Photo of a small contemporary full sun front yard gravel landscaping in Orange County for spring.

The Classic design style (also referred to as Traditional) is very much alive and well in 2017. Just about every designer has Classic in their repertoire as it still resonates with a lot of home buyers looking for a touch of elegance and rich details. Look to the new Classic to be slightly tweaked to fit in with today’s busy and tech-heavy lifestyles. Modern amenities such as stainless, smart fridges, big- screen televisions and smart-home systems aren’t absent from these homes. Instead, technology is hidden behind ornate classically-detailed cabinets, armoires or artwork.

Example of a classic kitchen design in Boston

Photo: Caela J. McKeever © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic sunroom remodel in Seattle

Nancy Nolan Photography, Tobi Fairley Design
Trendy bedroom photo in Little Rock

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in Orlando

Dropped soffits were removed and original ceiling heights were restored with new crown moldings, paneled walls and custom built-ins, to bring Old World glamour back to this Upper East Side apartment. A blue lacquered Chinoiserie-Style coffee table sits in front of a comfortable upholstered linen sofa. The wall paint is Dorian Gray by C2 paint. Photograph: Eric Piasecki

Designed and Remodeled by Stewart Thomas Design Build. Ceiling beams are Helmholtz resonators, a sound absorbing/canceling device custom designed by an audio engineer. Rift Cut Quarter Sawn Walnut slab cabinets with white quartz counters. Cabinet handles made by EPCO. Frosted glass upper cabinet doors. Barstools made by Room and Board. Photography by Scott Basile

Example of a small arts and crafts seated home bar design in Austin

Minimalist basement photo in Atlanta

Professional photography by South Florida Design
Mid-sized tuscan beige one-story stucco house exterior photo with a hip roof and a tile roof

Large farmhouse white two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior idea in Chicago with a shingle roof

In the quite streets of southern Studio city a new, cozy and sub bathed bungalow was designed and built by us. The white stucco with the blue entrance doors (blue will be a color that resonated throughout the project) work well with the modern sconce lights. Inside you will find larger than normal kitchen for an ADU due to the smart L-shape design with extra compact appliances. The roof is vaulted hip roof (4 different slopes rising to the center) with a nice decorative white beam cutting through the space. The bathroom boasts a large shower and a compact vanity unit. Everything that a guest or a renter will need in a simple yet well designed and decorated garage conversion.

By taking down an exterior door and opening the space into the living room, we took a tiny cramped U-shaped kitchen and made it a fantastic place to entertain. Black appliances, hardware and plumbing provide contrast to the white cabinets and tile. The neutral Coastal Surf quartzite ties the space together with the finishes in the living room.

Indoor/outdoor living in the desert doesn't get much better. This award-winning contemporary home opens itself to a gorgeous patio and pool area illuminated to show off its best features. With its brilliant blue pool glow and roaring fire pits, this backyard setting resonates with the warmth of the interiors. Project // Ebony and Ivory Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Bedbrock Developers Interiors: Mara Interior Design - Mara Green Landscape: Bedbrock Developers Photography: Werner Segarra Limestone walls: Solstice Stone https://www.drewettworks.com/ebony-and-ivory/

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Our French Garage Door designs are based off of the real doors around historical European architecture. We strive to resonate that charming beauty of French Doors with our custom-made garage doors, gates and shutters. We spare no details when recreating the past with our designer doors. Details such as individual window mullions that are real, not just a faux mullion grill placed over a large glass panel. Our French Garage Doors feature authentic individual glass pieces put together with dividing mullions, one at a time, much like European carpenters have been doing for centuries. We include finishing touches such as hand-forged hardware that is either imported from France or handcrafted in our manufacturing facility. Because we pride ourselves in recreating some of the world's most attractive French Garage Doors we don't put any stops on locating or creating garage door designs that are only rivaled by the real doors of Europe and even then our doors offer the convenience of modern day automation and daily function for today's standards of living. Consult with French Garage Door Designers by calling our Door Design Studio in Orange County, CA by calling (855) 343-3667