This adorable beach cottage is in the heart of the village of La Jolla in San Diego. The goals were to brighten up the space and be the perfect beach get-away for the client whose permanent residence is in Arizona. Some of the ways we achieved the goals was to place an extra high custom board and batten in the great room and by refinishing the kitchen cabinets (which were in excellent shape) white. We created interest through extreme proportions and contrast. Though there are a lot of white elements, they are all offset by a smaller portion of very dark elements. We also played with texture and pattern through wallpaper, natural reclaimed wood elements and rugs. This was all kept in balance by using a simplified color palate minimal layering. I am so grateful for this client as they were extremely trusting and open to ideas. To see what the space looked like before the remodel you can go to the gallery page of the website www.cmnaturaldesigns.com Photography by: Chipper Hatter

Playroom - transitional playroom idea in Boston

Rolfe Hokanson
Example of a mid-sized classic medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Chicago with gray walls and no fireplace

Informal dining and living area in the Great Room with wood beams on vaulted ceiling Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com.

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, white appliances and an island

Blending a modern sensibility with traditional architecture, this garden features a front yard meadow with native grasses (Carex praecracilis) and wildflowers. Poured-in-place concrete pavers in a meandering pattern slow the approach from the sidewalk to the entry. The modestly-sized backyard has been maximized for entertaining with outdoor dining and lounging areas and subtle landscape lighting. Native plants, herbs, and edibles share the back garden beds, and a raised pond brings the garden to life. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.

Cynthia Lynn Photography
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Chicago with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Paneled Entry and Entry Stair. Photography by Michael Hunter Photography.
Large transitional wooden u-shaped wood railing staircase photo in Dallas with painted risers

phillip harris
Inspiration for a rustic u-shaped open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets and paneled appliances

Mudroom - rustic medium tone wood floor mudroom idea in Raleigh with beige walls

The entry herringbone floor pattern leads way to a wine room that becomes the jewel of the home with a viewing window from the dining room that displays a wine collection on a floating stone counter lit by Metro Lighting. The hub of the home includes the kitchen with midnight blue & white custom cabinets by Beck Allen Cabinetry, a quaint banquette & an artful La Cornue range that are all highlighted with brass hardware. The kitchen connects to the living space with a cascading see-through fireplace that is surfaced with an undulating textural tile.

Large farmhouse light wood floor dining room photo in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, no island, white walls and a standard fireplace

Jessica Delaney
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped brown floor and medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photography by Melissa M. Mills
Example of a large cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Nashville with white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Thomas Olcott
Inspiration for a coastal backyard deck remodel with a pergola

Photo: Corynne Pless © 2013 Houzz
Beach style dark wood floor dining room photo in New York with brown walls

Matthew Millman
Living room - transitional living room idea in San Francisco with a stone fireplace and white walls

The brick found in the backsplash and island was chosen for its sympathetic materiality that is forceful enough to blend in with the native steel, while the bold, fine grain Zebra wood cabinetry coincides nicely with the concrete floors without being too ostentatious. Photo Credit: Mark Woods

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of