David Duncan Livingston
Example of a transitional galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and an island

Yellow door, yellow rug
Entryway - traditional light wood floor and beige floor entryway idea in Minneapolis with white walls and a yellow front door

This beautiful coastal kitchen features a Cambria quartz Oakmoor™ island with a waterfall edge. The design’s sandy waves contribute to the home’s inviting beachy feel and serve as a perfect focal point in this open-concept space. Other kitchen details include mint green cabinetry, blonde woods, matte black pendant lights, sculptural stools, and gold pulls. Design: Blackband Home & Design // Builder: SC Homes

An open floor plan with high ceilings and large windows adds to the contemporary style of this home. The view to the outdoors creates a direct connection to the homes outdoor living spaces and the lake beyond. Photo by Jacob Bodkin. Architecture by James LaRue Architects.

Example of a large transitional dark wood floor and white floor great room design in Dallas with white walls and a standard fireplace

Transitional white tile bathroom photo in Los Angeles with a console sink, open cabinets, white cabinets and a two-piece toilet

Powder room - mid-sized modern gray tile and porcelain tile light wood floor powder room idea in Chicago with gray walls and an integrated sink

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Builder: Great Neighborhood Homes, Inc. Designer: Martha O'Hara Interiors Photo: Landmark Photography 2017 Artisan Home Tour
Inspiration for a transitional single-wall gray floor laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Example of a transitional freestanding desk light wood floor and beige floor home office design in Houston with beige walls

Swanbridge his-and-her vanities Photo: High Res Media Build: AFT Construction Design: E Interiors
Transitional master white floor bathroom photo in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls and an undermount sink

2018 Artisan Home Tour Photo: LandMark Photography Builder: Narr Construction
Beach style light wood floor sunroom photo in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a standard ceiling

This cozy white traditional kitchen was redesigned to provide an open concept feel to the dining area. The dark wood ceiling beams, clear glass cabinet doors, Bianco Sardo granite countertops and white subway tile backsplash unite the quaint space.

This open and airy kitchen by Millhaven Homes in Utah has hints of farmhouse flair and Cambria Clareanne Matte™ countertops. A large island serves for entertaining and family gatherings. Photo: Rebekah Westover

Living room - country light wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall living room idea in Seattle with white walls

Stylish brewery owners with airline miles that match George Clooney’s decided to hire Regan Baker Design to transform their beloved Duboce Park second home into an organic modern oasis reflecting their modern aesthetic and sustainable, green conscience lifestyle. From hops to floors, we worked extensively with our design savvy clients to provide a new footprint for their kitchen, dining and living room area, redesigned three bathrooms, reconfigured and designed the master suite, and replaced an existing spiral staircase with a new modern, steel staircase. We collaborated with an architect to expedite the permit process, as well as hired a structural engineer to help with the new loads from removing the stairs and load bearing walls in the kitchen and Master bedroom. We also used LED light fixtures, FSC certified cabinetry and low VOC paint finishes. Regan Baker Design was responsible for the overall schematics, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, as well as the selection and procurement of all fixtures, cabinets, equipment, furniture,and accessories. Key Contributors: Green Home Construction; Photography: Sarah Hebenstreit / Modern Kids Co.

Elegant white two-story clapboard house exterior photo in Philadelphia with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a gray roof

Photo by Seth Hannula
Inspiration for a small mediterranean black and white tile and beige tile travertine floor powder room remodel in Minneapolis with a vessel sink and white walls

Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor and beige floor bathroom idea in Phoenix with white walls, quartzite countertops and a hinged shower door