_Photograph by Kim Schmidt_ This is a night shot of the living room seen in the previous photograph. As you can see, with the lack of light the shade has lost its translucency and it becomes almost like another painting in the room. The throw pillows on the "Lotus Sofa" by Soft Line are handmade with wooden beads. Their design keep the theme introduced with the Moroccan carpets throughout the room. Using a mirrored column in the far corner of the room tricked the viewers into thinking that the apartment expanded beyond its actual size.

Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic medium tone wood floor dining room photo in New York with beige walls and a standard fireplace

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Entryway - contemporary entryway idea in Austin

This Greek Revival row house in Boerum Hill was previously owned by a local architect who renovated it several times, including the addition of a two-story steel and glass extension at the rear. The new owners came to us seeking to restore the house and its original formality, while adapting it to the modern needs of a family of five. The detailing of the 25 x 36 foot structure had been lost and required some sleuthing into the history of Greek Revival style in historic Brooklyn neighborhoods. In addition to completely re-framing the interior, the house also required a new south-facing brick façade due to significant deterioration. The modern extension was replaced with a more traditionally detailed wood and copper- clad bay, still open to natural light and the garden view without sacrificing comfort. The kitchen was relocated from the first floor to the garden level with an adjacent formal dining room. Both rooms were enlarged from their previous iterations to accommodate weekly dinners with extended family. The kitchen includes a home office and breakfast nook that doubles as a homework station. The cellar level was further excavated to accommodate finished storage space and a playroom where activity can be monitored from the kitchen workspaces. The parlor floor is now reserved for entertaining. New pocket doors can be closed to separate the formal front parlor from the more relaxed back portion, where the family plays games or watches TV together. At the end of the hall, a powder room with brass details, and a luxe bar with antique mirrored backsplash and stone tile flooring, leads to the deck and direct garden access. Because of the property width, the house is able to provide ample space for the interior program within a shorter footprint. This allows the garden to remain expansive, with a small lawn for play, an outdoor food preparation area with a cast-in-place concrete bench, and a place for entertaining towards the rear. The newly designed landscaping will continue to develop, further enhancing the yard’s feeling of escape, and filling-in the views from the kitchen and back parlor above. A less visible, but equally as conscious, addition is a rooftop PV solar array that provides nearly 100% of the daily electrical usage, with the exception of the AC system on hot summer days. The well-appointed interiors connect the traditional backdrop of the home to a youthful take on classic design and functionality. The materials are elegant without being precious, accommodating a young, growing family. Unique colors and patterns provide a feeling of luxury while inviting inhabitants and guests to relax and enjoy this classic Brooklyn brownstone. This project won runner-up in the architecture category for the 2017 NYC&G Innovation in Design Awards and was featured in The American House: 100 Contemporary Homes. Photography by Francis Dzikowski / OTTO

Yup, your eyes do not deceive you. This is a real fishing boat cut in half and mounted on the ceiling. The hand painted mural/ artwork conveys a peaceful afternoon in the ocean from the perspective of a fish. The client has spent many a fine day fishing with his family, and wanted to celebrate his hobby in a big way. The ceiling includes my client catching a big marlin, with the end of a pole and actual line going to the Marlin mounted on the wall. His wife Peggy is enjoying the breeze and his daughter is dangling her feet in the water. His son has a snorkel mask on, peering down into the great room.

Isaac Turner
Minimalist kitchen photo in Philadelphia

Mia Baxter
Living room - contemporary formal living room idea in Austin with green walls

Inspiration for a huge transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room remodel in Miami with gray walls

Having a small child, loving to entertain and looking to declutter and kid-proof the gathering spaces of their home in the quaint village of Rockville Centre, Long Island, a stone’s throw from Manhattan, our client’s main objective was to have their living room and den transformed with a family friendly home makeover with mid-century modern tones boasting a formal, yet relaxed spirit Stepping into the home we found their living room and den both architecturally well appointed yet in need of modern transitional furniture pieces and the pops of color our clients admired, as there was a substantial amount of cool, cold grays in the rooms. Decor Aid designer Vivian C. approached the design and placement of the pieces sourced to be kid-friendly while remaining sophisticated and practical for entertaining. “We played off of the clients love for blush pinks, mid-century modern and turquoise. We played with the use of gold and silver metals to mix it up.” In the living room, we used the prominent bay window and its illuminating natural light as the main architectural focal point, while the fireplace and mantels soft white tone helped inform the minimalist color palette for which we styled the room around. To add warmth to the living room we played off of the clients love for blush pinks and turquoise while elevating the room with flashes of gold and silver metallic pieces. For a sense of play and to tie the space together we punctuated the kid-friendly living room with an eclectic juxtaposition of colors and materials, from a beautifully patchworked geometric cowhide rug from All Modern, to a whimsical mirror placed over an unexpected, bold geometric credenza, to the blush velvet barrel chair and abstract blue watercolor pillows. “When sourcing furniture and objects, we chose items that had rounded edges and were shatter proof as it was vital to keep each room’s decor childproof.” Vivian ads. Their vision for the den remained chic, with comfort and practical functionality key to create an area for the young family to come together. For the den, our main challenge was working around the pre-existing dark gray sectional sofa. To combat its chunkiness, we played off of the hues in the cubist framed prints placed above and focused on blue and orange accents which complement and play off of each other well. We selected orange storage ottomans in easy to clean, kid-friendly leather to maximize space and functionality. To personalize the appeal of the den we included black and white framed family photos. In the end, the result created a fun, relaxed space where our clients can enjoy family moments or watch a game while taking in the scenic view of their backyard. For harmony between the rooms, the overall tone for each room is mid-century modern meets bold, yet classic contemporary through the use of mixed materials and fabrications including marble, stone, metals and plush velvet, creating a cozy yet sophisticated enough atmosphere for entertaining family and friends and raising a young children. “The result od this family friendly room was really fantastic! Adding some greenery, more pillows and throws really made the space pop.” Vivian C. Decor Aid’s Designer

Matthew Millman
Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in San Francisco

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2015 Houzz
Eclectic entryway photo in San Francisco

New screened in porch with fireplace and landscape in backdrop, Morgan Howarth Photography
Mid-sized transitional screened-in back porch photo in DC Metro with decking and a roof extension

Photo: Corynne Pless © 2013 Houzz A stack of Megan’s handmade quilts decorate a white chair. The bright wall color and vintage accessories echo the eclectic, welcoming aesthetic throughout the home. Wall color: Raindrop, Sherwin Williams

Eclectic home office photo in San Francisco

This photo of our second re-design of a badly layed out three bedroom apartment re-visioned as a one bedroom loft. We added a hidden convertible bed behind the walnut panel to the right, for that unexpected guest. There is a wall of sliding glass panels to close the area off from the rest of the loft that will be sandblasted for privacy when the design goes into production. We were asked to depict a fully furnished environment that would appeal to a young couple looking to live the chic life in bustling, beyond popular Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Example of a mid-sized minimalist galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, tile countertops, black backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard concrete patio remodel in San Francisco with a roof extension