Countertop yellow kitchen cabinet with unique starfish carving.
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen photo in Boston with beaded inset cabinets, yellow cabinets, granite countertops and an island

Jonathan Tan
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal partial sun backyard landscaping in New York.

Example of a small trendy 3/4 mosaic tile floor alcove shower design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

THEMES: ROCK Gardens |Rock Outcrop. This image is of a Rock Outcrop on the back side of previous image that has the SIMPLEST and LEAST EXPENSIVE ground treatment of all: MOSS. After removal of thick leaf debris, moss came in on its own, as it did on ALL the many rock outcrops on this site. Moss requires little more than spot weeding in season, and removal of thick leaf debris in fall or spring. Moss is a truly elegant, very low cost way to highlight Rock features in ALL SEASONS. Does best in full shade.

Rhododendron canescens / Piedomont Azalea Photo: John S. Quarterman, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-2.0 Generic

While there are many interesting details on this home, the most unique is the dovecote located at the peak of the front gable.
Home design - traditional home design idea in Birmingham

White Washed Cedar with a blue river center.
Example of a minimalist family room design in Jacksonville

This a large pondless waterfall at Lodi Farms in Ann Arbor, Mi. Photo by Cory Mann
Photo of a huge rustic partial sun backyard mulch pond in Detroit for summer.

Here is a before photo of the hillside that was cleared by the client.
Photo of a contemporary backyard garden path in Baltimore.

What had been a very cramped, awkward master bathroom layout that barely accommodated one person became a spacious double vanity, double shower and master closet.

Absolute Black Polished Granite is an elegant black granite with a small scale black on black patterning and a polished finish. This stone is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Epoxy flake system with urethane topcoat.
Garage - contemporary two-car garage idea in Denver

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

Use tile patterns to add design depth to your home.
Inspiration for a bathroom remodel in Tampa with gray walls

Stair handrail detailing
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern wooden straight open staircase remodel in Portland

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows before and after pictures of master bathroom remodel including the following: - 12 x 24 shower wall tile (gray) with 1/3 offset layout pattern. - 12 x 24 bathroom floor tile (taupe) with 1/3 offset layout pattern. - Tile shower niche / box - Granite (River White) floating seat / bench - 2" x 2" mosaic shower floor tile - Semi-custom dark wood dual sink vanity recessed panel dual sink vanity with recessed panel doors. - Granite vanity counter / backsplash (Riiver White) - Moen chrome plumbing fixtures and hardware accessories - Kohler rectangular under mount sinks - Kohler one-piece elongated seat - Frameless sliding glass door - Kichler brushed metal vanity mirrors - Frameless sliding glass door - Kichler brushed metal vanity mirrors

Large elegant l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island