Natural ventilation occurs through high hopper windows and multi-slide floor-to-ceiling windows, positioned to convect cool air currents from the nearby creek. The roof and exterior walls are clad in lifetime corrugated dark steel reducing maintenance and replacement waste, and insulated with high-rated green material – soy-foam.

Hope Island Cottages - tiny houses on wheels. This photo shows the beautiful interior of the tiny house.
Minimalist home design photo in Seattle

Inspiration for a cottage u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in Vancouver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

This modern blue bathroom uses large tiles made from recycled granite and glass, this color is called 453 Dark Blue. By using large tiles you will reduce the amount of grout lines, There are many colors and finishes to choose from.

The large pleats make these shades great for large windows and the sophisticated patterns that are available will transform the look of any room. These blackout shades are especially ideal for bedrooms and media rooms ad they will reduce glare and provide complete darkness if needed.

Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in Portland Maine with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Example of a transitional living room design in New York

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

We’re falling in love with this Kohler kitchen. Do you LIKE?

Transitional galley dark wood floor kitchen photo in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and an island

Autumn fern, (Dryopteris erythrosora) in a woodland setting Le jardinet
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

Dedicated laundry room - small contemporary single-wall gray floor dedicated laundry room idea in Milwaukee with flat-panel cabinets, gray walls and a stacked washer/dryer

Reduced, Stylish, Functional: Metris embodies the idea of freeing oneself from the superfluous and the superficial to focus on the essential. A clear design language that leaves no questions unanswered.

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

Relax and unwind in this farmhouse retreat! With understated decor and a variety of textures, it's easy to forget about the stresses of the day and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Like reading your favorite book in a barrel chair, or just daydreaming in a comfy bed. Either way, it's impossible to feel stressed when you look up and see the stress-reducing tongue and groove ceiling with rope lighting!

A beautifully boarded stair hall welcomes you into this inspirational modern Cape Cod home. The spacious floor plan includes an expansive kitchen, dining, and living area, complete with a charming butler's pantry and home office. Photo Credit: Scott Amundson

Architect: Tim Brown Architecture. Photographer: Casey Fry
Large cottage white two-story mixed siding house exterior photo in Austin with a metal roof

Family room - transitional dark wood floor family room idea in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv