Search results for "People encounter" in Home Design Ideas

Deborah De graffenreid
Trendy ceramic tile eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances
Trendy ceramic tile eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

You can read more about the project through this Houzz Feature link: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/hillside-yard-offers-scenic-views-and-space-for-contemplation-stsetivw-vs~131483772
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Carolyn Bates Photography
Inspiration for a timeless slate floor mudroom remodel in Burlington with white walls
Inspiration for a timeless slate floor mudroom remodel in Burlington with white walls

Home design - mid-sized victorian master stone slab marble floor and multicolored floor home design idea in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartzite countertops

Meagan Larsen
Example of a classic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace
Example of a classic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

Inspiration for a rustic l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a rustic brown one-story wood gable roof remodel in Seattle

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered.
Before: Larkhall Crescent Home:
Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative.
Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind.
After: Warm & Cozy Family Room:
Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen.
Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible.
Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston.
We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice.
Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking…
Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living:
This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends.
On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise…
A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.
Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard.
To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated.
Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting.
Praise from Our Clients:
It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say?
“Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations.
Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!”
In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Highland Custom Homes
Elegant medium tone wood floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court photo in Salt Lake City with multicolored walls
Elegant medium tone wood floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court photo in Salt Lake City with multicolored walls

Robin Stancliff photo credits. This kitchen had a complete transformation, and now it is beautiful, bright, and much
more accessible! To accomplish my goals for this kitchen, I had to completely demolish
the walls surrounding the kitchen, only keeping the attractive exposed load bearing
posts and the HVAC system in place. I also left the existing pony wall, which I turned
into a breakfast area, to keep the electric wiring in place. A challenge that I
encountered was that my client wanted to keep the original Saltillo tile that gives her
home it’s Southwestern flair, while having an updated kitchen with a mid-century
modern aesthetic. Ultimately, the vintage Saltillo tile adds a lot of character and interest
to the new kitchen design. To keep things clean and minimal, all of the countertops are
easy-to-clean white quartz. Since most of the cooking will be done on the new
induction stove in the breakfast area, I added a uniquely textured three-dimensional
backsplash to give a more decorative feel. Since my client wanted the kitchen to be
disability compliant, we put the microwave underneath the counter for easy access and
added ample storage space beneath the counters rather than up high. With a full view
of the surrounding rooms, this new kitchen layout feels very open and accessible. The
crisp white cabinets and wall color is accented by a grey island and updated lighting
throughout. Now, my client has a kitchen that feels open and easy to maintain while
being safe and useful for people with disabilities.

Robin Stancliff photo credits. This kitchen had a complete transformation, and now it is beautiful, bright, and much
more accessible! To accomplish my goals for this kitchen, I had to completely demolish
the walls surrounding the kitchen, only keeping the attractive exposed load bearing
posts and the HVAC system in place. I also left the existing pony wall, which I turned
into a breakfast area, to keep the electric wiring in place. A challenge that I
encountered was that my client wanted to keep the original Saltillo tile that gives her
home it’s Southwestern flair, while having an updated kitchen with a mid-century
modern aesthetic. Ultimately, the vintage Saltillo tile adds a lot of character and interest
to the new kitchen design. To keep things clean and minimal, all of the countertops are
easy-to-clean white quartz. Since most of the cooking will be done on the new
induction stove in the breakfast area, I added a uniquely textured three-dimensional
backsplash to give a more decorative feel. Since my client wanted the kitchen to be
disability compliant, we put the microwave underneath the counter for easy access and
added ample storage space beneath the counters rather than up high. With a full view
of the surrounding rooms, this new kitchen layout feels very open and accessible. The
crisp white cabinets and wall color is accented by a grey island and updated lighting
throughout. Now, my client has a kitchen that feels open and easy to maintain while
being safe and useful for people with disabilities.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

In 2023, spoga+gafa in Cologne once again confirmed its relevance as the world's largest garden lifestyle and BBQ trade fair and further expanded its position as the leading international trade and networking platform for the green industry.
The uniting strength of gardens has hardly ever been as important as today. They bring people together, regardless of their origin, status or beliefs. Social Gardens begin where gardening, plants or relaxing outdoors become social interaction. They promote the community, health and regeneration and create an awareness for the natural environment. With its key theme Social Gardens, spoga+gafa 2023 is focusing on gardens, balconies and terraces as connecting, diverse and sustainable places of encounter.
HIGOLD's team decorated the exhibition as a garden.
The HIGOLD team decorated the exhibition as a garden, bringing together a lot of elite people interested in outdoor furniture, and we talked about the idea of outdoor furniture.
This applies more than ever today after two years of pandemic and in the face of the current global political situation. As a place of joint retreat gardens and green spaces in general are gaining more and more significance. They offer a place of refuge for recovering from the fast-paced everyday routine and bring people together.
Outdoor furniture is essential in garden style,they allow us to stay in the garden and enjoy free talking time.Every outdoor furniture has thereby a social and interactive quality in addition to its functional and creative characteristics.Indeed, the social interaction is what actually lends a garden its own special magic: The garden hosepipe or the sprinkler the children play with in the sun; the outdoor lounge suite the family relaxes on together; the raised flowerbed the neighbours all jointly use to plant vegetables or the grill used for having a BBQ with friends.

In 2023, spoga+gafa in Cologne once again confirmed its relevance as the world's largest garden lifestyle and BBQ trade fair and further expanded its position as the leading international trade and networking platform for the green industry.
The uniting strength of gardens has hardly ever been as important as today. They bring people together, regardless of their origin, status or beliefs. Social Gardens begin where gardening, plants or relaxing outdoors become social interaction. They promote the community, health and regeneration and create an awareness for the natural environment. With its key theme Social Gardens, spoga+gafa 2023 is focusing on gardens, balconies and terraces as connecting, diverse and sustainable places of encounter.
HIGOLD's team decorated the exhibition as a garden.
The HIGOLD team decorated the exhibition as a garden, bringing together a lot of elite people interested in outdoor furniture, and we talked about the idea of outdoor furniture.
This applies more than ever today after two years of pandemic and in the face of the current global political situation. As a place of joint retreat gardens and green spaces in general are gaining more and more significance. They offer a place of refuge for recovering from the fast-paced everyday routine and bring people together.
Outdoor furniture is essential in garden style,they allow us to stay in the garden and enjoy free talking time.Every outdoor furniture has thereby a social and interactive quality in addition to its functional and creative characteristics.Indeed, the social interaction is what actually lends a garden its own special magic: The garden hosepipe or the sprinkler the children play with in the sun; the outdoor lounge suite the family relaxes on together; the raised flowerbed the neighbours all jointly use to plant vegetables or the grill used for having a BBQ with friends.

In 2023, spoga+gafa in Cologne once again confirmed its relevance as the world's largest garden lifestyle and BBQ trade fair and further expanded its position as the leading international trade and networking platform for the green industry.
The uniting strength of gardens has hardly ever been as important as today. They bring people together, regardless of their origin, status or beliefs. Social Gardens begin where gardening, plants or relaxing outdoors become social interaction. They promote the community, health and regeneration and create an awareness for the natural environment. With its key theme Social Gardens, spoga+gafa 2023 is focusing on gardens, balconies and terraces as connecting, diverse and sustainable places of encounter.
HIGOLD's team decorated the exhibition as a garden.
The HIGOLD team decorated the exhibition as a garden, bringing together a lot of elite people interested in outdoor furniture, and we talked about the idea of outdoor furniture.
This applies more than ever today after two years of pandemic and in the face of the current global political situation. As a place of joint retreat gardens and green spaces in general are gaining more and more significance. They offer a place of refuge for recovering from the fast-paced everyday routine and bring people together.
Outdoor furniture is essential in garden style,they allow us to stay in the garden and enjoy free talking time.Every outdoor furniture has thereby a social and interactive quality in addition to its functional and creative characteristics.Indeed, the social interaction is what actually lends a garden its own special magic: The garden hosepipe or the sprinkler the children play with in the sun; the outdoor lounge suite the family relaxes on together; the raised flowerbed the neighbours all jointly use to plant vegetables or the grill used for having a BBQ with friends.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered.
Before: Larkhall Crescent Home:
Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative.
Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind.
After: Warm & Cozy Family Room:
Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen.
Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible.
Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston.
We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice.
Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking…
Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living:
This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends.
On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise…
A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.
Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard.
To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated.
Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting.
Praise from Our Clients:
It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say?
“Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations.
Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!”
In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Robin Stancliff photo credits. This kitchen had a complete transformation, and now it is beautiful, bright, and much
more accessible! To accomplish my goals for this kitchen, I had to completely demolish
the walls surrounding the kitchen, only keeping the attractive exposed load bearing
posts and the HVAC system in place. I also left the existing pony wall, which I turned
into a breakfast area, to keep the electric wiring in place. A challenge that I
encountered was that my client wanted to keep the original Saltillo tile that gives her
home it’s Southwestern flair, while having an updated kitchen with a mid-century
modern aesthetic. Ultimately, the vintage Saltillo tile adds a lot of character and interest
to the new kitchen design. To keep things clean and minimal, all of the countertops are
easy-to-clean white quartz. Since most of the cooking will be done on the new
induction stove in the breakfast area, I added a uniquely textured three-dimensional
backsplash to give a more decorative feel. Since my client wanted the kitchen to be
disability compliant, we put the microwave underneath the counter for easy access and
added ample storage space beneath the counters rather than up high. With a full view
of the surrounding rooms, this new kitchen layout feels very open and accessible. The
crisp white cabinets and wall color is accented by a grey island and updated lighting
throughout. Now, my client has a kitchen that feels open and easy to maintain while
being safe and useful for people with disabilities.

Bud Kane has remodeled nearly every room in his own home over many years. Now reaching his 70’s, he contemplated heading up a major kitchen and laundry room renovation himself, planning on doing the carpentry work with his own hands. “I was not convinced I would ever meet anyone who could do it as well as I could do it myself”, said Bud. Ruth and Bud spent 5 years visiting kitchen firms and interviewing designers. They couldn’t however bring themselves to pull the trigger on the project, until they met Advance Design Studio in 2015.
“No one understood what I wanted”, said Ruth. She was continually frustrated by experiences with designers who weren’t hearing what was important to her. “Everyone kept designing my kitchen with what they thought it should look like; I couldn’t find anyone who would listen to me”!
When they met designer Scott Christensen from Advance Design Studio, they liked him right away. He listened to Ruth and designed a kitchen that she loved, all the while interjecting years of wisdom and design expertise that Ruth appreciated. “The finished product is better than I expected”, says Ruth. “I respected Scott’s opinions and together we created the perfect place for me to bake with my grandkids and truly enjoy the kitchen and laundry room I’ve been dreaming of for many years!”
The kitchen transformation began with removing the home’s soffits, and extending new painted maple cabinetry to the ceiling with the addition of an elegant crown molding. Ruth’s new Vita Mix holds a coveted place on her counter, and adjustments were planned to size the cabinets in conjunction with the under cabinet decorative light molding to fit this appliance just right. “This one small detail was really important to me”, says Ruth smiling. An elegant new island replaced the original island, complete with room for 3 stools where her grandchildren will sit to make home-made pasta every Thanksgiving, and cookies at Christmas time. “Traditions are very important in my family, and making my kitchen work to suit cherished activities with my family was the number one reason this renovation was so desired”, replied Ruth when asked about the island.
A picture perfect new tea station replaced a cluttered unused desk area, creating a wonderful place to prepare hot drinks for sipping any season of the year while overlooking the couple’s wonderfully manicured gardens from the lovely 3 season’s room just off the kitchen. The soft sage island bead panel detail was repeated on the backsplash, replicating the feel of a fine old piece of furniture.
The biggest problem with the laundry room was 3 doors, one from the garage, one from the closet, and one to the hallway. “Scott designed a pocket door, and oh what a dream it is now to bring groceries in from the garage!” exclaims Bud who grew to disdain this task! Doing laundry is now a breeze in this attractive new space that doubles as a wonderful pantry for the kitchen with room to store food items that didn’t have a home in the poorly designed original space.
New Hickory distressed wood flooring was laid both in the kitchen and leading to the hall foyer. Soft gray wood-replicating porcelain was placed in the laundry area, making for an easily cleanable surface for what doubles as a mud room from the garage. Creamy tumbled marble graces an unobtrusive backsplash spilling onto shiny granite counter tops in a rich earthy pattern of fall colors that mimic colors throughout the home. Advance is known details that included custom crafted furniture toe kicks, luxurious crown moldings, and beaded under cabinet moldings. The kitchen is complete with a glass display cabinet showing Ruth’s treasured china tea collection.
Early on, it was initially only their intention of purchasing cabinets for the new design. They were so impressed however with Advance Design’s complete program for budgeting, design, installation and management that it became clear to them both that they wanted Advance to handle the entire project from start to finish. “After seeing the quality work they did, coupled with the in-house team completely dedicated to our satisfaction, it became apparent there was no other choice but to hire them to handle everything. And we’re so glad we did, we have not one regret”, says Bud.
“The attention to detail by the carpentry crew more than satisfied my perfectionist expectations of the finished carpentry,” exclaimed Bud. “Every one of Advance Design’s people we encountered from design through construction was wonderful. We’ve never met a group of people so dedicated to making sure we were happy with every single detail, and every single part of this experience”, said Ruth and Bud.
Designer: Scott Christensen
Photographer: Joe Nowak
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