A ground floor mudroom features a center island bench with lots storage drawers underneath. This bench is a perfect place to sit and lace up hiking boots, get ready for snowshoeing, or just hanging out before a swim. Surrounding the mudroom are more window seats and floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets made in rustic knotty pine architectural millwork. Down the hall, are two changing rooms with separate water closets and in a few more steps, the room opens up to a kitchenette with a large sink. A nearby laundry area is conveniently located to handle wet towels and beachwear. Woodmeister Master Builders made all the custom cabinetry and performed the general contracting. Marcia D. Summers was the interior designer. Greg Premru Photography

Island style bathroom photo in Bridgeport with a vessel sink, blue cabinets and multicolored walls

The classic 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Blaine boasts a timeless, traditional façade of stone and cedar shake. Inspired by both the relaxed Shingle Style that swept the East Coast at the turn of the century, and the all-American Four Square found around the country. The home features Old World architecture paired with every modern convenience, along with unparalleled craftsmanship and quality design. The curb appeal starts at the street, where a caramel-colored shingle and stone façade invite you inside from the European-style courtyard. Other highlights include irregularly shaped windows, a charming dovecote and cupola, along with a variety of welcoming window boxes on the street side. The lakeside includes two porches designed to take full advantage of the views, a lower-level walk out, and stone arches that lend an aura of both elegance and permanence. Step inside, and the interiors will not disappoint. The spacious foyer featuring a wood staircase leads into a large, open living room with a natural stone fireplace, rustic beams and nearby walkout deck. Also adjacent is a screened-in porch that leads down to the lower level, and the lakeshore. The nearby kitchen includes a large two-tiered multi-purpose island topped with butcher block, perfect for both entertaining and food preparation. This informal dining area allows for large gatherings of family and friends. Leave the family area, cross the foyer and enter your private retreat — a master bedroom suite attached to a luxurious master bath, private sitting room, and sun room. Who needs vacation when it’s such a pleasure staying home? The second floor features two cozy bedrooms, a bunkroom with built-in sleeping area, and a convenient home office. In the lower level, a relaxed family room and billiards area are accompanied by a pub and wine cellar. Further on, two additional bedrooms await.

This smart kitchen renovation in Silver Spring, Maryland, involved removing three walls and a centrally located powder room and a closet. The powder room was relocated into the original closet area, and the patio door moved nearby. The main window was enlarged to create an anchor and focal point for the new kitchen as well as to enhance the view onto the lovely backyard. An angled island keeps the room feeling spacious and open, and a corner pantry was designed so as not to lose precious storage space.

Taking inspiration from the agrarian site and a rustic architectural vernacular this terraced hillside garden evolved in response to time and place. The design vision was to celebrate the site, preserve the oak trees, accentuate views and create opportunities for modern day recreation and play. Michele Lee Willson Phototgraphy

Coastal style powder room remodeling in Alexandria VA with blue vanity, blue wall paper, and hardwood flooring.
Example of a small beach style blue tile medium tone wood floor, brown floor and wallpaper powder room design in DC Metro with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multicolored walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Mid-sized cottage white two-story stucco house exterior photo in Austin with a shed roof

Country Home. Photographer: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in New York with blue walls, a brick fireplace and a standard fireplace

This is a small condo backyard which was originally a steep hill and was not a useable space. We terraced with stone and created 2 seating areas.The main outdoor living space now has an outdoor kitchen and stone fireplace. The garden includes succulents, seasonal color, and drought tolerant plants.

The classic 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Blaine boasts a timeless, traditional façade of stone and cedar shake. Inspired by both the relaxed Shingle Style that swept the East Coast at the turn of the century, and the all-American Four Square found around the country. The home features Old World architecture paired with every modern convenience, along with unparalleled craftsmanship and quality design. The curb appeal starts at the street, where a caramel-colored shingle and stone façade invite you inside from the European-style courtyard. Other highlights include irregularly shaped windows, a charming dovecote and cupola, along with a variety of welcoming window boxes on the street side. The lakeside includes two porches designed to take full advantage of the views, a lower-level walk out, and stone arches that lend an aura of both elegance and permanence. Step inside, and the interiors will not disappoint. The spacious foyer featuring a wood staircase leads into a large, open living room with a natural stone fireplace, rustic beams and nearby walkout deck. Also adjacent is a screened-in porch that leads down to the lower level, and the lakeshore. The nearby kitchen includes a large two-tiered multi-purpose island topped with butcher block, perfect for both entertaining and food preparation. This informal dining area allows for large gatherings of family and friends. Leave the family area, cross the foyer and enter your private retreat — a master bedroom suite attached to a luxurious master bath, private sitting room, and sun room. Who needs vacation when it’s such a pleasure staying home? The second floor features two cozy bedrooms, a bunkroom with built-in sleeping area, and a convenient home office. In the lower level, a relaxed family room and billiards area are accompanied by a pub and wine cellar. Further on, two additional bedrooms await.

Example of a transitional multicolored tile powder room design in Austin with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink and white countertops

Transitional medium tone wood floor, brown floor and exposed beam breakfast nook photo in Austin with white walls and no fireplace

Gorgeous all blue kitchen cabinetry featuring brass and gold accents on hood, pendant lights and cabinetry hardware. The stunning intracoastal waterway views and sparkling turquoise water add more beauty to this fabulous kitchen.

Firmness . . . Santa Cruz’s historically eclectic Pleasure Point neighborhood has been evolving in its own quirky way for almost a century, and many of its inhabitants seem to have been around just as long. They cling to the relaxed and funky seaside character of their beach community with an almost indignant provinciality. For both client and architect, neighborhood context became the singular focus of the design; to become the “poster child” for compatibility and sustainability. Dozens of photos were taken of the surrounding area as inspiration, with the goal of honoring the idiosyncratic, fine-grained character and informal scale of a neighborhood built over time. A low, horizontal weathered ipe fence at the street keeps out surfer vans and neighborhood dogs, and a simple gate beckons visitors to stroll down the boardwalk which gently angles toward the front door. A rusted steel fire pit is the focus of this ground level courtyard, which is encircled by a curving cor-ten garden wall graced by a sweep of horse tail reeds and tufts of feather grass. Extensive day-lighting throughout the home is achieved with high windows placed in all directions in all major rooms, resulting in an abundance of natural light throughout. The clients report having only to turning on lights at nightfall. Notable are the numerous passive solar design elements: careful attention to overhangs and shading devices at South- and West-facing glass to control heat gain, and passive ventilation via high windows in the tower elements, all are significant contributors to the structure’s energy efficiency. Commodity . . . Beautiful views of Monterey Bay and the lively local beach scene became the main drivers in plan and section. The upper floor was intentionally set back to preserve ocean views of the neighbor to the north. The surf obsessed clients wished to be able to see the “break” from their upper floor breakfast table perch, able to take a moment’s notice advantage of some killer waves. A tiny 4,500 s.f. lot and a desire to create a ground level courtyard for entertaining dictated the small footprint. A graceful curving cor-ten and stainless steel stair descends from the upper floor living areas, connecting them to a ground level “sanctuary”. A small detached art studio/surfboard storage shack in the back yard fulfills functional requirements, and includes an outdoor shower for the post-surf hose down. Parking access off a back alley helps to preserve ground floor space, and allows in the southern sun on the view/courtyard side. A relaxed “bare foot beach house” feel is underscored by weathered oak floors, painted re-sawn wall finishes, and painted wood ceilings, which recall the cozy cabins that stood here at Breakers Beach for nearly a century. Delight . . . Commemorating the history of the property was a priority for the surfing couple. With that in mind, they created an artistic reproduction of the original sign that decorated the property for many decades as an homage to the “Cozy Cabins at Breakers Beach”, which now graces the foyer. This casual assemblage of local vernacular architecture has been informed by the consistent scale and simple materials of nearby cottages, shacks, and bungalows. These influences were distilled down to a palette of board and batt, clapboard, and cedar shiplap, and synthesized with bolder forms that evoke images of nearby Capitola Wharf, beach lifeguard towers, and the client’s “surf shack” program requirements. The landscape design takes its cues from boardwalks, rusted steel fire rings, and native grasses, all of which firmly tie the building to its local beach community. The locals have embraced it as one of their own. Architect - Noel Cross Architect Landscape Architect - Christopher Yates Interior Designer - Gina Viscusi-Elson Lighting Designer - Vita Pehar Design Contractor - The Conrado Company

Adding a tile that has a pattern brings so much life to this kitchen. An amazing wood island top is a great mix of textures and style to this eclectic kitchen. Keeping the barstools low but functional keeps the big features of the kitchen at the forefront.

Small beach style enclosed porcelain tile and gray floor family room photo in Boston with blue walls, a corner fireplace and a concrete fireplace

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architect: Swan Architecture | Interiors: Katie Redpath Constable | Landscaping: Bechler Landscapes | Photography: Landmark Photography

Classic Craftsman home in South Tampa, Florida. Exterior paint color is Sherwin Williams Naval Blue, SW6244. Photo by Fastpix.
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts blue two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior design in Tampa with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Hot trend alert: bookmatched vertical grain cabinetry. A mouthful but oh so pretty to look at.
Mid-sized trendy single-wall vinyl floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops