Staircase - contemporary wooden floating dark wood floor and open staircase idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Åke E:son Lindman
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized scandinavian concrete floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Stockholm with white walls and no fireplace

Matthew Bolt Graphic Design
Cottage medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with yellow walls and no fireplace

Example of a trendy dining room design in Philadelphia with white walls

ErIc Rorer
Eat-in kitchen - contemporary galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized mediterranean u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, granite countertops, ceramic backsplash and a peninsula

Jeff Graham
Alcove bathtub - transitional 3/4 white tile mosaic tile floor and white floor alcove bathtub idea in Nashville with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz Kitchen, main house Design team: Ederra Design Studio
Elegant kitchen photo in Los Angeles

We used the timber frame of a century old barn to build this rustic modern house. The barn was dismantled, and reassembled on site. Inside, we designed the home to showcase as much of the original timber frame as possible. Photography by Todd Crawford

Iran Watson
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large transitional formal and open concept light wood floor, beige floor and coffered ceiling living room design in Phoenix with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Combining relaxed new finishes and natural materials for a look that is both elegant and livable. Practical L-shaped desk is loaded with function and sized for smaller spaces.

To watch an interview with Architect Principal Lee Grutchfield visit TruexCullins website. http://truexcullins.com/person/lee-grutchfield/

Example of an arts and crafts bathroom design in Boston

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Exterior colors and furniture selection by Julie McMahon. Photos by Daniel Bosler

This gorgeous modern farmhouse features hardie board board and batten siding with stunning black framed Pella windows. The soffit lighting accents each gable perfectly and creates the perfect farmhouse.

Photography by William Quarles. Designed by Shannon Bogen. Built by Robert Paige Cabinetry. Contractor Tom Martin
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Charleston with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops and an island