This brick and limestone, 6,000-square-foot residence exemplifies understated elegance. Located in the award-wining Blaine School District and within close proximity to the Southport Corridor, this is city living at its finest! The foyer, with herringbone wood floors, leads to a dramatic, hand-milled oval staircase; an architectural element that allows sunlight to cascade down from skylights and to filter throughout the house. The floor plan has stately-proportioned rooms and includes formal Living and Dining Rooms; an expansive, eat-in, gourmet Kitchen/Great Room; four bedrooms on the second level with three additional bedrooms and a Family Room on the lower level; a Penthouse Playroom leading to a roof-top deck and green roof; and an attached, heated 3-car garage. Additional features include hardwood flooring throughout the main level and upper two floors; sophisticated architectural detailing throughout the house including coffered ceiling details, barrel and groin vaulted ceilings; painted, glazed and wood paneling; laundry rooms on the bedroom level and on the lower level; five fireplaces, including one outdoors; and HD Video, Audio and Surround Sound pre-wire distribution through the house and grounds. The home also features extensively landscaped exterior spaces, designed by Prassas Landscape Studio. This home went under contract within 90 days during the Great Recession. Featured in Chicago Magazine: http://goo.gl/Gl8lRm Jim Yochum

Photographer: Isabelle Eubanks Interiors: Modern Organic Interiors, Architect: Simpson Design Group, Builder: Milne Design and Build
Inspiration for a farmhouse living room remodel in San Francisco

Jeff Herr
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface countertops, stainless steel appliances, white walls and an island

This Winchester home was love at first sight for this young family of four. The layout lacked function, had no master suite to speak of, an antiquated kitchen, non-existent connection to the outdoor living space and an absentee mud room… yes, true love. Windhill Builders to the rescue! Design and build a sanctuary that accommodates the daily, sometimes chaotic lifestyle of a busy family that provides practical function, exceptional finishes and pure comfort. We think the photos tell the story of this happy ending. Feast your eyes on the kitchen with its crisp, clean finishes and black accents that carry throughout the home. The Imperial Danby Honed Marble countertops, floating shelves, contrasting island painted in Benjamin Moore Timberwolfe add drama to this beautiful space. Flow around the kitchen, cozy family room, coffee & wine station, pantry, and work space all invite and connect you to the magnificent outdoor living room complete with gilded iron statement fixture. It’s irresistible! The master suite indulges with its dreamy slumber shades of grey, walk-in closet perfect for a princess and a glorious bath to wash away the day. Once an absentee mudroom, now steals the show with its black built-ins, gold leaf pendant lighting and unique cement tile. The picture-book New England front porch, adorned with rocking chairs provides the classic setting for ‘summering’ with a glass of cold lemonade. Joyelle West Photography

Custom cabinetry is handcrafted from Reclaimed Chestnut. Stainless steel appliances and a clean subway tile with gray grout add a contemporary flare. Photo Credit: Crown Point Cabinetry

Warm hardwood floors keep the space grounded. The dark cherry island cabinets compliment the oil-rubbed bronze metal hood and the granite perimeter countertops while simple white subway backsplash tile with a pillowed edge creates a calming backdrop to help complete the look of this well-designed transitional kitchen. The homeowners bright glass accessories add a colorful finishing touch.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile porcelain tile, black floor and double-sink freestanding bathtub remodel in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

The 13' solid cherry countertop was stained to match the hardwood floors. The cabinet doors and drawers are a Shaker style, and feature brush oil rubbed bronze cup pulls and knobs for the hardware. The built-ins and trim are painted with Sherwin Williams Alabaster. On the walls we used Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.

Kitchen - large cottage medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Boston with shaker cabinets, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, an island, red cabinets, wood countertops and stainless steel appliances

Kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in New Orleans with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Liquid Design & Architecture Inc.
Example of a cottage chic dark wood floor bedroom design in Miami with multicolored walls

Example of a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Boston with beaded inset cabinets, turquoise cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Melissa Mills photography " http://melissammills.weebly.com" Contract work completed by Bill & Kris Montgomery Cabinet installation completed by Gabe Coman

David Duncan Livingston
Example of a beach style living room design in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Scott Amundson Photography
Example of a study space and mid-sized transitional built-in desk and gender-neutral carpeted and gray floor kids' study room design in Minneapolis with gray walls and no fireplace

When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! ohn Granen.

Roger Wade Studio
Example of a mountain style l-shaped eat-in kitchen design with raised-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Michael Moran/OTTO photography We took a predictable suburban spec house and transformed it into a unique home of enduring value and family-centered design. The existing footprint was expanded where it needed it most: in the family and kitchen area, creating a large square room with open views to a protected nature preserve abutting the property. An unexpected glass canopy and teak entry door are clues that what lies beyond is hardly commonplace. The design challenge was to infuse modern-day functionality and architectural quality into a spec house. Working in partnership with Gary Cruz Studio, we designed the pared down, art-filled interiors with the goal of creating comfortable, purposeful living environments. We also sought to integrate the existing pool and rear deck into the overall building design, extending the usable space outside as a screened-in porch, a dining terrace, and a seating area around a stone fire pit.