Photo: Danielle Sykes © 2016 Houzz
Inspiration for a country guest light wood floor bedroom remodel in Boston with beige walls and no fireplace

photo by Paul Dyer
Transitional eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, a farmhouse sink and white cabinets

dining room
Enclosed dining room - victorian medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Charleston with multicolored walls and a standard fireplace

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Inspiration for a large coastal master medium tone wood floor bathroom remodel in Boston with a vessel sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

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Inspiration for a large contemporary gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor kids' room remodel in New York with black walls

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Trendy open concept kitchen photo in Dallas with mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and multicolored backsplash

Elegant dark wood floor and brown floor dining room photo in Chicago with gray walls

Ed Butera
Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Miami with gray walls

Front spanish colonial exterior
Inspiration for a mediterranean beige two-story stucco gable roof remodel in Dallas

Under counter laundry in bathroom. Avonite counter with integral sink. Slate flooring and Maple cabinets. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely.

Example of a classic bedroom design in Chicago with gray walls

Photo: Shannon Malone © 2013 Houzz
Beach style living room photo in San Francisco with a brick fireplace

Example of a trendy dark wood floor bedroom design in Seattle with beige walls

Inspiration for a transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor home office remodel in New York with white walls

Clarity Northwest Photography
Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor dining room remodel in Seattle with brown walls

Example of a beach style bedroom design in Philadelphia with multicolored walls

Concord MA living room designed by Carol Sarason Design. Photographed by Eric Roth Photography.
Example of a mid-sized transitional living room design in Boston with brown walls and a standard fireplace

Example of a trendy ceramic tile and multicolored floor dining room design in Other with white walls

Excerpted from Washington Home & Design Magazine, Jan/Feb 2012 Full Potential Once ridiculed as “antipasto on the Potomac,” the Watergate complex designed by Italian architect Luigi Moretti has become one of Washington’s most respectable addresses. But its curvaceous 1960s architecture still poses design challenges for residents seeking to transform their outdated apartments for contemporary living. Inside, the living area now extends from the terrace door to the kitchen and an adjoining nook for watching TV. The rear wall of the kitchen isn’t tiled or painted, but covered in boards made of recycled wood fiber, fly ash and cement. A row of fir cabinets stands out against the gray panels and white-lacquered drawers under the Corian countertops add more contrast. “I now enjoy cooking so much more,” says the homeowner. “The previous kitchen had very little counter space and storage, and very little connection to the rest of the apartment.” “A neutral color scheme allows sculptural objects, in this case iconic furniture, and artwork to stand out,” says Santalla. “An element of contrast, such as a tone or a texture, adds richness to the palette.” In the master bedroom, Santalla designed the bed frame with attached nightstands and upholstered the adjacent wall to create an oversized headboard. He created a television stand on the adjacent wall that allows the screen to swivel so it can be viewed from the bed or terrace. Of all the renovation challenges facing the couple, one of the most problematic was deciding what to do with the original parquet floors in the living space. Santalla came up with the idea of staining the existing wood and extending the same dark tone to the terrace floor. “Now the indoor and outdoor parts of the apartment are integrated to create an almost seamless space,” says the homeowner. “The design succeeds in realizing the promise of what the Watergate can be.” Project completed in collaboration with Treacy & Eagleburger. Photography by Alan Karchmer