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.”

Matthew Niemann Photography
Example of a transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in Austin with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, white countertops, quartz countertops, white cabinets and stone tile backsplash

Large trendy master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor double shower photo in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface countertops and an integrated sink

The small home office is tucked off of the entry but allows for a quite space to get work done.
Beach style home office photo in Boston

The layout of this bathroom was reconfigured by locating the new tub on the rear wall, and putting the toilet on the left of the vanity. The wall on the left of the existing vanity was taken out.

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
Living room - transitional living room idea in Austin

Jonathan Reece
Example of a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and gray floor mudroom design in Portland Maine with white walls and a medium wood front door

Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States This brand-new townhouse at Pierhouse, Brooklyn was a gorgeous space, but was crying out for some personalization to reflect our clients vivid, sophisticated and lively design aesthetic. Bold Patterns and Colors were our friends in this fun and eclectic project. Our amazing clients collaborated with us to select the fabrics for the den's custom Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa and we also customized a vintage swedish rug from Doris Leslie Blau. for the Living Room Our biggest challenge was to capture the space under the Staircase so that it would become usable for this family. We created cubby storage, a desk area, coat closet and oversized storage. We even managed to fit in a 12' ladder - not an easy feat! Photographed by: James Salomon

Living room at Logan's Residence, by Restructure Studio
Example of a transitional living room design in Austin

Thoughtful design and detailed craft combine to create this timelessly elegant custom home. The contemporary vocabulary and classic gabled roof harmonize with the surrounding neighborhood and natural landscape. Built from the ground up, a two story structure in the front contains the private quarters, while the one story extension in the rear houses the Great Room - kitchen, dining and living - with vaulted ceilings and ample natural light. Large sliding doors open from the Great Room onto a south-facing patio and lawn creating an inviting indoor/outdoor space for family and friends to gather. Chambers + Chambers Architects Stone Interiors Federika Moller Landscape Architecture Alanna Hale Photography

Robert Elkins
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Oklahoma City with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Location: Nantucket, MA, USA This classic Nantucket home had not been renovated in several decades and was in serious need of an update. The vision for this summer home was to be a beautiful, light and peaceful family retreat with the ability to entertain guests and extended family. The focal point of the kitchen is the La Canche Chagny Range in Faience with custom hood to match. We love how the tile backsplash on the Prep Sink wall pulls it all together and picks up on the spectacular colors in the White Princess Quartzite countertops. In a nod to traditional Nantucket Craftsmanship, we used Shiplap Panelling on many of the walls including in the Kitchen and Powder Room. We hope you enjoy the quiet and tranquil mood of these images as much as we loved creating this space. Keep your eye out for additional images as we finish up Phase II of this amazing project! Photographed by: Jamie Salomon

This contemporary blue, silver, and natural dining room feels light and airy with custom drapery panels, silver accessories, and beautiful contemporary lighting. We love how the accent wall and blue ceiling addsa drama to this elegant room. Photo by Johnny Stevens

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

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

Large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Houston with white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, stone slab backsplash, recessed-panel cabinets, a double-bowl sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Home design - contemporary home design idea in London