Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink and recessed-panel cabinets

John Granen
Open concept kitchen - small modern galley light wood floor open concept kitchen idea with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and an island

Inspiration for a transitional landscaping in San Francisco.

Contemporary exterior home idea in Cleveland

Costa Christ Media
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard tile patio design in Dallas with a roof extension and a fireplace

George Oakley
Trendy open concept concrete floor living room photo in Salt Lake City with white walls and a hanging fireplace

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.

Guest Bathroom
Alcove shower - mid-sized traditional 3/4 ceramic tile and beige tile ceramic tile and beige floor alcove shower idea in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops and a hinged shower door

This home office was created from an outbuilding on the property. Seagrass wall-to-wall carpet was installed for ultimate durability and a relaxed vibe. We employed a high-low aesthetic to create a space that was unique but still within budget, utilizing the owner's Stickley desk, a custom desk chair, custom blush Roman shades, a Hudson Valley Fenwater chandelier and sconces, and multiple office items from budget sources like IKEA and The Container Store. The ceiling is painted Quicksand and walls and trim in White Dove by Benjamin Moore. Photo by Sabrina Cole Quinn Photography.

Inspiration for a country bathroom remodel in Bridgeport

Barbara Ries
Elegant patio photo in San Francisco

Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern drought-tolerant and partial sun side yard brick garden path in Phoenix.

Liz Daly Photography
Mid-sized transitional galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Mike Dixon with Star Interior Cabinetry worked on updating this kitchen with special measurements. The cabinets to the left of the sink were reduced in depth to 15" in order to fit a sink, dishwasher and refrigerator on the same wall.

The in-law suite kitchen could only be in a small corner of the basement. The kitchen design started with the question: how small can this kitchen be? The compact layout was designed to provide generous counter space, comfortable walking clearances, and abundant storage. The bold colors and fun patterns anchored by the warmth of the dark wood flooring create a happy and invigorating space. SQUARE FEET: 140

This concrete driveway is colored and textured to mimic London Cobblestone. We replaced a worn out asphalt driveway. The price point on this was one third the cost of real cobblestone. Being concrete means it will remain flat, be weed free, will not rut like asphalt, and cleans up easily and quickly because of the sealed surface.

Tre Dunham, Fine Focus Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary patio kitchen remodel in Austin with a roof extension

Mudroom - traditional mudroom idea in Burlington with gray walls

Example of a 1950s home design design in Houston