The couple maintained the loft space for an office and powder room. The kitchen was tucked below. Photo: Margot Hartford © 2014 Houzz
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in San Francisco

Stefanie Rawlinson Photography
Example of a large transitional u-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Other with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The home office has evolved into an indispensable space that seamlessly blends productivity and comfort. Tailored to the demands of remote work or personal projects, a well-designed home office often features ergonomic furniture, ample storage, and efficient technology integration. Thoughtful placement of desks and chairs enhances workflow, while strategic lighting promotes focus and reduces eye strain. The home office is not only a functional workspace but also an expression of individual style, with personalized decor and organizational elements contributing to a conducive and inspiring atmosphere. As the boundary between work and home blurs, the home office emerges as a versatile sanctuary that fosters concentration, creativity, and a harmonious work-life balance.

Designed to support both focused work and everyday living, this custom home office blends functionality with timeless architectural detailing. A built-in desk and floating white oak shelf provide an efficient workspace while maintaining a clean and uncluttered aesthetic. Full-height wall paneling introduces rhythm and texture, creating a refined backdrop that elevates the room beyond a conventional office. Large windows bring in abundant natural light and frame views of the surrounding landscape, reinforcing a connection to the outdoors and enhancing the overall sense of calm. Warm wood tones, integrated millwork, and a restrained material palette create a flexible environment that can adapt to changing needs while remaining comfortable and inviting. The result is a workspace that feels purposeful, sophisticated, and seamlessly integrated into the architecture of the home.

The home office has evolved into an indispensable space that seamlessly blends productivity and comfort. Tailored to the demands of remote work or personal projects, a well-designed home office often features ergonomic furniture, ample storage, and efficient technology integration. Thoughtful placement of desks and chairs enhances workflow, while strategic lighting promotes focus and reduces eye strain. The home office is not only a functional workspace but also an expression of individual style, with personalized decor and organizational elements contributing to a conducive and inspiring atmosphere. As the boundary between work and home blurs, the home office emerges as a versatile sanctuary that fosters concentration, creativity, and a harmonious work-life balance.

This Downtown Miami dining room was transformed from a small, underused 9-by-9-foot space into a custom dining, work, and storage flex room for a family traveling between London and Miami. Exclusively To Design created a built-in banquette with concealed storage beneath the cushion, integrated USB charging behind the back cushion, custom tower storage, and an expanded dining table so the compact bayfront condo could support family meals, remote work, entertaining, and extended stays.

The home office has evolved into an indispensable space that seamlessly blends productivity and comfort. Tailored to the demands of remote work or personal projects, a well-designed home office often features ergonomic furniture, ample storage, and efficient technology integration. Thoughtful placement of desks and chairs enhances workflow, while strategic lighting promotes focus and reduces eye strain. The home office is not only a functional workspace but also an expression of individual style, with personalized decor and organizational elements contributing to a conducive and inspiring atmosphere. As the boundary between work and home blurs, the home office emerges as a versatile sanctuary that fosters concentration, creativity, and a harmonious work-life balance.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Alcove shower - large transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor, multicolored floor and double-sink alcove shower idea in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

The front entry of the home with custom iron doors and staircase railing. Photograph by Holger Obenaus Photography LLC
Inspiration for a large mediterranean beige floor and limestone floor entryway remodel in Dallas with white walls and a glass front door

Example of a mid-sized beach style enclosed beige floor living room design in Boston with gray walls

Photo: Scott Norsworthy © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic built-in desk gray floor home office design in Toronto with white walls

13,000 sq ft – Three Story – 4 bedrooms, 7 baths, 4 car garage. Architect Moore 2 Designs / John Moore Location Myakka City - The Myakka River Built in the middle of a working 1,000 acre cattle ranch, the Hacienda is positioned alongside the rambling Myakka River. This secluded location provides a remote and picturesque retreat for a 3 generation family to gather and play. The expansive picture windows and wide glass doors throughout the home bring you dramatic views of the river and nature from every room and angle. The grand gathering room features a large,wood burning, stone fireplace with modern rustic ranch decor. No expense was spared in any part of this estate – with nothing but cutting-edge technology, unique custom fixtures, top of the line appliances and stunning artisan mill work throughout the estate. The Hacienda also features original custom paintings and artistic elements and rustic textures that you might expect to see in a Cowboy museum, right down to a large walk in safe with a hand painted door. The resort size pool area features a massive pool and sun-deck area with a water slide, pool bar and kitchen.Take a staircase or ride the elevator to the rooftop “Cassada”, the perfect spot to take in a breathtaking 360˚ view of the wildlife, or just stargaze.

13,000 sq ft – Three Story – 4 bedrooms, 7 baths, 4 car garage. Architect Moore 2 Designs / John Moore Location Myakka City - The Myakka River Built in the middle of a working 1,000 acre cattle ranch, the Hacienda is positioned alongside the rambling Myakka River. This secluded location provides a remote and picturesque retreat for a 3 generation family to gather and play. The expansive picture windows and wide glass doors throughout the home bring you dramatic views of the river and nature from every room and angle. The grand gathering room features a large,wood burning, stone fireplace with modern rustic ranch decor. No expense was spared in any part of this estate – with nothing but cutting-edge technology, unique custom fixtures, top of the line appliances and stunning artisan mill work throughout the estate. The Hacienda also features original custom paintings and artistic elements and rustic textures that you might expect to see in a Cowboy museum, right down to a large walk in safe with a hand painted door. The resort size pool area features a massive pool and sun-deck area with a water slide, pool bar and kitchen.Take a staircase or ride the elevator to the rooftop “Cassada”, the perfect spot to take in a breathtaking 360˚ view of the wildlife, or just stargaze.

13,000 sq ft – Three Story – 4 bedrooms, 7 baths, 4 car garage. Architect Moore 2 Designs / John Moore Location Myakka City - The Myakka River Built in the middle of a working 1,000 acre cattle ranch, the Hacienda is positioned alongside the rambling Myakka River. This secluded location provides a remote and picturesque retreat for a 3 generation family to gather and play. The expansive picture windows and wide glass doors throughout the home bring you dramatic views of the river and nature from every room and angle. The grand gathering room features a large,wood burning, stone fireplace with modern rustic ranch decor. No expense was spared in any part of this estate – with nothing but cutting-edge technology, unique custom fixtures, top of the line appliances and stunning artisan mill work throughout the estate. The Hacienda also features original custom paintings and artistic elements and rustic textures that you might expect to see in a Cowboy museum, right down to a large walk in safe with a hand painted door. The resort size pool area features a massive pool and sun-deck area with a water slide, pool bar and kitchen.Take a staircase or ride the elevator to the rooftop “Cassada”, the perfect spot to take in a breathtaking 360˚ view of the wildlife, or just stargaze.

Before and After photos shared with kind permission of my remote clients. For more information on this project and how remote design works, click here: https://blog.making-spaces.net/2019/04/01/vine-bleu-room-remote-design/

This home office + home bar + powder bath space was an add-on renovation including a custom wood slatted pivot door, vaulted ceilings with a skylight, custom cabinetry and open shelving, a bar sink and mini fridge, wallpaper, decorative light fixtures, window treatments, plants and styling accessories.

Photos by John Costill: www.costill.com Contractor: Earthtone Construction, Sebastopol, CA
Eat-in kitchen - cottage galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, colored appliances and an island

We designed a new front walk with more stone steps to eliminate the odd pitch of the existing front walk. Lannon stone medallions mimic the tri-window detail above on the home. Renn Kuhnen Photography