Transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and marble countertops

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless brick floor entryway remodel in Philadelphia with gray walls and a white front door

This beautiful dining room has a mix of rustic furnishings with elegant touches to elevate the look. Starburst gold light fixtures immediately draw one's attention. The blue accent wall ties in the blue accents throughout the room. Custom host chairs with a beautiful blue fabric on the back provide the perfect accent to the casual yet sophisticated drapery treatment. The wall gems bring some of the blue color onto the opposite wall, creating an inviting space for entertaining.

Photos by Giovanni Photography
Dining room - traditional dining room idea in Tampa with no fireplace and blue walls

Emily Followill
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and marble countertops

Photography by Jared Kuzia
Inspiration for a farmhouse mosaic tile floor bathroom remodel in Boston with blue walls and a trough sink

American Farmhouse - Scott Wilson Architect, LLC, GC - Shane McFarland Construction, Photographer - Reed Brown
Inspiration for a mid-sized french country master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Nashville with gray walls and no fireplace

Angle Eye Photography
Large elegant powder room photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, marble countertops, beige walls and white countertops

General Contractor: Hagstrom Builders | Photos: Corey Gaffer Photography
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large country medium tone wood floor great room design in Boston with white walls

Hoi Ning Wong
Photo of a traditional full sun formal garden in San Francisco.

Farmhouse family room photo in Boston

Paneled window-seats flank the fireplace in the Master Bedroom. Robert Benson Photography
Huge cottage master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Interior design by SOCO Interiors. Photography by Giovanni. Built by Stock Development.
Elegant l-shaped kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Tessa Neustadt
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse dark wood floor laundry room remodel in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer and beige countertops

Inspiration for a modern master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom remodel in Milwaukee with white walls

Ben Hilliard
Inspiration for a transitional infinity pool remodel in Other