Architect: Elizabeth Herrmann Photos: Susan Teare This 1100 sf 3-bedroom cottage in the Mad River valley was designed by architect Elizabeth Herrmann for a family of four who dreamed of downsizing and reducing energy consumption. Sited on an east-facing slope with view over the Mad River, the little black house features a standing seam roof, triple-glazed windows from Alpen, and a high-performing insulation package. A small Morso woodstove provides heat in the winter. A single Mitsubishi heat pump provides cooling in the summer and backup heat in the winter. Water is heat by an electric heat pump water heater.

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

Moehl Millwork provided cabinetry made by Waypoint Living Spaces for this hidden laundry room. The cabinets are stained the color chocolate on cherry. The door series is 630.

Elegant home design photo in Seattle

This owner wanted no upper cabinets. This is in a home that is off the grid, so plenty of natural light reduced the need to flip a switch.

Pebble Beach Family Room. Floating wooden shelves, white counters. Photographer: John Merkl
Family room - mid-sized coastal open concept light wood floor family room idea in San Luis Obispo with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a concrete fireplace

Example of a mountain style dark wood floor kitchen design with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Trendy home bar photo in Kansas City

Basement Renovation Photos: Rebecca Zurstadt-Peterson
Mid-sized elegant gray tile and stone tile porcelain tile sauna photo in Portland with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Photography by Mike Kelly
Example of a small trendy 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile drop-in bathtub design in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, onyx countertops, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, flat-panel cabinets and beige cabinets

The bathtub has partial privacy behind the pony wall of the second sink vanity. This also was a wall reduced down to create more open space.
Inspiration for a transitional master beige tile and travertine tile travertine floor, single-sink and beige floor alcove bathtub remodel in Dallas with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and beige countertops

The Watermill House is a beautiful example of a classic Hamptons wood shingle style home. The design and renovation would maintain the character of the exterior while transforming the interiors to create an open and airy getaway for a busy and active family. The house comfortably sits within its one acre lot surrounded by tall hedges, old growth trees, and beautiful hydrangeas. The landscape influenced the design approach of the main floor interiors. Walls were removed and the kitchen was relocated to the front of the house to create an open plan for better flow and views to both the front and rear yards. The kitchen was designed to be both practical and beautiful. The u-shape design features modern appliances, white cabinetry and Corian countertops, and is anchored by a beautiful island with a knife-edge marble countertop. The island and the dining room table create a strong axis to the living room at the rear of the house. To further strengthen the connection to the outdoor decks and pool area of the rear yard, a full height sliding glass window system was installed. The clean lines and modern profiles of the window frames create unobstructed views and virtually remove the barrier between the interior and exterior spaces. The open plan allowed a new sitting area to be created between the dining room and stair. A screen, comprised of vertical fins, allows for a degree of openness, while creating enough separation to make the sitting area feel comfortable and nestled in its own area. The stair at the entry of the house was redesigned to match the new elegant and sophisticated spaces connected to it. New treads were installed to articulate and contrast the soft palette of finishes of the floors, walls, and ceilings. The new metal and glass handrail was intended to reduce visual noise and create subtle reflections of light. Photo by Guillaume Gaudet

Staying within the footprint of the existing space, a secondary stairwell entry was closed off in order to gain storage and reduce traffic through the kitchen.

Andrea Calo
Trendy white tile white floor alcove shower photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Kitchen - coastal kitchen idea in Salt Lake City

Mid-sized trendy kids' gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor open shower photo in Gold Coast - Tweed with white cabinets, a vessel sink, wood countertops, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, brown countertops and flat-panel cabinets

Trendy bathroom photo in Bengaluru

Photography by Keen Eye Marketing
Small transitional gray tile and white tile dark wood floor and brown floor alcove shower photo in Charleston with a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a pedestal sink and a hinged shower door

This early 90's contemporary home was in need of some major updates and when my clients purchased it they were ready to make it their own. The home features large open rooms, great natural light and stunning views of Lake Washington. These clients love bold vibrant colors and clean modern lines so the goal was to incorporate those in the design without it overwhelming the space. Balance was key. The end goal was for the home to feel open and airy yet warm and inviting. This was achieved by bringing in punches of color to an otherwise white or neutral palate. Texture and visual interest were achieved throughout the house through the use of wallpaper, fabrics, and a few one of a kind artworks.