Mid-sized minimalist dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in Toronto with gray walls

Design: RG Design Studio Inc. GC: Westmark Construction Photography: Janis Nicolay
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Vancouver

View of middle level of tower with views out large round windows and spiral stair to top level. The tower off the front entrance contains a wine room at its base,. A square stair wrapping around the wine room leads up to a middle level with large circular windows. A spiral stair leads up to the top level with an inner glass enclosure and exterior covered deck with two balconies for wine tasting.

Showplace Wood Products. Two drawer base cabinet with cookware organizer. Top drawer has internal roll tray for lid and cookware storage. Very practical! Verde Maritaka granite kitchen counters

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Is your closet busting at the seams? Or do you perhaps have no closet at all? Time to consider adding a mudroom to your house. Mudrooms are a popular interior design trend these days, and for good reason - they can house far more than a simple coat closet can. They can serve as a family command center for kids' school flyers and menus, for backpacks and shoes, for art supplies and sports equipment. Some mudrooms contain a laundry area, and some contain a mail station. Some mudrooms serve as a home base for a dog or a cat, with easy to clean, low maintenance building materials. A mudroom may consist of custom built-ins, or may simply be a corner of an existing room with pulled some clever, freestanding furniture, hooks, or shelves to house your most essential mudroom items. Whatever your storage needs, extensive or streamlined, carving out a mudroom area can keep the whole family more organized. And, being more organized saves you stress and countless hours that would otherwise be spent searching for misplaced items. While we love to design mudroom niches, a full mudroom interior design allows us to do what we do best here at Down2Earth Interior Design: elevate a space that is primarily driven by pragmatic requirements into a space that is also beautiful to look at and comfortable to occupy. I find myself voluntarily taking phone calls while sitting on the bench of my mudroom, simply because it's a comfortable place to be. My kids do their homework in the mudroom sometimes. My cat loves to curl up on sweatshirts temporarily left on the bench, or cuddle up in boxes on their way out to the recycling bins, just outside the door. Designing a custom mudroom for our family has elevated our lifestyle in so many ways, and I look forward to the opportunity to help make your mudroom design dreams a reality as well. Photos by Ryan Macchione

Design, Fabrication, Install & Photography By MacLaren Kitchen and Bath Designer: Mary Skurecki Wet Bar: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Reno door/drawer style with Carbide paint. Caesarstone Pebble Quartz Countertops with eased edge detail (By MacLaren). TV Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Orleans door style with Carbide paint. Shelving, drawers, and wood top to match the cabinetry with custom crown and base moulding. Guest Room/Bath: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with flush inset, Reno Style doors with Maple wood in Bedrock Stain. Custom vanity base in Full Overlay, Reno Style Drawer in Matching Maple with Bedrock Stain. Vanity Countertop is Everest Quartzite. Bench Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with flush inset, Reno Style doors/drawers with Carbide paint. Custom wood top to match base moulding and benches. Toy Storage Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Reno door style with Carbide paint. Open drawer storage with roll-out trays and custom floating shelves and base moulding.

Orange Blue Star Range features double ovens, 6 burners and a griddle. The pale green base cabinets and white wall cabinets play well off of the bold colors in this space. Matt Kocourek Photography

The contrasting kitchen island with black cabinetry, white countertop, brass handles, stainless steel microwave, and comfortable seating. The island has a beautiful quartz countertop with a waterfall design and comfortable seating, sitting below two black pendant lighting.

Chair - Design Within Reach Table Base - Bauhaus 2 your house Table Top - Uni Marbleinc Chrystal Chandelier - Arteriors Home
Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in San Francisco

Example of a bathroom design in Cleveland

The Chelsea wall mounted vanity with legs features a half round design made from laser cut steel and is paired with hand forged legs with an embossed collar. The quatrefoil pattern is a very popular look and tends to blend in well with many different styles. If installed properly, this base is very strong and can hold any type of countertop. With so many different countertop options on the market, this base is not offered with a top. Custom height is available upon request (no charge) A template for this top is available upon request for a fee (note: a template isn’t mandatory, countertop fabricators may choose to make their own) 20 gauge sheet metal backing is optional for a fee 7 finishes to choose from (this base is also offered as unfinished so that the customer can choose their own finish) 1” x 1/4” wall strap (at the top against the wall and down the sides) 1/ 8” thick x 3/8” wide quatrefoil pattern Legs are a 1” thick solid hammered square bar with decorative collar Upper wall mount strap comes with 3 - ¼” wide mounting holes Mounting holes are located on the top back-strap and mid-section Mounting hardware not included (depending on the install application, requires either wood screws or toggle bolts) Fully open back for easy plumbing installation No assembly required (fully welded construction) Custom made in the USA Usually ships within 10-14 business days

Commercial Concrete Staining job at a Photography Studio in St. Louis, Missouri. This type of concrete staining is done with a water-based stain which makes it easier to control the consistency of color as opposed to an acid stain. It is also echo friendly! Give Us a Call Today for a FREE Estimate & Design Consultation! Decorative Concrete Resurfacing 715 Debula Dr Ballwin, MO 63021 636-256-6733 http://www.DecorativeConcreteResurfacing.com

Enjoy the optimal balance between warm and cool with these inviting earth tones. Featuring lightly striated 24-by-12 matte finish tile design laid out in a grid pattern, Origin Greige is accented with a jaunty top border of rectangular greys, beiges and whites. Utile by MAAX is an innovative shower wall solution that provides sophisticated style without the hassle of tiling. Utile - Classic Series Pattern: Origin Color: Greige Dimensions: 48""x32""

The owner of this historic and landmarked town-home renovation in Hudson Square, originally built in 1826, hired Gallery Kitchen and Bath to fully gut-renovate this 3-unit row-home. The scope of work included a full-scale renovation of the owners unit, including the renovation of the kitchen, one 4-piece master ensuite bathroom, one 3-piece bathroom with a walk-in steam shower, and a beautiful powder room. Additional work in the owners unit also included flooring, electrical upgrade, major plumbing work, new HVAC system, restoration of a fireplace, installation of a fully integrated smart home system and landmarked approved windows. CELLAR RENOVATION IN NYC LANDMARKED TOWN-HOME Rounding out the owners unit we renovated the cellar, which was converted into an entertainment space and featured a custom glass curtain wall, along with a custom staircase with an exposed brick wall. During the demolition phase of the cellar, our team discovered 56 wine jugs filled with wine from the prohibition era, leading us to name this project the prohibition house. For the two tenant units, Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the renovation of 2 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, new hardwood flooring throughout, along with detailed carpentry work in the entire home. WHY GALLERY KITCHEN AND BATH After interviewing multiple contractors, our client decided on Gallery Kitchen and Bath primarily because of our turnkey design, selection, and build process. In a renovation of this magnitude it is crucial to have a centralized full service contractor under one roof to handle all of the aspects and simultaneous moving parts of the project. Decentralizing the entire process by having multiple unaffiliated vendors handle various parts of the process can easily become chaotic, time consuming, and costly. Because Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the entire process, from the design of the entire space to the selection and procurement of all finishes and fixtures, down to the procurement of all permits and LPC filings, it made a seemingly chaotic project a’lot more manageable. PHASE 1: DESIGN, SELECTION, PROCUREMENT Our client wanted the renovation to incorporate a fully modern design into his Hudson Square town-house. Being that this is a landmarked property, the exterior facade had to be restored and kept with the original aesthetic, the interior of the home however was a whole different story. In keeping up with the modern aesthetic, our designers went to work to design a custom kitchen that included fully custom flat panel base cabinets in a white high gloss finish and an absolute matte black appliance/pantry wall. The kitchen design also included a white quartz countertop and backsplash with a waterfall edge island. To bring warmth to the modern kitchen, our designers incorporated a rifted and quartered select oak wood floor in a herringbone pattern, and custom blended stain with matte polyurethane finish. For continuity, the wood floor was also extended throughout the entire owners unit. In the ensuite bathroom we created a “wet area” which houses a standalone soaking tub as well as a beautiful rainfall shower, completely leveled with the rest of the floor in the bathroom. Some highlights within this space include a tiled square drain, large niche cutouts with a carrera marble accents. Once again, to bring warmth to this modern bathroom, our designers incorporated a floating rustic oak vanity and carrera marble mosaic floor tile. Last on the list on the owners unit floor was the cellar, which our client wanted to utilize as an entertainment space for his friends and family. During the design phase, we incorporated an open concept layout, wedding the indoor and outdoor space with a custom glass curtain wall. The design also included custom walnut built-ins that serve as a custom wet bar and storage piece. With the design approved and selections made our office liaisons moved to procure all of the material selections and finishes. PHASE 2: DEMO Because this home is almost two centuries old, we had to take extra precaution during the interior demolition phase of the project. One specific area that we had to pay special attention to was the existing brick. Over time the mortar in old brick homes deteriorates and turns into dust – for this reason it was extremely important that a thorough and ongoing inspection of the exteriors and interior walls took place during the demolition of the space. After 14 30-yard debris containers and 56 wine filled jugs from the prohibition era later , the demolition of this historic Hudson Square town-home came to an end. If you are wondering whether we tried the wine? After notifying the owner we agreed to open one of the jugs and try them together – nothing but vinegar. PHASE 3: BUILD One of the challenges in a renovation project of this scope is nailing down the logistics and delivery of fixtures and finish material. Adding to this challenge was a narrow entry door that required us to use a boom truck in order to deliver some of the larger materials on site. To ensure a succinct time schedule, we boomed all of the materials through the 3rd floor for the entire project and worked our renovation work from top floor to cellar. This technique also insured that any unexpected water issues during the renovation process would not damage a finished floor. With all roughing and framing complete, the Gallery KBNY team proceeded to execute on the design plan. THE REVEAL From what was once a dilapidated town-home with nothing but potential, to a glamorous and luxurious modern interior space – the prohibition house was complete. Ready to speak with us about your renovation project? Contact us to schedule your free consultation and let Gallery KBNY show you why our all-inclusive approach to your renovation is the smartest way to renovating in NYC.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Example of a beach style dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Orange County with gray walls

David O Marlow
Trendy dining room photo in Denver with beige walls

Large u-shaped kitchen with three finishes. Dark green base cabinets with white tall/upper cabinets and black stained oak island. Appliances include built-in refrigerator, induction cooktop, and double oven with steam. Custom curved hood between windows. Hidden refrigerator drawers in pantry area for additional cold storage. Antique brass hardware and metal inserts in cabinets. Breakfast nook in window area and island with seating for 5.