This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Angie Welling Photography
Inspiration for a small transitional master white tile and limestone tile mosaic tile floor and beige floor tub/shower combo remodel in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, a two-piece toilet and soapstone countertops

Photos by Steve Henke
Inspiration for a timeless white three-story gable roof remodel in Minneapolis

Million Dollar Listing’s celebrity broker Ryan Serhant reached out to Decor Aid to stage a luxurious Brooklyn condo development. The only caveat was that our interior designers had 48 hours to come up with the design, concept, and source all the furniture. Always up for a challenge, we partnered with Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams to create this contemporary gem. Staying true to their contemporary vision, our interior decorators sourced all pieces through MGBW. Starting in the living room, we placed the Gunner Sofa, a piece that offers clean-lined living. The thin arms and slanted profile emphasize the modern elegance of the home. Through the use of various contemporary patterns and textures we were able to avoid the one-dimensional ambiance, and instead, the apartment’s living room feels detailed and thought out, without making anyone who enters overcrowded with home decor. The Melrose cocktail table was sourced for its sleek, stainless steel and glass design that contrasts with more substantial pieces in the space, while also complementing the contemporary style. The glass design gives the illusion that this table takes up less space, giving the living room design a light and airy feel all around. The living space transformed into something out of a decor catalog with just the right amount of personality, creating a room that follows through with our starting design, yet functional for everyday use. After the living room area, we set our eyes on designing the master bedroom. Our interior decorators were immediately drawn to the Celina Floating Rail Bed, it’s opulent nailhead trim, and dramatic design brings fresh sophistication to the bedroom design, while also standing out as a timeless piece that can complement various trends or styles that might be added later on to the bedroom decoration. We sourced the Roland Table Lamp to add texture, with its elaborate ribbed design, that compliments the air of masculinity the Carmen Leather Ottoman add while contrasting with the light, sleeker pieces. This difference in weight left us with a bedroom decoration that lives up to the trending modern standards, yet a space that is timeless and stylish no matter the decor trends. Once we finished and the project was completed, our senior designers took a step back and took in all of their hard labor. Decor Aid was able to make this newly built blank space and design it into a modern wonder small brooklyn apartment. The MGBW furnishings were all hand-picked to keep an even balance of complementing and contrasting contemporary pieces, which was one of our more critical apartment decorating ideas. The apartment home decor brings to life this modern concept in a way that isn’t overbearing and shows off their style making the space in every sense an accurate reflection of a chic contemporary style.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun side yard gravel retaining wall landscape in Salt Lake City.

Trendy master beige tile freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

Quinn and Paige, residents of this tired 1960’s tri-level home hated their kitchen. As a matter of fact, prior to making plans to renovate the first floor - they considered selling the home, but were reluctant because of its enviable location near the heart of downtown Barrington which was within walking distance to local stores and all their favorite places. So instead they contacted Advance Design Studio after hearing about them from a neighbor, to rescue their tired home and give it new life. The very first plan was to remove the constricting walls surrounding the original kitchen, and open the expansive first floor living room and dining area to the new heart of the space; a stunning state of the art coastal designed kitchen. Exposing attractive beams in the vaulted ceiling created an interesting structural detail that suits the open plan and salutes the original architecture of the home, further emphasizing the height of the new space enjoyed now by the family as a great room. The stage was set for the seaside feel of this kitchen by pairing crisp white painted maple cabinets with Dura Supreme’s one of kind hand weathered finish on the island in soft blue-green finish. But the authentic feeling of being on your favorite beach was supremely achieved by the matching of unique Mt. Claire marble on the island and the specialty Wareham acid washed stone on the perimeter counter tops. Pictures don’t do justice to the feel of this stone under your hand; its water-washed texture reminds instantly of summer vacations collecting rocks softly etched by hundreds of waves. Stainless steel appliances and satin nickel hardware shine brightly against the backdrop of bright white subway tiles accentuated by subtle grey grout lines contributing to the nautical feel of this comfortable kitchen. Seeded glass door cabinetry reminiscent of beach grasses dress up the space just enough, and a proud 6” stacked crown molding extends above 36” wall cabinets into the expanse of the now taller space; balancing this kitchen nicely within its newly integrated home. Features in this kitchen include a built in standard depth refrigerator, pull out spice racks, tall tray dividers and wood super Susan with double pull out trash and recycling. A cutlery divider holds sharp knives, and an angled cabinet was customized to hold a secret USB charging station. The bright white Kohler farm sink is graced by an elegant bridge faucet in brushed nickel. This now airy and spacious kitchen has room for guest and family to congregate around the large island, complete with stools and attractive hidden storage for seldom used entertainment pieces. “I was sold when I saw the drawings. My designer nailed it, down to every last storage idea and coastal detail I envisioned, it was all in there. It was unbelievable how accurate her interpretation was of what was in my head; working with her made my kitchen renovation so easy, it’s as if she literally read my mind”, said Paige enthusiastically. The woman of the house expressed upon completion not only her love for her fantastic new cooking space, but how renovating her kitchen has given new life to the entire home. Talk of moving has been relegated to the recycling bin, and instead the family is discussing plans to renovate the master bath now that they’ve decided to stay for the long term. Friends who visit the home do a double-take as they recognize the new space’s dramatic transformation from original cramped and closed spaces - to the now amazingly fresh open kitchen that has become the center of every gathering and family meal. Designer: Nicole Ryan Photographer: Joe Nowak

© Anthony Crisafulli 2014
Alcove bathtub - coastal alcove bathtub idea in Providence

Inspiration for a large contemporary master carpeted bedroom remodel with white walls

Our clients wanted a REAL master bathroom with enough space for both of them to be in there at the same time. Their house, built in the 1940’s, still had plenty of the original charm, but also had plenty of its original tiny spaces that just aren’t very functional for modern life. The original bathroom had a tiny stall shower, and just a single vanity with very limited storage and counter space. Not to mention kitschy pink subway tile on every wall. With some creative reconfiguring, we were able to reclaim about 25 square feet of space from the bedroom. Which gave us the space we needed to introduce a double vanity with plenty of storage, and a HUGE walk-in shower that spans the entire length of the new bathroom! While we knew we needed to stay true to the original character of the house, we also wanted to bring in some modern flair! Pairing strong graphic floor tile with some subtle (and not so subtle) green tones gave us the perfect blend of classic sophistication with a modern glow up. Our clients were thrilled with the look of their new space, and were even happier about how large and open it now feels!

Example of a bedroom and small mountain style gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor kids' bedroom design with beige walls

Powder room - contemporary multicolored tile powder room idea in Chicago

©️Maxwell MacKenzie THE HOME, ESSENTIALLY A RUIN WAS PRESERVED THROUGH NEGLECT. A CLARIFIED HISTORIC RENOVATION REMOVES BAY WINDOWS AND 1950’S WINDOWS FROM THE MAIN FAÇADE. TWO WINGS AND A THIRD FLOOR AND A SYMPATHETIC STAIRWAY ACCOMMODATE MODERN LIFE. MASONS WERE TASKED TO MAKE THE STONE WORK LOOK AS THOUGH “A FARMER BUILT THE WALLS DURING THE NON-PLANTING SEASON,” THE FINAL DESIGN SIMPLIFIES THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN AND LEAVES LOGICAL LOCATIONS FOR EXPANSION INTO COMING DECADES. AMONG OTHER AWARDS, THIS TRADITIONAL YET HISTORIC RENOVATION LOCATED IN MIDDLEBURG, VA HAS RECEIVED 2 AWARDS FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE.. AND A NATIONAL PRIVATE AWARD FROM VETTE WINDOWS WASHINGTON DC ARCHITECT DONALD LOCOCO UPDATED THIS HISTORIC STONE HOUSE IN MIDDLEBURG, VA.lauded by the American Institute of Architects with an Award of Excellence for Historic Architecture, as well as an Award of Merit for Residential Architecture

Pool - mid-sized 1950s kidney-shaped pool idea in San Francisco

Owner
Trendy bathroom photo in Indianapolis

These white high gloss full overlay cabinets provide a minimalist look to this modern galley kitchen. The black paneled refrigerator adds dramatic contrast and compliments the adjacent sink hardware. For more on Normandy Designer Chris Ebert, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/christopher-ebert/

Bedroom with Walnut Cabinetry and Quartz tops. Photos: Mike Gullon
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master carpeted bedroom remodel with white walls

Owner
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Indianapolis

Walk-in closet - small contemporary gender-neutral light wood floor walk-in closet idea with white cabinets