Whit Preston, Photographer
Example of a trendy kitchen design in Austin

Example of a trendy walk-in closet design in Austin with white cabinets and open cabinets

Example of a trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with multicolored walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

The renovation of this town home included expansion of this sitting room to encompass an existing patio space. The overhang of the roof over this patio made for a dark space initially. In the renovation, sliding glass doors and a stone patio were added to open up the views, increase natural light, and expand the floor space in this area of the home, adjacent to the Living Room and fireplace.

Mert Carpenter
Inspiration for a large contemporary master dining room remodel in San Francisco with multicolored walls and no fireplace

Cati Teague Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Atlanta with blue walls

Inspiration for a modern home office remodel in Denver

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

The completed project, with 75" TV, a 72" ethanol burning fireplace, marble slab facing with split-faced granite mantel. The flanking cabinets are 9' tall each, and are made of wenge veneer with dimmable LED backlighting behind frosted glass panels. a 6' tall person is at eye level with the bottom of the TV, which features a Sony 750 watt sound bar and wireless sub-woofer. Photo by Scot Trueblood, Paradise Aerial Imagery

Douglas Johnson Photography
Inspiration for a timeless split-level wood brown patio remodel in San Francisco with no cover and a fireplace

Creation of a new master bathroom, kids’ bathroom, toilet room and a WIC from a mid. size bathroom was a challenge but the results were amazing. The master bathroom has a huge 5.5'x6' shower with his/hers shower heads. The main wall of the shower is made from 2 book matched porcelain slabs, the rest of the walls are made from Thasos marble tile and the floors are slate stone. The vanity is a double sink custom made with distress wood stain finish and its almost 10' long. The vanity countertop and backsplash are made from the same porcelain slab that was used on the shower wall. The two pocket doors on the opposite wall from the vanity hide the WIC and the water closet where a $6k toilet/bidet unit is warmed up and ready for her owner at any given moment. Notice also the huge 100" mirror with built-in LED light, it is a great tool to make the relatively narrow bathroom to look twice its size.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless slate floor and gray floor single front door remodel in Nashville with a medium wood front door and white walls

While this new home had an architecturally striking exterior, the home’s interior fell short in terms of true functionality and overall style. The most critical element in this renovation was the kitchen and dining area, which needed careful attention to bring it to the level that suited the home and the homeowners. As a graduate of Culinary Institute of America, our client wanted a kitchen that “feels like a restaurant, with the warmth of a home kitchen,” where guests can gather over great food, great wine, and truly feel comfortable in the open concept home. Although it follows a typical chef’s galley layout, the unique design solutions and unusual materials set it apart from the typical kitchen design. Polished countertops, laminated and stainless cabinets fronts, and professional appliances are complemented by the introduction of wood, glass, and blackened metal – materials introduced in the overall design of the house. Unique features include a wall clad in walnut for dangling heavy pots and utensils; a floating, sculptural walnut countertop piece housing an herb garden; an open pantry that serves as a coffee bar and wine station; and a hanging chalkboard that hides a water heater closet and features different coffee offerings available to guests. The dining area addition, enclosed by windows, continues to vivify the organic elements and brings in ample natural light, enhancing the darker finishes and creating additional warmth. Photography by Ira Montgomery

Kids' room - coastal kids' room idea in Boston

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a cottage single-wall painted wood floor and blue floor breakfast nook remodel in Atlanta with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and paneled appliances

Cool & Contemporary is the vibe our clients were seeking out. Phase 1 complete for this El Paso Westside project. Consistent with the homes architecture and lifestyle creates a space to handle all occasions. Early morning coffee on the patio or around the firepit, smores, drinks, relaxing, reading & maybe a little dancing. Cedar planks set on raw steel post create a cozy atmosphere. Sitting or laying down on cushions and pillows atop the smooth buff leuders limestone bench with your feet popped up on the custom gas firepit. Raw steel veneer, limestone cap and stainless steel fire fixtures complete the sleek contemporary feels. Concrete steps & path lights beam up and accentuates the focal setting. To prep for phase 2, ground cover pathways and areas are ready for the new outdoor movie projector, more privacy, picnic area, permanent seating, landscape and lighting to come.

Dining area and fire feature. Jason LIske, photographer
Inspiration for a modern backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco.

Example of a trendy mudroom design in Chicago

Bathroom - 1950s bathroom idea in San Francisco