Seems like the ‘80s weren’t all that long ago. Reminiscing about music from the period harkens me back to all kinds of good feelings. The era’s kitchen and bath design, however, causes me to repress a bit of vomit. The lack of creativity, coupled with a love of beige and cheap brass, still makes my skin crawl. Some builder must have purchased entire container ships of that tile. Enter this bath. The homeowners did their best to add color, but nothing could hide the elements so popular in the day. In attempting to provide something outside the norm (the shower tower), yet warm and inviting, (curved half-wall behind the curved freestanding tub; compressed ceilings above smaller items), and safe (large, curbless shower with door wide enough for future wheelchair), I endeavored to create a bath that would stand time’s test. It didn’t hurt that the clients, second-timers (see Modern Walnut Kitchen and Great Room) and a delight to work with, had strong opinions. The photos will be retaken soon (we didn’t stage the shoot), but they give an idea of the space.

If you adore the look of crystal but want a vessel sink that stands the test of time, look no further than the Gandía Vessel Sink Series by Vinnova. This gorgeous, bowl-shaped piece has the exquisite look of fine crystal and is durable enough to last for many years. It’s the perfect way to add a bit of dazzle to your classic guest or master bath. Model# 00517-GBS-CG

If you adore the look of crystal but want a vessel sink that stands the test of time, look no further than the Gandía Vessel Sink Series by Vinnova. This gorgeous, bowl-shaped piece has the exquisite look of fine crystal and is durable enough to last for many years. It’s the perfect way to add a bit of dazzle to your classic guest or master bath. Model# 00517-GBS-CG

Visit Our Showroom 8000 Locust Mill St. Ellicott City, MD 21043 Daltile Autumn Mist S772 Slate NATURAL CLEFT GAUGED stone ASTM Test Method Absorption by Weight, % C121 3.10 Density, lbs./ft3, (kg/m3) C97 N/A Compressive Strength, psi, (Mpa) C170 N/A Abrasion Resistance, hardness C241 Average wear, 10.30 Max. wear on 10.50 Flexural Strength, psi, (Mpa) C880 N/A

Mega Homes - http://www.mega-homes.com/
Large arts and crafts master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom photo in Minneapolis with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

This high-rise condominium at The Mayfair longed for the renewal conceptualized in its 3 bathrooms. Each was a complete renovation, adding relevant aesthetic updates and much-needed functionality and storage. We capitalized on the immense amount of natural light in the primary bath and we amplified it throughout the space by opening up walls to the shower, lining the vanity with full-sized, built-in vanity mirrors, and distributing electrified lighting throughout. Custom cabinetry was designed to capture every inch of usable perimeter space and incorporate the elevated tub platform. The guest bath emulates a classic, luxury hotel feel infused with color, a great tile pattern on the focal shower wall, a furniture-style vanity, and a fun floor design. The powder bath is dark and moody with textural wallpaper and an espresso-colored porcelain floor tile emulating marble. All of the appointments throughout exude the luxury look and feel the client desired, are maintenance friendly and will stand the test of time.

This young couple was ready to make some changes to their master bedroom. They already laid a great foundation for me: beautiful wall color, carpet and trim. We just needed to update their furnishings and make this space feel more like them. They requested a bedroom that was more classic than trendy and a space that feels relaxing and spa-like. I started with the big pieces. I know they liked the light, upholstered bed look, which is awesome because I get so many clients who shy away from this option for fear of it getting dirty. Next up were the case pieces: dresser, night stands, high boy. I know a lot of designers who favor designing a bedroom with non-matching sets, but in this case, I thought opting for matching nightstands and dressers was the most classic choice and will stand the test of time best. They also a requested an area for the wive to do her make up and hair separate from the bathroom with ample light. I found a vanity, replaced the matching stool with an accent chair in a grey ikat print and used a pair of existing lamps. Extra seating is provided at the end of the bed on a tufted grey bench. The inverted pleat drapes are custom made with black out lining. Accessories and wall art were added to infuse personality and warm up the space.

Photo by Kimberly Murray
Example of a cottage chic home design design in Atlanta

AV Architects + Builders Forest Villa House - Mclean, VA 1528 Forrest Villa is situated in the heart of McLean, VA in a well-established neighborhood. This unique site is perfect for this modern house design because it sits at the top of a hill and has a grand view of the landscape. We have designed a home that feels like a retreat but offers all the amenities a family needs to keep up with the fast pace of Northern VA. The house offers over 8,200 sqft of luxury living area on three finished levels. The main level is an open-concept floor plan designed to entertain. The central area is the great room and the kitchen separated by a two-sided fireplace, but it’s surrounded by a very generous dining room, a study with custom built-ins and an outdoor covered patio with another gas fireplace. We also have a functional mudroom with a powder room right-off the 3-car garage with plenty of storage. The open stair case anchors the front elevation of the home to the front porch and the site. The second level offers a master suite with an expansive custom his/her walk-in closet, a master bath with a curb less shower area, a free-standing soaking tub and his/her vanities. Additionally, this level has 4 generously sized en-suite bedrooms with full baths and walk-in closets and a full size laundry room with lots of storage. The lower level has a guest en-suite bedroom with a full bathroom and walk-in closet. It also has a rec room with a glass enclosed wine cellar to display your favorite wine collection. We have added a large exercise room, a media room fully wired, a full bath and lots of storage space. The materials used for the home are of the highest quality. From the aluminum clad oversized windows, to the unique roofing structure, the Nichiha rectangular siding and stacked veneer stone, we have hand-picked materials that stand the test of time and complement the modern design of the home. In total this 8200 sqft home has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 2 half-baths and a 3-car garage. Sean O'Rourke Photography. A one-of-a-kind modern home in the heart of McLean, Virginia.

Elegant bedroom photo in DC Metro

AV Architects + Builders Forest Villa House - Mclean, VA 1528 Forrest Villa is situated in the heart of McLean, VA in a well-established neighborhood. This unique site is perfect for this modern house design because it sits at the top of a hill and has a grand view of the landscape. We have designed a home that feels like a retreat but offers all the amenities a family needs to keep up with the fast pace of Northern VA. The house offers over 8,200 sqft of luxury living area on three finished levels. The main level is an open-concept floor plan designed to entertain. The central area is the great room and the kitchen separated by a two-sided fireplace, but it’s surrounded by a very generous dining room, a study with custom built-ins and an outdoor covered patio with another gas fireplace. We also have a functional mudroom with a powder room right-off the 3-car garage with plenty of storage. The open stair case anchors the front elevation of the home to the front porch and the site. The second level offers a master suite with an expansive custom his/her walk-in closet, a master bath with a curb less shower area, a free-standing soaking tub and his/her vanities. Additionally, this level has 4 generously sized en-suite bedrooms with full baths and walk-in closets and a full size laundry room with lots of storage. The lower level has a guest en-suite bedroom with a full bathroom and walk-in closet. It also has a rec room with a glass enclosed wine cellar to display your favorite wine collection. We have added a large exercise room, a media room fully wired, a full bath and lots of storage space. The materials used for the home are of the highest quality. From the aluminum clad oversized windows, to the unique roofing structure, the Nichiha rectangular siding and stacked veneer stone, we have hand-picked materials that stand the test of time and complement the modern design of the home. In total this 8200 sqft home has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 2 half-baths and a 3-car garage. Todd Smith Photography. A one-of-a-kind modern home in the heart of McLean, Virginia.

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

This Grandview development features a spacious 4-bedroom high-end home built over a 1-bed suite [accessible from the house] and an independent 2-bed/2-bath apartment. It was constructed from pre-fabricated Structual Insulated Panels. This, and other highly innovative construction technologies put the building in a class of its own regarding performance and sustainability. The structure has been seismically-upgraded, and materials have been selected to stand the test of time. The design is strikingly modern but respectful, and the layout is expectionally practical and efficient. The house is on a steep hill, providing views of the north-shore mountains from all floors. The large rooftop deck has panoramic views of the city. The open-plan living/dining room opens out onto a large south-facing deck. Architecture: Nick Bray Architecture Construction Management: Forte Projects

What is Americana in today's time? The classical American ranch home has withstood the test of time and saw many styles and many designs change it every decade or so. Today we present to you our take on modern time Americana. We enclosed the small front porch area to create an interior atrium/mud room with a built-in beach with shoes storage drawers and a door leading to the garage. As you walk in you will see the fireplace with its new stone facade and wooden mantel above. Notice the design is a semi-open floor plan. A floating wall (not connected to any other walls) divides the kitchen and the living room but is still open to be able to enjoy circular movement around the house when entertaining. The kitchen is a combination of sage color with Alder wood accent cabinets and island. some cool cabinets feature like hidden garage appliances with pull out bases. extra deep base cabinets and beautiful Dekton stone countertops. This stone is almost indestructible when it comes to kitchens. The 200sq addition at the back allowed us to enlarge the master bedroom and the old bathrooms where all aligned the extension allowed us to build an additional powder room as well. A good size walk-in closet was added as well with a new master bathroom service the enlarged master bedroom. The result is what we consider today’s Americana for the classical ranch homes.

Example of a large minimalist master painted wood floor and white floor bedroom design in New York with beige walls

A clinic in downsizing, this condo is filled with pieces and art that were carefully selected, sentimental and one of a kind. The renovation was intended to stand the test of time, functionally and aesthetically. Having relocated from a much larger property, the client wanted a space that resonated with the urban beauty of Portland's West End. Photos by Erin Little.

Timeless elegance never sleeps: This blue, white & beige sanctuary proves good design stands the test of time. Luxurious textures and pattern play create a masterclass in refined comfort. We created an oasis with statement wallpaper, layered patterns, and ceramic accents that tell the story of our client story. This tranquil bedroom transformation showcases the power of thoughtful lighting & design. The statement crystal and brass chandelier adds drama and sophistication overhead, while the table side lamps provide grounding and natural beauty. We used a design technique —painting the ceiling & top portion of the walls while wallpapering below— to draw your eye upward, making the space feel larger and highlighting the stunning light fixture. Giving the space an open and airiness quality. The lamp shades are a neutral tone, while the bases have intricate designs of nature creating a sense of roots and connection to the wooden bedside tables. When paired with the decor surrounding it, you’re transcended to a rejuvenating retreat of relaxation.

A clinic in downsizing, this condo is filled with pieces and art that were carefully selected, sentimental and one of a kind. The renovation was intended to stand the test of time, functionally and aesthetically. Having relocated from a much larger property, the client wanted a space that resonated with the urban beauty of Portland's West End. Photos by Erin Little.

The kitchen area underwent a remarkable transformation, with a complete gutting and strategic movement of walls to create a more open and inviting space. Enhancing the aesthetics of the space with blue cabinets that are complimented with a white quartz top. The bathroom renovation elegantly phased out the aged oak cabinets, introducing a striking dark brown stain beautifully complemented by a pristine white quartz top. The showers have been upgraded with timeless subway tiles, a design choice that stands the test of time. Every inch of flooring has been revamped, with sleek, wood-style tiles providing a fresh, modern look. Exceptionally, some areas received a plush carpet upgrade, for that extra touch of comfort.