A growing family, a rambling Georgian estate. The question: how to imbue tradition with a fresh spirit? The charge was to maintain the idea of old school charm without the interior feeling just… old. An illustration could be found in picture molding (which we added, then painted to disappear into the walls) or a modern plaster sculpture teetering upon an old barrister bookcase. Charm, with a wink. Photography by John Bessler

Our studio gave this house an attractive appeal with beautiful rugs, exquisitely patterned wallpaper, attractive artwork, and classy decor. The entryway is flanked by white porcelain accent pieces on pedestals and a stylish table holding a pretty flower arrangement. Statement lighting hangs from the ceiling creating an elegant tone. Pastel pink chairs, striking peacock artwork, large lamps, and a stunning chandelier add fun and grandeur to the space.

Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Detroit

An Indoor Lady
Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master brown tile and stone tile travertine floor bathroom idea in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Natural light pours into this elegant primary Raleigh NC bathroom, highlighting the frameless glass shower, white herringbone tile, freestanding soaking tub, and custom storage cabinetry. Exposed white oak beams and refined finishes create a warm, spa-like atmosphere.

Inspiration for a transitional master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Wichita with beige walls

Enclosed dining room - small cottage enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room idea in San Diego with no tv and white walls

Hunter Coon - True Homes Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Dallas with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, solid surface countertops and a console sink

Elizabeth Dooley
Small trendy mosaic tile floor and black floor bathroom photo in New York with white walls

Living room - mid-sized traditional formal and enclosed light wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with gray walls, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Caroline Allison
Drop-in bathtub - coastal white tile drop-in bathtub idea in Miami with open cabinets, white cabinets, white walls and a trough sink

Design by Lisa puchalla Photo by Angie seckinger Lily Mae Designer
Example of a classic carpeted bedroom design in DC Metro with beige walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a timeless formal dark wood floor living room remodel in Charlotte with blue walls

Photo Credit Novelli PhotoDesign
Inspiration for a transitional master gray tile and stone slab porcelain tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops and beige walls

Master Bathroom Addition with custom double vanity. White herringbone tile with white wall subway tile. white pebble shower floor tile. Walk in shower. Walnut rounded vanity mirrors. Brizo Fixtures. Cabinet hardware by School House Electric. Photo Credit: Amy Bartlam

Inspiration for a timeless hallway remodel in Indianapolis

Ian Dawson, C&I Studios
Inspiration for a small modern master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile walk-in shower remodel in Baltimore with a vessel sink, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Old fixer-uppers often require two competing levels of priorities from their new homeowners. First and foremost is the need to immediately attend to those repairs that ensure the continued functioning and general well being of the house’s structure. By nature, these usually demand “house on fire!” status, especially when compared to other types of remodeling work that simply enhances aesthetics and general comfort. In the case of a Delaware couple, a structural issue with the front of their 125 year old Victorian (it was sinking!), along with some other more pressing challenges, put a 13 year long hold on getting the bathroom for which they had long dreamed. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. By the time Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers was hired to handle the construction, the couple certainly had put plenty of thought into converting a spare second-floor bedroom into the master bath. Courtney Burnett, Fox’s Interior Design Manager on the project, credits the owners for “having great creative minds, with lots of ideas to contribute.” By the time it came to put a formal design plan into place, the client “drove the look while we devised how the space would function.” It’s worth noting that there are drawbacks in being given too much time for advance planning. Owners’ tastes in design may change, while a steady stream of new fixtures and building products always demand consideration up to the last minute. “We had been collecting ideas for a while…pictures of what we liked, but as it turned out, when it came time to select fixtures, tile, etc., we used little from those pictures,” the owners admit. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. The finished bath exudes an art deco spirit that isn’t true to the home’s Victorian origins, which Burnett attributes to being more of a reflection of the homeowners’ preferences than the actual era of the structure. Despite that incongruity, everyone feels that they have remained true to the house by selecting vintage style elements, including subway tiles for the walls, hexagonal tile for the floors, and a pedestal sink that served as the focal point for the entire room. But as with all dreams, once one is achieved, a new one soon beckons. With the bathroom’s strikingly beautiful turquoise paint barely dry, the completion of that long-awaited project has served to kick-start plans for finishing off the remainder of the Victorian’s second floor.