Our clients, a couple with four children, wanted to update their 1952 home with a mid-century feel, focusing on the main floor. The renovation emphasized enhancing finishes, optimizing storage, and maximizing seating in the dining and living areas. The entryway was designed to be inviting and practical, while the living room featured a statement sectional and a stunning terrazzo fireplace. The kitchen and dining area were transformed to be both functional and elegant, with playful touches like “Drunk Monkeys” wallpaper in the powder room.

Our client found Design Connection, Inc. through reading featured articles in local magazines for many years. Her home was 25 years old and never been updated. Their furniture and accessories were well past their prime. The brick fireplace, the focal point of the room, looked dark and dingy. Upon completion of our first interview with the client I realized her style was transitional and the facade of the fireplace would not work with her new furnishings as well as the golden oak paneling. We brought in our very talented faux painter to access the paneling about changing the color to a soft neutral glow and we completed the transformation in one a very short time.

This petite kitchen was previously closed off from the dining and living room. The compact size of the kitchen made it difficult for the client to host their large family gatherings. With the new design, the spaces were joined by removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. The space of the kitchen was optimized by recessing items into adjacent walls. The refrigerator was recessed into the wall of the adjacent garage. The ovens, pantry, and appliance garage were recessed into the wall, borrowing a few square feet from the bedroom closet and living room. The finishes throughout the kitchen celebrate the clients love of travel and collection of keepsakes from around the world. The mosaic printed tiles on the backsplash and refrigerator wrap bring an eclectic mix of encaustic tile designs from around the world. Contractor: Bradley Builders Photo Credit: Fred Donham of PhotographerLink

Inspiration for a contemporary medium tone wood floor living room remodel in San Diego with white walls and a standard fireplace

Contemporary. Cultural. Comfortable. This home was inspired by world traveling and filled with curated accents. These spaces were layered with striking silhouettes, textural patterns, and inviting colors. Dimensional light fixtures paired with a open furniture layout, helped each room feel cohesive and thoughtful.

Example of a minimalist built-in desk gray floor, wood ceiling and wood wall home office design in San Francisco

Large tuscan stone back porch photo in Miami with a roof extension and a bbq area

Kim Colwell Designed this living room for the Shambhalla Institute. Her specialty is combining her skill as an interior designer with her background as a second generation feng shui master and trained in design psychology. Our projects feel as good as they look. See Kim Colwell Design for full portfolio.

Our clients, a couple with four children, wanted to update their 1952 home with a mid-century feel, focusing on the main floor. The renovation emphasized enhancing finishes, optimizing storage, and maximizing seating in the dining and living areas. The entryway was designed to be inviting and practical, while the living room featured a statement sectional and a stunning terrazzo fireplace. The kitchen and dining area were transformed to be both functional and elegant, with playful touches like “Drunk Monkeys” wallpaper in the powder room.

This sophisticated yet ultra-feminine condominium in one of the oldest and most prestigious neighborhoods in San Francisco was decorated with entertaining in mind. The all-white upholstery, walls, and carpets are surprisingly durable with materials made to suit the lifestyle of a Tech boss lady. Custom artwork and thoughtful accessories complete the look.

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian light wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Other with gray walls

Time had stood still at this 1970s ranch in Armonk when the owners invited us to collaborate with them to transform it into a modern, light-filled home for their young family. The budget was lean, so economy was a primary consideration for every design decision. The challenge was to identify the modest home’s virtues – vaulted ceilings and a lovely backyard – and accentuate them by strategically optimizing available funds. We were tasked with rectifying a dysfunctional interior stair, connecting to the outdoors with new large windows, and updating the exterior. We focused our attention on a finite set of architectural moves which would have the biggest impact and improve our clients’ daily experience of the home. Detailing was kept simple, using common grade materials and standard components. All exterior walls were revamped with new windows and siding. Although these materials were not particularly costly, thoughtful layout of boards, battens, and openings produced a cohesive, rigorous composition at each facade. Since the budget would not cover the homeowners’ complete wish list, some items were bracketed for subsequent phases. The challenge was to establish a framework that would allow future work – including a new roof and kitchen renovation – to proceed smoothly. The homeowners, both scientists, were enthusiastic collaborators, contributing their outstanding design sensibilities to selection of fixtures and finishes. Construction ended just in time for the arrival of their baby – and with that, the transformation of their family home was complete.

Optimized functionality translates well in this blush colored tile laundry room.
Elegant laundry room photo in Dallas

This Transitional Whole Home Remodel required that the interior of the home be gutted in order to create the open concept kitchen / great room. The floors, walls and roofs were all reinsulated. The exterior was also updated with new stucco, paint and roof. Note the craftsman style front door in black! We also updated the plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The location and size of the new windows were all optimized for lighting. Adding to the homes new look are Louvered Shutters on all of the windows. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their NEW home! The kitchen features white shaker cabinet doors and Torquay Cambria countertops. White subway tile is warmed by the Dark Oak Wood floor. The home office space was customized for the homeowners. It features white shaker style cabinets and a custom built-in desk to optimize space and functionality. The master bathroom features DeWils cabinetry in walnut with a shadow gray stain. The new vanity cabinet was specially designed to offer more storage. The stylistic niche design in the shower runs the entire width of the shower for a modernized and clean look. The same Cambria countertop is used in the bathrooms as was used in the kitchen. "Natural looking" materials, subtle with various surface textures in shades of white and gray, contrast the vanity color. The shower floor is Stone Cobbles while the bathroom flooring is a white concrete looking tile, both from DalTile. The Wood Looking Shower Tiles are from Arizona Tile. The hall or guest bathroom features the same materials as the master bath but also offers the homeowners a bathtub. The laundry room has white shaker style custom built in tall and upper cabinets. The flooring in the laundry room matches the bathroom flooring.

Trendy medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with white walls

The lower level theater has terraced seating with lounging at the lowest level, reclining club chairs at the mid-terrace and bar seating at the upper terrace to handle everyone’s preferred viewing whether it’s the latest blockbuster movie or a prime sporting event. Upholstered wall panels and integrated speakers enhance the rooms crisp elegance as well as optimize the viewing experience.

This Transitional Whole Home Remodel required that the interior of the home be gutted in order to create the open concept kitchen / great room. The floors, walls and roofs were all reinsulated. The exterior was also updated with new stucco, paint and roof. Note the craftsman style front door in black! We also updated the plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The location and size of the new windows were all optimized for lighting. Adding to the homes new look are Louvered Shutters on all of the windows. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their NEW home! The kitchen features white shaker cabinet doors and Torquay Cambria countertops. White subway tile is warmed by the Dark Oak Wood floor. The home office space was customized for the homeowners. It features white shaker style cabinets and a custom built-in desk to optimize space and functionality. The master bathroom features DeWils cabinetry in walnut with a shadow gray stain. The new vanity cabinet was specially designed to offer more storage. The stylistic niche design in the shower runs the entire width of the shower for a modernized and clean look. The same Cambria countertop is used in the bathrooms as was used in the kitchen. "Natural looking" materials, subtle with various surface textures in shades of white and gray, contrast the vanity color. The shower floor is Stone Cobbles while the bathroom flooring is a white concrete looking tile, both from DalTile. The Wood Looking Shower Tiles are from Arizona Tile. The hall or guest bathroom features the same materials as the master bath but also offers the homeowners a bathtub. The laundry room has white shaker style custom built in tall and upper cabinets. The flooring in the laundry room matches the bathroom flooring.

Living room - transitional living room idea in Atlanta

A leisurely flowing design plan optimizes lake views, sun exposure and circulation between indoor and outdoor spaces. Photo credit: Dan Zeeff
Balcony - coastal cable railing balcony idea in Grand Rapids with a roof extension