The ovens that took the cooking world by storm are now available in more options than ever before. Alongside the classic E series, noted for smart looks and smarter cooking technology, Wolf now has added the M series ovens with innovative new features and three design styles. Then there's the convection steam oven – our sophisticated take on a traditional European way of cooking that prepares almost any dish, quickly and deliciously.

Example of a classic kitchen design in New Orleans

With perimeter baseboard heating in two large, light-filled rooms, Sarah Gallo (the travel and lifestyle creator behind @thefivefoottraveler) knew her outdated covers were visually overwhelming the space. Rather than replacing her hydronic system (which was still highly efficient), she opted for a smarter solution: Baseboarders Premium Series covers in White. The result? A clean, minimalist look that virtually disappears against the walls. The perforated faceplate design maintains airflow while eliminating the unsightly top gaps of traditional covers. In her great room and sunroom, the white-on-white pairing with natural light creates a subtle, modern finish. Proof that small changes can dramatically elevate a space. Homeowner: Sarah Gallo | @thefivefoottraveler Product: Baseboarders Premium Series Finish: White Install: DIY, no tools required

This is a budget conscious remodel of an original bathroom that was really sad and tired. A large garden tub that was never used and a poorly constructed one piece leaky shower along with a vanity that was 6 inches under normal height. We completely gutted the bathroom and transformed the cabinetry outside of the bathroom into a convenient ironing area with pullout laundry bins to make for more room in the walk-in closet. We used reclaimed wood to enhance the existing new closet doors and for smarter storage and display of the client's treasures.

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bull pen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

These elevations are the backbone of a seamless renovation process. Here's why they matter: 1. For Trades: Every inch is accounted for—elevations give electricians, plumbers, tile setters, and millworkers exact placement, height, and alignment details. No guesswork means fewer mistakes, no back-and-forth, and smoother scheduling. 2. For Pricing Accuracy: Clear elevations eliminate the “it depends” from vendor bids. You get real, fixed quotes instead of vague estimates. Every finish, fixture, and feature is detailed upfront for smarter budgeting and better scope control. 3. For the Client Experience: It’s hard to envision a design from words or even moodboards alone. These elevations show your space—exactly how it will feel and function. Clients can confidently sign off on layout, storage, lighting, and flow because they can see it. TL;DR: Want peace of mind and precision at every phase? This is how we build intelligently. And don’t worry—you don’t have to know every detail. We got you.

Work smart, they say. We can’t imagine anything smarter-looking than this mini, modern home office that sets up in minutes, anywhere in the house. The sleek Verena glass-and-steel sawhorse desk is one of our best small workspace ideas; it makes light work of whatever type of work you do. With endless options—from hundreds of fabrics to nailhead trim—the Jett desk chair adapts to any style and setting.

On the second floor, the transformation was achieved without adding a single square foot. By reimagining an oversized, inefficient closet and an adjacent office, we were able to thoughtfully reconfigure the layout and introduce a new primary bathroom. This strategic redesign created a gracious primary suite that feels well-proportioned and intentional, proving that meaningful change often comes from smarter use of space rather than expansion.

Talk about bringing a kitchen up to date! Little details like the bin pulls and farmhouse sink give a nod to the distant past, but the general tone for this Hood River kitchen is "today." The white on white palette leaves the homeowner free to accessorize at will, but is grounded by the wood accents and beadboard texture of the cabinetry. The dining nook with beautiful distressed table brings people into the kitchen to enjoy time together and gives the area a homey feeling. Medallion Cabinetry will stand up to many years of use and preserve the look of this lovely kitchen for countless meals and gatherings. As always, the design was carefully curated by Allen's Fine Woodworking to ensure the space allows the homeowner to work smarter, not harder.

Photography by Patrick Wong 2013
Inspiration for a timeless bedroom remodel in Austin

Luxaforma was proud to collaborate on this home renovation, transforming an existing residence into a high-performing investment property. Our role focused on innovative plan design and strategic programming of spaces-reimagining layouts to maximize functionality, flexibility, and long-term value. Every square meter was carefully considered to enhance flow, adaptability, and market appeal, ensuring the property performs as beautifully as it looks. Thoughtful design isn't just about aesthetics-it's about creating spaces that work smarter and invest better.

Our homes are resilient, adaptable, and when combined with Solar can be built to zero energy standards. Designs come complete with Solar ready features, LED Lighting, structured wiring, and expandable building automation technology. Ultra efficient mechanical equipment with small diameter ducts and variable speed blowers reduce energy use and ensure consistent temperatures between rooms, zones, and floors. Modular Prefabrication offers a smarter building system that leverages manufacturing efficiency, advanced engineering technology, and highly skilled labor to precisely produce high quality, durable, and efficient buildings in a fraction of the time needed in traditional construction. This is not your standard prefab home! EcoCraft homes are designed and constructed to provide our home owners with a look and feel that is unlike anything you have ever experienced!

Inspired by Cape styles, this new Natick client desired an updated look with a better traffic pattern that was more open with smarter storage. By removing the peninsula, island seating reduced their sons fighting because now they weren’t competing for stools. They also fulfilled their dream of a coffee bar. The stove, backsplash and attractive hood are now a beautiful focal point from the family room view. They worked with our partner, Amany Design Studio, to select a clean, seamless look. This busy family now has a hidden command central and charging station. Custom-designed, pull-out shelving created organization and maximum storage within the new cabinets.

Photography by Patrick Wong 2013
Powder room - traditional powder room idea in Austin

The Pinnacle of Hardwood. TORLYS Everest XP offers better performance, smarter design and is more sustainable than conventional hardwood. This 100% natural, eco-engineered comes in multiple species in wider, longer, and cleaner grade planks. Built with Xtreme durability in mind, this waterproof line is wear and dent resistant, antimicrobial, and can be installed transition-free in any room while backed by TORLYS S.M.A.R.T. Warranty.

Hidden washer and dryer in open laundry room.
Inspiration for a small transitional galley dark wood floor and brown floor utility room remodel in Other with gray cabinets, marble countertops, mirror backsplash, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

It’s all in the details ✨ Custom built-ins and cabinetry throughout the home bring both beauty and function to everyday living. From this dreamy desk setup to storage that works smarter, it’s those extra touches and thoughtful design moments that turn a plain wall into something truly special. #CustomCabinetry #BuiltInBeauty #DesignDetails #FunctionalAndBeautiful #HomeInspo #ElevatedEveryday

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

Incorporate multiple storage options into your bedroom for a smarter use of space. Graphic textiles contrast well with colour blocked pieces.
Example of a trendy bedroom design in Vancouver