If “desert retro” could be translated as a design style, this MCM-inspired kitchen would be it. Our goal for these clients — a young couple who recently relocated to the Pittsburgh-area from Phoenix, AZ — was to bring a touch of the sunny Sonoran into their new home. This subdued, sun-bleached palette feels both vibrant and earthy. A dramatic, shifting landscape that comes alive with the day’s changing light. Large format terrazzo tiles ground the space with muted, dusty green, ochre and amber. A nod to the tough skins of cacti, agave, and creosote bushes. A mixed finish glass tile backsplash adds pale yellow accents found in parched sand dunes. Three different cabinet finishes form our rocky canyons. Deep brown and clay purple hues like ancient cliff faces stained by manganese and iron oxide. Washed out skies reflecting warm white light. Golden brass details throughout gleam like the desert sun. By removing a wall in between the kitchen and dining room, we were able to add a working peninsula and pull the range out of the corner. This change opened up the space, solving layout and storage puzzles for our clients — without making the kitchen feel cold or contemporary. Smooth, slab-style cabinet faces paired with streamlined appliances and fixtures keep things low maintenance.

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Oklahoma City

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; bookshelf: DIY; sheep’s skin throw: Black Sheep (White Light); hardwood floors: Southern Pecan Natural, Home Depot Photo: Allie Crafton © 2016 Houzz Design: Annabode + Co

The massive undulating lot gives a spacious open feeling to the yard, while the focal point is a 16’ x 36’ vinyl liner pool surrounded by a spacious deck in architectural stamped concrete. The contrasting black Wiarton flagstone coping helps to define the simple clean lines of the design.

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

A masculine office full of deep moody grays and wood tones are mixed with mid-century inspired light fixtures. Rustic details are intertwined through the exposed wood beams along the ceiling and cowhide resting beneath the metal legs of the writing desk.

Urban dining room photo in Singapore

Andrew Miller
Example of an eclectic kitchen design in Chicago

to balance the modern wallpaper and crib, a vintage rocker was used. Curved arms mimic the roundness of the footstool and help keep room feeling light.

Robert Swinburne
Entryway - contemporary entryway idea in Boston

Debra designed this bathroom to be warmer grays and brownish mauve marble to compliment your skin colors. The master shower features a beautiful slab of Onyx that you see upon entry to the room along with a custom stone freestanding bench-body sprays and high end plumbing fixtures. The freestanding Victoria + Albert tub has a stone bench nearby that stores dry towels and make up area for her. The custom cabinetry is figured maple stained a light gray color. The large format warm color porcelain tile has also a concrete look to it. The wood clear stained ceilings add another warm element. custom roll shades and glass surrounding shower. The room features a hidden toilet room with opaque glass walls and marble walls. This all opens to the master hallway and the master closet glass double doors. There are no towel bars in this space only robe hooks to dry towels--keeping it modern and clean of unecessary hardware as the dry towels are kept under the bench.

Inspired by local fishing shacks and wharf buildings dotting the coast of Maine, this retreat interweaves large glazed openings with restrained and simple taut-skinned New England shingled cottages. The cottages are small outbuildings housing single functions - essentially sleeping and living. They're knit into the site via a series of grade level decks, small water features and natural plantings. The locations of the cottages were carefully planned to reveal different views to the adjacent site from arrival to departure and circulating between each cottage - each is intended to be a unique experience. Eric Reinholdt - Project Architect/Lead Designer with Elliott + Elliott Architecture Photo: Tom Crane Photography, Inc.

Furnishings in the living area are kept in blush and gray tones to maintain neutrality. The upholstery and pillows combine a mix of colorful fabrics, including linens, sheep skins and leathers to add texture.

What began as a simple kitchen ‘face-lift’ turned into a more complex kitchen remodel when it was determined that what the client was really seeking was to create a space which evoked the warmth of wood. The challenge was to take a dated (c. 1980’s) white plastic laminate kitchen with a white Formica counter top and transform it into a warmly, wood-clad kitchen without having to demolish the entire kitchen cabinetry. With new door and drawer faces and the careful ‘skinning’ of the existing laminate cabinets with a stained maple veneer; the space became more luxurious and updated. The counter top was replaced with a new quartz slab from Eurostone. The peninsula now accommodates counter-height seating. The Haiku bamboo ceiling fan from Big Ass Fans graces the family room. Photography: Manolo Langis

WILD AFRICA Door is a magnificent display of craftsmanship and artistry. The rich, warm tones of the wood, combined with the intricate carvings of African wildlife, create a striking visual impact. It serves as both a functional entryway and a captivating piece of decorative art, acting as a centerpiece for a home or building they adorn. Detailed Features: Material: The doors are constructed from Mahogany, known for its durability and rich color. The wood exhibits a beautiful grain pattern that adds to the overall aesthetic. Design: The doors are a double swing-in system, meaning they swing-in on themselves when opened. This suggests they might lead to a space where conserving space is important or where a grand, expansive entrance is desired. Carvings: The most impressive feature is the elaborate hand-carving. It depicts a scene of African wildlife, including: Elephant: Dominating the center is a large African elephant, shown in profile. Its trunk is curved upward, suggesting as door handles and offer a sense of motion or trumpeting. The texture of the elephant's skin is meticulously rendered with fine lines and wrinkles. Lions: To the left of the elephant, a lion head is depicted in profile, facing the same direction as the elephant. The lion's mane is particularly noteworthy, with detailed carving giving it a flowing, textured appearance. Rhino: To the right of the elephant, a rhino head is carved in profile. The thick, plated skin and the prominent horns are clearly visible. Buffalo: Below the rhino, a Cape buffalo is depicted, also in profile. Its distinctive horns curve upwards and then inwards. Leopard: In the lower left corner, a leopard is carved in profile, facing left. Its spotted coat is suggested through variations in texture and depth. Glass Panels: Flanking the carved panels on both sides are vertical panels of textured glass. These panels allow light to filter through while offering a degree of privacy. The texture of the glass complements the natural feel of the wood and adds another layer of visual interest.

Studio Bespoke
Game room - mid-sized transitional open concept game room idea in Miami with black walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Designed perfectly for a small social gathering, back to back grey tufted sofas with a persian rug, leather club chairs and two mirrored accent tables as a coffee table on one side and two high backed arm chairs with an animal skin rug and an antique beverage cart for an accent table on the other, perfect for a reading nook.

Designed perfectly for a small social gathering, back to back grey tufted sofas with a persian rug, leather club chairs and two mirrored accent tables as a coffee table on one side and two high backed arm chairs with an animal skin rug and an antique beverage cart for an accent table on the other, perfect for a reading nook.

Master bedroom with textured wallpaper and contrasting tones.
Example of a large transitional master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Toronto with blue walls