rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures create an industrial vibe in the cheery space. Double barn lights above the vanity provide task lighting for the morning routines and continue the industrial theme. photo by Myndi Pressly

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style. "The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals." Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone. Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square. "We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz. "The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests." Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions. "Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting." Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete. At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone. "I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget." "It is truly a paradise," says the client in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

The Sequel collection receives a promotion with the EXECUTIVE DESK. The largest desktop in the collection, this design answers the need for a freestanding, floating desk that is perfect for meetings or wherever a larger workspace is needed. The desk includes a multi-function keyboard drawer and two side storage drawers. A wire management access panel in the top provides access to a lower tray for a convenient place to run power cables. Coordinates beautifully with the SEQUEL and SEMBLANCE collections to create a complete office.

The space in this kitchen is made even larger by the accompanying countertop area. This setup is perfect for buffet-style serving or as a prepping area for your food.

Muted facades and electrifying tiles cure each other in the slimline kitchen. Since it was a small apartment, we were tasked with making such spaces as the kitchen appear larger. We absorbed the utility area into the kitchen and maintained a uniform, seamless tiling scheme throughout to visually elongate the space.

Traditional Living Room remodeled to give this family a modern, luxurious sitting room. Photo Credit: JC Johnson Photography
Living room - modern living room idea in Nashville

A close up of the main kitchen sink, with a view of the back porch through the windows. Wall scones over the sink allow for extra task lighting, and continue the industrial look throughout the Kitchen.

The homeowner’s dream was a larger kitchen with additional storage and prep space, island, and improved lighting. Reallocating the underutilized formal dining room to make a larger kitchen provided these homeowners with a more functional kitchen for their lifestyle. The dining room window was eliminated to maximize storage and countertop space. A new three wide Pella casement window was added to provide symmetry and natural light to filter through. The Asian Walnut hardwood floor creates interest and balance to the rich cherry stained cabinetry. The large island provides storage and prep space and is the focal point in the room. The rich taupe and brown tones of Bianco Antico Granite complement the porcelain subway tile and jeweled tones of border tile. Task lighting is improved with can lights, three pendants, and a stunning dinette light in copper tones to enhance the ambiance in the space.

Kitchen - small transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photo: Elaine Musiwa © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic dark wood floor living room design in New York

Playroom & craft room: We transformed a large suburban New Jersey basement into a farmhouse inspired, kids playroom and craft room. Kid-friendly custom millwork cube and bench storage was designed to store ample toys and books, using mixed wood and metal materials for texture. The vibrant, gender-neutral color palette stands out on the neutral walls and floor and sophisticated black accents in the art, mid-century wall sconces, and hardware. The addition of a teepee to the play area was the perfect, fun finishing touch! This kids space is adjacent to an open-concept family-friendly media room, which mirrors the same color palette and materials with a more grown-up look. See the full project to view media room. Photo Credits: Erin Coren, Curated Nest Interiors

The homeowner’s dream was a larger kitchen with additional storage and prep space, island, and improved lighting. Reallocating the underutilized formal dining room to make a larger kitchen provided these homeowners with a more functional kitchen for their lifestyle. The dining room window was eliminated to maximize storage and countertop space. A new three wide Pella casement window was added to provide symmetry and natural light to filter through. The Asian Walnut hardwood floor creates interest and balance to the rich cherry stained cabinetry. The large island provides storage and prep space and is the focal point in the room. The rich taupe and brown tones of Bianco Antico Granite complement the porcelain subway tile and jeweled tones of border tile. Task lighting is improved with can lights, three pendants, and a stunning dinette light in copper tones to enhance the ambiance in the space.

A large shower head, roomy niche for shampoos and soaps, and a large shower seat for important grooming tasks like shaving legs. This shower has it all! The large marble tile on the walls and floor unify the room and make it seem larger than it is. Note the cabinetry we build into the "dry" side of the shower seat. It's the perfect spot to stash extra towels or toiletries.

The owners of this 1920's home had Baby #1 well on the way! This caused there to be an urgent need to update the kitchen and getting the project completed before the baby arrived! The client wanted to improve the layout functionality, add an island, enlarge the door openings, and add storage. A difficult task in this small 1920s kitchen. To achieve this design, mechanicals and a window were relocated. The new painted island with Boos block countertop, allowed for larger walk ways. A custom hood, marble subway tile backsplash and pot filler, create the focal point. The client’s needs were met with this beautifully detailed kitchen and two weeks before the due date! Photographer Credit: Ryan Hainey

Example of a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Valerie Wilcox
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Toronto

The homeowner’s dream was a larger kitchen with additional storage and prep space, island, and improved lighting. Reallocating the underutilized formal dining room to make a larger kitchen provided these homeowners with a more functional kitchen for their lifestyle. The dining room window was eliminated to maximize storage and countertop space. A new three wide Pella casement window was added to provide symmetry and natural light to filter through. The Asian Walnut hardwood floor creates interest and balance to the rich cherry stained cabinetry. The large island provides storage and prep space and is the focal point in the room. The rich taupe and brown tones of Bianco Antico Granite complement the porcelain subway tile and jeweled tones of border tile. Task lighting is improved with can lights, three pendants, and a stunning dinette light in copper tones to enhance the ambiance in the space.

The homeowner’s dream was a larger kitchen with additional storage and prep space, island, and improved lighting. Reallocating the underutilized formal dining room to make a larger kitchen provided these homeowners with a more functional kitchen for their lifestyle. The dining room window was eliminated to maximize storage and countertop space. A new three wide Pella casement window was added to provide symmetry and natural light to filter through. The Asian Walnut hardwood floor creates interest and balance to the rich cherry stained cabinetry. The large island provides storage and prep space and is the focal point in the room. The rich taupe and brown tones of Bianco Antico Granite complement the porcelain subway tile and jeweled tones of border tile. Task lighting is improved with can lights, three pendants, and a stunning dinette light in copper tones to enhance the ambiance in the space.