Daniel Gonzalez
Photo of a huge traditional gravel driveway in New York for spring.

geometric, lush, nautical, outdoor dining, teak, veranda
Transitional backyard deck photo in Los Angeles with a roof extension

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a rustic built-in desk carpeted study room remodel in Philadelphia with white walls

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.

Photo: Claire Esparros for Homepolish
Home yoga studio - home yoga studio idea in New York

Example of an eclectic freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office design in Bridgeport with beige walls

Photography: John Sutton
Elegant family room photo in San Francisco with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a coastal ceramic tile and gray floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, marble backsplash and an island

Photo: Tess Fine © 2013 Houzz
Living room - traditional living room idea in Boston with a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Residential remodel of an attic space added a master bedroom, master bath and nursery as well as much-needed built-in custom storage into the hallway and eave spaces. Light-filled on even the most overcast days, this Portland residence is bright and airy with balance of natural materials playing off a white backdrop. The cedar wood plank walls in the master bedroom and bath give a tactile sense of natural materials and make the rooms glow. All photos: Josh Partee Photography

Example of a trendy freestanding desk dark wood floor, brown floor and wallpaper home office design in Los Angeles with blue walls

Located at Tarns of the Moor, Bannockburn, Illinois, the Scottish Manor is a concept home by Orren Pickell Designers & Builders (OPDB). The builders needed to find screen solutions for several sets of doors throughout the house that would provide insect protection while blending with the unique design of the home. It was important for OPDB’s design team to specify a solution that would be suitable for several double-French doors throughout the building. The luxurious interior style and finishes dictated the selection of screens that would retract out of sight and not stand out on the door frames. All installed screens were specified in custom colors to blend into the window clad color in order to avoid distracting from the overall aesthetics and old world theme of the home. Products used: Phantom Professional Series Double-French and single retractable door screens Installed by Phantom Authorized Distributor: Interior Tectonics, LLC

Located at Tarns of the Moor, Bannockburn, Illinois, the Scottish Manor is a concept home by Orren Pickell Designers & Builders (OPDB). The builders needed to find screen solutions for several sets of doors throughout the house that would provide insect protection while blending with the unique design of the home. It was important for OPDB’s design team to specify a solution that would be suitable for several double-French doors throughout the building. The luxurious interior style and finishes dictated the selection of screens that would retract out of sight and not stand out on the door frames. All installed screens were specified in custom colors to blend into the window clad color in order to avoid distracting from the overall aesthetics and old world theme of the home. Products used: Phantom Professional Series Double-French and single retractable door screens Installed by Phantom Authorized Distributor: Interior Tectonics, LLC

Trendy concrete patio photo in Other with no cover

Home office - contemporary home office idea in Orlando with gray walls

"Give me a place to stand and I shall move the Earth with a lever." - Archimedes This 5-Star Built-Green project is a three story, two-unit townhome sited on a vacant lot near the corner of 26th Ave S. and S. Judkins Street in Seattle. Due to the slender proportion of the lot, the units are arranged in a front-to-back configuration relative to the street. The street-facing, 1bedroom unit is 840sf and the east-facing, 3 bedroom unit is 1440sf. Some key features are ductless mini-split heating and Air Conditioning, tankless hot water, LED Lighting throughout, strand woven bamboo, Formaldehyde free BIBS insulation, high efficiency windows and many non-VOC paints and finishes. First Lamp acted as both designer and builder on this project.

Elegant boy carpeted and blue floor kids' room photo in New York with multicolored walls

Photo Credit: Thomas McConnell
Home office - modern built-in desk home office idea in Austin with white walls