Example of a large minimalist master pink tile and ceramic tile double-sink, terrazzo floor, gray floor and wood ceiling freestanding bathtub design in Los Angeles with light wood cabinets, a floating vanity, flat-panel cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, marble countertops, gray countertops and a niche

Country u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Ben Benschneider
Bathroom - country bathroom idea in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls and a wall-mount sink

Example of a trendy kitchen design in San Francisco with an island

Bathroom - contemporary beige floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

This creative transitional space was transformed from a very dated layout that did not function well for our homeowners - who enjoy cooking for both their family and friends. They found themselves cooking on a 30" by 36" tiny island in an area that had much more potential. A completely new floor plan was in order. An unnecessary hallway was removed to create additional space and a new traffic pattern. New doorways were created for access from the garage and to the laundry. Just a couple of highlights in this all Thermador appliance professional kitchen are the 10 ft island with two dishwashers (also note the heated tile area on the functional side of the island), double floor to ceiling pull-out pantries flanking the refrigerator, stylish soffited area at the range complete with burnished steel, niches and shelving for storage. Contemporary organic pendants add another unique texture to this beautiful, welcoming, one of a kind kitchen! Photos by David Cobb Photography.

Peter Murdock
Mid-sized trendy great room photo in New York with a standard fireplace

Shawn-Paul Luchin Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

C.L. Fry Photo - www.clfryphoto.com
Inspiration for a country wooden staircase remodel in Austin

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. Photography Eric Roth Photo

Kids' bedroom - bedroom transitional girl carpeted and beige floor kids' bedroom idea in San Francisco with multicolored walls

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

Elliott Kaufman
Example of a trendy gray floor bathroom design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

Large transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Houston with an island, a farmhouse sink, marble countertops, brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beaded inset cabinets, black cabinets and multicolored backsplash

A counter height peninsula provides more workable surface area and opens the kitchen to the breakfast room. The back wall of counter to ceiling cabinetry provides ample storage reducing clutter. © Lassiter Photography.

Kitchen. Photo by Clark Dugger
Inspiration for a small contemporary galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, wood countertops, brown backsplash, wood backsplash, paneled appliances and no island

Designer: Matt Welch Contractor: Adam Lambert Photographer: Mark Bayer
Mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped medium tone wood floor home design photo in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Transitional master white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, beige floor and double-sink alcove shower photo in San Diego with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, an integrated sink, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity