Front double door entrance to Japanese Tea House. Photo displays a wood front porch with a reclaimed sandstone in the middle. The building is constructed with 8 different kinds of wood. The Japanese-style roof is constructed from copper and contains 4 skylight windows. Photo Credits: Dan Drobnick

Front elevation of a custom home in Key West, Florida, USA.
Example of a large island style beige two-story stucco house exterior design in Miami with a metal roof

Looking for a nice clean crown molding, but what something different? These homeowners did just that with a simple clean flat molding applied to the wall and ceiling to create this look.

The kitchen blends old and new, combining elements of more traditional styles, such as the island, with contemporary industrial materials and modern lines. Large French doors and floor-to-ceiling windows provide connection to the backyard.

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean gray floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray cabinets

Living room - large contemporary formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Kitchen - victorian kitchen idea in New York

photo: Mariko Reed
Contemporary two-story wood flat roof idea in Sacramento

This Craftsman style kitchen displays warm earth tones between the cabinetry and various stone details. Richly stained quartersawn red oak cabinetry in a shaker door style feature simple mullion details and dark metal hardware. Slate backsplash tiles, granite countertops, and a marble sink complement each other as stunning natural elements. Mixed metals bridge the gap between the historical Craftsman style and current trends, creating a timeless look. Zachary Seib Photography

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Example of a cottage built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room design in Salt Lake City with black walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Bringing light and more functionality to a 20 year old kitchen was the goal for this extensive remodel. The homeowner worked with Kitchen Designer, Amanda Ortendahl of our North Attleboro location to update what was a dark wood G-shaped kitchen they had installed when they built the home 20 years earlier. The new design incorporates a large working island with ample seating for entertaining, homework and casual meals. The cabinets incorporate substantial crown molding and soar all the way to the ceiling adding to the feeling of height and spaciousness. The cabinets are all by Fieldstone Cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets are a painted finish in the color White. The island, hood and wine bar are Rattan Stain on walnut wood. The countertop and backsplash are Brunello Element Quartz. The plumbing fixtures are the Litze collection from Brizo in Luxe Gold. The coordinating hardware is from Top Knobs in their Honey Bronze finish. Remodel by Maynard Construction BRC, Inc. Photography by Erin Little

View of the house, main patio, pool and spa area, lawn and seat wall with trellis. Throughout the landscape, we mixed formality with touches of whimsy -- spiral topiary boxwood, bright dashes of colorful flowers, contrasting textures. Poolside trellises frame the greenery and visually link the surrounding area back to the trellised main patio. A set of striped chaise lounges provide outdoor relaxation and a view of the lawn.

Window film installed on residential windows can help homeowners enjoy the view of the water with reduced heat and glare Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a mid-sized eclectic single-wall dark wood floor wet bar design in Minneapolis with glass countertops

Example of a large transitional master black tile, white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom design in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

Inspiration for a cottage dark wood floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Michelle Peek Photography
Large trendy galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

A young family moving from NYC tackled a lightning fast makeover of their new colonial revival home before the arrival of their second child. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and new layout. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by grey glazed rift oak cabinetry on the island. Shiplap paneling on the island and cabinet lend a slightly contemporary edge. White bronze hardware by Schaub & Co. in a contemporary bar shape offer clean lines with some texture in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops in “Alpine Mist” create a harmonious color palette while the pale blue/grey Waterworks backsplash adds a touch of color. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator--Subzero; Ovens--Wolf. Cooktop--Gaggenau. Hardware--Schaub & Company. Sink--Kohler Strive. Sink faucet--Rohl. Tile--Waterworks. Stools--Palacek. Flooring—Sota Floors. Window treatments: www.horizonshades.com in “Northbrook Birch.” Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

Bob O'Connor
Nursery - contemporary gender-neutral white floor nursery idea in Boston with multicolored walls