Outlets and switches were kept off the backsplash by using plug moulding by Task Lighting
Example of a tuscan ceramic tile kitchen design in Charlotte with raised-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Many homeowners have their own ideas about how light or dark their home interiors should be. Some folks love nothing more than sunny, light-filled rooms. Other people adore their comforting, softly-lit spaces. While light levels can be a matter of personal preference, lighting can also be a powerful tool for shaping the mood, emotional tone and usage of every room. In fact, lighting is just as important as furnishings. Lighting Tips 1. Stay Warm Cool light looks brighter to the eye and can seem more like daylight. It can also make your home feel like a hospital or grocery store, which is not what we’re going for. Warm light is softer and creates a more relaxed mood. That’s what you want in your home. 2. Yes, You Can We’re big fans of can lighting. These in-ceiling lights draw zero attention to themselves while creating a foundation for excellent interior lighting. We add lamps for emphasis and mood in particular areas and put everything on a dimmer switch (see #3). This formula gives you maximum flexibility. 3. The Great Dimmer What did people do before the dimmer switch was invented? We suspect they shielded their eyes or huddled together in the dark because there was nothing inbetween. We use dimmer switches everywhere except the bathroom. Controlling the level of every light in your home allows you to create the right mood for the moment every time. 4. Beam Me Up We’re head over heels in love with this stunning raw wood beam wrapped with light bulbs on cords. Flip one dimmer switch and all the lights go on, at the exact intensity level you choose. The can lights in the ceiling gently illuminate the room, so this fabulous fixture can serve its true purpose—which is to create an irresistibly inviting space and a found-object, vintage vibe. 5. Open Bulb Policy Many of our light fixtures feature exposed bulbs. Once upon a time, light bulbs might have been ugly, but clear Edison bulbs, showing the filaments within, are themselves works of art. In a chandelier with an open, orb structure, candelabra bulbs are reminiscent of candle flames. A small lamp with a square metal base and a single bulb takes the open concept one step further. 6. Double Up Above a long dining table or bar, consider using multiple light fixtures. Especially with hanging light fixtures, we tend to think of putting just one in the middle. But lighting only the center of a long table would leave some of your dinner guests in the dark while others take the spotlight. 7. Reflections Reflections off mirrors, glass and tile bring a secondary light source into play and add a soft, beautiful touch. Candles create particularly compelling reflections. 8. Looking Up In high, open spaces, a light fixture can help balance the space, bringing the eye downward and helping make the area less cavernous and more inviting. 9. Looking Out Lighting is also a safety issue. Make sure you can turn on the stair lights at the top and the bottom of the stairs. Incorporate the flexibility to light up the room you’re entering before you get there, so you aren’t stumbling around in the dark, trying to find the switch. 10. How Low Can You Go?
While low light may be flattering, people tend to err on the side of too little light, rather than too much. Turn up that dimmer a notch more than you would normally and you may like what you see. Having sufficient light is particularly important in areas such as basements, where there may be little to no natural light.

YOU NEED TO SEE THIS GRANITE IN PERSON TO REALLY APPRECIATE IT....."HONED" FINISH ALONG WITH PATTERN'S MOVEMENT MAKE IT BEYOND STRIKING.....MORE PICS OF IT FURTHER DOWN.....BLANCO SILGRANIT SINKS COME IN NUMEROUS COLORS AND ARE ALMOST INDESTRUCTABLE.....GOOD VIEW OF CTR. TOP FLOWING INTO BAY WINDOW.....SMALL SWITCH RIGHT OF FAUCET IS AN "AIR SWITCH" THAT CONTROLS THE GARBAGE DISP.....GETS RID OF THAT WALL SWITCH!

Woodland Builders transformed this first floor, which was once disconnected and constrained. By switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen, we optimized the layout for functionality, flow, and socialization. The expansive new kitchen and dining room have become vibrant, multifunctional spaces. They effortlessly cater to the needs of a seven-person family with enhanced storage solutions and a dedicated coffee and cocktail bar. These improvements create a sense of openness and connection, making the space ideal for entertaining.

transFORM’s custom designed wall beds provide comfort, convenience and charm without sacrificing valuable floor space. This multifunctional unit was made with White High Gloss and complementing Latte and Light Driftwood finishes. Tastefully accented with large handle, chrome finished hardware and paired with a pop of color, this neutral combination proves to be anything but dull. Convenience and functionality play a big role in the design of this unit. A wall bed is a perfect addition to any spot that doubles as a guest room or has a limited amount of floor space. Converting your wall bed is a stress-free operation that requires very little effort. In just a few seconds you can unfold this convenient bed into instant sleeping arrangements, complete with a comfortable standard-size mattress. Our convertible design makes it simple to fold out the bed and tuck it back away when not in use. This dual-purpose unit was designed with tons of cabinetry and shelving for extra storage. With two large cabinets, you can easily hang a long skirt with enough room underneath to store your favorite footwear. Front to back pull-out hanging rods provide ample hanging space in a shallow cabinet. Visualizing your available clothing options face on will cut down the time it takes to mix and match the perfect ensemble. This design also includes plenty of deep drawer storage, which can be a useful place for storing spare linens. Top shelves are a perfect way to personalize your room with mementos, collectibles and home décor. Open shelving offers a substantial amount of depth, allowing you to display your exclusive handbags. Conveniently kept in the lower cabinet is a hide away ironing board. The drawer mounted ironing board slides out when needed and easily folds up when not in use. It also rotates, which gives you the freedom to position it where you feel most comfortable. Having necessities readily available can make tedious house chores a little more enjoyable. This design is completed with integrated LED lighting. Positioned by the bed, touch dimmable LED’s provide mood lighting for your living space. Within the open shelving, recessed LED lights enhance the look of the unit while showcasing your displayed possessions. Our lighting systems offer features such as touch switches and dimmers, which allow you to set the right scene and feel at ease and relaxed at home. Photography by Ken Stabile

Sally Painter
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized craftsman u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

the adorne collection - GFCI Outlet ELECTRICAL: LeGrand - the adorne collection I put dimmers on everything! Always. It’s so nice to be able to control the level of light. The Legrand adorne dimmers and switches are the nicest and easiest switches I have ever personally installed. They look incredible, and are thoughtful from cover plate to how the outlets nest to take up less visual space. The best part about the adorne collection is the installation. I was so behind with installing tile and other elements I wasn’t able to install the switches and dimmers until the last day before my photoshoot. Since I hadn’t installed them before, I was concerned the install would be complicated but each piece nested into it’s plate easily and the cover plate went on with a snap. Legrand has handy install videos and each piece comes with detailed install instructions. I’m planning to install the adorne dimmers in the rest of my house and can’t wait to have the ease of control and clean look throughout.

Outlets and switches were kept off the backsplash by using plug moulding by Task Lighting,
Kitchen - mediterranean kitchen idea in Charlotte

Personalization is no longer just a design trend—it has become an essential part of creating spaces that truly feel like home. Our homes are much more than places where we live; they are reflections of our personalities, our values, and the memories we hold dear. Personalization allows homeowners to go beyond surface-level aesthetics and bring their unique stories to life through thoughtful design choices. From one-of-a-kind decor to custom furniture, there are countless ways to make a space uniquely yours. This article explores the transformative power of personalization in home design, offering creative ideas and strategies to ensure your home feels as special as the people who live in it. By incorporating meaningful elements, sentimental keepsakes, and designs tailored to your lifestyle, you can create a home that speaks to your heart while remaining both functional and beautiful. Why Personalization Is Transforming Home Design Personalization in home design is a powerful trend that’s shaping how we live. It’s about more than just creating a stylish space—it’s about creating an emotional connection to your environment. Here’s why it matters: Emotional Resonance: Personal touches make your home feel like a sanctuary. Items that carry sentimental value, such as family heirlooms or custom-made pieces, evoke memories and create a sense of belonging. Individuality: Your home is a reflection of your personality. Personalization allows you to infuse your style into every corner, ensuring your space doesn’t look like a copy of someone else’s. Functionality with Meaning: Customized furniture or decor isn’t just beautiful—it’s practical. Personalized design ensures every piece serves your specific needs while adding character to your home. How to Add Personal Touches to Your Home Design 1. Customized Furniture and Decor Investing in bespoke pieces is one of the best ways to personalize your home. Whether it’s a hand-carved coffee table or custom shelving designed to fit your space, tailored furniture adds both functionality and uniqueness. Ideas for Customized Furniture: A dining table engraved with a special date or family name. Built-in bookshelves designed to fit your exact collection of novels and treasures. Upholstered chairs or couches in fabrics that reflect your style and preferences. For decor, consider smaller but impactful personalized items. For instance, displaying a meaningful keepsake, like a shadow box featuring a personalized necklace, can add an intimate touch to any room. 2. Symbolic Design Elements Incorporating symbols that resonate with you is a thoughtful way to personalize your space. Items inspired by spiritual or cultural symbols, such as angel numbers, can serve as both decor and a reminder of values or goals that matter to you. Examples of Symbolic Decor: Wall art or prints featuring numbers, quotes, or patterns that hold personal significance. Sculptures or figurines that represent qualities like protection, growth, or harmony. Patterned rugs or textiles that subtly include symbols tied to your family’s history or beliefs. 3. Displaying Sentimental Items A personalized home thrives on nostalgia and sentimentality. Displaying cherished keepsakes and mementos is a wonderful way to bring life and meaning into your space. Ideas for Sentimental Displays: Memory Galleries: Create a gallery wall filled with family photos, travel souvenirs, and sentimental artwork. Mix and match frames to add visual interest while showcasing your memories. Functional Keepsakes: Repurpose sentimental items into practical decor. For example, a gift for dad, such as a custom clock or framed photo, can double as both a functional and meaningful addition to your space. Incorporate small family treasures, like vintage jewelry or heirlooms, into your decor. Feature Pieces: Highlight unique items in shadow boxes, such as wedding keepsakes, old letters, or jewelry. These displays turn your memories into a focal point of the room. 4. Personalized Artwork and Accessories Custom artwork is one of the easiest ways to add a personal touch to your home. Whether it’s commissioning a piece or creating something yourself, personalized art instantly elevates a space. Custom Art Ideas: A commissioned painting of your family home, wedding venue, or favorite landscape. Abstract art featuring colors or symbols that are meaningful to you. Name plaques, monograms, or custom wall hangings. Incorporating personalized accessories like cushions, throws, or coasters featuring family names or initials is another subtle yet effective way to customize your decor. 5. Seasonal Personalization Switching up decor seasonally offers a great opportunity to incorporate personal touches. For example: Display holiday-themed photos, such as a family portrait from last year’s festivities. Rotate sentimental items based on the time of year, such as a fall centerpiece with family heirloom candlesticks. Incorporate handmade seasonal crafts created with family members, making the decor feel both personal and festive. Incorporating Personalization Into Outdoor Spaces Personalization doesn’t stop at your front door. Outdoor spaces, like patios, gardens, and porches, offer plenty of opportunities for customization. Ideas for Personalizing Outdoor Areas: Custom Signs: Add a handmade welcome sign or a plaque with your family name to the front of your house. Engraved Furniture: Outdoor benches or tables engraved with meaningful quotes or dates can create an intimate touch. Garden Markers: Personalized garden markers or stepping stones with family names or inspirational words can make your garden truly yours. Personalizing your home is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an environment that feels deeply connected to you and your loved ones. Every item, color, and design element can carry a piece of your story. In this section, we’ll dive deeper into actionable ideas for personalizing your living spaces, transforming them into meaningful reflections of your life. 6. Layering Sentimental Textiles and Accessories Textiles such as rugs, curtains, and throw pillows are an excellent way to infuse personality into your home without a full-scale renovation. Opt for customized or sentimental fabrics that tie in your personal story. Ideas for Textiles That Add Meaning Custom Monogrammed Pillows Add initials, family names, or even special dates to throw pillows for your living room or bedroom. Memory Quilts Use pieces of fabric from meaningful items, like old clothes or wedding attire, to create a quilt that tells a story. Personalized Rugs Consider a custom rug with patterns or symbols that resonate with your family’s heritage or values. Incorporating textiles that tell a story not only makes your home feel cozier but also serves as a subtle reminder of cherished memories. 7. Meaningful Gifts as Decor Some of the most cherished items in a home are gifts from loved ones. These pieces carry stories and emotional weight, making them perfect for display as decor. For example, a gift for dad, such as a custom leather-bound journal or engraved keepsake, can be displayed in a home office or study. These items become part of the space’s character while celebrating the bond shared with a loved one. Tips for Displaying Gifted Items: Use bookshelves or mantels to showcase sentimental gifts alongside other decor elements. Pair gifted items with complementary pieces, such as family photos or artwork, to create cohesive displays. 8. Personalized Storage Solutions Functional spaces can also benefit from personalization. Custom storage solutions allow you to stay organized while reflecting your style and needs. Ideas for Personalized Storage Engraved Wooden Crates: Use crates with engraved names or labels for stylish, functional storage in living rooms or children’s play areas. Custom Closet Systems: Design closets with features like jewelry drawers, tie racks, or shoe compartments tailored to your specific collection. Sentimental Storage Bins: Store seasonal decorations, keepsakes, or family mementos in decorative bins labeled with meaningful phrases or designs. By blending practicality and personalization, you can create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful. 9. Creative Personalization for Kids’ Rooms Children’s rooms are ideal spaces for playful and meaningful personalization. From custom artwork to interactive elements, you can design a room that reflects their personality while creating an inspiring space for them to grow. Ideas for Kids’ Room Personalization Name Signs and Wall Art: Incorporate their name in decorative signage or framed artwork to make their space uniquely theirs. Growth Charts with Memories: Add personalized growth charts where you can mark milestones and attach small mementos. Interactive Decor: Create activity walls featuring chalkboards, corkboards, or magnetic surfaces where kids can express their creativity. These personal touches turn their rooms into a space that grows with them, capturing memories along the way. 10. Blending Modern Trends with Personalized Touches If you’re drawn to modern design trends, you can still incorporate personalization without losing that sleek, contemporary feel. Here’s how: Tips for a Modern Yet Personalized Space Minimalist Monograms: Add subtle, elegant initials or symbols to decor pieces like vases, linens, or art prints. Statement Lighting: Choose pendant lights or chandeliers with a customized design or engraving to reflect your style. Neutral Colors with Personal Accents: Keep the base color palette neutral, but incorporate personal elements like family photos in modern frames or sentimental objects displayed in chic shadow boxes. This approach ensures your home stays trendy while retaining meaningful personal elements. 11. Technology Meets Personalization Technology can also play a role in making your home feel more personal. Smart home systems and digital tools can be customized to fit your preferences and lifestyle. Ideas for Personalized Tech Customized Smart Displays: Use smart screens to display rotating family photos or personal artwork. Smart Lighting Scenes: Set up lighting presets for different moods, such as a cozy evening scene that highlights your favorite decor. Voice-Activated Reminders: Program smart assistants to remind you of family birthdays, anniversaries, or even daily affirmations. By integrating personalized technology, your home becomes both functional and deeply connected to your needs. 12. Seasonal Rotations with a Personal Touch Personalization doesn’t have to be permanent. Changing up your decor with the seasons is a wonderful way to keep your home feeling fresh while adding meaningful elements. Ideas for Seasonal Personalization Holiday Decor with Family Themes: Create personalized ornaments, stockings, or wreaths that highlight your family’s story. Seasonal Photo Swaps: Rotate family photos to reflect seasonal activities or vacations. Custom Table Settings: Design table linens, centerpieces, or napkin rings featuring symbols or colors that are meaningful to your family. Seasonal personalization allows you to constantly renew the look and feel of your space while keeping it tied to your personal story. Turning a House Into Your Sanctuary Personalization in home design is about more than creating a visually appealing space—it’s about creating a home that reflects your life, values, and memories. Every detail, from the textiles you choose to the sentimental items you display, adds a layer of meaning that makes your house truly yours. By incorporating elements like customized decor, thoughtful gifts, and symbolic designs, you can craft a home that not only looks beautiful but also feels deeply personal. Take inspiration from these ideas to make your space a reflection of everything that matters most to you and your loved ones.

Transform an ordinary wall into a work of art with these one-of-a-kind hand-painted switch plates. Each piece is individually painted and designed to add personality, color, and unexpected charm to a room. Perfect for homeowners and designers who appreciate thoughtful details, these decorative accents prove that even the smallest elements can make a big statement.

Stephani Buchman
Example of a minimalist home bar design in Toronto

Experience a whole new level of comfort, elegance, and usability in your bathroom through our professional remodeling services. Our talented bathroom remodeling services combine quality and innovative designs to create bathrooms that reflect your personal style and meet your needs. #bathroom_ideas #bathroom_interior #bathroom_makeover #shower #bath #Laguna_Niguel #Mission_Viejo

Ema Peter | www.emapeter.com
Mid-sized beach style built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Vancouver with white walls

Woodland Builders transformed this first floor, which was once disconnected and constrained. By switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen, we optimized the layout for functionality, flow, and socialization. The expansive new kitchen and dining room have become vibrant, multifunctional spaces. They effortlessly cater to the needs of a seven-person family with enhanced storage solutions and a dedicated coffee and cocktail bar. These improvements create a sense of openness and connection, making the space ideal for entertaining.

Woodland Builders transformed this first floor, which was once disconnected and constrained. By switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen, we optimized the layout for functionality, flow, and socialization. The expansive new kitchen and dining room have become vibrant, multifunctional spaces. They effortlessly cater to the needs of a seven-person family with enhanced storage solutions and a dedicated coffee and cocktail bar. These improvements create a sense of openness and connection, making the space ideal for entertaining.

Example of a transitional home theater design in New York

ELECTRICAL: LeGrand - the adorne collection the adorne collection - GFCI Outlet I put dimmers on everything! Always. It’s so nice to be able to control the level of light. The Legrand adorne dimmers and switches are the nicest and easiest switches I have ever personally installed. They look incredible, and are thoughtful from cover plate to how the outlets nest to take up less visual space. The best part about the adorne collection is the installation. I was so behind with installing tile and other elements I wasn’t able to install the switches and dimmers until the last day before my photoshoot. Since I hadn’t installed them before, I was concerned the install would be complicated but each piece nested into it’s plate easily and the cover plate went on with a snap. Legrand has handy install videos and each piece comes with detailed install instructions. I’m planning to install the adorne dimmers in the rest of my house and can’t wait to have the ease of control and clean look throughout.

Innovative Installation Crew
Elegant bedroom photo in Orange County

Close up to show the pullout cutting board and the pico switches mounted to the door that control the task lite over the sink and the pendant lites. They operate by radio frequency and we did not want them at the refrigerator panel even if there had been room.