Benjamin Benschneider
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Seattle with white walls and a media wall

Darren Edwards Photographs
Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in San Diego

Notice the rich grain of the bookshelves alternates from niche to niche. The width of the peninsular desk could easily accommodate two people on opposite sides.

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Example of a country dark wood floor family room design in Nashville with a bar, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Large transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile double-sink bathroom photo in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

Custom Display Library Wall in White Painted Maple.
Small transitional enclosed carpeted family room library photo in Orange County with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Family room library - transitional light wood floor and brown floor family room library idea in New York with blue walls and a standard fireplace

John Gruen
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in New York with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photographer, Morgan Sheff
Large elegant master carpeted bedroom photo in Minneapolis with gray walls and no fireplace

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

Herringbone custom shower with custom vanity in the ensuite bathroom
Example of a mid-sized minimalist master blue tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile, white floor and double-sink walk-in shower design in Ottawa with a floating vanity, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

A bold statement in any living space, the L2 is luxury fireplace design at its finest. Inspired by the highly successful L1 series, the L2 boasts an impressive 50" linear viewing area highlights magnificent flames within. Beautiful radiance on both high flame and low glowing embers, the L2 combines Valor efficiency and heat performance with the latest in contemporary styling. The L2 is also ready to take the new HeatShift System™, we recommend this option especially for installations where cooler walls immediately above the fireplace are desirable. Highly efficient and reliable home heaters, the Linear Series combines renowned Valor function with true contemporary form.

This 3200 square foot home features a maintenance free exterior of LP Smartside, corrugated aluminum roofing, and native prairie landscaping. The design of the structure is intended to mimic the architectural lines of classic farm buildings. The outdoor living areas are as important to this home as the interior spaces; covered and exposed porches, field stone patios and an enclosed screen porch all offer expansive views of the surrounding meadow and tree line. The home’s interior combines rustic timbers and soaring spaces which would have traditionally been reserved for the barn and outbuildings, with classic finishes customarily found in the family homestead. Walls of windows and cathedral ceilings invite the outdoors in. Locally sourced reclaimed posts and beams, wide plank white oak flooring and a Door County fieldstone fireplace juxtapose with classic white cabinetry and millwork, tongue and groove wainscoting and a color palate of softened paint hues, tiles and fabrics to create a completely unique Door County homestead. Mitch Wise Design, Inc. Richard Steinberger Photography

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

Boys' shared bedroom with navy bedding by Osmond Designs.
Mid-sized urban guest carpeted and beige floor bedroom photo in Salt Lake City with gray walls and no fireplace

Images in Light
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts dark wood floor foyer design in Richmond with gray walls

Miran Kambic
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel with white walls and a tv stand

Interiors by Olander-Capriotti Interior Design. Photo by KuDa Photography
Example of a trendy freestanding desk light wood floor home studio design in Portland with white walls

Christian J Anderson Photography
Large country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and quartzite countertops