Despite its Old World finishes, the kitchen has every convenience a modern chef could hope for, including a Wolf range and a built-in Miele espresso machine. Custom hood is made from stainless steel and hammered copper. Photography Alain Jaramillo

Example of a mountain style medium tone wood floor living room design in Seattle with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor living room idea in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Larry Malvin Photography
Elegant u-shaped enclosed kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, wood countertops, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white backsplash

Inspiration for a small contemporary built-in desk painted wood floor and gray floor home office remodel in Seattle with multicolored walls

Inspiration for a large cottage slate floor, black floor and wainscoting entryway remodel in Chicago with multicolored walls

Karen Swanson of New England Design Works Designed this Pennville Kitchen for her own home, and it won not only the regional Sub-Zero award, but also the National Kitchen & Bath Association's medium kitchen of the year. Karen is located in Manchester, MA and can be reached at nedesignworks@gmail.com or 978.500.1096.

Rustic wood exterior home idea

Close-up of the brass hardware and white cabinet paint in the butler's pantry. Cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams' SW 7005 "Pure White". Isn't that backsplash tile fantastic?? Photo by Matthew Niemann

Renovation and addition of a 1940's Colonial into a family home that's modern, cool and classic. White interiors, dark floors, open plan, loads of natural light and easy access to outdoors makes this perfect for family and entertaining. Traditional meets modern. Award winning project . Judges say : "This renovation balances traditional attributes with modern clarity. Photo: Matthew Williams

This client came to us with a very clear vision of what she wanted, but she needed help to refine and execute the design. At our first meeting she described her style as somewhere between modern rustic and ‘granny chic’ – she likes cozy spaces with nods to the past, but also wanted to blend that with the more contemporary tastes of her husband and children. Functionally, the old layout was less than ideal with an oddly placed 3-sided fireplace and angled island creating traffic jams in and around the kitchen. By creating a U-shaped layout, we clearly defined the chef’s domain and created a circulation path that limits disruptions in the heart of the kitchen. While still an open concept, the black cabinets, bar height counter and change in flooring all add definition to the space. The vintage inspired black and white tile is a nod to the past while the black stainless range and matte black faucet are unmistakably modern. High on our client’s wish list was eliminating upper cabinets and keeping the countertops clear. In order to achieve this, we needed to ensure there was ample room in the base cabinets and reconfigured pantry for items typically stored above. The full height tile backsplash evokes exposed brick and serves as the backdrop for the custom wood-clad hood and decorative brass sconces – a perfect blend of rustic, modern and chic. Black and brass elements are repeated throughout the main floor in new hardware, lighting, and open shelves as well as the owners’ curated collection of family heirlooms and furnishings. In addition to renovating the kitchen, we updated the entire first floor with refinished hardwoods, new paint, wainscoting, wallcovering and beautiful new stained wood doors. Our client had been dreaming and planning this kitchen for 17 years and we’re thrilled we were able to bring it to life.

The concrete stair treads and steel risers wrap around the hand plastered elevator shaft. Photo by Lincoln Barber
Inspiration for an industrial concrete staircase remodel in Portland with concrete risers

Suggested products do not represent the products used in this image. Design featured is proprietary and contains custom work. (Dan Piassick, Photographer)

Photography: Nat Rea
Example of an ornate dark wood floor kitchen design in Providence with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Warm Laminate Floor with Barn Door
Bedroom - large transitional guest linoleum floor bedroom idea in Orange County with beige walls and no fireplace

Transitional gender-neutral nursery photo in Los Angeles with beige walls

Elegant u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo with open cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, multicolored backsplash and mosaic tile backsplash

Photography: Piston Design
Inspiration for a timeless porte cochere remodel in Houston