Cool neutral colors, inventive lighting, apron-front sinks and vintage-style faucets combine to make this farmhouse kitchen fresh, functional and timeless.

Greg Powers
Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in DC Metro

Urban home design photo in San Diego

Home Office/ Den
Inspiration for a timeless freestanding desk home office remodel in Austin

Trendy open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Houston with gray walls and a standard fireplace

Winquist Photography
Trendy l-shaped open concept kitchen photo in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

Our client wanted a modern industrial style of backyard and we designed and build this outdoor environment to their excitement. Features include a new pool with precast concrete water feature wall that blends into a precast concrete firepit, an Ipe wood deck, custom steel and Ipe wood arbor and trellis and a precast concrete kitchen. Also, we clad the inside of the existing fence with corrugated metal panels. Photography: Daniel Driensky

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.”

Photo by Jillian Northrup. For more info see http://www.becausewecan.org/Resin_Inlay_Swiveling_desk

John Granen
Example of a mid-sized minimalist concrete floor single front door design with a glass front door

Kids shared bathroom
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse kids' white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and gray floor alcove bathtub design in Austin with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and white countertops

Joshua Caldwell Photography
Bathroom - traditional bathroom idea in Salt Lake City

Introducing the Courtyard Collection at Sonoma, located near Ballantyne in Charlotte. These 51 single-family homes are situated with a unique twist, and are ideal for people looking for the lifestyle of a townhouse or condo, without shared walls. Lawn maintenance is included! All homes include kitchens with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, plus attached 2-car garages. Our 3 model homes are open daily! Schools are Elon Park Elementary, Community House Middle, Ardrey Kell High. The Hanna is a 2-story home which has everything you need on the first floor, including a Kitchen with an island and separate pantry, open Family/Dining room with an optional Fireplace, and the laundry room tucked away. Upstairs is a spacious Owner's Suite with large walk-in closet, double sinks, garden tub and separate large shower. You may change this to include a large tiled walk-in shower with bench seat and separate linen closet. There are also 3 secondary bedrooms with a full bath with double sinks.

Example of a bedroom and mid-sized eclectic gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor kids' bedroom design in Austin with white walls

David Lauer Photography
Claw-foot bathtub - industrial master claw-foot bathtub idea in Denver

Photographer: Michael Del Rossi
Modern black one-story flat roof idea in Boston

This project encompasses the renovation of two aging metal warehouses located on an acre just North of the 610 loop. The larger warehouse, previously an auto body shop, measures 6000 square feet and will contain a residence, art studio, and garage. A light well puncturing the middle of the main residence brightens the core of the deep building. The over-sized roof opening washes light down three masonry walls that define the light well and divide the public and private realms of the residence. The interior of the light well is conceived as a serene place of reflection while providing ample natural light into the Master Bedroom. Large windows infill the previous garage door openings and are shaded by a generous steel canopy as well as a new evergreen tree court to the west. Adjacent, a 1200 sf building is reconfigured for a guest or visiting artist residence and studio with a shared outdoor patio for entertaining. Photo by Peter Molick, Art by Karin Broker

This modern double floating vanity helps the shared bath feel a little more open. It also leaves a space for step stools! Meyer Design
Example of a mid-sized minimalist white tile and subway tile tub/shower combo design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls and quartz countertops

Weave a common thread through any room with accents that share similar colors or construction materials. Yellow and metal décor pop and lock up this bold, bustling area.