Our clients knew they wanted to live in Wicker Park, within walking distance of everything the neighborhood has to offer. They found an 1890s cottage-style home on a great street and fell in love with its charm. Unfortunately, the house had fallen into a state of serious neglect and needed significant work. Excited, but also a bit overwhelmed, our clients came to us for help with a gut renovation. We were able to guide them through the entire process from the start of demo through placement of the final decorative object. The process was fun and rewarding and, upon completion, our clients were left with a tailored and sophisticated home that is just as stylish as they are.

Lots of cabinets but they don't look overwhelmed. Like the transitional cabinet before the desk counter to camouflage the height difference between the tops.

The new low maintenance foundation plantings surrounding this charming house are dwarf so as to not overwhelm the beautiful front porch. Flowering shrubs, perennials, bulbs and groundcovers provide season interest spring thru fall. Landscape lighting was added to provide safe access from the front walk.

Room to breathe! Here, with remodeling & design, we created effortless movement & flow from entry to dining to living space. Our floor-to-ceiling cabinetry solutions maximizes storage & frees up valuable floor space while consistent elements connect each zone seamlessly. The minimalist dining nook/craft center proves that sometimes all you need is one bold color to do just that! The vibrant mustard chairs create a stunning contrast against the clean lines of our marble tulip table and textured walls. We love how the organic curves of these statement pieces soften the modern aesthetic, while the geometric accent pillow and beautifully selected artwork ties everything together. Even the delicate branches in the handcrafted vase add natural movement to balance the sleek surfaces. With the bold yet subtle color palette, we started with a neutral foundation: whites, blacks, grays and introduced just one standout hue. Let that color appear in strategic touches throughout the space for a cohesive look that doesn’t overwhelm.

This dining room was in need of a makeover! Our client felt overwhelmed when it came to finding inspiration let alone redesigning this dining room. It was important to them that this room harmonized with the rest of their modern home. There were specific requests made at the consultation… First, they needed seating for 10, as they host many dinner parties. They also enjoyed wine and therefore had a fridge where they kept it. We pushed the clients a little bit and encouraged them to make decisions they wouldn’t normally do, like the coffered application on the ceiling, which turned out to be a real focal point of the room. We found a home for all the wine (and the fridge!) in this stunning walnut and marble wine fridge buffet… perfect for the hostess with the mostess! In addition to the ambient lighting, we added some brass sconces as accent lighting to set the mood for cozy, elegant dinners. We kept the room light and airy with this cool blue color palette and soft linen curtains that draw the eyes up to the ceiling.

Virtually Here Studios
Transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

This project was for a long time client of mine who lives in a wonderful patio home with a finished basement. There were several challenges with which to contend. First, as you enter the Foyer, all of the spaces are open to each other so we had to make sure everything worked together. Second, furniture arrangement had always been a struggle for the large living area with the fireplace on an angled corner wall and large built-in. Last, although the homeowner loves color – especially blue/greens – we had to convince her to bring it into her home as an accent and make it work with the other spaces. We started with a neutral sofa positioned across from the built-ins and paired it with a settee in a blue/green fabric. The settee does not block the fireplace and reinforces our color scheme. The homeowner upgraded her husband’s chair and ottoman with a contemporary leather one, and we added a perfectly scaled swivel chair to the corner next to the built-ins. We finished off the space with a mixture of unique accent tables including a beautiful coffee table with wood inlay, a small metal french drink table, a two-tiered egg shaped table, and a pedestal table with marble top. We added lighting, artwork and accessories to the built-ins and tables to complete the space. We also added blue/green accessories to the breakfast area to make the spaces flow seamlessly. We love how these spaces in the Open Concept Redesign turned out. It is a very pleasing palette that does not overwhelm the spaces, but adds interest. Enjoy!

This 3-bedroom residence in Bangalore was designed for a family of three who wanted a home rooted in Indian warmth, craft and character, while still feeling refined, functional and contemporary. The design language draws deeply from traditional Indian aesthetics, expressed through earthy materials, handcrafted details and a rich but calming palette. Raw brick, natural wood, stone, cane, rattan, textured fabrics and earthy hues come together to create a home that feels grounded, tactile and lived-in. Traditional furniture forms are thoughtfully balanced with contemporary lines, giving the space a timeless yet fresh identity. A strong emphasis was placed on craft. Every element in the home was 100% customised and handcrafted on site by skilled carpenters, allowing each room to carry a distinct sense of personality. Antique wooden pillars and curated props sourced from Kerala add depth, nostalgia and authenticity, while handmade lighting elements bring warmth and artisanal charm. Biophilic-inspired wallpapers, natural textures and carefully layered materials connect the interiors to nature. Athangudi tiles have been used in key areas to introduce colour, pattern and a sense of regional heritage, creating memorable design moments without overwhelming the overall calmness of the home. The result is a deeply personal residence that celebrates Indian craftsmanship, natural materials and slow design — a home that is traditional in spirit, contemporary in comfort, and entirely bespoke in execution.

This is a tasteful, elegant yet approachable fireplace bringing a touch of drama to any space, without being overwhelmingly formal. This surround makes a statement for any style home.

The owners of this 1956 Brooklyn Park home called us in to create a more functional and updated kitchen. They entertain and cook a lot, so requested that we add more countertop space, utilize the wasted area in front of the sliding glass door, and maximize storage. They also had a great inspiration photo that helped us to create the warm yet sleek look. The kitchen received a major transformation with the dark hickory chocolate frameless cabinetry and contrasting high gloss white doors and quartz countertops. By moving the refrigerator the owners gained workspace on either side of the new gas range. We placed an angled peninsula near the sliding glass door. The peninsula provides seating for two, great working space, and cabinetry with roll-outs. An existing closet was transformed into a functional pantry, adding drawers to the base and roll-outs behind the upper doors. Under cab lighting, pendants, and puck lights supplement the recess lights without overwhelming the room. Other unique features in this kitchen are the essentially hidden Broan Elite range hood, the Mirabelle spring-style single handle faucet, under counter water purification system and the beautiful linear marble backsplash.

This is the family room and kitchen, it’s an open concept. The client purchased a slipcover sofa in a white performance fabric. Her concern was that she bought this piece before hiring me, so she wasn’t sure it was going to work in the space. I made it work, I added a white shag rug, a leather recliner, a stripe accent chair and a storage ottoman in a velvet fabric. I love how all these pieces complement each other. It’s not a huge space so I didn’t want to overwhelm so I chose (2) glass side tables and a glass sofa table. The chairs we chose for the dining and counter area made with gray leather. The breakfast table is an extendable table in a brown finish. I accessorized with the blues, whites and neutrals all throughout the home.

A beautifully scaled curved sofa anchors this portion of the room, introducing an inviting sense of flow while naturally encouraging conversation and relaxed cocktail gatherings. Its sculptural silhouette softens the architectural lines of the space, enhancing comfort and creating an intimate lounge atmosphere ideal for entertaining. By incorporating furniture with rounded edges and fluid forms, the design intentionally amplifies warmth and livability, resulting in a space that feels both sophisticated and effortlessly welcoming. Complementing the seating area, a set of nesting tables combines a honed marble base with a lighter glass top, striking a refined balance between substance and visual lightness. The layered materials introduce texture and elegance without overwhelming the composition, ensuring the tables remain functional yet visually airy. This thoughtful pairing of materials reinforces a curated luxury aesthetic, where every element contributes to both comfort and understated refinement.

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

What started as a kitchen design naturally flowed into the sitting area, dining room, and foyer, creating a warm and welcoming home. With the lower cabinets warm wood tone and creamy white upper cabinets, this kitchen is light and open without being overwhelming. Instead, it feels organic and balanced. This design is inviting with layered spaces that feel elevated but still livable.

Nestled in a wooded area in the Pacific Northwest, the 1800 sf Passive Cedar Haus was built as a retirement home. The Artisans Group designed the layout of the home, mindful of aging in place, and working to ensure that the home blended in with the surrounding natural beauty. The project meets a complex program, with an unheated sleeping porch for a master bedroom, a screened porch, a 600 sf caretakers apartment/mother in law unit, large wood shop, plus a two car carport. The home seamlessly integrates a floating cedar tongue and groove roof with large sheltering overhangs, clerestory windows, and language of cedar slats for privacy screens and doors inside and out. The warm, natural materials of wood and cork for the interior palette are punctuated by lively accents and stunning fixtures. 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. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, gives an expansive view of the surrounding Northwest forest. The tops of these windows reveal the interior cedar clad and the up-swept soffits on the home’s exterior, creating a floating ceiling effect. Slatted spruce wood fly-overs break up the vertical areas of the great room and define separate areas that would otherwise feel like an overwhelmingly expansive space. Photography by: Cheryl Ramsay of Ramsay Photography

Formal Dining in a relax setting by Tania Scardellato – TOC design Remodeling your home can be a lengthy and time consuming process, especially if you opt to renovate the entire house rather than just one room. However, even just by updating the decor in your home you can create a beautiful and fresh looking space. One space that is particularly easy to overhaul is the dining room. This is one of the smaller rooms in the home and contains a minimal amount of furniture, making the remodeling process quick and simple. An essential factor of dining room design is the color scheme of this space. When searching for the best paint colors for a dining room you should keep a few things in mind, including your design, the size of the room, and the décor of the rest of your house. Because it tends to be smaller than most rooms in the home you do not want to choose a really dark or overwhelming color like black or bright fuchsia. Rather save these hues as accents in dark wood furniture, curtains, pictures, and other wall art. In this dining room we kept the colors neutral and added more accents to hi-gloss moldings, highlighting the architecture of the space and creating space definition with a TOUCH OF CLASS - TOC When it comes to lighting for the dining room you have a lot of options such as chandeliers or wall sconces, however natural light is always best. If you already have windows in this space try to keep them uncovered or use sheer fabric curtains to allow optimum illumination in throughout the day. If your dining room does not have windows there are other options available that can help to brighten and open up this area Accessorizing your dining room with the right accents is very important to tie in all aspects of the design. For example, an elegant table centerpiece can make the dining space feel more homey and relaxed. You can accent a kitchen island or dining table with a stunning vase of festive flowers, ornamental fruits and vegetables, or a basket of decorative glass ornaments. However, try to keep the ornamentation to a minimum to prevent cluttering the countertops. Sometimes the table itself can be an accent piece. The dining room creates an elegant focal point that contains different colors, textures, and patterns. Similarly, leather chairs surrounding solid oak dining room furniture add the element of texture and color while creating a rustic, old world atmosphere. Regardless of the look you are trying to obtain, or the room in which you are redecorating, we can help create the style custom to suit your needs

Rising through the heart of the main foyer, this curved staircase is striking. Dark-stained oak treads with square noses create a substantial foundation, anchored by bold, black-painted square newels. A modern metal balustrade completes the design, adding sleek contemporary edge to the elegant curve. The freestanding nature of stair allows the staircase to command attention without overwhelming the interiors. The result is a staircase that balances presence and refinement. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Abbie Parr Photography Christi Towne Designs offers classic design with a modern twist, for residential and commercial spaces. Her goal is to facilitate and navigate her clients through an enjoyable design experience, while realizing their visual dreams. Comfort, functionality, the client's budget and lifestyle are always top considerations with every design project small or large in scope. Christi was influenced at a young age by her artistic parents and extensive travels throughout Europe. These experiences inspired, and enriched her appreciation and knowledge of architecture, art, furniture, fabrics and color. This coupled with her creativity, professionalism, and people and organizational skills gleaned from over 15 years of sales experience has transferred to her design business for the past 14 years. No matter the style or scope of the project, Christi embraces it with the same attention to detail, design sensibililty, enthusiasm and expertise. Creating beautiful, liveable and timeless interior spaces for her client's, is her ultimate goal. "Design projects can be overwhelming.... my goal is to make my client's experience enjoyable, and collaborative with the result being their design dream becoming a reality". Offering full residential and commercial interior design services. Based in Portland, Oregon her projects have included homes and businesses in the Pacific Northwest, California, Arizona and Hawaii.

At Gallery of Shades, we provide high quality and stylish window coverings for any room. Our philosophy is simple and that is to provide our clients with the best products and services at a fair price in order to enrich their home environment. We have been servicing Scottsdale and its surrounding areas for over 25 years. We have a large selection of window treatments including shutters, blinds, shades, screens, draperies and even tints. Regardless of the windows size or shape, you can rest assured Gallery of Shades has the perfect solution for them. Our design consultants will help you to select the right window covering for any room by bringing the showroom to you. This enables you to get the right look, feel and functionality in your window treatments, and beautify your space while protecting it from the harsh Arizona sun. Our products are guaranteed for a lifetime. At Gallery of Shades, our top priority is giving our customers more value than they expect. This is measured by price, performance, quality, features and services rendered. This goal is the core of our beliefs and guides us in everything we do. We know making decisions in your home can sometimes be overwhelming so we do our best to make your window covering experience a positive one that you won’t forget.