When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Joyelle West Photography
Example of a small classic open concept medium tone wood floor family room design in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv

Photos courtesy of Jesse Young Property and Real Estate Photography
Large trendy master gray tile and ceramic tile pebble tile floor and multicolored floor freestanding bathtub photo in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Example of a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Birmingham with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

A partial remodel of a Marin ranch home, this residence was designed to highlight the incredible views outside its walls. The husband, an avid chef, requested the kitchen be a joyful space that supported his love of cooking. High ceilings, an open floor plan, and new hardware create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. With the concept that “less is more,” we focused on the orientation of each room and the introduction of clean-lined furnishings to highlight the view rather than the decor, while statement lighting, pillows, and textures added a punch to each space.

Photography by John Merkl
Example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed carpeted and gray floor family room library design in San Francisco with white walls, a metal fireplace, a media wall and a ribbon fireplace

Alex Hayden
Example of a trendy master carpeted bedroom design in Seattle with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace

Whit Preston
Example of a mid-sized trendy dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a peninsula, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray countertops

Custom shower shelves were integrated into the stall. The very, sloped, bottom "shelf" is at a good height, slope, and depth to support a foot while washing or shaving. A custom design feature that many customers have been thrilled with. James C Schell jim@jcschell.com

Photos by Ran Artzi
Example of a tuscan entryway design in Los Angeles

Tranquil bedrooms with a contemporary style show off cool color palettes and warm textures. Comfort is taken to a whole new level with plush upholstering, tufted textiles, and luxurious area rugs -- the layered fabrics create the perfect oasis to retreat to after a long and busy day. Artwork and artisanal lighting add a touch of timeless trend, which, when paired with the overall softness of the space, create a balance between comfort and sophistication.

The kitchen cabinets are high gloss lacquer with lava stone counters for a crisp modern look. Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC

Farmhouse white two-story gable roof idea in Minneapolis

Robert Brewster Photography
Inspiration for a small country formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Providence with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Kath & Keith Photography
Mid-sized elegant built-in desk dark wood floor study room photo in Boston with gray walls and no fireplace

We transformed a 1920s French Provincial-style home to accommodate a family of five with guest quarters. The family frequently entertains and loves to cook. This, along with their extensive modern art collection and Scandinavian aesthetic informed the clean, lively palette.

Small trendy l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo in Columbus with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite countertops, black appliances and black countertops

Photos by StudioCeja.com
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless kids' blue tile and mosaic tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove bathtub remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, beige walls, a two-piece toilet and gray countertops