stephani buchman
Example of a minimalist kitchen design in Toronto

This is an example of a farmhouse garden path in San Francisco.

Example of a transitional dark wood floor bedroom design in New York with gray walls

Large Luxury walk in closet with island dresser and glass front doors. Photography by Stephen Karlisch
Large elegant women's carpeted walk-in closet photo in Dallas with gray cabinets and glass-front cabinets

Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in DC Metro

Renovated kitchen with distressed timber beams and plaster walls & ceiling. New windows to motor court. Custom carved soapstone sinks at both the window & the island. Leathered-quartzite countertops & backsplash. All appliances are concealed with wood panels. View to the living room beyond through the kitchen pass-through.

We needed a solution to hide our TV components (they live behind the baskets), create storage, and add some seating to the space, so we had this bench and cushion made custom to match the dining banquette on the other side of the room. Textile wall hangings add a softness to the space and dampen sound, so I went that route over hanging framed art to keep it cozy. I picked up this mid-century style marble table at Target because I needed a place to set my coffee. Image: James Stewart

French country u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, paneled appliances, two islands and ceramic backsplash

In this morning room the seating is covered in a hand-woven palm rope chain by John Himmel that re-creates a French 1940s design. The circular flat wear carpet features tangerine and white stripes.

This spectacular French estate and gardens is located in the prestigious Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. The dramatic architecture is surrounded by expansive grounds and lushly planted gardens. The property features a grand entrance and decorative gates, a private lake, luxury pool with glass tile finish, tennis routs, bocce court, putting green, walking paths and fire pit.

Great design makes all the difference - bold material choices were just what was needed to give this little bathroom some BIG personality! Our clients wanted a dark, moody vibe, but had always heard that using dark colors in a small space would only make it feel smaller. Not true! Introducing a larger vanity cabinet with more storage and replacing the tub with an expansive walk-in shower immediately made the space feel larger, without any structural alterations. We went with a dark graphite tile that had a mix of texture on the walls and in the shower, but then anchored the space with white shiplap on the upper portion of the walls and a graphic floor tile (with mostly white and light gray tones). This technique of balancing dark tones with lighter tones is key to achieving those moody vibes, without creeping into cavernous territory. Subtle gray/blue/green tones on the vanity blend in well, but still pop in the space, and matte black fixtures add fantastic contrast to really finish off the whole look!

After completing their son’s room, we decided to continue the designing in my client’s master bathroom in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Not only were the finishes completely overhauled, but the space plan was reconfigured too. They no longer wanted their soaking tub and requested a larger shower with a rain head and more counter top space and cabinetry. The couple wanted something that was not too trendy and desired a space that would look classic and stand the test of time. What better way to give them that than with marble, white cabinets and a chandelier to boot? This newly renovated master bath now features Cambria quartz counters, custom white cabinetry, marble flooring in a diamond pattern with mini-mosaic accents, a classic subway marble shower surround, frameless glass, new recessed and accent lighting, chrome fixtures, a coat of fresh grey paint on the walls and a few accessories to make the space feel complete.

Elizabeth Strianese Interiors and Meredith Heuer photography. We opted for a classic inspired bathroom with literally "splashes" of fun for these little girls. The triple laundry sink serves the 3 children nicely with it's deep basin and built in soap holders. Simplicity was key when selecting a class marble hex floor tile and white subway tile for the bulk of the room - but then we had a little fun with the colorful glass mosaic tile in the tub niche. Handblown locally made light fixtures from Dan Spitzer over the sink keep my signature of "local and handmade" alive.

Bedroom - transitional master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with beige walls

Photography: Nathan Schroder
Example of a large tuscan hallway design in Dallas

Full remodel - high end finishes. Herringbone patterned flooring with Heart of Pine barn wood which we planed, routed and cut to size prior to install. Added a master to the first floor. 19 Total LVLs in the property.

Large transitional porcelain tile and black floor mudroom photo in Chicago with white walls and a glass front door

The proposal analyzes the site as a series of existing flows or “routes” across the landscape. The negotiation of both constructed and natural systems establishes the logic of the site plan and the orientation and organization of the new home. Conceptually, the project becomes a highly choreographed knot at the center of these routes, drawing strands in, engaging them with others, and propelling them back out again. The project’s intent is to capture and harness the physical and ephemeral sense of these latent natural movements as a way to promote in the architecture the wanderlust the surrounding landscape inspires. At heart, the client’s initial family agenda--a home as antidote to the city and basecamp for exploration--establishes the ethos and design objectives of the work. Photography - Bruce Damonte

Our clients loved the location of their duplex home with its peak-a-boo ocean view, but their existing kitchen was not suited for their growing family. They wanted a kitchen with a coastal vibe, plenty of storage space, and an eat-in area. We started by bringing the far wall into the kitchen space to accommodate a large panty and communication center for the family. Doing this allowed us to move the refrigerator out of the main traffic area and doubled the amount of storage space. Several new windows were added to bring in natural light. A half wall was moved to allow more countertop area and open up sight lines. The previously awkwardly shaped island was slimmed down to create better flow. There were a few venting challenges to overcome; gas lines and plumbing had to be re-routed without disturbing the unit below. To open up sight lines, soffits were eliminated which allowed the extension of cabinets to the ceiling. To stay within the homeowner’s budget, we match existing scraped flooring by lacing in and repairing patches. The old dining area was too small for table, so we designed and built a custom banquette to maximize the space and take advantage of the outdoor views. The overall space works for family meals as well as entertaining. A light summer palette was used to reflect the shades of the sand, sea and sky. Even though the new kitchen is actually smaller than the original space, its now far more functional and open.