Family room into kitchen
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and an island

The client was recently widowed and had been wanting to remodel her kitchen for a long time. Although the floor plan of the space remained the same, the kitchen received a major makeover in terms of aesthetic and function to fit the style and needs of the client and her small dog in this water front residence. The peninsula was brought down in height to achieve a more spacious and inviting feel into the living space and patio facing the water. Shades of gray were used to veer away from the all white kitchen and adding a dark gray entertainment unit really added drama to the space. Schedule an appointment with one of our designers: http://www.gkandb.com/contact-us/ DESIGNER: CJ LOWENTHAL PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVE JOHNSON CABINETS: DURA SUPREME CABINETRY

Photography by Lauren Edith Andersen
Study room - mid-sized eclectic freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room idea in San Francisco with white walls

Large elegant galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen in Long Beach, CA with white cabinets, grey marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, large cutom-built island, beaded inset cabinets, a farmhouse sink, and solid surface Quarz countertops.

Custom Long Gray Floating Concrete Bathroom Sink
Bathroom photo in New York with a wall-mount sink

Josh Partee Photography With sweeping views of the Willamette river and Mt. Hood, this Atwater Place condo was designed with a balance of minimalism and livability in mind. A complete kitchen remodel brought a dark interior kitchen to the light and a full furnishings package welcomed Los Angeles transplants home to their new modern and bright residence. Our clients, a retired camera operator for both feature films and television and a producer/production manager on numerous television series including Weeds and The Middle, relocated from their traditionally-styled LA bungalow to Portland in the Summer of 2014. The couple sought a design departure from their long-term California residence and a fresh start for their new life in the South Waterfront. With only two pieces of sentimental furniture and a handful of artwork included in the plan, we set out to create a comfortable and clean-lined furnishings package complimenting the broad southeast views. Organically shaped upholstery pieces juxtaposed with angular steel and wood tables create a soft balance in the open floor plan. Several custom pieces, including a dining table designed by our studio and a custom hand-blown glass chandelier crafted by Scott Schiesel with Lightlite compliment timeless pieces from Knoll, Herman Miller, and B&B Italia. The kitchen is designed to reflect light and create brilliance in a space that is otherwise naturally dark. A material balance of stainless steel, back painted glass, quartz composite, lacquer, and mirror all play their part in creating a vibrant cooking environment. We collectively decided to forgo the traditional island pendant for a linear commercial fixture that provides tremendous light to the prep surface and creates an unexpected architectural element. The mirrored prep island creates the illusion of open space while concealing casework and wine storage on the working side of the kitchen. It is worth noting that this project was designed and installed almost entirely while our clients were still living in LA and wrapping up professional obligations and selling their home. This afforded us the tremendous opportunity to send our clients to showrooms not available in Portland to view key pieces before final specification. Textiles and finish samples were approved via mail and communication took place over e-mail, telephone, and an occasional office visit. This unique process lead to a successful result and a beautifully balanced living environment.

This covered walkway connects the garage to the side entrance. White pine timber framing is steel reinforced at critical points and uses typical 2x framing for the decking and flooring. The gaurd rail is all locust with hidden fasteners for long term rot resistance. The deck floor is 2x lumber with a unique "hidden fastener" system that minimizes labor and material costs.

The Rustico collection was inspired by old Tuscan furniture and incorporates contemporary lines and harkens to a time gone by when sturdy oak furniture was hand-hewn and lasted a lifetime. This collection showcases our new brushed finish technique, which was inspired by the natural drift process resulting from years of use. The brushed finishing process, called 'decape', opens the pores of the oak allowing us to deposit a white patina in its grooves, imparting a mild 'weathered' look. This unisex collection is accented by an open mortise & tenon detail and is offered in three new finishes - owl, mink, and sugar cane, as well as our classic white. The Rustico "5-in-1" Convertible Crib is highlighted by chunky top moldings with an open mortise & tenon detail, an elegantly framed back panel and one-piece corner posts. It offers long term value with five configurations: crib, toddler bed, daybed, double bed headboard and complete double bed. For a softer, elegant look you can chose the Rustico "5-in-1" Convertible with the Upholstered Headboard Panel. The headboard panel features three upholstered inserts which are available in our sturdy 100,000 double rub tested fabric of either fog linen weave or talc linen weave. This 100% solid oak collection has a refined simplicity which easily meshes with both contemporary and classic decor and is sure to provide many years of functionality and enjoyment.

Modern dark gray concrete patio Long Island , NY Design and Build Landscape
Example of a mid-sized minimalist backyard concrete patio design in New York

This is a basement storage space. We designed a closet system containing 2 units with double hanging rods, 2 units with single hanger rods and 3 units of adjustable shelving. This was a great use of space for long term or seasonal clothing and shoe storage.

Custom built-in reef aquarium designed and installed within a contemporary Jersey Shore penthouse residence. The aquarium was integrated directly into the architectural layout of the living space to create a clean modern focal point while maintaining open sightlines and long-term accessibility for service and maintenance. Projects like this require detailed planning between aquarium design, cabinetry integration, plumbing layout, lighting coordination, and overall installation logistics long before fabrication and installation begin. The system includes remote filtration and life support equipment located separately from the main display aquarium to reduce equipment visibility, improve serviceability, and maintain a cleaner overall presentation within the living space. Custom aquarium design, fabrication coordination, installation, and ongoing maintenance by Aqua Creations. www.AquaCustomFishTanks.com

Dan Solomon
Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

Dan Solomon
Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

Dan Solomon
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles for summer.

Does your iron fence look like Chicago winters have been winning the battle for years? That slow orange spread across pickets and rails is not just an eyesore - it is active corrosion undermining the structural integrity of metalwork that frames some of Chicago's most architecturally significant residential properties. Windy City Painters addresses iron fence rust at the source, using professional-grade rust conversion chemistry and direct-to-metal coatings engineered for the specific abuse Chicago's climate delivers. PROJECT OVERVIEW This project involved a heavily rusted ornamental iron fence on a Chicago North Side residential property. Rust had progressed beyond surface oxidation into moderate pitting on lower rails, a pattern Windy City Painters sees frequently on properties within blocks of treated roadways where salt drift accelerates corrosion. The scope included mechanical descaling, chemical rust conversion, DTM priming, and a durable gloss topcoat matched to the original fence color. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS Ospho Rust Converter: A phosphoric acid-based treatment that chemically reacts with iron oxide, converting it to iron phosphate - a stable, paintable compound. Corroseal Water-Based Rust Converter is an alternative for situations requiring lower VOC handling. Rust-Oleum Professional DTM Primer and Sherwin-Williams DTM Acrylic Coating serve as the primary coating system, formulated for direct metal adhesion with built-in rust inhibitors. For structurally compromised sections, welding is coordinated before any chemical or coating work begins. THE PROCESS Step 1 - Mechanical Preparation: Wire wheel grinding on an angle grinder removes loose rust scale, mill scale, and flaking paint. For advanced pitting, Windy City Painters deploys a needle gun descaler, which impacts the metal surface thousands of times per minute to drive scale from deep cavities. This step determines whether the fence can be coated or needs welding first. Step 2 - Chemical Rust Conversion: Ospho or Corroseal is brushed onto all remaining rust surface. These products do not simply seal rust - they react with it. The conversion process takes 24 hours to fully cure before topcoating. Skipping this step is the single most common reason iron fence paint jobs fail prematurely. Step 3 - DTM Priming: Sherwin-Williams DTM or Rust-Oleum DTM primer is applied by brush to ensure full penetration around decorative elements, picket tips, and weld joints. Spray application is used on open sections for even film build. DTM formulations bond directly to prepared metal without a separate shop primer. Step 4 - Finish Coating: A DTM topcoat in gloss or semi-gloss provides the final weather barrier. Gloss is preferred for iron fencing because the harder surface sheds water more effectively and resists dirt adhesion between maintenance cycles. Windy City Painters applies two finish coats for maximum film thickness. CHICAGO-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES Chicago's freeze-thaw cycle is the primary enemy of iron fence coatings. Water infiltrates micro-cracks in paint film, freezes, expands, and delaminate coating from beneath. Properties on the North Side and Near West Side also contend with lake-effect humidity that keeps metal surfaces damp for extended periods, slowing cure times and promoting under-film corrosion if preparation is inadequate. Greystones and Victorian brownstones typically feature ornate cast iron or wrought iron fencing with complex geometries that trap moisture and demand hand-brush application to fully coat recesses. WHAT TO EXPECT LONG-TERM A properly prepared and coated iron fence in Chicago should hold 5-8 years before requiring recoating. Annual inspection of weld joints, picket tips, and base rails closest to grade will identify early rust return. Addressing small spots with touch-up converter and primer extends service life significantly between full recoats. PRO TIPS Tip 1: Never pressure wash a rusted iron fence immediately before painting. Water drives moisture into pits and delays the surface drying needed for chemical converter adhesion. Allow 48 hours of dry weather before prep begins. Tip 2: Picket tips and rail ends are the first failure points. These end-grain equivalent areas on metal concentrate corrosion. Ask your painter to apply an extra brush coat to every tip and terminus. Tip 3: Black is the traditional and most durable color choice for iron fencing. Dark pigments absorb UV rather than reflecting it, reducing thermal cycling stress on the paint film at color change boundaries. FAQ Q: What does iron fence painting cost in Chicago? A: Most residential iron fence painting in Chicago ranges from $400 to $1,200 depending on linear footage, rust severity, prep method required, and whether structural welding is needed before Windy City Painters can coat the surface. Q: How do I know if my fence needs a welder before painting? A: If you can press a screwdriver through a rail or picket, the metal wall has failed. Windy City Painters inspects all fencing before quoting and identifies weld-required sections so repairs happen before any coating investment. Q: Is Ospho or Corroseal better for my fence? A: Both convert rust effectively. Ospho is solvent-based and fast-acting, preferred for heavy rust. Corroseal is water-based with lower odor, preferred in enclosed or residential settings where off-gassing is a concern. Windy City Painters selects based on site conditions. Q: Can iron fence painting be done in winter in Chicago? A: Application requires temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for DTM coatings to cure properly. Most iron fence painting in Chicago runs April through October, with scheduling flexibility based on extended warm stretches. Q: How do I maintain my fence between professional recoats? A: Inspect annually in spring. Sand any rust spots to bare metal with 80-grit paper, apply Ospho, let cure 24 hours, then spot-prime with DTM primer and touch up with finish coat. Windy City Painters offers maintenance inspections. Q: Do you paint courtyard building fences and coach house gates? A: Yes. Multi-unit courtyard buildings and coach houses are common in the North Side neighborhoods Windy City Painters serves. We coordinate with property managers and HOAs for larger perimeter fence projects. Q: How long after painting can I touch the fence? A: DTM coatings are typically dry to touch in 2-4 hours and hard dry in 24 hours. Full cure for maximum hardness takes 7 days. Windy City Painters advises against pressure washing or heavy contact during that cure window. Visit windypainters.com to request your free iron fence assessment and project quote.

Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Calgary

Basement bathroom, circa 2025. Basement design by Dashney Interiors.
Trendy powder room photo in Calgary

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Calgary

2019 Main floor kitchen renovation. This was phase two of this particular project. The kitchen is a small space so durable, functional, easy clean materials were selected with premium spend on appliances.