Maintaining Comfort - Photos & Ideas

Located near Ennis, Montana, this cabin captures the essence of rustic style while maintaining modern comforts. Jack Watkins’ father, the namesake of the creek by which this home is built, was involved in the construction of the Old Faithful Lodge. He originally built the cabin for he and his family in 1917, with small additions and upgrades over the years. The new owners’ desire was to update the home to better facilitate modern living, but without losing the original character. Windows and doors were added, and the kitchen and bathroom were completely remodeled. Well-placed porches were added to further integrate the interior spaces to their adjacent exterior counterparts, as well as a mud room—a practical requirement in rural Montana. Today, details like the unique juniper handrail leading up to the library, will remind visitors and guests of its historical Western roots.

Accessible Retreat

Woodland Builders

Designed to help the homeowners safely age in place while accommodating changing mobility needs, this thoughtfully planned primary bathroom addition provides exceptional accessibility without compromising style or comfort. Large-format Florentine Carrara porcelain floor tile creates a seamless transition into the curbless shower, eliminating thresholds for smooth wheelchair and walker access throughout the space. The shower features a built-in bench, handheld shower system, repositioned controls that can be reached while seated, a lowered niche for everyday essentials, and grab bars installed at ADA-recommended heights. A horizontal privacy window fills the shower with natural light while maintaining privacy. Custom built-in cabinetry provides abundant storage, while premium finishes and carefully selected fixtures create a warm, sophisticated retreat. The result is a beautiful, highly functional bathroom that combines thoughtful universal design with exceptional craftsmanship, allowing the homeowners to live safely, comfortably, and independently in the home they love. Additional Details Aging-in-Place Design Every aspect of the bathroom was thoughtfully designed to promote long-term accessibility and independence. Universal design principles guided the layout, with strategically positioned grab bars, a comfort-height toilet, an accessible shower, and carefully placed fixtures.. A Kohler Cimarron comfort-height toilet with a fully skirted trap, paired with a Kohler PureWash M300 manual bidet seat, enhances both comfort and functionality. Barrier-Free Shower The curbless shower features a seamless transition from the bathroom floor, creating unobstructed wheelchair and walker access. A built-in bench provides comfortable seating, while the Delta Saylor shower system with handheld spray allows flexibility for seated bathing. Shower controls were positioned for easy access, and three 18-inch Delta Saylor grab bars in satin nickel provide additional stability. A lowered shower niche keeps everyday essentials within convenient reach. Flooring & Tile Large-format 12 x 24 Florentine Carrara porcelain floor tile by Daltile creates a durable, slip-resistant surface while minimizing grout lines for easier maintenance. The shower's feature wall is finished with Block Cloud 4 x 12 light blue tile from Best Tile, in a herringbone pattern to create subtle texture and visual interest. Custom Cabinetry Driftwood-finished JSI Dover cabinetry provides dedicated storage for towels, linens, and everyday essentials. The vanity features Fabuwood Galaxy cabinetry in Frost, combining clean lines with durable construction and generous drawer storage. Fixtures & Finishes The Delta Saylor plumbing collection in satin nickel creates a cohesive, timeless look throughout the bathroom, including the widespread faucet, shower system with handheld, pivoting toilet paper holder, robe hooks, and grab bars. Shades of Light Callie sconces provide warm, layered lighting that complements the room's calming palette. Natural Light A horizontal privacy window introduces abundant natural light into the shower while preserving privacy while enhancing the sense of openness.

Accessible Retreat

Woodland Builders

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Plush Luxury Crafted for Restorative Sleep: Aspen® Luxury Soft Mattress

Denver Mattress

Exceptional sleep begins with exceptional materials. This sophisticated primary suite showcases the Aspen® Luxury Soft Mattress from Denver Mattress, thoughtfully crafted for those who appreciate premium comfort, refined craftsmanship, and a truly elevated sleep experience. Designed with luxurious comfort in mind, the Aspen® Luxury Soft delivers enhanced pressure relief while maintaining the support needed for restorative sleep. Premium natural materials, meticulous construction, and attention to detail create a sleep surface that feels indulgent while supporting long-term comfort and performance. The room's elegant upholstered bed, warm wood furnishings, layered textures, and soft ambient lighting create a calming retreat that embodies modern luxury. Every detail has been selected to promote relaxation, wellness, and everyday comfort, transforming the bedroom into a personal sanctuary designed for rejuvenation and rest. For those who believe quality sleep is one of life's most important investments, the Aspen® Luxury Soft represents the perfect balance of comfort, craftsmanship, and timeless luxury.

Snider & Metcalf Interior Design, LTD25 Reviews

Leading Interior Designers in Columbus, Ohio & Ponte Vedra, Florida

Accessible Retreat

Woodland Builders

Sophisticated Elegance

Medallion Cabinetry

"The homeowners wanted a kitchen that reflected their personalities and cooking styles. Sophisticated but still elegant." designer Rodney Lee of York, PA. After designing a successful home office space remodel, our same client came back to us to discuss plans and possibilities for their kitchen renovation. After a few discussions with the client, we decided the overall design concept for their kitchen would be “Sophisticated Elegance.” The homeowners wanted a kitchen that reflected their personalities and their cooking styles. Sophisticated but still elegant. The space had to be extremely functional and the color scheme had to have a certain warmth that matched the rest of their home. The Medallion line has a wide range of architectural elements that helped us achieve that “Sophisticated Elegance”; curved/arched range hood, openings, valances, and corbels and trim. The “Sophistication” lies purely in the detail, the fixtures, the angles in the peninsula, and the changes in height and depth. We wanted the color scheme to be as warm as possible as it would be in a bright, elegant space. We considered two colors and ended up choosing Divinity over the White Icing. The grey tones in the marble backsplash tile kept the colors modern but warm. We used natural stone versus the more aggregated quartz to maintain the use of natural product and unpredictable patterns and natural elements. We also used a dark rich stain on walnut wood as a good break from all the bright painted finishes. Oak and walnut reflect the “heart” of Pennsylvania and was a great way to maintain the use of natural elements. The kitchen was divided into individual areas, each one focused on a particular need and/or function. My biggest challenge was transitioning the peninsula into the wet bar/hutch area while maintaining proper separation from the kitchen cabinetry and still tying it into the rest of the space. A wealth of storage solutions. •Desk Area. The client wanted a functional work area so we created a furniture look with ogee edging in the walnut, provincial toe space detail in solid walnut, and open display storage at top. The desk has plenty of storage. •Main Kitchen. We were able to open up this space by creating smart transitions and separations using custom Medallion products that cater to the clients’ lifestyle. Each piece is functional while staying true to the sophisticated elegance design throughout the home. ◦Main Cabinetry: Medallion Gold Wellington Maple Divinity Classic Paint ◦48" uppers around range area; glass eclipse mullion-arched hood design ◦Mixer lift base left of range; drawer warmer with custom panel •The main work station, or power spot, can hold up to five work stations comfortably. The cook can work within the confines of the peninsula design and access everything needed to prepare complete meals in 1-2 steps. Every cabinet has deluxe roll-out trays and/or drawers, making this kitchen fully accessible. The client wanted to be able to display and stage different pieces and concepts during holidays and gatherings. We chose to go with the more modern Mission arch above the wall oven and fridge, which complimented many of the hard angles and distinct lines used in the kitchen space. My favorite part of this kitchen remodel came about just by listening to our client talk about how much they adored their daughter’s artwork. After numerous conversations, we landed on installing an artwork wall that was designed as a conversation piece and provides the ability to install different works of art.

Suite Sensations

Renovisions

It’s no surprise these Hanover clients reached out to Cathy and Ed of Renovisions for design and build services as they wanted a local professional bath specialist to turn their plain builder-grade bath into a luxurious handicapped accessible master bath. Renovisions had safety and universal design in mind while creating this customized two-person super shower and well-appointed master bath so their clients could escape to a special place to relax and energize their senses while also helping to conserve time and water as it is used simultaneously by them. This completely water proofed spacious 4’x8’ walk-in curb-less shower with lineal drain system and larger format porcelain tiles was a must have for our senior client –with larger tiles there are less grout lines, easier to clean and easier to maneuver using a walker to enter and exit the master bath. Renovisions collaborated with their clients to design a spa-like bath with several amenities and added conveniences with safety considerations. The bench seat that spans the width of the wall was a great addition to the shower. It’s a comfortable place to sit down and stretch out and also to keep warm as electric mesh warming materials were used along with a programmable thermostat to keep these homeowners toasty and cozy! Careful attention to all of the details in this master suite created a peaceful and elegant environment that, simply put, feels divine. Adding details such as the warming towel rack, mosaic tiled shower niche, shiny polished chrome decorative safety grab bars that also serve as towel racks and a towel rack inside the shower area added a measure of style. A stately framed mirror over the pedestal sink matches the warm white painted finish of the linen storage cabinetry that provides functionality and good looks to this space. Pull-down safety grab bars on either side of the comfort height high-efficiency toilet was essential to keep safety as a top priority. Water, water everywhere for this well deserving couple – multiple shower heads enhances the bathing experience for our client with mobility issues as 54 soft sprays from each wall jet provide a soothing and cleansing effect – a great choice because they do not require gripping and manipulating handles yet provide a sleek look with easy cleaning. The thermostatic valve maintains desired water temperature and volume controls allows the bather to utilize the adjustable hand-held shower on a slide-bar- an ideal fixture to shower and spray down shower area when done. A beautiful, frameless clear glass enclosure maintains a clean, open look without taking away from the stunning and richly grained marble-look tiles and decorative elements inside the shower. In addition to its therapeutic value, this shower is truly a design focal point of the master bath with striking tile work, beautiful chrome fixtures including several safety grab bars adding aesthetic value as well as safety benefits.

Watkins Historical Ranch - Main House

Miller-Roodell Architects Ltd

New construction northern NJ

Urban Homes - Innovative Design for Kitchen & Bath

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Cobblestone Ridge

Carrie Moore Interior Design

Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in Raleigh

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Columbus, OH

Mary Shipley Interiors34 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

Parisian Style Airbnb

TKS Design Group

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This unit, located in a 4-flat owned by TKS Owners Jeff and Susan Klimala, was remodeled as their personal pied-à-terre, and doubles as an Airbnb property when they are not using it. Jeff and Susan were drawn to the location of the building, a vibrant Chicago neighborhood, 4 blocks from Wrigley Field, as well as to the vintage charm of the 1890’s building. The entire 2 bed, 2 bath unit was renovated and furnished, including the kitchen, with a specific Parisian vibe in mind. Although the location and vintage charm were all there, the building was not in ideal shape -- the mechanicals -- from HVAC, to electrical, plumbing, to needed structural updates, peeling plaster, out of level floors, the list was long. Susan and Jeff drew on their expertise to update the issues behind the walls while also preserving much of the original charm that attracted them to the building in the first place -- heart pine floors, vintage mouldings, pocket doors and transoms. Because this unit was going to be primarily used as an Airbnb, the Klimalas wanted to make it beautiful, maintain the character of the building, while also specifying materials that would last and wouldn’t break the budget. Susan enjoyed the hunt of specifying these items and still coming up with a cohesive creative space that feels a bit French in flavor. Parisian style décor is all about casual elegance and an eclectic mix of old and new. Susan had fun sourcing some more personal pieces of artwork for the space, creating a dramatic black, white and moody green color scheme for the kitchen and highlighting the living room with pieces to showcase the vintage fireplace and pocket doors. Photographer: @MargaretRajic Photo stylist: @Brandidevers Do you have a new home that has great bones but just doesn’t feel comfortable and you can’t quite figure out why? Contact us here to see how we can help!

Temptation Gray Bar

Thyme & Place Design LLC

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.

#NaturallyNEWtral

Concetti

Transitional laundry room photo in Detroit