A little greenery goes a long way! Here, the tall fiddle-leaf fig tree next to the client's monumental painting was the perfect antidote to an otherwise gaping white space. Shiny brass accents complement the warm walnut finishes throughout. Photo by Claire Esparros.

Inspiration for a rustic custom-shaped pool remodel in Dallas

Example of a mountain style brown three-story wood exterior home design in Salt Lake City

While this new home had an architecturally striking exterior, the home’s interior fell short in terms of true functionality and overall style. The most critical element in this renovation was the kitchen and dining area, which needed careful attention to bring it to the level that suited the home and the homeowners. As a graduate of Culinary Institute of America, our client wanted a kitchen that “feels like a restaurant, with the warmth of a home kitchen,” where guests can gather over great food, great wine, and truly feel comfortable in the open concept home. Although it follows a typical chef’s galley layout, the unique design solutions and unusual materials set it apart from the typical kitchen design. Polished countertops, laminated and stainless cabinets fronts, and professional appliances are complemented by the introduction of wood, glass, and blackened metal – materials introduced in the overall design of the house. Unique features include a wall clad in walnut for dangling heavy pots and utensils; a floating, sculptural walnut countertop piece housing an herb garden; an open pantry that serves as a coffee bar and wine station; and a hanging chalkboard that hides a water heater closet and features different coffee offerings available to guests. The dining area addition, enclosed by windows, continues to vivify the organic elements and brings in ample natural light, enhancing the darker finishes and creating additional warmth. Photography by Ira Montgomery

This natural gas fire pit is the perfect place for entertaining, offering built in natural stone bench seating, natural boulder seating, and room for chairs. The water feature adds to the ambiance, providing the tranquil sound of a natural creek.

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash and an island

Nat Rea
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Providence with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo by Kay Kim/Rill Architects
Inspiration for a craftsman bathroom remodel in DC Metro

The owners acquired an adjacent property and called on our firm and a team of consultants to join the properties into one seamless private park like setting complete with a Pool Pavilion and Pool. A study of light and space, The Pavilion offers different experiences at different times of the day. The optimum display of light and transparency occurs at dusk. At that hour, one can catch the reflections in the pool and the glowing of this small jewel within in the landscape. Amenities include an air conditioned lounging area with TV and kitchen/bar, a laundry and changing room, a private bathroom with shower, an additional outdoor shower and a full basement for storage of pool toys and equipment. The contemporary approach combines rich woods, stainless steel, and concrete with marble, glass tile and natural stones. Cedar shingles, a nod to the main house, recede into the landscape while the soaring glass windows and doors flood the space with light and views back into the landscape. The building also features a bead board ceiling and exposed structure. This blend of materials yields a sophisticated modern design that is calm and cheerful while providing conditioned entertaining space for the Owner’s family and friends. The client gushes “I feel like I am transported-- on vacation-- every time I open the doors and enter the space.” Robert Glasgow Photography

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Influenced by English Cotswold and French country architecture, this eclectic European lake home showcases a predominantly stone exterior paired with a cedar shingle roof. Interior features like wide-plank oak floors, plaster walls, custom iron windows in the kitchen and great room and a custom limestone fireplace create old world charm. An open floor plan and generous use of glass allow for views from nearly every space and create a connection to the gardens and abundant outdoor living space. Kevin Meechan / Meechan Architectural Photography

The kitchen at Reclaimed Wonder is a study in modern rustic charm, anchored by a striking black backsplash that brings depth and contrast to the space. Warm reclaimed wood, indigenous stone, and thoughtfully layered finishes create a kitchen that feels both artful and inviting—designed as much for beauty as for gathering. Created by the talented architects at Platt Architecture, this custom home is located within the private Wade Hampton Golf Club community in Cashiers, North Carolina. Every detail of the home was carefully considered, from the reclaimed beams and wall planks to the warm amber lighting that enhances the natural palette. Set against the serene beauty of the mountains, Reclaimed Wonder offers a refined retreat that feels deeply connected to its surroundings. J,Weiland

Gibeon Photography
Kitchen/dining room combo - rustic u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, brown backsplash, stainless steel appliances and beige walls

Affiniti Architects Brantley Photography
Inspiration for a large tropical two-story exterior home remodel in Miami with a hip roof

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Charlotte with gray walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Cape Cod; Dennis, MA The design features a prominent Wolf stainless steel range, which serves as a professional-grade centerpiece for the room. A custom-crafted range hood with a clean, light finish is built directly into the off white cabinetry, blending seamlessly with the surrounding design. The kitchen walls and countertops are covered in a white marble with subtle veining, providing a sophisticated and timeless backdrop. This material extends from the countertop to the full backsplash behind the stove, creating a cohesive and luxurious look. The classic Cape Cod feel is enhanced by the off white-painted cabinetry, which includes both solid doors and upper cabinets with glass fronts for displaying dishes. The kitchen island, featuring a dark countertop, adds a striking contrast to the light color palette and offers a central space for meal prep and gathering. The overall design incorporates bright, reflective surfaces and an open layout, which are key elements of coastal kitchens that aim to feel spacious and airy.

Everyone loves to hang out in the kitchen, and the Kitchen Island from the Magnolia Home collection will add a nostalgic focal point to gather round. Inspired by a vintage kitchen worktable, it has a worn-in character with its distressed Bench wood stain finish. Also available in Jo's White painted finish. - Sheet metal top in aged zinc finish. - Wide tapering legs. - Towel bars on both ends. - Open bottom shelf. - Drawers for kitchen tool storage. - Metal bar hardware in black finish. The beautiful Magnolia Home line was designed exclusively by Joanna Gaines to convey her fresh, unique design style that embodies her lifestyle of home and family. Each piece falls onto a specific genre: Boho, Farmhouse, French Inspired, Industrial, Primitive or Traditional. Painted finishes and wood stains are offered that replicate the look of age-worn vintage patinas. This piece is part of her Farmhouse genre, which is welcoming, comfortable and timelessly fresh. It features charming details such as scalloped trim, farmhouse-style turnings and age-worn finishes. Farmhouse is a nostalgic look into the way things used to be; how people worked with their hands, came home, ate well, and rested. It's a story of times past, how things used to be made, how they used to look. This style is the simplicity and timelessness of the past.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

With a lengthy list of ideas about how to transform their backyard, the clients were excited to see what we could do. Existing features on site needed to be updated and in-cooperated within the design. The view from each angle of the property was already outstanding and we didn't want the design to feel out of place. We had to make the grade changes work to our advantage, each separate space had to have a purpose. The client wanted to use the property for charity events, so a large flat turf area was constructed at the back of the property, perfect for setting up tables, chairs and a stage if needed. It also created the perfect look out point into the back of the property, dropping off into a ravine. A lot of focus throughout the project was the plant selection. With a large amount of garden beds, we wanted to maintain a clean and formal look, while still offering seasonal interest. We did this by edging the beds with boxwoods, adding white hydrangeas throughout the beds for constant colour, and subtle pops of purple and yellow. This along with the already breathtaking natural backdrop of the space, is more than enough to make this project stand out. Photographer: Jason Hartog Photography