Modern living room showcasing sustainable materials such as EarthWall, with a large two sided fireplace. Photo Credit: Roger Wade
Trendy open concept concrete floor living room photo in Other with a two-sided fireplace and a stone fireplace

Open Dining / Kitchen / Living - European fumed chestnut cabinetry, featuring quarter-sawn, sequenced veneers and an oiled finish, Louis Poulsen pendant lights, Recreated original baseboards, window trim, and picture rail from original 1905 detailing, Vintage rosewood bar stools by Erik Buc, Vintage Danish dining table by Gunni Omann Photo Credit: Christopher Stark

Courtesy Coastal Living, a division of Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, photograph by Jean Allsopp. Coastal Living is a registered trademark and used with permission.

Karen Bussolini. Design Credit: Stephen Stimson Associates
Inspiration for a huge contemporary side yard landscaping in New York.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Take a virtual tour through Jeff Duggins & Rachel A Duggins (Owners H2O Designs & Outdoor Living "By Design") backyard near Lexington, KY. There are 2 large ponds, multiple streams, waterfalls, and fountains, not to mention the fire pit and pool. It's truly a Backyard Oasis! photo credit Jeff Duggins

Photo Credit: ©Tom Holdsworth, A screen porch was added to the side of the interior sitting room, enabling the two spaces to become one. A unique three-panel bi-fold door, separates the indoor-outdoor space; on nice days, plenty of natural ventilation flows through the house. Opening the sunroom, living room and kitchen spaces enables a free dialog between rooms. The kitchen level sits above the sunroom and living room giving it a perch as the heart of the home. Dressed in maple and white, the cabinet color palette is in sync with the subtle value and warmth of nature. The cooktop wall was designed as a piece of furniture; the maple cabinets frame the inserted white cabinet wall. The subtle mosaic backsplash with a hint of green, represents a delicate leaf.

Alice Cottrell Interior Design | Rick Rozas Design Photo Credit: Stephen Karlisch
Inspiration for a large 1960s master carpeted and gray floor bedroom remodel in Dallas with no fireplace and brown walls

Photo Credit: Lincoln Barbour Photo. Interior Design: Kim Hagstette, Maven Interiors. This penthouse living room is sophisticated and inviting. The artwork was created specifically for our space and commissioned through Heidi McBride Gallery.

Two 9-foot sofas upholstered in a neutral white offer generous guest seating, and allow the oversized chandelier to take center stage. The iron base of the coffee table perfectly mimic the lines of the dramatic, dark-framed windows and fireplace. Photo Credit - Jenn Verrier Photography @jennverrier

Karyn Millet Photography
Kids' bedroom - coastal girl carpeted kids' bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Main Floor Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional gray tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor bathroom design in Other with an undermount sink and beige walls

Eclectic bathroom with exotic tile, reclaimed wood, vintage art, and brass accents. Photo Credit: Mary Costa
Inspiration for an industrial black tile and mosaic tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles

Bathroom remodel. Photo credit to Hannah Lloyd.
Bathroom - mid-sized traditional 3/4 white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Minneapolis with a pedestal sink, purple walls and a two-piece toilet

Photo credit: Rafael Soldi
Deck - 1960s deck idea in Seattle with no cover

Design credit: Bill Bib Photo credit: Melissa Preston
This is an example of a transitional side yard landscaping in Dallas.

Photo Credits: Marili Forastieri
Minimalist bedroom photo in Other with gray walls

Modern and relaxed bedroom with Tom Dixon pendants and original DaIÍ prints. Photo Credit: Mary Costa
Inspiration for a 1960s bedroom remodel in Los Angeles

Photo Credit: Alex C. Tenser Photography
Transitional medium tone wood floor foyer photo in Richmond with multicolored walls and a white front door