Inspiration for a transitional home design remodel in Chicago

Elegant entryway photo in Atlanta

A.K. RIKKS Location: Grand Rapids, MI Scope: Design, Landscape Installation, Hardscape Installation, Irrigation Installation Features: Cobblestone walks, courtyard with dry water feature, teak panels, sculpture garden, outdoor park & event space.

Advice on interior design is available everywhere—from TV shows and websites to books, magazines and apps. We love seeing people become engaged in design and educated on the wide range of possibilities. But we hope you’ll proceed with caution. It’s not that style errors are a matter of life and death. It’s just that it’s easy to choose designs that aren’t necessarily reflective of your own personality and character. And since you’re typically stuck with your interior design decisions for years, styles that don’t quite fit can tend to grate on you. Interiors that give one person comfort may unleash chaos in someone else. This goes beyond favorite colors or hot trends, right to the heart of interior design, where you find questions of composition, balance, repetition, space and more. The goal is to find that unique combination of design elements that gives you comfort, support and balance. In one home, that perfect balance was struck through the use of symmetry. A pair of comfortable swivel chairs sit beneath matching indigo patterned paintings. Matching bookcases below the paintings contain similar, but not identical, arrangements of books, vases and bowls. Woods and bronzes help warm up the simple white bookcase shelving. Two matching poufs in front of the fireplace provide additional seating. The sofa is accented with a pair of pillows with a blue pattern that echoes the artwork. The effect of the symmetry is to achieve order and simplicity, which I promote at every opportunity. After all, your home interiors should be the setting or the backdrop of your life—not center stage. Antique bronze and blue are complementary colors. Together, they offer a rich palette of richness and depth, which brings out the beauty of wood and stone. In the home office, a unique, whitewash-stained wooden desk rests on metal, Sawhorse-inspired legs for a warm, rustic look. The black leather chair features a contemporary silhouette with an antique brass frame. An adjustable desk lamp has bronze accents. The bookcase combines a sleek, black metal frame with concrete shelves, for another unusual pairing. It’s kept uncluttered for an orderly, peaceful look. Items on the shelves include a bronze-accented lamp and a pair of high gloss-finished wooden bookends. The elegant artwork behind the desk is a simple midnight-blue and bronze with mottled white. Deep blues are again picked up in the rug, which adds a stately vibe with a modern pattern and satisfying texture. Within the framework of symmetry, the living room repeats the blue-and-bronze color scheme. A large midcentury brass clock above the fireplace keeps the natural stone visible, rather than hidden behind a painting or television, while its straight lines and color create a beautiful contrast. The sofa is a soft, neutral blue. The pattern on the round brass side table features echoes the darker blue-patterned rug, as well as the rug in the office, tying the rooms together. Indigo blue books adjacent to bronze vases on the shelves repeat the color scheme. The soapstone-topped coffee table echoes the shape of the fireplace. A pair of tall, matching floor lamps with long wooden bases, brass pulls and simple linen shades combine both the colors and symmetry found throughout the home.

Part of the nature’s repertoire, these stones are exceptional raw masterpieces, admired and appreciated since ancient times, been classified by their gems under the renowned name of semiprecious stones. Created in nature’s mysterious laboratories, over many thousands of years, these stones are just one of the sources forms where the absolute beauty originated. Their structure is a perfect architecture of small crystals coming in an infinite array of colors and depths. These semiprecious stones expressing the essence of elegance, class and beauty, are the ultimate touch of perfection for any interior, from classic to modern, from romantic to contemporary... Touches of gold and silver, a large choice of textures and colors expand and enhance their ability to fit any interior or design. # luxury stones # style # stones # elegant stone # home decor # luxury home # beauty # home design # luxury design # semiprecious stone # luxury stone # maercharme # gold #silver # elegant #interior decor

Photo by: Megan Cronovich
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic drought-tolerant and full sun front yard mulch landscaping.

Hot-dipped galvanized cantilever with high-strength bolts and torque-indicating washers
Inspiration for a small contemporary wooden floating metal railing staircase remodel in San Francisco

photo © Marie-Dominique Verdier

In the heart of the home, We've meticulously crafted a sanctuary of creativity and productivity in this home office. A symphony of design elements converges to create a space that not only reflects my professional ethos but also serves as a haven for inspiration. At the forefront of the room are nine floating metal portfolio prints, each encapsulating a unique design narrative. These prints are more than decorations; they are windows into the journey as an interior designer, weaving a tapestry of experiences and influences that have shaped my craft. Positioned strategically, a 43" LG 4k TV graces the wall, with integrated Philips Hue lighting behind it casting a soft, ambient glow. Flanked by custom ebony veneer columns, this entertainment hub seamlessly combines modern technology with bespoke craftsmanship, creating a visual spectacle that enhances both work and leisure moments. Lighting plays a pivotal role in setting the ambiance. Recessed square LED lights illuminate the space, while two incandescent wall sconces add a touch of warmth. All of this is seamlessly orchestrated through Lutron Caseta WiFi switches, allowing me to curate the perfect lighting atmosphere for any occasion. Functionality meets aesthetics with Merillat cabinetry thoughtfully integrated into the design. These cabinets discreetly store away office supplies and materials, maintaining a clutter-free environment conducive to focus and creativity. The ebony veneer theme extends to the custom columns, creating a visual harmony throughout the space. The pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the standing desk, a marvel of modern design and functionality. Its programmable feature allows for up to four memorized heights, catering to my ergonomic preferences throughout the workday. This dynamic element not only promotes a healthier work lifestyle but also symbolizes the adaptability and innovation that define my approach to interior design. In this carefully curated home office, every detail tells a story, and every element serves a purpose. It is a reflection of our passion for design, where form and function coalesce to create a space that not only meets professional needs but nurtures the spirit of creativity and innovation.

For this contemporary, mid-rise development project, our professional team of experts utilized our VX Screen 3000 fabric with a 3% Openness Factor in the common areas and our Imagine Blackout FR fabric in the living spaces for added privacy. Additionally, our 3” Flat Fascia system was installed in the units using our VTX20 Elegant Clutch. In the common areas and designated luxury units, our team utilized our VTi® Celtic External Battery Motor, providing reliability and precision with each use.

If you’re on the prowl for some seriously salacious wallpaper that celebrates eroticism, masculinity and sexual liberation, then Tom of Finland is for you! A collaboration two years in the works, this carnal creation comprises two designs—TAME and XXX—both conceived by Michael Reynolds, Hoffman Creative and the Tom of Finland Foundation. A bold and ballsy tribute to the dynamic graphite and pencil drawings of Touko Laaksonen (aka Tom of Finland), the famed renegade Finnish artist known for his stylized homoerotic art and its profound effect on late twentieth century gay culture and fetish lifestyle. From cops, cowboys and bikers, to sailors, lumberjacks and leather men — there’s a little something (and then some) for everyone. That-a-boy! Michael Reynolds is a New York-based creative director, curator, editorial stylist, book editor and design consultant. He is the US Editor of Wallpaper* Magazine and Editor at Large for Architectural Digest USA. His first book, TOM HOUSE – Tom of Finland in Los Angeles, is available through Rizzoli Publications. Eric Hoffman founded Hoffman Creative a decade ago in New York, a firm creating brand identities for a range of clients with an ethos rooted in psychology and emotional intelligence. Tom of Finland Foundation maintains the archive and former Los Angeles home of the 20th-century artist, known for his graphic, highly stylized illustrations. Dedicated to protecting and preserving erotic art and erotic arts education, the foundation continues to advocate the artist’s significant influence on gay and LGBT culture.

melissa paxton
Example of a classic home design design in New York

Scott Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees

Transitional home bar photo in Los Angeles