It is sometimes a surprise what beauty can lurk under the surface of a room. A client with a 1970s kitchen and eat-in area cut up by an unwieldy peninsula was desperate for it to reflect her love of all things English-and-French-Manor-Home. Working closely with my client, we removed the peninsula in favor of a lovely free-standing island that we painted a shade of French Blue. This is topped with Old World sink hardware (note the ceramic HOT and COLD medallions on the faucets!) and a gorgeous marble counter with a very special edge profile that evokes an antique French Boulangerie counter from the 1910s. Pendants with patinaed metal shades over the island further the charming Old World feel. Handmade white and blue tiles laid in a quilted diamond pattern cover the backsplash, and the remainder of the cabinetry at the perimeter is in a warm cream tone. The eat-in near the fireplace got a cozy treatment with custom seat cushions and window seat bench cushions in a classic blue-and-white Toile de Jouy matching the island stools. The nearby living room got a similar treatment. We removed dark wood paneling and dark carpeting in favor of a light sky blue wall and lighter wood flooring. A new rug with the appearance of an heirloom, a new grand-scaled sofa, and some of my client’s precious antiques helped take the room from 70s rec room to English Sitting Room. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Jim Bartsch
Mid-sized elegant master white tile corner shower photo in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, white cabinets, an undermount tub, beige walls and a niche

Inspiration for a coastal laundry room remodel in Seattle

Trendy black and white tile gray floor and single-sink bathroom photo in Phoenix with gray walls, an integrated sink and gray countertops

It is sometimes a surprise what beauty can lurk under the surface of a room. A client with a 1970s kitchen and eat-in area cut up by an unwieldy peninsula was desperate for it to reflect her love of all things English-and-French-Manor-Home. Working closely with my client, we removed the peninsula in favor of a lovely free-standing island that we painted a shade of French Blue. This is topped with Old World sink hardware (note the ceramic HOT and COLD medallions on the faucets!) and a gorgeous marble counter with a very special edge profile that evokes an antique French Boulangerie counter from the 1910s. Pendants with patinaed metal shades over the island further the charming Old World feel. Handmade white and blue tiles laid in a quilted diamond pattern cover the backsplash, and the remainder of the cabinetry at the perimeter is in a warm cream tone. The eat-in near the fireplace got a cozy treatment with custom seat cushions and window seat bench cushions in a classic blue-and-white Toile de Jouy matching the island stools. The nearby living room got a similar treatment. We removed dark wood paneling and dark carpeting in favor of a light sky blue wall and lighter wood flooring. A new rug with the appearance of an heirloom, a new grand-scaled sofa, and some of my client’s precious antiques helped take the room from 70s rec room to English Sitting Room. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

It is sometimes a surprise what beauty can lurk under the surface of a room. A client with a 1970s kitchen and eat-in area cut up by an unwieldy peninsula was desperate for it to reflect her love of all things English-and-French-Manor-Home. Working closely with my client, we removed the peninsula in favor of a lovely free-standing island that we painted a shade of French Blue. This is topped with Old World sink hardware (note the ceramic HOT and COLD medallions on the faucets!) and a gorgeous marble counter with a very special edge profile that evokes an antique French Boulangerie counter from the 1910s. Pendants with patinaed metal shades over the island further the charming Old World feel. Handmade white and blue tiles laid in a quilted diamond pattern cover the backsplash, and the remainder of the cabinetry at the perimeter is in a warm cream tone. The eat-in near the fireplace got a cozy treatment with custom seat cushions and window seat bench cushions in a classic blue-and-white Toile de Jouy matching the island stools. The nearby living room got a similar treatment. We removed dark wood paneling and dark carpeting in favor of a light sky blue wall and lighter wood flooring. A new rug with the appearance of an heirloom, a new grand-scaled sofa, and some of my client’s precious antiques helped take the room from 70s rec room to English Sitting Room. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Inspiration for a small transitional built-in desk light wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall study room remodel in New York with blue walls

The MacDowell Company
Inspiration for a timeless patio remodel in Boston

Photography by Susan Teare
Inspiration for a large rustic l-shaped ceramic tile open concept kitchen remodel in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This home had the stucco removed and replaced with Hardie Plank Fiber Cement siding. The windows, doors, and shutters were also replaced. There was significant damage to the stucco from water penetration. The stucco was removed down to the sheathing. Any rot that was found was also removed and replaced with new sheets of plywood underneath the new siding.

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2013 Houzz
Eclectic kitchen photo in Seattle

3 BU No 122 Small Truck with 2 inch stem casters Photo Credit: Amy Gerber/Brown Eyes Plus Blue (www.browneyesplusblue.com)
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped dedicated laundry room remodel in Boston with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer and beige countertops

Art Collector's Pied-à-terre John M. Hall Photography
Example of a small trendy white tile and glass tile mosaic tile floor bathroom design in New York with a wall-mount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls and a one-piece toilet

It is sometimes a surprise what beauty can lurk under the surface of a room. A client with a 1970s kitchen and eat-in area cut up by an unwieldy peninsula was desperate for it to reflect her love of all things English-and-French-Manor-Home. Working closely with my client, we removed the peninsula in favor of a lovely free-standing island that we painted a shade of French Blue. This is topped with Old World sink hardware (note the ceramic HOT and COLD medallions on the faucets!) and a gorgeous marble counter with a very special edge profile that evokes an antique French Boulangerie counter from the 1910s. Pendants with patinaed metal shades over the island further the charming Old World feel. Handmade white and blue tiles laid in a quilted diamond pattern cover the backsplash, and the remainder of the cabinetry at the perimeter is in a warm cream tone. The eat-in near the fireplace got a cozy treatment with custom seat cushions and window seat bench cushions in a classic blue-and-white Toile de Jouy matching the island stools. The nearby living room got a similar treatment. We removed dark wood paneling and dark carpeting in favor of a light sky blue wall and lighter wood flooring. A new rug with the appearance of an heirloom, a new grand-scaled sofa, and some of my client’s precious antiques helped take the room from 70s rec room to English Sitting Room. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Real estate photos - Public Domain
Patio fountain - mediterranean brick patio fountain idea in Denver with a pergola

French country kitchen with hand-carved cabinetry, hand-painted tile, soapstone countertops and La Cornue stove.
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Santa Barbara with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, soapstone countertops, porcelain backsplash, black appliances and an island

John Bennett, Enterprise Unlimited Got an old satellite antenna lurking in the shadows? Remove all the mounting hardware, fill the holes, and give it a light coat of paint. Then find a riparian corner in your garden and turn it into a bird bath! Works great- attracts grandchildren, too.

Just add trees to create an instant haunted forest with our Werewolf Scene Kit. An easy, one-step way to transform a grove of trees into a nightmarish landscape you can dare your guests to venture through. Lurking somewhere in the shadows will be our favorite Life-size Animated Werewolf. Trick-or-treaters will be alarmed—and thrilled—to hear him howl at the moon, prompted by hidden motion activation. A great way to introduce a new level of fright to your display.

Display our innocent-looking Animated Haunted Mirror at your party, and watch as one guest after another is spooked by the ghoulish girl lurking within. The eerie waif holds a candle and appears when motion sensors are triggered. Her creepy voice utters one of five sayings before she disappears again, waiting to haunt her next victim.