This typical tract home bathroom was converted into a soothing home spa, inspired by the beauty of the outdoors. The metaphor of Nature (waterfall, pebbles, natural wood tone) was employed throughout to create the feel of being outside. The undermount lighting in the shower and beneath the vanity cabinet further enhance the spa-like ambience at night. Designer: Fumiko Faiman, Photographer: Jeri Koegel

LeichtUSA Orlando Stone Oak | Luna Acrylic AG12, Tom Wilkinson Leicht Austin | Arete,
Open concept kitchen - huge contemporary open concept kitchen idea in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white backsplash, beige walls and an island

Melissa Oivanki for Custom Home Designs, LLC
Large elegant gender-neutral kitchen pantry photo in New Orleans with open cabinets and white cabinets

Example of a farmhouse dark wood floor bedroom design in Nashville with green walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a huge coastal master ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom remodel in Minneapolis with white cabinets, quartz countertops, black countertops and shaker cabinets

In the kitchen we exposed the previously hidden original brick walls by eliminating the upper storage and swapping with chunky shelves that wrap the brick. Additional lighting onto the texture of the exposed brick brings the architecture back into the space and provides a nice contrast to the sleek slab doors. We created placement for dish storage by adding a wall of shallow drawers underneath with peg organizers. We extended the island to provide additional seating and more space for baking.

Bathroom - mid-sized craftsman bathroom idea in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The cell phone storage and charger station has 4 electrical outlets built in for phone and ipad charging, key storage, and a writing surface. Interior and exterior panels are magnetic white board. c 2011 Sarah Robertson Dearborn Cabinetry LLC

Mid-sized trendy u-shaped and built-in desk porcelain tile and beige floor craft room photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer, blue walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional mosaic tile floor bathroom remodel in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets and multicolored walls

Conveniently store makeup, hair appliances and toiletries together in one complete drawer system with Rev-A-Shelf's new 4VDO Series. Designed for 12", 15" and 18" vanity base cabinet drawers.

Carpeted girl's bedroom has a wooded view.
Example of a mid-sized and bedroom transitional loft-style and girl carpeted kids' bedroom design in Kansas City with beige walls

The kitchen has a place for everything to be tucked out of sight, including the plug mold that keeps the outlets under the upper cabinets so that they don’t clutter the backsplash tile, which are run alongside the under-cabinet lighting.

3 BU No 122 Small Truck with 2 inch stem casters Photo Credit: Amy Gerber/Brown Eyes Plus Blue (www.browneyesplusblue.com)
Elegant laundry room photo in Boston

This Shaker kitchen boosts modern taste complimenting the renovated parish it lives in.
Inspiration for a mid-sized shabby-chic style u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and a peninsula

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Michael Dikter, Focus Photography NW
Elegant kitchen photo in Seattle