Mode of Action • Maximizing space usage by changing Jacuzzi into tub • Changing room layout – installing sink and vanity across the room to maximize space usage • Creating multiple storage spaces by making custom-made vanities • New granite countertop • New construction for shower extending • New wood tiles and accents – the wood was handle in a special way in order to seal it for maximize water resistant • New glass doors • New flooring • Fresh natural paint • Replacing pluming in bathroom area • Using existing mirror Materials Used: • Wood tiles • Granite counter top • Dark stone tile for the romantic environment • Light tile wood plank look a like for the floor (neutral color - resale purpose) • Solid wood custom made vanity • Dark solid wood shelves • Luxurious water fixture that includes double shower rain head and matching faucets • New wall texture and relaxing paint color • Lots of love and passion for our work

Transitional entryway photo in Portland Maine

Inspiration for a timeless home office remodel in Boston

Our goal on this project was to make the main floor of this lovely early 20th century home in a popular Vancouver neighborhood work for a growing family of four. We opened up the space, both literally and aesthetically, with windows and skylights, an efficient layout, some carefully selected furniture pieces and a soft colour palette that lends a light and playful feel to the space. Our clients can hardly believe that their once small, dark, uncomfortable main floor has become a bright, functional and beautiful space where they can now comfortably host friends and hang out as a family. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating Inc. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.

Southwest bathroom photo in San Francisco

Having a small child, loving to entertain and looking to declutter and kid-proof the gathering spaces of their home in the quaint village of Rockville Centre, Long Island, a stone’s throw from Manhattan, our client’s main objective was to have their living room and den transformed with a family friendly home makeover with mid-century modern tones boasting a formal, yet relaxed spirit Stepping into the home we found their living room and den both architecturally well appointed yet in need of modern transitional furniture pieces and the pops of color our clients admired, as there was a substantial amount of cool, cold grays in the rooms. Decor Aid designer Vivian C. approached the design and placement of the pieces sourced to be kid-friendly while remaining sophisticated and practical for entertaining. “We played off of the clients love for blush pinks, mid-century modern and turquoise. We played with the use of gold and silver metals to mix it up.” In the living room, we used the prominent bay window and its illuminating natural light as the main architectural focal point, while the fireplace and mantels soft white tone helped inform the minimalist color palette for which we styled the room around. To add warmth to the living room we played off of the clients love for blush pinks and turquoise while elevating the room with flashes of gold and silver metallic pieces. For a sense of play and to tie the space together we punctuated the kid-friendly living room with an eclectic juxtaposition of colors and materials, from a beautifully patchworked geometric cowhide rug from All Modern, to a whimsical mirror placed over an unexpected, bold geometric credenza, to the blush velvet barrel chair and abstract blue watercolor pillows. “When sourcing furniture and objects, we chose items that had rounded edges and were shatter proof as it was vital to keep each room’s decor childproof.” Vivian ads. Their vision for the den remained chic, with comfort and practical functionality key to create an area for the young family to come together. For the den, our main challenge was working around the pre-existing dark gray sectional sofa. To combat its chunkiness, we played off of the hues in the cubist framed prints placed above and focused on blue and orange accents which complement and play off of each other well. We selected orange storage ottomans in easy to clean, kid-friendly leather to maximize space and functionality. To personalize the appeal of the den we included black and white framed family photos. In the end, the result created a fun, relaxed space where our clients can enjoy family moments or watch a game while taking in the scenic view of their backyard. For harmony between the rooms, the overall tone for each room is mid-century modern meets bold, yet classic contemporary through the use of mixed materials and fabrications including marble, stone, metals and plush velvet, creating a cozy yet sophisticated enough atmosphere for entertaining family and friends and raising a young children. “The result od this family friendly room was really fantastic! Adding some greenery, more pillows and throws really made the space pop.” Vivian C. Decor Aid’s Designer

Music studio with soft glow from translucent polycarbonate exterior skin - photo: Ben Benschneider
Trendy dark wood floor family room photo in Seattle with a music area and white walls

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Kansas City

Located in the charming High Pines neighborhood, this project was born out of necessity and vision. The homeowners—a couple with three young daughters—had outgrown their dated home but found that the cost and compromises of buying a new property in Miami simply didn’t make sense. Instead, they chose to invest in a full-scale renovation, tailored to enhance their lifestyle, maximize space, and modernize every corner of their home. The transformation included opening up the kitchen to create more connected living spaces, enclosing a discreet laundry room, remodeling all bedrooms and bathrooms, creating a resort-style outdoor retreat with a new pool, patio, and outdoor kitchen, and building an 800-square-foot master suite addition. The result is a cohesive, family-friendly design that balances style, comfort, and function. Main Living Areas At the heart of the home, the kitchen showcases custom Shaker-style cabinetry, sleek quartz countertops, and a spacious central island designed for entertaining. Pendant lights above the island add warmth and character, while linear diffusers subtly enhance airflow. Custom refrigerator panels create a cohesive, high-end aesthetic, all set atop durable wood-look porcelain tile flooring that extends throughout the living spaces. Flowing effortlessly into the living room, the open-concept design promotes comfort and sophistication. Recessed and linear LED lighting highlight a striking tropical wood feature wall, while a wood slat divider adds architectural interest and provides subtle separation without sacrificing openness. Hidden within this feature wall is a discreet door leading to a new, efficiently designed laundry room. Master Suite Addition A major highlight of the renovation is the luxurious 800-square-foot master suite addition, a serene retreat offering privacy and indulgence. The master bedroom features linear LED lights, elegant pendant lighting, and a space-saving pocket door that enhances flow. The adjoining master bathroom evokes a spa-like atmosphere, with a massive shower and built-in steam room as the centerpiece. A bold black-and-white geometric tile pattern brings striking visual contrast, complemented by globe-style light fixtures, a sleek vanity, dark wood cabinetry, and soft-toned hexagon tile flooring. A custom walk-in closet with tailored cabinetry completes the suite with a blend of organization and luxury. Outdoor Living The outdoor space was completely reimagined to function as an extension of the home—ideal for both relaxation and entertaining. The redesigned pool features a modern aesthetic with a party bench and sun shelf. The patio ceiling is finished in Thermo Wood Ayous for a warm, natural feel, while the gourmet outdoor kitchen boasts porcelain countertops, dark blue cabinetry with stainless steel hardware, and a high-end stainless steel grill. Additional Spaces Throughout the home, the existing bedrooms and bathrooms were fully renovated to meet the needs of the growing family. Custom mahogany and painted Shaker-style vanities, porcelain tile, glass shower enclosures, new doors, flooring, and upgraded closet systems bring functionality and design into every corner. Curb Appeal The renovation begins at the front door with a striking modern tropical wood entry, porcelain tile pathway, and a stucco clapboard façade. Rich Thermo Wood Ayous soffits add depth and warmth to the exterior, creating a welcoming and cohesive aesthetic that hints at the thoughtful transformation within.

Emilio Collavino
Example of a trendy built-in desk gray floor home office design in Miami with gray walls

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

This garden is a perfect example of contemporary city design for a small space. Two custom built hardwood planters provide some height and depth to the narrow front yard. While the tile walkway is set on a stable concrete base ensuring safe passage in and out of the home in both summer and winter. The private back yard maximizes space by using a custom built hardwood table as both an architectural piece that defines the fire pit area, and an optional servery for larger dining parties. Photo credit: Jamen Rhodes

Fireclay's handmade tiles are perfect for visually maximizing smaller spaces. For these condo dwellers, mustard yellow kitchen tiles along the backsplash infuse the space with warmth and charm. Tile Shown: 2x8 Tile in Mustard Seed DESIGN Taylor + Taylor Co PHOTOS Tiffany J. Photography

Easton, Maryland Traditional Kitchen Design by #JenniferGilmer with a lake view http://gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod

Spaces and Faces Photography
Example of a bedroom design in Austin

Stephani Buchman
Alcove shower - mid-sized traditional white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and beige floor alcove shower idea in Toronto with beige cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and recessed-panel cabinets

Inspiration for a mid-sized 1960s open concept and formal medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Seattle with white walls, a wall-mounted tv and no fireplace

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2015 Houzz
Home office - eclectic home office idea in San Francisco

Our goal on this project was to make the main floor of this lovely early 20th century home in a popular Vancouver neighborhood work for a growing family of four. We opened up the space, both literally and aesthetically, with windows and skylights, an efficient layout, some carefully selected furniture pieces and a soft colour palette that lends a light and playful feel to the space. Our clients can hardly believe that their once small, dark, uncomfortable main floor has become a bright, functional and beautiful space where they can now comfortably host friends and hang out as a family. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating Inc. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.