Zach DeSart
Bedroom - transitional carpeted bedroom idea in New York with no fireplace

Striking Texas native botanical design with local river rock top dressing. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/

Inspiration for a large transitional single-wall porcelain tile and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

The kitchen has shades of dark grey, charcoal for its countertops, kithchen island, and cabinets. The charcoal glass backsplash completes the dark look. Equipments, devices and food products are ingeniously hidden behind the charcoal lacquered panels. All the appliances are integrated and the fridge is panel-ready. Image credits: Francis Raymond

Bruce Damonte
Mid-sized minimalist open concept concrete floor family room photo in San Francisco with white walls

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Austin

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

Mid-sized 1960s beige one-story brick exterior home photo in Dallas

The goal in building this home was to create an exterior esthetic that elicits memories of a Tuscan Villa on a hillside and also incorporates a modern feel to the interior. Modern aspects were achieved using an open staircase along with a 25' wide rear folding door. The addition of the folding door allows us to achieve a seamless feel between the interior and exterior of the house. Such creates a versatile entertaining area that increases the capacity to comfortably entertain guests. The outdoor living space with covered porch is another unique feature of the house. The porch has a fireplace plus heaters in the ceiling which allow one to entertain guests regardless of the temperature. The zero edge pool provides an absolutely beautiful backdrop—currently, it is the only one made in Indiana. Lastly, the master bathroom shower has a 2' x 3' shower head for the ultimate waterfall effect. This house is unique both outside and in.

This remodel project in Kirkland involved a new chef’s kitchen, updated family room and fully transformed bathrooms. The once dark and dated kitchen was completely reimagined by brightening the space, reconfiguring the island to create a larger and more usable cooking area and maximizing the storage throughout by adding custom floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. The transformed bathrooms find the perfect balance of design harmony and practicality through creative layout enhancements coupled with a charming modern farmhouse vibe.

Trendy porch idea in Nashville

Living room - large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in San Diego with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Example of a trendy 3/4 gray tile walk-in shower design in Boston with gray walls

Design Firm: Dallas Design Group, Interiors Designer: Tracy Rasor Photography: Dan Piassick
Inspiration for a transitional wine cellar remodel in Dallas with storage racks

Cassiopeia Way Residence Architect: Locati Architects General Contractor: SBC Interior Designer: Jane Legasa Photography: Zakara Photography
Dining room - modern dining room idea

Keep your beverages the perfect temperature without the look of traditional appliances! Perlick proudly offers wood overlay models that accept the same cabinet fronts as your new or surrounding cabinetry. Photo/Perlick

Modern Duplex in the heart of Chelsea hosts a family with a love for art. The open kitchen and dining area reside on the upper level, and overlook the square living room with double-height ceilings, a wall of glass, a half bathroom, and access to the private 711 sq foot out door patio.a double height 19' ceiling in the living room, shows off oil-finished, custom stained, solid oak flooring, Aprilaire temperature sensors with remote thermostat, recessed base moldings and Nanz hardware throughout.Kitchen custom-designed and built Poliform cabinetry, Corian countertops and Miele appliances Photo Credit: Francis Augustine

Photo Credit: Mark Woods
Living room - mid-sized industrial open concept concrete floor living room idea in Seattle with white walls, no fireplace and a tv stand

Ryann Ford
Example of a farmhouse home design design in Austin