Example of a small trendy dark wood floor and brown floor entryway design in Denver with blue walls and a dark wood front door

Luxurious master bathroom with hand blown glass light fixture.
Bathroom - contemporary master bathroom idea in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets and gray walls

Chef's kitchen with white perimeter recessed panel cabinetry. In contrast, the island and refrigerator cabinets are a dark lager color. All cabinetry is by Brookhaven. Kitchen back splash is 3x6 Manhattan Field tile in #1227 Peacock with 4.25x4.25 bullnose in the same color. Niche is 4.25" square Cordoba Plain Fancy fIeld tile in #1227 Peacock with fluid crackle finish and 3.12 square Turkistan Floral Fancy Field tile with 2.25x6 medium chair rail border. Design by Janet McCann. Photo by Mike Kaskel.

Bowman Group Architectural Photography; designed by Brandon Architects, Inc; Built by Pinnacle Custom Homes, Inc
Example of a huge trendy open concept concrete floor living room design in Orange County with a wall-mounted tv and no fireplace

Cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor entryway photo in Salt Lake City with white walls and a black front door

Stacey van Berkel
Inspiration for a transitional light wood floor dining room remodel in New York with white walls

Lauren Rubenstein
Example of a transitional formal and enclosed carpeted living room design in Atlanta with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Huge tuscan enclosed carpeted and gray floor home theater photo in Los Angeles with a projector screen and gray walls

Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Other with white cabinets, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor wine cellar remodel in Vancouver

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal 3/4 stone tile and brown tile slate floor bathroom remodel in Charleston with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet, white walls and recessed-panel cabinets

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Beach style gray two-story wood exterior home photo in Los Angeles

Moris Moreno Photography
Example of a small trendy home bar design in Miami with open cabinets and white cabinets

Freestanding bathtub - transitional master freestanding bathtub idea in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Beth Singer
Kitchen - traditional dark wood floor kitchen idea in Detroit with beige cabinets, beige backsplash and stainless steel appliances

48 Layers
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped cork floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Patio - large transitional backyard patio idea in Other with a roof extension and a fireplace

David Palermo
Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Santa Barbara with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island