Aaron Leitz
Inspiration for a timeless family room library remodel in San Francisco with gray walls

Linear slots in the roof plane reflected with linear slots of the masonry walls. Photo by Daniel Freidman
Inspiration for a contemporary drought-tolerant front yard gravel garden path in Phoenix.

Upstairs bathroom. Photo: Juintow Lin
Bathroom - mid-sized modern 3/4 black tile and subway tile ceramic tile and beige floor bathroom idea in San Diego with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls, solid surface countertops and white countertops

Matthew Millman
Eat-in kitchen - mid-century modern light wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Deck - contemporary deck idea in Orange County with a pergola

Example of a trendy two-story mixed siding flat roof design in Denver

Builder: Denali Custom Homes - Architectural Designer: Alexander Design Group - Interior Designer: Studio M Interiors - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography

D Randolph Foulds Photography
Urban dark wood floor seated home bar photo in Charlotte with a drop-in sink and shaker cabinets

This modern pool uses a unconventional mosaic color giving a beautiful and distinctive look. The mosaic is color 260, and it has bands of aventurina, which gives it a subtle glittery effect. There are many mosaic colors that share this effect including greens, browns, blues and more. Combinations can also be made to fit your style.

A fun, hip kitchen with a mid-century modern vibe. The homeowners wanted a kitchen to make them happy. We think you can't help but smile! NEXT Project Studio Jerry Voloski

Randall Perry Photography Crane board "Slate" with "Aspen White" Trim Blue Indigo and black bear stone Pella Windows Shingles - Timberline GAF Shingles "Driftwood" Deck - Trex Trancend "Spiced Rum" Garage doors - Overhead Door - Carriage House Collection "Honduran Mahogany Stain"

At night the skin and the reflecting pool glow while the entrance is highlighted with a single light. The living room ceiling plane floats above it all due to up lighting. Photography by Andrew Fabin

Our designer has achieved a stylish look by combining dark cabinets and light-colored marbles.

Built by Capital Builders Design by Contour Interior Design
Inspiration for a modern white split-level mixed siding flat roof remodel in Houston

ErIc Rorer
Example of a trendy galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Nestled in its own private and gated 10 acre hidden canyon this spectacular home offers serenity and tranquility with million dollar views of the valley beyond. Walls of glass bring the beautiful desert surroundings into every room of this 7500 SF luxurious retreat. Thompson photographic

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Eddy Joaquim
Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized modern master gray tile and stone tile marble floor freestanding bathtub idea in San Francisco with a trough sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, solid surface countertops and white walls

Example of a trendy freestanding desk dark wood floor home office design in Los Angeles with beige walls