Photo: Kayla Pearson © 2016 Houzz
1960s living room photo in Chicago

This music room was often used for lessons and practice, but the space was cluttered and uninviting. The client requested that Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc. give her music room a more comfortable feel and a softer look. Rich, gold linen was selected for the drapery and the fun, red linen accent along the leading edge was chosen to blend with the client’s painting. Comfortable CR Laine chairs were added and a banana palm tree was chosen to brighten the space and add dimension. The clients love their new look and they all enjoy relaxing in their comfy new chairs while listening to the children practice and play in their updated music room. Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design Kansas City provided - Space planning, furniture, drapery, and accessories. Kansas City Interior Designer Arlene Ladegaard

A childrens room for doing homework and study with a rolling chalkboard and beverage cooler for drinks and snacks and also for gaming and tv watching and hanging out with friends. It also has a small laundry area for washing kids cloths in a Frederick area home recently remodeled by Talon Construction

The homeowners of this Marblehead home hired SV Design to update and create a modern and unique look for their coastal home. The exterior architectural changes of the shingle-style house focused on reconfiguration of windows and modifications to the exterior walls of the kitchen to allow for more functional interior space. The client’s penchant for color allowed for the inclusion of unique textiles, décor, and furnishing pieces that were tastefully intertwined with their personal art collection. Bold statement, graffiti art adorns the custom barn doors and adds an element of fun and personal touch to this project. The art was carefully chosen and personalized for the family. One door was painted by local graffiti artist, Mike Grimaldi and another was printed by a local graphic art company. SV Design created dramatic architectural design elements including a cathedral ceiling in the kitchen with beams added for visual interest and to create a larger volume of space in this single-story area. The kitchen’s footprint was extended for functionality and flow. The space has a streamlined layout and design that balances color with a mix of different finishes. Materials such as wood, painted cabinets, and mixed metal tones, work harmoniously with a beautiful quartzite countertop and backsplash. The homeowners purchased this home after downsizing from a large home right at the beginning of the pandemic. This created some unexpected challenges requiring the design team to include flexible and innovative spaces throughout the home. The laundry room for example, can be used as an office space for virtual meetings or for the couple’s teenage, twin daughters who needed space for remote schoolwork. The music room is a space designed as a place where the family could practice the piano and French horn but could also accommodate a roll out dance mat and bar for virtual ballet lessons. On the lower level, there is a large built-in wall with a murphy bed for guests that tucks away easily to make additional floor space. There is additional display space on the open shelves and guest clothing storage with a chest of drawers at each bedside. The entire renovation was carefully planned to create and maximize beautiful functional spaces for the North Shore family to enjoy.

The gentleman's study is a history lesson, with its vast collection of civil war artifacts. This space gave the perfect opportunity to display the homeowner's passion, that has been years in the making. The two wing chairs with their horn back crocodile upholstery are the perfect spot for a fireside chat. The oversized moldings continue creating the grand scale of this stately residence.

A custom planned and constructed room allowing the owners to give voice lessons and home concerts

2013: The Laurel was a project that required a rigorous lesson in southern architectural vernacular. As the site is located in the hot climate of the Carolina shoreline, the home aims to capture cross breezes through outdoor entertainment spaces. The home features three covered porches, one partially covered courtyard and a screened porch. The main level floor plan centers on common living spaces, while allowing for a luxurious master suite. The upstairs loft includes two bed and bath suites, providing ample room for guests. Architect: Wayne Visbeen - www.visbeen.com Builder & Interior Designer: Custom Classics

Modern bathroom design ideas
Minimalist bathroom photo in Los Angeles

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton). Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established. In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

This backyard pool was awarded one of the 2021 Excellence in Concrete Awards by Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association. It's gorgeous design and open atmosphere is sure to impress people. This size pool offers a wide variety of activities from family swimming days to swimming lessons.

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

School settings require students to maintain concentration and sit still for long periods of time throughout the day. Needless to say, that can be tough not only for teenagers but adults as well. Harnessing sheer roller shades to cover classroom windows helps ensure sunlight doesn’t become a hindrance in the path of education, but a facilitator of better learning. By diffusing sunlight that enters the classrooms, students don’t suffer the negative cognitive impact of harsh glare that’s strainful on the eyes. Instead, they enjoy the benefits sunlight plays in maintaining alertness and attentiveness. Classroom window shades that provide better privacy also help to keep outside distractions from interfering with the lessons, keeping students focused on the subject at hand. The right use of colorful roller shades can also complement sensory cues for focus created by the classroom environment. Talk to Master Blinds’ design team to see what roller shades can offer your classroom spaces. Get in touch with us at 877-708-5883 to schedule a free in-person consultation with no obligation for more details!

Modern Bathroom Design Ideas
Example of a minimalist bathroom design in Los Angeles

A St. Charles couple who were looking to stay in their current home for the long haul needed to do some updating to their master and hall bathroom. Right Bath was able to help them modernize these 1980’s spaces. The hall bathroom provides a good lesson in contrasting colors. The dark sienna maple cabinet’s pop next to the light natural stone tile and Winter Onyx shower surround and vanity top. The master bathroom sticks with the more traditional beiges bringing a perfect harmony of design to these rooms.

Exploring passive solar design and thermal temperature control, a small shack was built using wood pallets and re-purposed materials obtained for free. The goal was to create a prototype to see what works and what doesn't, firsthand. The journey was rough and many valuable lessons were learned.

This compact bathroom was added to support a home-based swim lesson business — giving young swimmers quick, convenient access without tracking water through the main house. Clean white subway tile, matte black fixtures, a black-framed glass shower enclosure, and dark slate-style floor tile keep the space looking sharp while standing up to the daily demands of a poolside environment.

Designed by : TOC design – Tania Scardellato Photographer: Guillaume Gorini - Studio Point de Vue Cabinet Maker : D. C. Fabrication - Dino Cobetto Lighting: United Lights Contractor: TOC design & Construction inc. / IVCO A designer's Home. When it comes to designer your very own house from scratch, there is so much more to think about, budget, style, materials, space, square footage, positioning of doors & windows, the list goes on and on. Let's just say that from conception to final this home took over a year. 7 months to design and 7 months to build. So basically the lesson learned: Is be patient, consider loads of extras and put in a lot of your own time. Was it worth it - YES and I would do it again.

Designed by : TOC design – Tania Scardellato Photographer: Guillaume Gorini - Studio Point de Vue Cabinet Maker : D. C. Fabrication - Dino Cobetto Lighting: United Lights Contractor: TOC design & Construction inc. / IVCO A designer's Home. When it comes to designer your very own house from scratch, there is so much more to think about, budget, style, materials, space, square footage, positioning of doors & windows, the list goes on and on. Let's just say that from conception to final this home took over a year. 7 months to design and 7 months to build. So basically the lesson learned: Is be patient, consider loads of extras and put in a lot of your own time. Was it worth it - YES and I would do it again.