Search results for "Readers" in Home Design Ideas

This open airy condo overlooking Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, captures the essence of easy living by combining a harmonious balance of warmth & comfort in a sophisticated contemporary style. Its owners delight in calling it home.
We began this renovation project with a redesign of the interior footprint to permit more efficient use of space and effortless movement throughout. From tear out to completion, the usual challenges of steel stud & concrete construction and special condo bylaw requirements were easily handled by our team of certified professionals.
The creative use of millwork beams provided hidden channels to conceal electrical wiring and thus permit the addition of ceiling lighting where there had previously been none – a much needed design element for our clients who are avid readers and enjoy their art collection.
All surface materials were chosen to provide high performance and low maintenance as well as delivering a WOW factor aesthetic. This includes the engineered hardwood flooring throughout; the porcelain tile flooring in the three bathrooms and two shower enclosures; granite counters in the kitchen, bathrooms and office credenza; all cabinetry materials; as well as the fabrics on upholstered furniture and area rugs. The right products in the right places for the right reasons!!
Our furniture and cabinetry designs include the creative use of decorative glass; stainless steel; natural stone and custom wood and innovative laminate finishes. Soft draperies frame the large picture windows subtly drawing attention to the wonderful waterfront views in seamless fashion. Our attention to detail built on a foundation of good design and integration of quality well-chosen materials is truly a reflection of our client’s chic and balanced sense of style and commitment to live with uncluttered easy but comfortable elegance.

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What we did:
I started with a floor plan. I knew the success of this design rested in how the space was mapped out.
Lisa and Charles love modern furniture, but they couldn’t seem give each room the warmth they were looking for with modern furnishings, despite their best efforts. I was inspired by photos that they gave me and certain elements in the home that they LOVED.
One thing they mentioned was the fireplace and its color. I decided that the fireplace had to be the starting point of the room design, and based the color palette off of that beautiful, earthy orange color.
Here’s the highlights of the rest of the project:
Charted out the furniture plan for each room.
Created blueprints for shelving above Cabinet Storage area. Lisa is an avid reader and my home girl needs a library!
Custom designed the sofas, chairs, and an ottoman for the living area.
Selected all furnishings, accessories, and art.
Created storage for the kids. They are now able to stash their toys when they’re not using them, reducing clutter and keeping the space nice and open.
What I love:
They gave me the green light to have fun with the fabrics and patterns in the family room. I had a ton of fun with the sofas!
That AH-mazing coffee table. It is very unique, and I cannot lie… I secretly wanted it for myself.
The art in their living room (very dramatic). With the scale of the room, I knew it was either go big or go home!
Total time - 12.5 months

The modern elegant office blends bold design with refined details. A textured black accent wall adds depth, while large-scale abstract art serves as striking focal points. A geometric mirrored console table introduces texture, complemented by lush greenery that softens the space with a natural touch. A sleek gold desk lamp ties it all together, balancing sophistication with functionality.
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Gorgeous, gut-renovated 3 family brick row house with private backyard located in Jersey City Heights, a 1/2 mile to the Journal Square PATH station. Every inch of this beautiful, prestigious brick townhome has been recently renovated & upgraded. All apartments feature stainless steel Frigidaire appliances, quartz countertops, hardwood white shaker cabinets, restored original wood floors and beautiful window moldings. Shared basement with storage space and shared commercial washer/dryer. Common rooftop accessible through internal stairway with sweeping views of Manhattan. Better known to residents simply as ‘The Heights’ and often compared to as the next Brooklyn. Voted Curbed New York’s 2016 Neighborhood of the Year by readers, enjoy the thriving arts scene, local neighborhood fare and close proximity to Manhattan. This incredible opportunity to own a turnkey 3 family with great rental income will not last!

Create a kids' reading nook, a whimsical space designed to inspire young imaginations. Nestled amidst soft pillows, this cozy corner invites children to embark on literary adventures. Vibrant and inviting, the nook is adorned with a colorful array of books, enticing young readers to explore the magic within each page. Plush pillows create a comfortable oasis, encouraging kids to settle in and lose themselves in captivating tales.

This custom kitchen is part of an adventuresome project my wife and I embarked upon to create a complete apartment in the basement of our townhouse. We designed a floor plan that creatively and efficiently used all of the 385-square-foot-space, without sacrificing beauty, comfort or function – and all without breaking the bank! To maximize our budget, we did the work ourselves and added everything from thrift store finds to DIY wall art to bring it all together.
My wife is an avid reader and loves the look and smell of old books so when we were ready to decorate, the used book store was the natural place to go. We combed the children’s section and bought every old book with a blue or orange cover. Fortunately, the store was having a buy three get four free sale! We filled out the rest of the décor with thrift store finds.

While under contract with Thos. Baker, we initiated a series on summer bbq recipes to share outdoor living ideas from different regions across the country with readers. Photo credit: Plow and Hearth.

AKA re-proportioned this room and made a closet where only a dresser had been; the new arched opening creates a division between the bedroom and the rest of the Master Suite.
His and Hers bookshelves surround these avid readers and a new dresser under the TV doubles as a bench for family meetings.
photo Eduard Hueber © archphoto.com

This dining area stands as the central gathering space of the office, embodying a creative and functional approach to commercial interior design. A bold abstract mural serves as a captivating focal point, drawing attention and encouraging conversation. The pairing of ribbed fabric benches with sleek wooden chairs strikes the perfect balance between comfort and elegance. Modern pendant lighting elevates the atmosphere, creating an ideal setting for informal meetings and team discussions.

The home, built in the mid ’90s, needed an update. However, the family wanted to keep the renovations neutral enough to accommodate future changes and transformations. They had several project goals, including:
* Eliminate the family’s dining room table
* Add additional storage
* Create the new kitchen design within the footprint of their existing floor plan
* Make the refrigerator more easily accessible
To accomplish this, we removed the clunky dining room table and integrated seating into the home’s kitchen island. To remedy their storage woes we installed three large pantry cabinets. We also relocated the fridge for easier access. To add some style to the space, the family upgraded their cabinets to Showplace cabinets featuring the freeport door style in lyptus wood with a truffle finish. They replaced their existing countertops with Cambria Canterbury and installed a complementary Elkay granite sink.

Perched high above the city, this apartment rooftop is more than just a space with breathtaking views—it’s a peaceful retreat. A lush vertical garden and a charming wooden archway set the tone, while the gentle sound of a water feature adds to the serenity. Stylish seating, including a cozy sectional nestled among greenery, creates an inviting, modern vibe. And when the sun sets, a warm fire table brings people together, making this the ultimate spot to unwind and connect.

Ariana Designs and Architecture redefines a Kirkland home by blending contemporary and traditional styles with rustic charm. A soothing palette of white, gray, and ivory pairs beautifully with warm wood and granite, creating a timeless yet modern feel.
The redesigned kitchen enhances function and flow with a central island, optimized layout, and seamless indoor-outdoor connection—perfect for both daily living and entertaining. Every detail reflects thoughtful craftsmanship, balancing beauty and practicality in a space designed for comfort and effortless gatherings.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage.
Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials.
In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms.
A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival.
The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power.
Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove.
A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

Juxtaposition: defined as two things placed close together with contrasting effect, the word epitomizes this downtown Chicago residence. A family home, it evinces comfort, calm, and connection. Here, chaise lounges nestle side-by-side, welcoming wine-sippers, book-readers, and fireplace-gazers. There, an upholstered kitchen banquette recalls the coziness of a favorite restaurant’s corner table. And yet – while an elegant refuge for a busy family, this home is also a place of work. Indeed, it is the worldwide headquarters of a lauded anti-aging skincare company, complete with full-time employees and their offices. To meld the dual functions the house serves so seamlessly, workspaces are lavished with the same hallmarks that distinguish family-oriented rooms: a focus on ease, an open-minded use of space, thoughtfully considered décor, and an imaginative use of color that awakens a mostly neutral palette with joyful visual interest. Lavender and chartreuse sing against black walls; tangerine and steel blue dot creamy hues with vivid punctuation. Still, quiet prevails, creating a timelessly tranquil backdrop for work, play, and everything in between.
Photo: Dustin Halleck

In this project for an avid reader and their young family, Lincoln Lighthill Architect removed a narrow, awkward stair and replaced it with an open, light filled entry lined with a two-story wall of books. This giant assembly of custom millwork marries a floating stair, book shelves, entry seating bench, workspace beneath the stair, and a glass “bridge” that gives access to the primary bedroom, allows light down into the entry below, and provides endless entertainment for the kids and pets!

ABOUT THIS PROJECT: On a tight timeline from the sale of their beachfront home, the Owner's purchased this premium 4000 sqft penthouse condo on the ocean at Jacksonville Beach with the need to update quickly.
FINISH WORK: The couple appreciated the pre-construction planning, drawings and construction which ended on time as promised for their move in date. Good projects are well thought out and reflected in the finished results.
THE UPDATE: The flooring is a mix of blond oak engineered planks and Italian travertine in the hallways along with new millwork/baseboards and trims. . As avid readers, new custom cabinetry entertainment/ media and bookcases were added and a full house paint-out was made with specialty finishes to the vestibule foyer. They valued their old home's pantry system, so we made a custom version to fit their new space and added lighting, a wine "cellar" with a eurocave and added an exercise room with additional soundproofing for those in residence below.
CONTRACTOR'S Note: This couple - a healthcare CEO and his wife, a retired teacher and college admissions director for Bolles- were such a delight to work with and know. You can't help but be refreshed and uplifted by their bright and joyful taste. - Matthew Winchenbach, CGC

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours
Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Hartwell Area . Knowing the areas and resources of Lake Hartwell is our specialty. Whether you're looking for fishing on Lake Hartwell, information and history of Hartwell Dam and Lake. Learn all about Lake Hartwell here!
Hartwell, Ga. was the Reader's Choice 2009 Best small town to live in. Hartwell is the seat of Hart County and sits upon the southern border of Lake Hartwell. Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers.
LAKE HARTWELL is located in the Northeast Georgia Mountains and Upcountry South Carolina. Formed by a Corps of Engineers dam at Hartwell, Georgia and bisected by Interstate 85 as it crosses from Georgia into South Carolina, Hartwell Lake is one of the most accessible lakes in the nation. Less than 2 hours from downtown Atlanta, GA, 2 hours from Charlotte, NC, or 1 hour from Greenville, SC, Lake Hartwell is an ideal location for your residence, retirement, vacation, or investment real estate. Lake Hartwell's 962 miles of shoreline and 56,000 acres feature over 80 public boat ramps, recreation, and park areas with some of the best boating, water-skiing, and fishing in Georgia or South Carolina. GOLF HARTWELL at one of the nearby courses, or just relax on a quiet island or one of many natural sand beaches. Lake Hartwell Water Level

This colorful Contemporary design / build project started as an Addition but included new cork flooring and painting throughout the home. The Kitchen also included the creation of a new pantry closet with wire shelving and the Family Room was converted into a beautiful Library with space for the whole family. The homeowner has a passion for picking paint colors and enjoyed selecting the colors for each room. The home is now a bright mix of modern trends such as the barn doors and chalkboard surfaces contrasted by classic LA touches such as the detail surrounding the Living Room fireplace. The Master Bedroom is now a Master Suite complete with high-ceilings making the room feel larger and airy. Perfect for warm Southern California weather! Speaking of the outdoors, the sliding doors to the green backyard ensure that this white room still feels as colorful as the rest of the home. The Master Bathroom features bamboo cabinetry with his and hers sinks. The light blue walls make the blue and white floor really pop. The shower offers the homeowners a bench and niche for comfort and sliding glass doors and subway tile for style. The Library / Family Room features custom built-in bookcases, barn door and a window seat; a readers dream! The Children’s Room and Dining Room both received new paint and flooring as part of their makeover. However the Children’s Bedroom also received a new closet and reading nook. The fireplace in the Living Room was made more stylish by painting it to match the walls – one of the only white spaces in the home! However the deep blue accent wall with floating shelves ensure that guests are prepared to see serious pops of color throughout the rest of the home. The home features art by Drica Lobo ( https://www.dricalobo.com/home)

Designed for both comfort and impact, this lobby embodies sophistication with a fresh palette, refined décor, and brand-new furnishings. Every detail—from the elegant finishes to the serene ambiance—creates a warm, inviting space that leaves a lasting impression on every visitor.
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