Bathed in sunlight from the large window expanse, the master bedroom closet speaks to the amount of detail the Allen and James design team brought to this project. An amazing light fixture by Visual Comfort delivers bling and a wow factor to this dressing retreat. Illumination of the classic cabinetry is also added with a shimmering white finish. Photographer: Michael Blevins Photo

Once dark and weighed down by orange walls, this laundry room has been completely reimagined into a light-filled, uplifting space. New custom cabinetry delivers abundant hidden storage, keeping everyday essentials beautifully organized, while a dedicated laundry sink with a natural stone backsplash brings both function and a touch of luxury. Thoughtful details like pull-out drying racks make daily tasks effortless. The result is a room that feels fresh, bright, and genuinely happy—proof that even the most utilitarian spaces can be a joy to be in.

Beach style laundry room photo in Indianapolis with open cabinets, wood countertops and white walls

Trendy second story cable railing deck photo in San Francisco with no cover

Elegant ceramic tile and white floor bathroom photo in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, beige walls and white countertops

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Santa Barbara Coastal in Ravenna, Ohio, effortlessly balances classic-inspired architectural details with modern design elements. It is no wonder the Santa Barbara floor plan is a homeowner favorite, engineered with an open-concept layout that naturally keeps the entire family connected. The main living zone features a dramatic flat-peak cathedral ceiling stretching across both the great room and kitchen, adding an incredibly spacious, light-filled, and airy volume to the home's core. Designed for culinary efficiency, the kitchen boasts a massive walk-in pantry with a window, flooding the storage space with natural light so checking inventory before making a grocery list is completely effortless. Just off the main living area, an adaptive flex room stands open to your interpretation—easily functioning as a sophisticated formal dining room, private flexible home office, music room, or children's playroom depending on your lifestyle needs. The thoughtful architecture acts as a private sanctuary when it is time to unwind, showcasing a secluded owner's retreat that shines with premium interior lighting and its own elegant cathedral ceilings. Prioritizing ultimate convenience and daily flow, the suite features a highly innovative layout: a direct laundry room pass-through door connecting the main laundry room straight into the owner's expansive walk-in closet. Completing this primary oasis, the deluxe owner's bath is beautifully appointed with a custom tile shower and dual vanities, creating a spa-like, get-away-from-it-all retreat right at home.

Example of a beach style laundry room design in Portland Maine

Farmhouse closet photo in Boston

An organic modern home seamlessly blends minimalist design with natural materials to create a sustainable and eco-friendly living space. Featuring neutral tones, clean lines, and organic shapes, it emphasizes biophilic design by incorporating abundant natural light and a strong connection to the outdoors, often through open floor plans and indoor-outdoor flow. Wood accents, reclaimed materials, and natural stone add warmth and texture, while sculptural elements and timeless finishes maintain a sophisticated, yet serene ambiance. The home prioritizes energy efficiency and low impact living, fostering a harmonious balance between modern convenience and nature’s beauty.

Whole-house remodel of a Lexington bungalow with a two-story garage addition, entertainment space, and luxurious primary suite.
Transitional entryway photo in Boston

A large laundry room that is combined with a craft space designed to inspire young minds and to make laundry time fun with the vibrant teal glass tiles. Lots of counterspace for sorting and folding laundry and a deep sink that is great for hand washing. Ample cabinet space for all the laundry supplies and for all of the arts and craft supplies. On the floor is a wood looking porcelain tile that is used throughout most of the home.

Philip Jensen-Carter
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Other with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, raised-panel cabinets and subway tile backsplash

Example of a trendy gray tile white floor and double-sink alcove shower design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Luxurious Spa-Inspired Bathroom Remodel | Artesa Build & Design Step into a serene, spa-like retreat with this stunning bathroom transformation. Designed for both elegance and functionality, this remodel features: ✨ Expansive Walk-In Shower: Vaulted ceiling, A sleek frameless glass enclosure with gold hardware creates a modern, open feel. Inside, a large built-in bench adds comfort and convenience, while the rainfall showerhead elevates the spa-like experience. ? Freestanding Soaking Tub: Positioned near frosted glass-block windows, this tub is the perfect blend of privacy and natural light, offering a peaceful space to unwind. ? Elegant Material Selection: Soft neutral tones, textured tile flooring, and gold-accented details bring warmth and sophistication. The matching niche in the tub area enhances both aesthetics and storage. ? Bright & Airy Atmosphere: Natural light floods the space, highlighting the subtle textures and finishes, while recessed lighting ensures a cozy ambiance in the evenings. This bathroom remodel embodies modern luxury while prioritizing comfort and timeless design. Whether you're looking for inspiration or planning your own renovation, let Artesa Build & Design help you bring your dream bathroom to life!

The Icaro is a sectional sofa made for people who prioritize comfort above everything else. It comes with convenient features like slide out seats, an adjustable headrest position, and a storage chaise lounge with an adjustable leg rest. The Icaro is made in Spain by world-renowned manufacturer Famaliving, which means it's constructed with quality materials and can be customized to fit your home's design. Everything from its size to its features, and even the color options consisting of 600 different types of colors and patterned fabrics, can be chosen to create the perfect sofa. You also have the option of using wood or metal for the legs, whichever works for your personal style. All the pillowcases of this gorgeous sectional sofa are removable and washable - a wonderful feature for those with kids and pets. All Famaliving furniture comes with the lifetime warranty on the frame and 10 years on the sofa seat suspension system. Dimensions: Customizable We deliver Nationwide! Visit our showroom at: Famaliving San Diego 401 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 Questions? Ready to purchase? Tel. 1-619-900-7674 sandiego@famaliving.com

This article is posted here with the consent of the author. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, view, or opinion of Crestron Electronics, Inc., or of any of its employees. Crestron Electronics is not responsible for, and does not verify the accuracy of, any of the information contained in this article. By Jeff Singer The “smart” revolution began several years ago with smartphones (a.k.a phones) and has extended in recent years to thermostats, doorbells, alarm systems, and kitchen appliances. Smart devices are so ubiquitous that the term “smart” is overused to the point that it is almost meaningless. Companies are eager to jump on the bandwagon and claim their products are “smart,” and consumers proudly claim they have a smart home because they have lighting control. Misconceptions about smart homes are prevalent and create confusion in the marketplace. This can have deleterious effects on businesses and underserve consumers. Here are seven of the most popular misconceptions about smart homes: 1. Apps are smart Apps are convenient and easy to use. Yes, it seems there’s an app for everything. People expect to be able to download an app and do just about anything. App developers and many companies do not disavow consumers of this myth. On the contrary, they promote this idea with carefully worded descriptions. The promise of having the world at your fingertips for $1.99 is very enticing. Although it sounds too good to be true, it is also too good to pass up for many people. This leads to undervaluing home control and disappointment when the apps don’t work, which undermines confidence in our industry. The fact is that apps are not smart. They do not control anything. They must connect to and communicate with a control system or cloud service that processes, prioritizes, and executes commands. That’s the real magic and what most people do not understand. 2. Smart devices work together With so many smart appliances and devices on the market today, it’s understandable that the average consumer might think that they actually communicate and work together. This is simply not the case. Smart devices are not that smart. They are designed and manufactured by different, often competing, companies. There are no national or industry standards governing these products. Even if they all operate using Wi-Fi® communications, that doesn’t mean they work together. Some companies promote a home control platform, which unites different devices from different companies – in theory. The platform is yet another third-party software totally dependent on other companies developing APIs and writing control modules for their hardware to run on that piece of software. The devices are not independently compatible. Also, when updates are made to either the hardware or the software, functionality may be affected for some period. That’s a nice way of saying the device or system won’t work and there’s no way of knowing for how long. 3. It’s a DIY project Which brings us to the next myth, which is that the average person can do it themselves. Unless you are a skilled professional, I would not advise taking on a smart home project. You want to make a light turn on and off with your Alexa® or Google Assistant™ virtual assistant software, go for it. A smart home takes much more planning and expertise. I have no problem changing a light bulb or hanging a light fixture in my dining room; however, I am not going to rewire my house. I may change the flush valve in my toilet, but I’m not going to replace the pipes in my house. You get it. Integrating devices and systems, establishing different zones, creating scenes, designing the UI with a balance between control, feedback, and simplicity – all takes experience and skill. 4. Need a programmer to make changes Early adopters may have experienced the pain of trying to make a simple change or update to their home control system. Years ago, if the cable provider changed the channel line-up, the homeowner would have to call the dealer or programmer to make an appointment for them to come out to the house to reprogram the system. The system wouldn’t work as expected until it was updated, which often took several days and beaucoup bucks. Not anymore. Technology has evolved so now it’s easy for system owners to change favorite channels, create scenes, rename buttons, update images, and more. While a professional is needed for the initial installation and setup, the system is easy to manage once it’s up and running. This makes life so much easier for both dealer and customer. 5. Tech becomes obsolete quickly Similar to updating the UI, updating firmware or hardware used to be a stressful process. A smart home should be intelligent enough to update itself. Apps don’t become obsolete. Updates are constantly pushed out from the cloud, making them better all the time. The same is true for a good smart home system. New features, functions, and device support gets added in the background consistently, so the system you installed (or purchased) yesterday gets better over time. Swapping out decorative elements, such as keypads, dimmers, and touch screens is also seamless. When a new device is added, all the settings are pulled down from the cloud and it just works. No system interruptions. No sunk costs. No imposing house calls. No surprise bills. 6. Lighting control saves energy and money Lighting control is one of the most popular smart systems, but it takes more than just one system to make a home smart. On the surface, it makes sense that if you dim the lights ten percent, then you save ten percent of energy costs. If the shades are raised during the day to take advantage of sunlight so the lights don’t need to be on (or at least not 100%), but that causes the room temperature to rise a few degrees, which triggers the air conditioner to run longer and more often, was energy usage (or cost) reduced? A smart home integrates all the various systems and technology to optimize comfort, convenience, safety, and sometimes energy. 7. Home technology is easy to hack Security is at the forefront of people’s minds these days. Personal identities are stolen; email accounts hacked; private photos publicized; and more. A smart home must outsmart those who don’t respect privacy. Crestron control systems adhere to the strictest security standards. The same Crestron control system that goes into a home is also installed in secure government and military facilities, global banking institutions, hospitals, and other mission critical applications. When installed correctly by a trained professional, a Crestron smart home is the gold standard for security, comfort, and convenience.

The Home Offering stunning curb appeal, The Silverthorne’s modern farmhouse exterior welcomes visitors with charm and style. Inside, the spacious entry leads to a private study and optional full bath, ideal for those working from home. This study may be optioned as a main-floor bedroom, perfect for guests. Those who enjoy entertaining will appreciate The Silverthorne’s open-concept living space with its generous great room and adjacent dining area. The optional expanded kitchen includes a large island, abundant cabinet space and a corner pantry. The second floor features a roomy loft, with enough space to easily accommodate a sofa, entertainment center and two secondary bedrooms with a shared bath. The loft may also be optioned as an additional bedroom. Next to the convenient upstairs laundry, The Silverthorne offers room for a desk to create a dedicated homework space. The airy owner’s suite becomes a private oasis complete with four-piece en-suite bath and expansive walk-in closet. This home features an optional full, unfinished basement with an optional finished design available that includes a rec room, game area, bedroom and a full bath. The Builder Century Communities is a top 10 national homebuilder. Offering new homes under the Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding — including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Colorado-based company operates in 17 states across the U.S., and offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loan subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit centurycommunities.com. The Interior Design The Silverthorne model home embraces a casual, cottage style with blues, creams and crisp whites. Organic accents create an inviting space without sacrificing the clean color palette. The home’s design prioritizes livable spaces, like the homework niche adjacent to the laundry room, while maintaining its tranquil appeal. The owner’s suite is a respite for the senses with its shiplap walls while the natural wood furnishings and textures add warmth to the room. This home is the epitome of refined relaxation and comfortable style.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Bluffton Coastal in Hilton Head, South Carolina, effortlessly balances classic architectural details with coastal charm. Spanning a beautifully detailed 2,455 square feet, the open-concept layout is defined by prominent feature windows in the owner’s retreat, great room, and morning room that are strategically positioned to invite an abundance of natural light throughout the entire home. Designed for culinary enthusiasts and effortless home organization, the chef-ready kitchen boasts an incredibly large walk-in pantry with ample storage space. For those who love hosting family and friends, the layout includes an integrated covered porch that is conveniently accessible directly from the kitchen, creating a seamless transition and natural flow for indoor-outdoor entertaining. A smart split-bedroom floor plan prioritizes rest and privacy, positioning the secondary bedrooms on the opposite side of the home where they share a highly functional Jack-and-Jill bath layout. Secluded from the rest of the main residence, the luxurious primary owner's retreat serves as a private, spa-like sanctuary. This deluxe suite features independent double walk-in closets and an enhanced primary bath beautifully appointed with a premium free-standing soak tub, offering the ultimate relaxing escape. Completing the coastal estate footprint, the property includes a detached garage featuring a fully converted bonus room above. This private studio functions as an independent detached guest apartment or premium home office, complete with its own full bathroom and dedicated workspace to provide long-term visitors with complete comfort and seclusion.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Bluffton Coastal in Hilton Head, South Carolina, effortlessly balances classic architectural details with coastal charm. Spanning a beautifully detailed 2,455 square feet, the open-concept layout is defined by prominent feature windows in the owner’s retreat, great room, and morning room that are strategically positioned to invite an abundance of natural light throughout the entire home. Designed for culinary enthusiasts and effortless home organization, the chef-ready kitchen boasts an incredibly large walk-in pantry with ample storage space. For those who love hosting family and friends, the layout includes an integrated covered porch that is conveniently accessible directly from the kitchen, creating a seamless transition and natural flow for indoor-outdoor entertaining. A smart split-bedroom floor plan prioritizes rest and privacy, positioning the secondary bedrooms on the opposite side of the home where they share a highly functional Jack-and-Jill bath layout. Secluded from the rest of the main residence, the luxurious primary owner's retreat serves as a private, spa-like sanctuary. This deluxe suite features independent double walk-in closets and an enhanced primary bath beautifully appointed with a premium free-standing soak tub, offering the ultimate relaxing escape. Completing the coastal estate footprint, the property includes a detached garage featuring a fully converted bonus room above. This private studio functions as an independent detached guest apartment or premium home office, complete with its own full bathroom and dedicated workspace to provide long-term visitors with complete comfort and seclusion.