Staircase - contemporary wooden floating dark wood floor and open staircase idea in Los Angeles with white walls

We joined forces with JHL Design’s Holly Freres and Liz Morgan to transform a dark and dated Pearl District penthouse into an elegant and timeless home. The space was designed with European metropolitan interiors in mind, giving it the “Parisian Modern” look the clients desired. The team replaced cherry casework and red and ochre walls with clean white and neutral shades to brighten the space. The new applied wood paneling serves as an interesting architectural detail while modern fixtures and furniture keep it from feeling too traditional. The project also included new casework, new wood floors and carpet, new terrazzo countertops, new vanity and plumbing fixtures, and reworked cabinetry in the kitchen and pantry. Photos by Haris Kenjar.

The glass shelves of this built-in bar disappear and let the handmade mosaic tile in 24 karat gold glass, agate and quartz jewel glass shine as the focal point. Photo: David Livingston

A multi purpose room for the kids. This rooms serves as a hang out space, sleep over room with built in trundle bed, homework space with a custom desk and just a space for kids to get away from it all. Photography by Peter Rymwid.

Inspiration for a mediterranean kitchen remodel in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Freestanding bathtub - contemporary mosaic tile and white tile marble floor freestanding bathtub idea in Boston with an undermount sink, marble countertops, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

This charming kids guest room was design with fun and whimsy in mind. The client wanted to transform a spare bedroom into a guest room for kids. We achieved some fun and flare with a new coat of paint and Eskayel wallpaper to give the space character and movement. We furnished the room with a daybed that includes a trundle to accommodate two children. We added boho elements like a bright vintage Moroccan rug and mixed textures with pillows and blankets that have graphic patterns. The cave chair serves as a reading nook for bedtime stories and the mirrors on the walls add a bit of Middle Eastern flare. Photos by Amber Thrane.

Photo by Thom Greene
Inspiration for a shabby-chic style multicolored floor kitchen remodel in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets and blue cabinets

Keep electronics from migrating to a kitchen island, where they’re in the way, and give everybody a communications center. This built-in desk area can also serve as a mini office where parents can stay in the kitchen while kids do homework.

The Great Room holds a mirrored media cabinet with a plaster detailed ceiling complete with all new furnishings and a newly refinished floor....John Carlson Photography

Transitional laundry room photo in Chicago

Three level island... The homeowner’s wanted a large galley style kitchen with island. It was important to the wife the island be unique and serve many purposes. Our team used Google Sketchup to produce and present concept after concept. Each revision brought us closer to what you see. The final design boasted a two sided island (yes, there is storage under the bar) 6” thick cantilevered bar ledge over a steel armature, and waterfall counter tops on both ends. On one end we had a slit fabricated to receive one side of a tempered glass counter top. The other side is supported by a stainless steel inverted U. The couple usually enjoys breakfast or coffee and the morning news at this quaint spot. Photography by Juliana Franco

Photo by Gillean Proctor
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in Vancouver

Matt Vacca
Pool - mid-sized southwestern backyard concrete paver and rectangular pool idea in Phoenix

This "den" was quite generous in size and allowed for both a convertable daybed and home office space. We love the unique accents that give this fairly simple space some warmth and personality. The simple floorlamps are ideal when there is limited space. The modern take on the futon allows for casual seating or sleeping when the need arises. Photo:Anthony Cohen EightbyTen Photography

The mixture of grey green cabinets with the distressed wood floors and ceilings, gives this farmhouse kitchen a feeling of warmth. Cabinets: Brookhaven and the color is Green Stone Benjamin Moore paint color: There's not an exact match for Green Stone, but Gettysburg Grey, HC 107 is close. Sink: Krauss, model KHF200-30, stainless steel Faucet: Kraus, modelKPF-1602 Hardware: Restoration hardware, Dakota cup and Dakota round knob. The finish was either the chestnut or iron. Windows: Bloomberg is the manufacturer the hardware is from Restoration hardware--Dakota cup and Dakota round knob. The finish was either the chestnut or iron. Floors: European Oak that is wired brushed. The company is Provenza, Pompeii collection and the color is Amiata. Distressed wood: The wood is cedar that's been treated to look distressed! My client is brilliant , so he did some googling (is that a word?) and came across several sites that had a recipe to do just that. He put a steel wool pad into a jar of vinegar and let it sit for a bit. In another jar, he mixed black tea with water. Brush the tea on first and let it dry. Then brush on the steel wool/vinegar (don't forget to strain the wool). Voila, the wood turns dark. Andrew McKinney Photography

This home was featured in the July 2011 issue of “Log Cabin Homes.” It proves efficiency doesn’t have to be sacrificed when designing grand elegance. Even with its cathedral ceilings and many windows it earned a 5 Star Plus Energy Star® rating. http://www.coventryloghomes.com/ourDesigns/craftsmanSeries/BearRock/model.html Roger Wade