Example of a trendy kitchen design in Portland Maine with concrete countertops, a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets and stainless steel appliances

With a desire to stay close to friends and family, the owners of this 1984 home spent several years searching for property near their neighborhood to build a new, more modern, energy-conscious home tailored to their empty-nest lifestyle. They eventually concluded that their current site was the perfect location for them, but the home needed to be updated and reorganized to create fresh, open, unified spaces to comfortably welcome gatherings of family, friends, and guests. Before renovation, the floor plan included small rooms, dedicated hallways, a step-down living room, a heavy and dark corner fireplace, and limited opportunities for natural light and visual connections from space to space. Exterior deck areas were narrow, long, and used infrequently. Primary goals of this project included accessibility of space, more natural light, better connectivity between spaces, and a focus on sustainable performance. The updated main floor plan included the selective removal of walls to reallocate dedicated hall space to usable, open living area. The step-down living room was leveled for full accessibility, safety, furniture flexibility and overall space use. The removal of a half-height wall between the living area and the kitchen created continuity between the spaces. Reorganizing the primary entry and stair and eliminating walls between the entry and dining room created new visual connections between the kitchen and the entry. The new central concrete hearth and fireplace provides a strong, modern focal point for the living area. Large sliding glass doors on each side of the fireplace allow the TV area beyond to be separated from the living area as needed. In several strategic locations, the footprint of the house was expanded to enhance function and flow at the kitchen, dining room, and mudroom. The new outdoor deck area is now large and singular and includes a grille area, dining space and open seating overlooking the newly landscaped pool below. The exterior envelope of the house includes new insulation, siding, and energy-efficient windows, as well as two large roof-mounted solar arrays, to increase thermal performance and to offset energy costs. Inside, the new HVAC system maximizes energy efficiency while using a fraction of its former footprint. As a result, a portion of the former mechanical space was added back to the lower level family room area and expands into a cozy library nook. MMA partnered with the owner’s interior designer and kitchen designer to achieve a softer, contemporary palette of finishes that complement this newly configured, light-filled home.

Tuscan kitchen photo in Other with glass-front cabinets and blue countertops

Modern large master bathroom. Very airy and light. Pure white Caesarstone quartz counter, hansgrohe metris faucet, glass mosaic tile (Daltile - City lights), taupe 12 x 24 porcelain floor (tierra Sol, English bay collection), bamboo cabinet, Georges Kovacs wall sconces, wall mirror Photo credit: Jonathan Solomon - http://www.solomonimages.com/

This tranquil master bedroom suite includes a small seating area, beautiful views and an interior hallway to the master bathroom & closet. All furnishings in this space are available through Martha O'Hara Interiors. www.oharainteriors.com - 952.908.3150 Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Selections & Furnishings | Charles Cudd De Novo, Architecture | Troy Thies Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling

A "Happy Home" was our goal when designing this vacation home in Key Largo for a Delaware family. Lots of whites and blues accentuated by other primary colors such as orange and yellow.

This 4,500 square foot house faces eastward across Lake Washington from Kirkland toward the Seattle skyline. The clients have an appreciation for the Foursquare style found in many of the historic homes in the area, and designing a home that fit this vocabulary while also conforming to the zoning height limits was the primary challenge. The plan includes a music room, study, craft room, breakfast nook, and 5 bedrooms, all of which pinwheel off of a centrally located stair. Skylights in the center of the house flood the home with natural light from the ceiling through an opening in the second floor down to the main level.

Calcutta Gold Marble counter top. Design by Chalet
Elegant galley kitchen photo in Denver with stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and glass tile backsplash

This palatial estate spreads across the fan-shaped lot to take advantage of the wonderful views from the backyard. Four species of palm tree were used in the landscaping to accent the shapes and textures of the exterior.

Huge trendy master white tile and marble tile marble floor bathroom photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an undermount tub and gray walls

This home addition was intended to expand the home to provide the space needed for the growing new family. The existing kitchen was gutted, expanded and opened up to a family room and nook area. Custom inset cabinets were our preference; however cost was a significant concern. The owner researched multiple companies and standard product lines to save on her budget. After careful analysis, we discovered that it was just as cost effective to use the local custom cabinet maker we preferred. This allowed for more precise detailing and unique features. The goal of a classical farm house kitchen character updated with modern features was able to be obtained much to the home owner's delight. A family room was added to this home, opening up to a screen porch that takes advantage of a previously unused side yard. The much needed new rear entry provides the family a space for their laundry room and is now the primary entry point from the detached garage. Great care was taken to ensure that the home’s new detailing could have been built this way originally. The space however needed to have a modern function for a modern family. The homes existing exterior had aluminum siding and trim which concealed original millwork and shingles. When the nondescript materials were removed, it was discovered that the original was in poor condition. Careful attention was taken to replace and/or repair original materials wherever possible around the entire home, in order to create a seamless exterior character.

A "Happy Home" was our goal when designing this vacation home in Key Largo for a Delaware family. Lots of whites and blues accentuated by other primary colors such as orange and yellow.

Example of a trendy bamboo floor and beige floor dining room design in San Francisco

A custom marble topped island. This design was a collaboration between the architect and the custom cabinet maker
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized traditional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink and shaker cabinets

Casual elegance perfectly describes this classic family home. Delicate touches of color, loads of crisp white and a little bit of luxury are what brings this home to life. --- Project designed by Pasadena interior design studio Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home. They serve Pasadena, Bradbury, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Los Angeles, as well as surrounding areas. For more about Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home, click here: https://peltierinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://peltierinteriors.com/portfolio/westlake-village-residence/

dogtrot entrance with gathering room entry and outdoor fireplace. tiger wood decking.
Modern exterior home idea in Charlotte

Elegant exterior home photo in Charleston

A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

Tk Images
Mid-sized transitional master light wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Houston with gray walls