Interior view of dining room with custom designed screen wall that provides privacy from front entry while showcasing the Owner's collection of travel artifacts. Photo: Ebony Ellis

Photo Credit: Scharper Photography
Example of a huge classic backyard stone and rectangular pool design in Boston

Kitchen looking towards Dining Room and Living Room beyond. Photo by Clark Dugger
Small trendy galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood countertops, paneled appliances, brown backsplash, wood backsplash and no island

Reveal projects an indirect glow onto ceilings and floors to deliver flush mount cove and toe-kick lighting. This 24VDC linear LED system features a shallow .5 inch deep plaster-in aluminum extrusion no thicker than drywall that houses a single row of high CRI, commercial grade white LED Soft Strip. System mounts directly to studs without joist modification and plasters into .5 inch or thicker drywall. Reveal is sold in 1 foot 2.5 watt increments up to 40 feet and may be field-cut. Also available in a 5 watt per foot version as well as a Red-Blue-Green RGB version. LED Soft Strip may be cut every 2.4 inches. 2.5 watt Reveal runs up to 40 feet on a single Class 2, 96 watt power supply. Available in Amber White 2400K with 80 plus CRI, Warm White 2700K with 85 plus CRI, or Very Warm White 3000K with 85 plus CRI. LEDs consume 2.5 watts per foot and 42 lumens per system watt, delivering 116 lumens per foot for Reveal 2WDC. System includes Reveal channels, end caps, LED Soft Strip, special junction box and all mounting hardware. Power supply options include a Class 2 24 volt 0-10 96 or 192 watt, sold separately. Dimmable with a Lightolier Sunrise ZP600FAM120, Leviton IP710-DL dimmer. sold separately. Dimming systems include Lutron Radio Ra2 with Grafik Eye, RRD-10ND and GRX-TVI; Grafik Eye QS with Grafik Eye, QSGRJ-XP and GRX-TVI; Diva with Grafik Eye, DVTV and PP20; Nova T with Grafik Eye, NTFTV-WH and PP20, sold separately. Fixture includes a 5 year warranty. Made in USA.

The small eat - in kitchen was designed with functionality in mind. The clients needed as much counter space as possible for cooking and prepping, as well as a dedicated spot for their many cookbooks. Soda Glass panels were used for the backsplash. The clients are able to write down recipes, weekly meal schedules and notes on the glass backsplash - making for a truly functional and personal kitchen. The extendable dining table was purchased to cater to their growing family. Treve Johnson Photography

Inspiration for a large traditional full sun backyard stone formal garden in Philadelphia for spring.

Lucas Allen
Example of a beach style kitchen design in Jacksonville with white cabinets and an island

Bathroom - large modern master brown tile and matchstick tile gray floor and porcelain tile bathroom idea in Las Vegas with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, white countertops and quartz countertops

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kitchen - transitional u-shaped kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Family room - small scandinavian open concept light wood floor and white floor family room idea in New York with white walls, no fireplace and a tv stand

Leslie Williamson
Inspiration for an eclectic bedroom remodel in San Francisco with pink walls

Example of a mid-sized transitional master white tile ceramic tile, gray floor and double-sink bathroom design in Orlando with white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a built-in vanity, flat-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

One of the most important spaces we design with this client is her writing room. (To the Left). Attached to the master bedroom with a beautiful view of the lake, this cozy space is a great pace to get focused and be creative. Photo Credit: Michael Gullon

Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Harlow Smoked, Triple Seven Home; table and bench: Craigslist; chairs: Homestead Seattle; rug: Sonoma Jewels Rug, Abacasa; wall art: The Island, Minted; sheep’s skin throw: Black Sheep (White Light); hardwood floors: Southern Pecan Natural, Home Depot Photo: Allie Crafton © 2016 Houzz Design: Annabode + Co

Andrea Pesce Photography
Dining room - traditional medium tone wood floor dining room idea in Grand Rapids with white walls

Robert Brewster Photography
Mid-sized country l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Providence with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, paneled appliances and an island

Example of a cottage medium tone wood floor living room design in New York with white walls

For more photos of this project see: LEBLANC
Inspiration for a large modern backyard stone and rectangular lap pool remodel in San Francisco