Tying multiple floors together using 6”x36” dark grey wood-looking tile, laid on a staggered patterned worked well with the tile and concrete floors next to it. Two-toned cabinetry of wired brushed hickory with a grey stain wash, combined with maple wood in a dark slate finish is a current trend. Counter tops: combination of splashy granite and white Caesarstone grounded the display. A custom-designed table of ash wood, with heavy distressing and grey washed stain added warmth. Show custom features: Arched glass door cabinets with crown moulding to match. Unique Features: drawer in drawer for pot lids, pull out drawer in toe kick for dog dishes, toe space step stool, swing up mixer shelf, pull out spice storage. Built in Banquette seating with table and docking station for family meals and working. Custom open shelves and wine rack with detailed legs anchor the three sides of the island. Backsplash rail with spice rack, knife and utensil holder add more storage space. A floating soffit matches the shape of island and helps lower the showroom ceiling height to what would be found in a normal home. It includes: pendant lights for the snack bar, chandelier for the table and recess for task lights over the sink. The large triangular shaped island has eleven foot legs. It fills the unusual space and creates three separate areas: a work space, snack bar/room divider and table area.

Prior to our start, the Client hired a lawn company to mow the 4 acres that weren't horse pasture. Each week, pasture grasses, which "blade out" at about 6-8", were mowed to 3" All that remained were the stalks. This left the property scalped, brown and heading south. We developed a grass management plan to do several things: increase vigor; green it up; and carve a site composition into the landscape. What you see here blends gorgeously with those mountains beyond. There is no artificial separation. Over time, mowed areas were allowed to grow through the summer, which encouraged seasonal change through naturally-occurring and introduced wildflowers, forbes and shrubs. From spring green up through the autumn, the landscape slowly evolved from dormancy to seas of waving grass embracing the different aspects of the landscape. It was breathtaking. It also significantly reduced lawn maintenance costs.

An open kitchen optimizes the space by reducing the need for barriers between spaces. In this home, the dining room and kitchen are placed in the same space which is the corner of the living area. The C-shaped island serves as a work counter for the kitchen and provides a separation between the kitchen and the dining room. The wood cabinets are paired with black handles and and a dark backsplash to add a luxurious feel. A glass-fronted cabinet showcases statement dining pieces. The wood raised-panel cabinets maximize the functionality. ULFBUILT- Vail general contractor

Eat-in kitchen - large traditional l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in Austin with dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue backsplash and mosaic tile backsplash

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

A variety of drought tolerant plant such as Blue Chalk Sticks, Flapjacks, Mesquite, and Soft-Tipped Yucca were added to achieve a modern aesthetic that is also low maintenance. The fence that separates the the courtyard and the motor court is made from cattle panel inspired by the client's nearby ranch.

Both bathrooms feature floating vanity tops and wall-mounted toilets. Photo by Jim Houston
Bathroom - 1950s pebble tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and multicolored floor mudroom remodel in Salt Lake City with gray walls

We gave this newly-built weekend home in New London, New Hampshire a colorful and contemporary interior style. The successful result of a partnership with Smart Architecture, Grace Hill Construction and Terri Wilcox Gardens, we translated the contemporary-style architecture into modern, yet comfortable interiors for a Massachusetts family. Creating a lake home designed for gatherings of extended family and friends that will produce wonderful memories for many years to come.

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Example of a mid-sized cottage underground carpeted basement design in Denver with gray walls

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Custom peninsula reef aquarium designed as a room divider within this contemporary New Jersey home. The aquarium was integrated directly into the architectural layout of the space to create separation between the dining and living areas while still maintaining open sightlines and natural flow throughout the home. The peninsula-style layout allows viewing from multiple angles and creates a strong visual focal point within the interior space. Projects like this require coordination between aquarium design, structural planning, cabinetry integration, plumbing layout, lighting placement, and long-term service accessibility prior to fabrication and installation. The system includes remote filtration and life support equipment located separately from the main display aquarium to improve serviceability, reduce equipment visibility, and maintain a cleaner overall presentation within the living space. Custom aquarium design, fabrication coordination, installation, and ongoing maintenance by Aqua Creations. www.AquaCustomFishTanks.com

Tommy Daspit Photographer
Example of a mid-sized transitional galley light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Birmingham with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

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

Through a collaborate design effort between Doman Custom Carpentry and Reico Kitchen & Bath, this NARI Coty Award winning traditional white bathroom features Merillat Classic cabinets in Bellingham Maple and a Chiffon with Tuscan Glaze finish. Other products shown include Silestone Lyra counter tops, Moen faucets and accessories, Toto Aquia Dual Flush Toilet and Mosaic Tile’s Arabescato Marble with basket weave mosaic accents. Photos courtesy of June Stanich Photography / www.junestanichphoto.com

Amazing, custom - made kitchen, in black color with metal and wood elements that create the perfect look. Here you can see the metal range hoods and designed metal lighting above the black island, the island and the small dining table, made of two different materials to create separation, but designed as one piece to create continuance off one another.

This deck was designed with cooking and entertaining in mind. The dual burner cooktop, 36" wide grill and storage provide plenty of cooking and staging space. The dining table niche, mobile island with seating and additional space allows enough table/chair space for seating 30+ people. By separating the beverage station from the cooking area, the deck encourages guests to circulate through the space (and reduced installation costs by tapping into the house main kitchen sink plumbing located on the other side of the exterior wall). The mobile island, with it's cantilevered countertop is perfectly stable despite the 225 pound countertop slab. This was achieved with a ballast inside the box combined with the industrial casters that allow the wheels to be pumped up off the deck, providing solid footing for the island.

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