The doors from Kokeena were a particularly inspired choice. Beth and her spouse started designing their kitchen before IKEA released their new SEKTION line. They were a little let down when they previewed the new IKEA kitchen line in the store. The cabinet doors and drawer fronts seemed cheap to them. In fact, they “felt like molded plastic.” Beth emailed her dedicated IKD designer, Ana, and said, “I can’t do those doors!” Of Ana’s 2 suggestions, Beth and her spouse chose Kokeena’s Modern English Shaker-style door fronts which felt more solid than IKEA’s choices yet were still less expensive than custom doors. IKEA door handles helped keep the cost low. A friend suggested mounting the handles in the middle of the doors rather than along the top, for a more modern feel.

An outstanding new Rosemary specially selected for its higher oil content and spicy flavor. With a compact, mounding habit, this is the Rosemary of choice for container, herb, and kitchen gardens. FEATURES Bloom/Feature Violet-blue flowers in spring, compact growth habit and very high oil content for cooking Plant Type Shrubs Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen USDA Zones 6,7,8,9,10,11 Zone Detail Hardy to -10°F USDA zones 6-11 Key Features Highest oil content for cooking Use Border, container, mass planting, coastal, groundcover Exposure Full sun Bloom Season Spring Dimension 12-18" H x 12" W Growth Rate Moderate CARE Water Regular water Soil Type Well-drained garden soil Fertilizer Apply a balanced slow-release each spring Pruning None needed; shape as desired after spring bloom PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS water before planting plant in full sun dig hole 2X the width of pot, backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level water and add more soil if needed mulch plants; fertilize in early spring

Welcome to a kitchen that seamlessly blends contemporary design with transitional elements, creating a space that feels both sleek and inviting. At the heart of this culinary haven stands the modern island, a striking centrepiece that not only serves as a functional workspace but also boasts ample built-in storage solutions for a clutter-free environment. Crafted with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic, the island exudes modern elegance, offering a harmonious contrast to the warmth of the surrounding transitional elements. Its smooth, matte surface invites you to gather around, whether for casual meals or lively conversations, while its generous dimensions provide plenty of room for culinary endeavours. As you approach the island, you'll notice its thoughtful design, which prioritizes both style and practicality. Concealed within its sleek facade are a series of cabinets and drawers, intelligently integrated to maximize storage capacity without compromising on aesthetics.

Construction + Millwork: Muratore Corp | Interior Design: Muratore Corp Designer, Cindy Bayon | Photography: Scott Hargis
Urban home design photo in San Francisco

We made this small condo patio space the highlight of this residence with screening shrubs, landscape lighting, and a warm inviting patio area. By Scarlett's Landscape, Inc. Photo by James Scolari.

This stunning kitchen renovation showcases Raindrops from the Royal Victoria Collection, expertly fabricated and installed by Banks Benchtops. Featuring a sleek white palette, minimalist cabinetry, and a large rounded-edge island, this project highlights how the subtle elegance of Raindrops creates a bright, spacious, and timeless interior. Raindrops is a limited-release engineered stone from the Royal Victoria Collection, designed to deliver the beauty of natural stone with the durability required for modern family living. The expansive island benchtop serves as the centrepiece of the home, complemented by matching kitchen surfaces, splashbacks, and vanity tops for a cohesive design throughout. The soft white tones and delicate movement within the stone pair beautifully with contemporary cabinetry, black fixtures, and light timber flooring, creating a clean and sophisticated aesthetic. At Banks Benchtops, every project is fabricated with precision and installed by experienced stone specialists, delivering exceptional craftsmanship and lasting performance. With over 70 kitchen benchtops installed every week across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Banks Benchtops is trusted by homeowners, builders, and designers for premium stone solutions.

Design ideas for a modern landscaping in San Francisco.

We named this design the 'Insignia' as to reference the building in Seattle where the original table (and bench set) now reside. The concept for the 'Insignia' table was motivated by minimalist-modern design and inspiration that arose from an admiration for Nakashima-style trestle bases. With our traditional 'Mez Works' style, we used dimensional walnut with a steel stretcher through the center of the tabletop to trace our 'Zeeva' and ‘Martis’ series tables, and the steel is treated with a ‘black-magic patina’ and clear powder-coat finish for an industrial element. The leaf mechanisms are drop leaf supports that are solidly built, structurally stable and sturdy to eliminate sagging. They lock in place automatically when raised, and are simple and quick to release. This design is very versatile, and as shown in the photos the table can be purposed as use for a desk. While folded down, the drop leaf hides a charging outlet that is secured to the base directly under the tabletop, while power is integrated by feeding the cord through the base all the way out through the bottom to a fixed outlet in the floor. WATCH ‘INSIGNIA’ VIDEO HERE: https://vimeo.com/188453410

Deep Purple flowers cover these tough plants from early spring to frost. Like her cousin Wendy’s Wish Salvia, this Salvia will form a ball of color in your yard, with no pruning or deadheading. A portion of plant proceeds go to Make-A-Wish® AU. FEATURES Bloom/Feature Dark purple flowers bloom year-round in frost-free climates, or until frost Plant Type Perennials Evergreen or Deciduous Herbaceous USDA Zones 9b, 10 Zone Detail Hardy to 25°F USDA zones 9b-10 Key Features Blooms won't fade in the heat; forming a ball of color with no pruning or deadheading Use Perennial, borders, garden beds, containers Exposure Full sun to part shade Bloom Season Year-round in frost-free climates, or until frost Dimension 3-4’ H x 3' W Growth Rate Fast in spring and summer CARE Water Moderate to regular water Soil Type Well-drained garden soil Fertilizer Apply a balanced slow release each spring Pruning Cut back to 3" in early spring to maintain shape PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS • water before planting • plant in full sun to part shade • dig hole 2X the width of pot, • backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level • water and add more soil if needed • mulch around plants

Deck - rustic deck idea

The Control/Shift House is perched on the high side of the site which takes advantage of the view to the southeast. A gradual descending path navigates the change in terrain from the street to the entry of the house. A series of low retaining walls/planter beds gather and release the earth upon the descent resulting in a fairly flat level for the house to sit on the top one third of the site. The entry axis is aligned with the celebrated stair volume and then re-centers on the actual entry axis once you approach the forecourt of the house. The initial desire was for an “H” scheme house with common entertaining spaces bridging the gap between the more private spaces. After an investigation considering the site, program, and view, a key move was made: unfold the east wing of the “H” scheme to open all rooms to the southeast view resulting in a “T” scheme. The new derivation allows for both a swim pool which is on axis with the entry and main gathering space and a lap pool which occurs on the cross axis extending along the lengthy edge of the master suite, providing direct access for morning exercise and a view of the water throughout the day. The Control/Shift House was derived from a clever way of following the “rules.” Strict HOA guidelines required very specific exterior massing restrictions which limits the lengths of unbroken elevations and promotes varying sizes of masses. The solution most often used in this neighborhood is one of addition - an aggregation of masses and program randomly attached to the inner core of the house which often results in a parasitic plan. The approach taken with the Control/Shift House was to push and pull program/massing to delineate and define the layout of the house. Massing is intentional and reiterated by the careful selection of materiality that tracks through the house. Voids and relief in the plan are a natural result of this method and allow for light and air to circulate throughout every space of the house, even into the most inner core. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

Master light wood floor and single-sink bathroom photo in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, gray countertops and a floating vanity

Design Statement: My design challenge was to create and build a new ultra modern kitchen with a futuristic flare. This state of the art kitchen was to be equipped with an ample amount of usable storage and a better view of the outside while balancing design and function. Some of the project goals were to include the following; a multi-level island with seating for four people, dramatic use of lighting, state of the art appliances, a generous view of the outside and last but not least, to create a kitchen space that looks like no other...”The WOW Factor”. This challenging project was a completely new design and full renovation. The existing kitchen was outdated and in desperate need help. My new design required me to remove existing walls, cabinetry, flooring, plumbing, electric…a complete demolition. My job functions were to be the interior designer, GC, electrician and a laborer. Construction and Design The existing kitchen had one small window in it like many kitchens. The main difficulty was…how to create more windows while gaining more cabinet storage. As a designer, our clients require us to think out of the box and give them something that they may have never dreamed of. I did just that. I created two 8’ glass backsplashes (with no visible supports) on the corner of the house. This was not easy task, engineering of massive blind headers and lam beams were used to support the load of the new floating walls. A generous amount of 48” high wall cabinets flank the new walls and appear floating in air seamlessly above the glass backsplash. Technology and Design The dramatic use of the latest in LED lighting was used. From color changing accent lights, high powered multi-directional spot lights, decorative soffit lights, under cabinet and above cabinet LED tape lights…all to be controlled from wall panels or mobile devises. A built-in ipad also controls not only the lighting, but a climate controlled thermostat, house wide music streaming with individually controlled zones, alarm system, video surveillance system and door bell. Materials and design Large amounts of glass and gloss; glass backsplash, iridescent glass tiles, raised glass island counter top, Quartz counter top with iridescent glass chips infused in it. 24” x 24” high polished porcelain tile flooring to give the appearance of water or glass. The custom cabinets are high gloss lacquer with a metallic fleck. All doors and drawers are Blum soft-close. The result is an ultra sleek and highly sophisticated design. Appliances and design All appliances were chosen for the ultimate in sleekness. These appliances include: a 48” built-in custom paneled subzero refrigerator/freezer, a built-in Miele dishwasher that is so quiet that it shoots a red led light on the floor to let you know that its on., a 36” Miele induction cook top and a built-in 200 bottle wine cooler. Some other cool features are the led kitchen faucet that changes color based on the water temperature. A stainless and glass wall hood with led lights. All duct work was built into the stainless steel toe kicks and grooves were cut into it to release airflow. Photography by Mark Oser

This fine-textured broadleafed evergreen grows as tall as it is wide, reaching a maintainable size of 3 feet and resembling a little green muffin. It’s an exceptionally compact boxwood excellent for use in smaller gardens for borders and focal areas. Densely branched, the tiny, green foliage is abundant and adds a distinctive note to the landscape, retaining its color particularly well in winter. The moderate rate of growth makes these boxwoods ideal for carefree edging in a wide area of the US. Other splendid characteristics include deer resistance and tolerance of dry soils once established. FEATURES Bloom/Feature Plant Type Shrubs Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen USDA Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Zone Detail Hardy to -20°F USDA zones 5–9 Key Features Deer resistant, evergreen foliage provides year-round interest. Use Hedge, border, mass planting Exposure Full sun to part shade Bloom Season Insignificant Dimension 3' H x 3' W Growth Rate Moderate CARE Water Keep soil moist Soil Type Well-drained garden soil Fertilizer Apply a balanced slow release each spring. Pruning Shape in early spring to maintain shape PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS • water before planting • plant in full sun to part shade • dig hole 2X the width of pot • backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level • water and add more soil if needed • mulch plants

Powder room - transitional dark wood floor powder room idea in Chicago with medium tone wood cabinets and a vessel sink

This contemporary kitchen features the NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves from Dura Supreme Cabinetry. The Bria (frameless) cabinets in Dura Supreme's "White" and Wired-Foil cabinets in Dura Supreme's "Wired-Mercury" are a great combination of cabinetry for creating the clean sleek look of this modern two-tone kitchen design. Dura Supreme Cabinetry is excited to introduce NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves for their Bria Cabinetry (Frameless / Full-Access product line). For a limited time, this new metal drawer system is available exclusively from Dura Supreme as they partnered with Blum to be the first American manufacturer to bring it to market. Dura Supreme’s Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves are an attractive option for any kitchen design. Sleek, double-wall, stainless steel sides are only ½” thick and work with many of Dura Supreme’s wood drawer accessories, as well as the coordinating gray metal accessories designed specifically for Stainless Steel drawers. Concealed, undermount glides are integrated into the sides and are self-closing with a soft-close feature. Our new Stainless Steel drawer option provides a contemporary alternative to our classic Maple dovetailed drawer. For homeowners that favor Transitional or Contemporary styling, this sleek, high-performance drawer system will be ideal! Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom in your area: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Want to become a Dura Supreme Dealer? Go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/new-dealer-inquiry To view a video and more info about this product go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/storage-solutions/stainless-steel-drawers-roll-outs

We named this design the 'Insignia' as to reference the building in Seattle where the original table (and bench set) now reside. The concept for the 'Insignia' table was motivated by minimalist-modern design and inspiration that arose from an admiration for Nakashima-style trestle bases. With our traditional 'Mez Works' style, we used dimensional walnut with a steel stretcher through the center of the tabletop to trace our 'Zeeva' and ‘Martis’ series tables, and the steel is treated with a ‘black-magic patina’ and clear powder-coat finish for an industrial element. The leaf mechanisms are drop leaf supports that are solidly built, structurally stable and sturdy to eliminate sagging. They lock in place automatically when raised, and are simple and quick to release. This design is very versatile, and as shown in the photos the table can be purposed as use for a desk. While folded down, the drop leaf hides a charging outlet that is secured to the base directly under the tabletop, while power is integrated by feeding the cord through the base all the way out through the bottom to a fixed outlet in the floor. WATCH ‘INSIGNIA’ VIDEO HERE: https://vimeo.com/188453410

Mick Hales
Example of a large transitional formal and enclosed living room design in New York with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv