Folding glass doors lead from the screen porch to a seating area with a concrete gas fuel fire pit. This overlooks a 40 foot swimming pool and sun terrace. The pool cabana, clad in Freedom Grey metal and cedar provides a respite from the sun and provides privacy to the pool terrace. The outdoor grill area is also clad in Freedom Grey metal with a stone counter. Nat Rea Photography

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

The Updated Traditional Meet Kim: a partner in a downtown law firm. To say that she is short on time is a giant understatement. In the rare event she has a free moment, she wants to spend it with her kids, not fussing over home decor. That’s my cue! Kim is my favorite type of client. She didn’t know where to go or what to do. She leaned on me to explain and articulate design and style. She looked to me to make her home a mirror of her best self. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Fantastic human giving me a blank slate? Yes please! While Kim’s traditional home had a great layout and good bones, it needed updating to make it contemporary and fresh. It needed fixtures and knobs from this century. It needed a Lulu DK roman shade in the powder room. It needed a durable, snuggle-ready sofa with tufting and little patterns of texture. It needed drapery with small-scale drama. Throw in a Thomas O’ Brian cocktail table, and now there’s no shortage of conversation pieces. Little spaces make me happy – they are the most intimate snapshot of your entire home’s aesthetic – and this house has some good ones. I couldn’t wait to work with the nooks and crannies of this house. Kim’s sitting room, a small den off of the master bedroom, morphed into a craveable cozy space, a quiet adult respite from the occasional chaos of raising a family. The kitchen evolved into something quite unique: playful yet modest, dressed-up but centered. We used a favorite Lucy Rose fabric and Galbraith & Paul pillows to work perfectly with a fresh color palette selected during a prior-to-me renovation. A locally made kitchen farm table fit right in with the high-fashioned quirky blend of color, texture, and pattern. High-End + Color = Fun + Functional This is how we articulated Kim’s style and personality. She trusted me with her inner self, allowing me to get to know her and her real, everyday life. I built her a special space to reflect the beautiful life she made for herself. Nothing too fancy or off-limits to little hands, nothing too stuffy (snore!). Everything 100% HER. #nailedit See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

This designer’s ideal is homeowners with a clear vision, set priorities, and values that align seamlessly with ours. These clients, an accomplished artist and the owner of a generational hops growing farm, were collaborative and trusting from the start. They conscientiously selected a team of Architect (Green Hammer), General Contractor (Cellar Ridge) and ATIID for furnishings and finishing touches. Each firm was able to meticulously manage their leg of the project, while collaborating wholistically with each other and the homeowners. The family farmhouse, lovingly named “Westwood,” was showing the wear one expects after serving a growing family for decades. The owner’s dream was to revive, open up, and breathe modern life into each space, while respecting the home’s heritage. One of our first collaborations was the light fixture that would grace the main two-story entry hall. HiiH Lights in Astoria, Oregon, was commissioned to bring “the function of light, the craft of paper, and the art of sculpture” to the home. Visiting the maker’s space – a massive barn on his coastal property – was such an inspiring adventure! Original work by the resident artist sets an ethereal tone in the space, and an antique bench handsomely blends the old with the new. A wall that divided the home’s living room and kitchen was removed, and the breezy and bright gathering room was born. Light walls, warm wood tones, cozy upholstery, clean lines and heritage elements create a welcoming atmosphere and invite lounging and conversation. The sun-drenched nook is the home’s main indoor dining area, with an extension table and sculpted chairs that are just right for family gatherings or morning rituals with the Sunday paper. The kitchen is a chef’s dream with every modern amenity, but its casual attitude is “let’s make a mess and eat!” The owner’s artwork graces the mantel over the new fireplace that was carved from a tree felled on the property, illustrating the thoughtful consideration of each element. The muted wool area rugs in the entryways and great room are hard-wearing for farm life, and the furniture’s classic lines, bold contrasting colors, deep seating and soft textures encourage cozy conversations or large group gatherings. The library is undoubtedly our favorite space in this home. Tucked in “speakeasy style” behind a hidden (wallpapered!) door in the moody wet bar, and drenched in deep green, the room offers a quiet retreat that hugs you in an embrace of books and family photos. The cozy settee nestled between the bookcases sits opposite a custom pair of modern cognac leather wing chairs. The area rug continues the storied look without the antique price tag with a piece from Loloi’s “Heritage Collection.” A little va-va-voom was requested for the powder bath and boy did we deliver! Custom wallpaper plays over original wainscotting and ceilings wrapped in more glorious green. The space evokes joy every time you open the door! A primary suite that would “transport us to another world” and be “classic yet modern, peaceful, collected and uncluttered” was a tall order. Our new furniture layout takes full advantage of the view of wine country hills and the Willamette River, welcomes fireside lounging, and serves as a calm respite for the lovely owners. Westwood Farmhouse truly was inspired by family, genuine love for home and graciousness for all who enter. Finishing the job was emotional for all involved because we were truly made to feel like part of the family. Photography by George Barberis

Wood is the secret to this Zen-inspired bathroom's success. The design and the client loved the unique and organic countertop shape. The decor is minimal, the lighting feels ambient, the stones and water in the simple classic vessel echo a zen fountain. How peaceful would your friends feel in this bathroom? The style feels effortless and offers a respite in a private space.

When a husband and wife team of professional botanists wanted to remodel their cramped, 1980s-era bathroom, we naturally looked to the forest for inspiration! With the expert help of Elite Construction Services Inc., we opened up this formerly segmented space (the toilet and washer/dryer were in a separate area from the shower/tub and vanity) to make it feel larger. A controlled, muted color scheme further enlarges the room by connecting all the planes, and serves as a neutral backdrop for a calming spa experience. All the materials speak to my clients’ love of nature. The custom wood vanity with tower and coordinating mirror frame are made so the grain lays in a refreshing horizontal pattern. The porcelain field tile is made to look like limestone with shadows of sediment and fossils. Other elements add to the feeling of a walk in the woods: long-format porcelain tiles of falling leaves cascade down a wall and blend into a stream of river stones that roll across the width of the space. The open, curbless shower with a hidden linear drain invites users for a cleansing respite. Sleek, modern fixtures and a wall-hung toilet enhance the clean, soothing look of this organic, tranquil bathroom. Photo: Genia Barnes

Roof on no roof? The respite created under this heavy-timbered arbor is enhanced by a rose-covered "roof", while the pool in the foreground provides a cool getaway. Photo Credit: Rebecca Crum

Very small Spanish style home, newly built for a bachelor who lived on a boat. Architecturally correct for the Santa Barbara location, with thick plaster walls and terra-cotta floors. Plaster fireplace with built in seating, for this tiny living room. Small kitchen features handscraped cabinets with limestone counters and natural edges. Bathroom has glass block separating the shower from the vanity, which actually looks amazing with the spanish tile and wrought iron work. A small wine and wine glass niche built into the plaster for this single guy's guests. Home is under 1000 sq ft, built by Maraya's husband, for his best friend. (sailing buddies). Project Location: Santa Barbara, CA. Designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more Built by Timothy J.Droney

New seating area is a welcome shady respite on hot summer mornings. Linda Strader
Example of a small southwest home design design in Phoenix

A modern bedroom with downtown views of Chicago is the perfect respite from a bustling city. A Sherpa-textured bedframe gives this room a cozy and fun feel.

Tired of freezing bleak winters, this client decided to split her time between Michigan and Southern California. She bought this bright, airy home that epitomizes West Coast living, but the prior owner had not done anything to maintain the garden in many years. The grounds were filled with poorly placed and sickly-looking plants. The new homeowner wanted her garden to be a respite from subzero temperatures, filled year-round with flowers. Deciding what to keep, what to move and what to add, we came up with a plant pallet full of California and Mexico natives, and lots of succulents as well. We added over 1000 plants, filling this property with lush, year-round color that is undeniably Southern Californian.

This traditional South Carolina home is designed to be a respite from the world. Nestled in an alcove of its entryway is a cream writing desk and ebonized chair with coordinating taupe velvet seat. Ivory plaster walls pair with a dark grey baseboard. Trimmed in the same gray, the windows are painted Sherwin Williams Black Fox and frame the mountain views. An iron wall sconce coordinates with the iron of the stair balusters. Topping the balusters is a walnut-stained handrail that coordinates with the stain of the hardwood floors. A black and almond print of a stag in the woods recalls the landscape outside and adds a masculine touch to the airy space.

The bathrooms in our homes are serene respites from busy lives. Exquisite cabinets and plumbing hardware complement the subtle stone and tile palette. Photo by Nat Rea Photography

A country club respite for our busy professional Bostonian clients. Our clients met in college and have been weekending at the Aquidneck Club every summer for the past 20+ years. The condos within the original clubhouse seldom come up for sale and gather a loyalist following. Our clients jumped at the chance to be a part of the club's history for the next generation. Much of the club’s exteriors reflect a quintessential New England shingle style architecture. The internals had succumbed to dated late 90s and early 2000s renovations of inexpensive materials void of craftsmanship. Our client’s aesthetic balances on the scales of hyper minimalism, clean surfaces, and void of visual clutter. Our palette of color, materiality & textures kept to this notion while generating movement through vintage lighting, comfortable upholstery, and Unique Forms of Art. A Full-Scale Design, Renovation, and furnishings project.

The family can enjoy the outdoor living spaces with this large pool house. It functions as respite from the sun with the covered section that extends out from the large sliding doors to the pool house. With a small kitchen and multiple bathrooms, this is sure to be a popular hangout during the warm summers in California

The forest can be viewed while showering or soaking in the new, extra deep tub. Porcelain tile with a mosaic accent make the tub a soothing respite.
Bathroom - small contemporary master multicolored tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and black floor bathroom idea in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

Trail Top is nestled in a secluded, thickly-wooded neighborhood, and its wood and brick facade and low profile blend into the natural surroundings. The home was built as a private respite from the outside world, as evidenced by the solid wood, windowless doors that grace the entrance.

A one-level patio creates opportunities for small and large gatherings of family and friends. The peaceful surrounds and mature trees provide shade and respite for wildlife.