This kitchen was part of a whole house remodel and, as such, it required a complete reimagining of the space. Given the new layout of the rather upscale home, the kitchen would be relatively open to other areas and could not sacrifice elegance for the purpose of functionality. Meanwhile, high functionality was a major requirement as the client was a cook who required professional appliances, wide countertop work areas and plenty of storage space. At $85,000, the kitchen fell well within the client’s budget while meeting her expectations.

Photographed by the uber-talented Mark Menjivar. Detail shot of teenager's bedroom.
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Austin

MEANWHILE 2 | 48"x96"x1.5" installed in contemporary Los Angeles residence
Inspiration for a 90 to 99 inch, landscape orientation, original, 45 to 49 inch high and large contemporary canvas 1-piece abstract, contemporary-style, carpeted and beige floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

This kitchen was part of a whole house remodel and, as such, it required a complete reimagining of the space. Given the new layout of the rather upscale home, the kitchen would be relatively open to other areas and could not sacrifice elegance for the purpose of functionality. Meanwhile, high functionality was a major requirement as the client was a cook who required professional appliances, wide countertop work areas and plenty of storage space. At $85,000, the kitchen fell well within the client’s budget while meeting her expectations.

This Houston bathroom features polished chrome and a black-and-white palette, lending plenty of glamour and visual drama. "We incorporated many of the latest bathroom design trends - like the metallic finish on the claw feet of the tub; crisp, bright whites and the oversized tiles on the shower wall," says Outdoor Homescapes' interior project designer, Lisha Maxey. "But the overall look is classic and elegant and will hold up well for years to come." As you can see from the "before" pictures, this 300-square foot, long, narrow space has come a long way from its outdated, wallpaper-bordered beginnings. "The client - a Houston woman who works as a physician's assistant - had absolutely no idea what to do with her bathroom - she just knew she wanted it updated," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "Lisha did a tremendous job helping this woman find her own personal style while keeping the project enjoyable and organized." Let's start the tour with the new, updated floors. Black-and-white Carrara marble mosaic tile has replaced the old 8-inch tiles. (All the tile, by the way, came from Floor & Décor. So did the granite countertop.) The walls, meanwhile, have gone from ho-hum beige to Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. (The trim is Reflective White, also by Sherwin Williams.) Polished "Absolute Black" granite now gleams where the pink-and-gray marble countertops used to be; white vessel bowls have replaced the black undermount black sinks and the cabinets got an update with glass-and-chrome knobs and pulls (note the matching towel bars): The outdated black tub also had to go. In its place we put a doorless shower. Across from the shower sits a claw foot tub - a 66' inch Sanford cast iron model in black, with polished chrome Imperial feet. "The waincoting behind it and chandelier above it," notes Maxey, "adds an upscale, finished look and defines the tub area as a separate space." The shower wall features 6 x 18-inch tiles in a brick pattern - "White Ice" porcelain tile on top, "Absolute Black" granite on the bottom. A beautiful tile mosaic border - Bianco Carrara basketweave marble - serves as an accent ribbon between the two. Covering the shower floor - a classic white porcelain hexagon tile. Mounted above - a polished chrome European rainshower head. "As always, the client was able to look at - and make changes to - 3D renderings showing how the bathroom would look from every angle when done," says Franks. "Having that kind of control over the details has been crucial to our client satisfaction," says Franks. "And it's definitely paid off for us, in all our great reviews on Houzz and in our Best of Houzz awards for customer service." And now on to final details! Accents and décor from Restoration Hardware definitely put Maxey's designer touch on the space - the iron-and-wood French chandelier, polished chrome vanity lights and swivel mirrors definitely knocked this bathroom remodel out of the park!

Moving from the city, these homebuilders bought a vacant lot in the country, allowing them to put their dreams and ideals to reality. KKLA sited the house and outdoor living spaces to take advantage of protection from afternoon sun and winds. The straw-bale construction and orientation of the house allow for indoor comfort during the hottest days, without the use of air-conditioning. Meanwhile, sustainable practices such as bio-swales and permeable paving complement the drought-tolerant landscape. The property now feels abundant and complete with native plants, wildflower meadows, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden, not to mention an organic vineyard, a lavender farm, a barn and horse paddocks, chickens and a faithful old lab. Photographed by Karin Kaufman

These homeowners can enjoy a spa-like experience right in their own backyard thanks to a symmetrical water feature that sets the mood and helps buffer noise from surrounding properties. Meanwhile, a contemporary firepit was placed closer to the home as the main gathering spot. The firepit, water feature and pillars were all constructed with the new Unilock U-Cara Multiface Wall system.

This project is all about getting the owner's home refreshed for renters to occupy until owner gets back and starts the serious kitchen remodel in a year or so. Meanwhile adding to the NEW 30" x 30" tile floors installed a year or so ago are; all new paint, improved door hardware, refreshed birch cabinets, new island and work counters, custom soffit treatment extended, window coverings throughout., painted pantry barn door. and new light fixtures for entry, ceiling fan and light for family room and lighting for kitchen and breakfast nook.

These homeowners can enjoy a spa-like experience right in their own backyard thanks to a symmetrical water feature that sets the mood and helps buffer noise from surrounding properties. Meanwhile, a contemporary firepit was placed closer to the home as the main gathering spot. The firepit, water feature and pillars were all constructed with the new Unilock U-Cara Multiface Wall system.

In this project, Rochman Design Build converted an unfinished basement of a new Ann Arbor home into a stunning home pub and entertaining area, with commercial grade space for the owners' craft brewing passion. The feel is that of a speakeasy as a dark and hidden gem found in prohibition time. The materials include charcoal stained concrete floor, an arched wall veneered with red brick, and an exposed ceiling structure painted black. Bright copper is used as the sparkling gem with a pressed-tin-type ceiling over the bar area, which seats 10, copper bar top and concrete counters. Old style light fixtures with bare Edison bulbs, well placed LED accent lights under the bar top, thick shelves, steel supports and copper rivet connections accent the feel of the 6 active taps old-style pub. Meanwhile, the brewing room is splendidly modern with large scale brewing equipment, commercial ventilation hood, wash down facilities and specialty equipment. A large window allows a full view into the brewing room from the pub sitting area. In addition, the space is large enough to feel cozy enough for 4 around a high-top table or entertain a large gathering of 50. The basement remodel also includes a wine cellar, a guest bathroom and a room that can be used either as guest room or game room, and a storage area.

Moving from the city, these homebuilders bought a vacant lot in the country, allowing them to put their dreams and ideals to reality. KKLA sited the house and outdoor living spaces to take advantage of protection from afternoon sun and winds. The straw-bale construction and orientation of the house allow for indoor comfort during the hottest days, without the use of air-conditioning. Meanwhile, sustainable practices such as bio-swales and permeable paving complement the drought-tolerant landscape. The property now feels abundant and complete with native plants, wildflower meadows, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden, not to mention an organic vineyard, a lavender farm, a barn and horse paddocks, chickens and a faithful old lab. Photographed by Karin Kaufman

Moving from the city, these homebuilders bought a vacant lot in the country, allowing them to put their dreams and ideals to reality. KKLA sited the house and outdoor living spaces to take advantage of protection from afternoon sun and winds. The straw-bale construction and orientation of the house allow for indoor comfort during the hottest days, without the use of air-conditioning. Meanwhile, sustainable practices such as bio-swales and permeable paving complement the drought-tolerant landscape. The property now feels abundant and complete with native plants, wildflower meadows, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden, not to mention an organic vineyard, a lavender farm, a barn and horse paddocks, chickens and a faithful old lab. Photographed by Karin Kaufman

This kitchen was part of a whole house remodel and, as such, it required a complete reimagining of the space. Given the new layout of the rather upscale home, the kitchen would be relatively open to other areas and could not sacrifice elegance for the purpose of functionality. Meanwhile, high functionality was a major requirement as the client was a cook who required professional appliances, wide countertop work areas and plenty of storage space. At $85,000, the kitchen fell well within the client’s budget while meeting her expectations.

This kitchen was part of a whole house remodel and, as such, it required a complete reimagining of the space. Given the new layout of the rather upscale home, the kitchen would be relatively open to other areas and could not sacrifice elegance for the purpose of functionality. Meanwhile, high functionality was a major requirement as the client was a cook who required professional appliances, wide countertop work areas and plenty of storage space. At $85,000, the kitchen fell well within the client’s budget while meeting her expectations.

These homeowners can enjoy a spa-like experience right in their own backyard thanks to a symmetrical water feature that sets the mood and helps buffer noise from surrounding properties. Meanwhile, a contemporary firepit was placed closer to the home as the main gathering spot. The firepit, water feature and pillars were all constructed with the new Unilock U-Cara Multiface Wall system.

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Moving from the city, these homebuilders bought a vacant lot in the country, allowing them to put their dreams and ideals to reality. KKLA sited the house and outdoor living spaces to take advantage of protection from afternoon sun and winds. The straw-bale construction and orientation of the house allow for indoor comfort during the hottest days, without the use of air-conditioning. Meanwhile, sustainable practices such as bio-swales and permeable paving complement the drought-tolerant landscape. The property now feels abundant and complete with native plants, wildflower meadows, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden, not to mention an organic vineyard, a lavender farm, a barn and horse paddocks, chickens and a faithful old lab. Photographed by Karin Kaufman

These homeowners can enjoy a spa-like experience right in their own backyard thanks to a symmetrical water feature that sets the mood and helps buffer noise from surrounding properties. Meanwhile, a contemporary firepit was placed closer to the home as the main gathering spot. The firepit, water feature and pillars were all constructed with the new Unilock U-Cara Multiface Wall system.

An elegant, airy kitchen The Louis-Alphonse-Venne Project kitchen is distinguished by its minimalist yet sophisticated elegance. White polymer cabinets and a quartz countertop with a matte concrete effect add a contemporary touch to the space. The waxed concrete floor, meanwhile, creates a harmonious link between these different elements. Optimizing storage space is one of the kitchen's main assets. Shelves have been cleverly installed on the wall, while the sink area has been deliberately left free to create an airy, flowing space. To add warmth to the space, antique metro tiles were used for the backsplash. Finally, a Mitzi wall light adds to the room's luminosity. A bold staircase