Homeowner had a loft area the kids spent time in and wanted a way to CORRAL THE CLUTTER. Solution? Cubbies with a toy box/seat under the arched window. The toy box has tortion stay-in-place hinges to protect little fingers from the lid dropping. Custom caps at the top of each cabinet hide the awkward ceiling line and elimate a place for dust to collect.

Homeowner had a loft area the kids spent time in and wanted a way to CORRAL THE CLUTTER. Solution? Cubbies with a toy box/seat under the arched window. The toy box has tortion stay-in-place hinges to protect little fingers from the lid dropping. Custom caps at the top of each cabinet hide the awkward ceiling line and elimate a place for dust to collect.

Homeowner had a loft area the kids spent time in and wanted a way to CORRAL THE CLUTTER. Solution? Cubbies with a toy box/seat under the arched window. The toy box has tortion stay-in-place hinges to protect little fingers from the lid dropping. Custom caps at the top of each cabinet hide the awkward ceiling line and elimate a place for dust to collect.

Homeowner had a loft area the kids spent time in and wanted a way to CORRAL THE CLUTTER. Solution? Cubbies with a toy box/seat under the arched window. The toy box has tortion stay-in-place hinges to protect little fingers from the lid dropping. Custom caps at the top of each cabinet hide the awkward ceiling line and elimate a place for dust to collect.

Homeowner had a loft area the kids spent time in and wanted a way to CORRAL THE CLUTTER. Solution? Cubbies with a toy box/seat under the arched window. The toy box has tortion stay-in-place hinges to protect little fingers from the lid dropping. Custom caps at the top of each cabinet hide the awkward ceiling line and elimate a place for dust to collect.

"I couldn't say enough good things about the process and the results. I live in a 1924 Tudor and had strong reservations about increasing the footprint. I didn't want it to look like a tacked-on box but I also needed additional kitchen space. We spent as much time on the exterior design as the interior. The attention to detail and craftsmanship on the exterior actually enhances the original design." - Sheryl Terlouw (homeowner)

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came in after thinking a long time about what to do with their kitchen – new cabinets or paint them, white kitchen or wood, custom or is semi-custom? All good questions to ask! They were committed to making this home for a while, they decided to do a full remodel. The kitchen was not living up to its potential both visually and functionally. The dark cabinets and countertop made the room feel dull. And the major drawback, a large corner pantry that was eating into the room, make it appear smaller than it was. We started by ditching the corner pantry. It created a perfectly centered spot for the new professional range and made room for a much larger island that now houses a beverage center, microwave drawer, seating for three and tons of storage. The multi-generational family does a ton of cooking, so this kitchen gets used! We spent lots of time fine tuning the storage devices and planning where critical items would be stored. This included the new pantry area across from the refrigerator that houses small appliances and food staples. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

"I couldn't say enough good things about the process and the results. I live in a 1924 Tudor and had strong reservations about increasing the footprint. I didn't want it to look like a tacked-on box but I also needed additional kitchen space. We spent as much time on the exterior design as the interior. The attention to detail and craftsmanship on the exterior actually enhances the original design." - Sheryl Terlouw (homeowner)

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Photo by Caitlin Atkinson
Photo of a modern landscaping in San Francisco.

Forewarning: if you buy this light by Hinkley, it does not come the length that the spec sheets say. I spent 4 hours disassembling the canopy box that all the light wires come into, cutting them down and reconnecting them all and then having to make a couple trips to Ace Hardware to retrofit the ceiling bracket to hang the light. All worth it in the end. https://www.hinkley.com/3029dg.html

Denver Image Photography - Tahvory Bunting
Kitchen - large contemporary u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

APD was hired to update the primary bathroom and laundry room of this ranch style family home. Included was a request to add a powder bathroom where one previously did not exist to help ease the chaos for the young family. The design team took a little space here and a little space there, coming up with a reconfigured layout including an enlarged primary bathroom with large walk-in shower, a jewel box powder bath, and a refreshed laundry room including a dog bath for the family’s four legged member!

Marble penny tile, classic white subway tile and marble bull nose kept enhanced the heritage of the home while maximizing the money spent on updating this heavily used bathroom.

Luxury Vinyl Planks are a great option for water areas like bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. The technology is advancing so that the product looks and feels like natural products like wood and stone.

jeremy bittermann
Contemporary exterior home idea in Portland

Anice Hoachlander photographer
Example of a classic two-story wood exterior home design in DC Metro

Part of the Modin Vinyl Plank Collection, Available Exclusively From www.Flooret.com $3.49 / sq ft, 22.08 sq ft per box 50% WIDER. 25% LONGER. TWICE AS DURABLE Luxury Vinyl Plank, 5 mm x 9" x 60" (1.0 mm / 40 mil wear-layer) Lifetime Residential Warranty, 20 year Commercial Warranty Nordic simplicity. White floors can be challenging to use, but when pulled off correctly are extremely rewarding. An instant statement-maker, they often present the challenge of maintenance. For Nordland, we specifically created a slightly weathered pattern with darker knots, so that they do not reveal dirt as quickly. REDEFINING DURABILITY The most important specification for determining the durability of vinyl flooring is the thickness of the wear-layer. The best wear-layers are made of thick, clear virgin PVC, which covers the paper print-film that gives the floor its unique appearance. Once the wear-layer wears through, the paper is damaged and the floor will need replacement. Most vinyl floors come with a 8-12 mil wear-layer (0.2-3 mm). The top commercial specs in the industry are higher, at 20-22 mil (0.5 mm). A select few manufacturers offer a "super" commercial spec of 28 mil (0.7 mm). For Modin, we decided to set a new standard: 40 mil (1.0 mm) of premium virgin PVC. This allows us to offer an industry-leading 20 year Commercial Warranty (Lifetime Residential), compared to nearly all other commercial vinyl floors' 10 year Commercial Warranty. Beyond our superior wear-layer, we also use a patented click mechanism for superior hold, and a ceramic-bead coating. SIZE MATTERS Wider and longer planks create a sense of space and luxury. Most vinyl floors come in 6" or 7" widths, and 36" or 48" lengths. For Modin, we designed our planks to be 9" wide, and 60" long. This extra large size allows our gorgeous designs to be fully expressed. DETAILS THAT COUNT We made sure to get all the details right. Real texture, to create the feel of wire-brushed wood. Low sheen level, to ensure a natural look that wears well over time. 4-sided bevels, to more accurately emulate the look of real planks. When added together they help create the unique look that is Modin. DESIGNS THAT INSPIRE We spent nearly a year just focusing on our designs, to ensure they provide the right mix of color and depth. Focusing on timeless wire-brush and European Oak styles, as well as more contemporary modern washes, our collection offers truly beautiful design that is both functional and inspiring.

Bob Greenspan
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized 1960s galley concrete floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen idea in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island