Five stars isn’t enough! Our project was to reconfigure and update the main floor of a house we recently purchased that was built in 1961. We wanted to maintain some of the unique feeling it originally had but bring it up-to-date and eliminate the closed-in rooms and downright weird layout that was the result of multiple, partial remodeling projects. We began with a long wishlist of changes which also required replacement of very antiquated plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC. We even found a fireplace that had been walled in and needed major re-construction. Many other aspects and details on this incredible list we made included an all new kitchen layout, converting a bedroom into a master closet, adding new half-bath, completely rebuilding the master bath, and adding stone, tile and custom built cabinetry. Our design plans included many fixtures and details that we specified and required professional installation and careful handling. Innovative helped us make reasonable decisions. Their skilled staff took us through a design process that made sense. There were many questions and all were answered with sincere conversation and positive – innovation – on how we could achieve our goals. Innovative provided us with professional consultants, who listened and were courteous and creative, with solid knowledge and informative judgement. When they didn’t have an answer, they did the research. They developed a comprehensive project plan that exceeded our expectations. Every item on our long list was checked-off. All agreed on work was fulfilled and they completed all this in just under four months. Innovative took care of putting together a team of skilled professional specialists who were all dedicated to make everything right. Engineering, construction, supervision, and I cannot even begin to describe how much thanks we have for the demolition crew! Our multiple, detailed project designs from Raul and professional design advice from Mindy and the connections she recommended are all of the best quality. Diego Jr., Trevor and his team kept everything on track and neat and tidy every single day and Diego Sr., Mark, Ismael, Albert, Santiago and team are true craftsmen who follow-up and make the most minuscule woodworking details perfect. The cabinets by Tim and electrical work and installation of fixtures by Kemchan Harrilal-BB and Navindra Doolratram, and Augustine and his crew on tile and stone work – all perfection. Aisling and the office crew were always responsive to our calls and requests. And of course Clark and Eric who oversaw everything and gave us the best of the best! Apologies if we didn’t get everyone on this list – you’re all great! Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We can’t thank you enough Innovative Construction – we kind of want to do it again! Dave Hallman & Matt DeGraffenreid

A gold lighting sparkling against a deep Urbane Bronze paint, which finishes the incredible double-layer wainscotting trim on opposing ends of the room. Photo by Spacecrafting Photography

Heat Tiles and a tall glass wall light up this bathroom. The glass shower doors on rollers let the light filter through the entire space. The oversize floor ceramic tile - used elsewhere in the house as well - looks like concrete was chosen for its rustic yet elegant look and also because its slightly gritty surface doesn't get slippery when wet. Note the crisp detail of the black Schluter strip edge.

Notable decor elements include: Vintage mahogany bed from Weinberg Modern, Home Decor International Cowhide rug, Dollesdottie felted wool wall hanging, Iacoli and McAllister wire side table in copper, Horne Signal desk lamp in water green. Photography: Francesco Bertocci

Complete historic restoration with period fixtures and historic details throughout. Spanish revival architecture by renown local architect Richard Requa. 1927 Historical Designation. master closet conversion from basement space, laundry/mud room construction, custom cabinetry throughout home, guest house renovation, whole house security and media wiring, extensive landscaping and hardscape improvements

Eclectic freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in San Francisco with white walls

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

A former client came to us to renovate her cramped master bathroom into a serene, spa-like setting. Armed with an inspiration photo from a magazine, we set out and commissioned a local, custom furniture maker to produce the cabinetry. The hand-distressed reclaimed wormy chestnut vanities and linen closet bring warmth to the space while the painted shiplap and white glass countertops brighten it up. Handmade subway tiles welcome you into the bright shower and wood-look porcelain tile offers a practical flooring solution that still softens the space. It’s not hard to imagine yourself soaking in the deep freestanding tub letting your troubles melt away. Matt Villano Photography

Amazing split level home master piece. LVT flooring, dekton countertops, waterfall island countertops, wire handrail system, globe lighting, espresso/black cabinets

Brian Kliss
Small trendy master beige tile linoleum floor alcove shower photo in San Luis Obispo with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Property marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Unique property offering an ultra contemporary main house with private driveway for 2 cars and a separate 1 story building that can serve as a rental apartment, office, artist’s studio or in-law suite. With glass & light as the defining theme, this modern masterpiece has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths on 3 levels featuring a dramatic 18’ on the main level dining room, a completely custom kitchen with pickled white oak and enameled cabinets, Ceasarstone quartz counters, stainless steel Electrolux Icon appliances & 6 burner stove. Other features include stainless steel & glass railings, enormous master suite with walk-in closet, marble mosaic tiles, rain shower and custom 6 ft mirrored medicine cabinet, on demand hot water, 2” bluestone patio with gas, electric and water hook up. Entire home is smart wired. Truly fabulous property.

David Lindsay, Advanced Photographix
Mid-sized beach style carpeted u-shaped cable railing staircase photo in New York with carpeted risers

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with white quartz countertops and backsplashes mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The cabinets are painted a cool grey color called "Silverplate." The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

Elegant kitchen photo in Other