Good things come in small packages, as Tricklebrook proves. This compact yet charming design packs a lot of personality into an efficient plan that is perfect for a tight city or waterfront lot. Inspired by the Craftsman aesthetic and classic All-American bungalow design, the exterior features interesting roof lines with overhangs, stone and shingle accents and abundant windows designed both to let in maximum natural sunlight as well as take full advantage of the lakefront views. The covered front porch leads into a welcoming foyer and the first level’s 1,150-square foot floor plan, which is divided into both family and private areas for maximum convenience. Private spaces include a flexible first-floor bedroom or office on the left; family spaces include a living room with fireplace, an open plan kitchen with an unusual oval island and dining area on the right as well as a nearby handy mud room. At night, relax on the 150-square-foot screened porch or patio. Head upstairs and you’ll find an additional 1,025 square feet of living space, with two bedrooms, both with unusual sloped ceilings, walk-in closets and private baths. The second floor also includes a convenient laundry room and an office/reading area. Photographer: Dave Leale

Morgante Wilson Architects treated this tall ceiling with coffers painted in a contrasting color to the beams. The arched windows offer sweeping views to the lakefront. Pendants from Baker hang above a Magni sectional which is upholstered in Kravet fabric. Michael Robinson Photography

Photo by Hayden Luscombe Project by Jim Sandefer
Example of a beach style u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

KitchenLab Interiors’ first, entirely new construction project in collaboration with GTH architects who designed the residence. KLI was responsible for all interior finishes, fixtures, furnishings, and design including the stairs, casework, interior doors, moldings and millwork. KLI also worked with the client on selecting the roof, exterior stucco and paint colors, stone, windows, and doors. The homeowners had purchased the existing home on a lakefront lot of the Valley Lo community in Glenview, thinking that it would be a gut renovation, but when they discovered a host of issues including mold, they decided to tear it down and start from scratch. The minute you look out the living room windows, you feel as though you're on a lakeside vacation in Wisconsin or Michigan. We wanted to help the homeowners achieve this feeling throughout the house - merging the causal vibe of a vacation home with the elegance desired for a primary residence. This project is unique and personal in many ways - Rebekah and the homeowner, Lorie, had grown up together in a small suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Lorie had been Rebekah's babysitter and was like an older sister growing up. They were both heavily influenced by the style of the late 70's and early 80's boho/hippy meets disco and 80's glam, and both credit their moms for an early interest in anything related to art, design, and style. One of the biggest challenges of doing a new construction project is that it takes so much longer to plan and execute and by the time tile and lighting is installed, you might be bored by the selections of feel like you've seen them everywhere already. “I really tried to pull myself, our team and the client away from the echo-chamber of Pinterest and Instagram. We fell in love with counter stools 3 years ago that I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger on, thank god, because then they started showing up literally everywhere", Rebekah recalls. Lots of one of a kind vintage rugs and furnishings make the home feel less brand-spanking new. The best projects come from a team slightly outside their comfort zone. One of the funniest things Lorie says to Rebekah, "I gave you everything you wanted", which is pretty hilarious coming from a client to a designer.

Our client’s intension was to make this bathroom suite a very specialized spa retreat. She envisioned exquisite, highly crafted components and loved the colors gold and purple. We were challenged to mix contemporary, traditional and rustic features. Also on the wish-list were a sizeable wardrobe room and a meditative loft-like retreat. Hydronic heated flooring was installed throughout. The numerous features in this project required replacement of the home’s plumbing and electrical systems. The cedar ceiling and other places in the room replicate what is found in the rest of the home. The project encompassed 400 sq. feet. Features found at one end of the suite are new stained glass windows – designed to match to existing, a Giallo Rio slab granite platform and a Carlton clawfoot tub. The platform is banded at the floor by a mosaic of 1″ x 1″ glass tile. Near the tub platform area is a large walnut stained vanity with Contemporary slab door fronts and shaker drawers. This is the larger of two separate vanities. Each are enhanced with hand blown artisan pendant lighting. A custom fireplace is centrally placed as a dominant design feature. The hammered copper that surrounds the fireplace and vent pipe were crafted by a talented local tradesman. It is topped with a Café Imperial marble. A lavishly appointed shower is the centerpiece of the bathroom suite. The many slabs of granite used on this project were chosen for the beautiful veins of quartz, purple and gold that our client adores. Two distinct spaces flank a small vanity; the wardrobe and the loft-like Magic Room. Both precisely fulfill their intended practical and meditative purposes. A floor to ceiling wardrobe and oversized built-in dresser keep clothing, shoes and accessories organized. The dresser is topped with the same marble used atop the fireplace and inset into the wardrobe flooring. The Magic Room is a space for resting, reading or just gazing out on the serene setting. The reading lights are Oil Rubbed Bronze. A drawer within the step up to the loft keeps reading and writing materials neatly tucked away. Within the highly customized space, marble, granite, copper and art glass come together in a harmonious design that is organized for maximum rejuvenation that pleases our client to not end!

Gary McKinstry
Example of a trendy beige tile beige floor bathroom design in Vancouver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige walls and medium tone wood cabinets

Filling a large great room is always a challenge. I used two large matching sofas and designed a large cocktail table to service both sofas. The table was made by Seth Woods. The sofa fabric is contract grade to be child and pet friendly. The rug is polypropylene and very stain resistant as well. The window treatments are sheer lined with sheer to filter the light and frame the window nicely. The sofa table is a custom design. We wanted to bring a metal finish into the room and we wanted to place the 2 storage benches under it to conceal toys. The arched stretcher in the design allows for that. This was fabricated by Small Axe Forge and Daylight Cabinetry. We used neutral tones and textures to keep the room calm and serene. The red accents were brought in to add warmth and depth.

Photographer: Drew Kelly
Example of a transitional gray tile corner shower design in San Francisco with a wall-mount sink, a two-piece toilet, white walls and a hinged shower door

Marcus & Willers Architects
Bedroom - small country guest medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with white walls

Sarah Dorio
Example of a beach style dark wood floor powder room design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, white walls, shaker cabinets and white countertops

This transformation started with a builder grade bathroom and was expanded into a sauna wet room. With cedar walls and ceiling and a custom cedar bench, the sauna heats the space for a relaxing dry heat experience. The goal of this space was to create a sauna in the secondary bathroom and be as efficient as possible with the space. This bathroom transformed from a standard secondary bathroom to a ergonomic spa without impacting the functionality of the bedroom. This project was super fun, we were working inside of a guest bedroom, to create a functional, yet expansive bathroom. We started with a standard bathroom layout and by building out into the large guest bedroom that was used as an office, we were able to create enough square footage in the bathroom without detracting from the bedroom aesthetics or function. We worked with the client on her specific requests and put all of the materials into a 3D design to visualize the new space. Houzz Write Up: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bathroom-of-the-week-stylish-spa-retreat-with-a-real-sauna-stsetivw-vs~168139419 The layout of the bathroom needed to change to incorporate the larger wet room/sauna. By expanding the room slightly it gave us the needed space to relocate the toilet, the vanity and the entrance to the bathroom allowing for the wet room to have the full length of the new space. This bathroom includes a cedar sauna room that is incorporated inside of the shower, the custom cedar bench follows the curvature of the room's new layout and a window was added to allow the natural sunlight to come in from the bedroom. The aromatic properties of the cedar are delightful whether it's being used with the dry sauna heat and also when the shower is steaming the space. In the shower are matching porcelain, marble-look tiles, with architectural texture on the shower walls contrasting with the warm, smooth cedar boards. Also, by increasing the depth of the toilet wall, we were able to create useful towel storage without detracting from the room significantly. This entire project and client was a joy to work with.

Features ·Stronger and more durable than typical vinyl products ·Up to 83% more energy efficient with optional triple-pane glass ·Virtually invisible SmoothSeamTM interior welded corners ·Easy-wash, tilt-in sash feature *Calculated based on average projected energy savings in a computer simulation using Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Resfen 5.0 stndard criteria for a 2,000-square-foot home when comparing a Pella 350 Series vinyl window with InsulShield(R) Advanced Low-E triple-pane glass with argon to a single-pane vinyl window.

Large Master bathroom remodel with new curved wall entry and vanity for better flow, a "Beauty bar" dressing station, Statuarito marble floors, and marble with mirror mosaic tile accents. Steam shower with dual shower heads on slide bars, rain head, and surround sound speakers. Construction by JP Lindstrom, Inc. Bernard Andre Photography

This was a small, enclosed shower in this Master Bathroom. We wanted to give all the glitz and glam this homeowner deserved and make this small space feel larger. We achieved this by running the same wall tile in the shower as the sink wall. It was a tight budget that we were able to make work with real and faux marble mixed together in a clever way. We kept everything light and in cool colors to give that luxurious spa feel.

Windows Dressed Up Showroom in Northwest Denver, 38th on Tennyson (303.455.1009), offers the latest in window blinds and shades from leading suppliers such as Lafayette Interior Fashions Cellular, roller, roman,Venetian, vertical, shutters, plus drapes, curtains, side panels, valances and cornices are just some of the window treatments available. Mahn Truc is one of the fine brands offered by Lafayette. Photo Lafayette Interior Fashions.

Example of a mid-sized country master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Charleston with gray walls and no fireplace

Rather than starting with an outcome in mind, this 1,400 square foot residence began from a polemic place - exploring shared conviction regarding the concentrated power of living with a smaller footprint. From the gabled silhouette to passive ventilation, the home captures the nostalgia for the past with the sustainable practices of the future. While the exterior materials contrast a calm, minimal palette with the sleek lines of the gabled silhouette, the interior spaces embody a playful, artistic spirit. From the hand painted De Gournay wallpaper in the master bath to the rugged texture of the over-grouted limestone and Portuguese cobblestones, the home is an experience that encapsulates the unexpected and the timeless.

Ethereal Modern Pied-à-terre Kitchen by Brett Design. This all glass kitchen is clad in back painted glass from the refrigerator to the cabinets to the dishwasher to the walls, counter top and backsplash. This small New York City kitchen lacks nothing. With careful space planning the custom contemporary glass flat front cabinets provide plenty of storage, while well placed top of the line stainless steel range is a dream for an urban home chef. Recessed under cabinet lighting and ceiling lighting concealed above dropped modern crown molding provide understated and beautiful illumination.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography