Mid-sized danish black split-level wood and board and batten gable roof photo in Portland with a metal roof and a black roof

Jon Friedrich
Mid-sized transitional enclosed and formal medium tone wood floor living room photo in Philadelphia with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and pink walls

Mid-sized farmhouse open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Chicago with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

"Creating a dramatic set of stairs without cumbersome framing" is what Franklin considers the greatest dilemma during the design process. Connecting three stories, he came up with a plan of opposing staircases that creates dynamic space rather than obscure it. Although massive in its footprint, the stair design retains the open-air feeling of the home without compromising strength. Without posts and framework to support them, the staircases seemingly float in the space. "The combination of steel stringers and rails, along with the hardwood steps," Franklin explains, "created enough strength for each set of stairs to, literally, be anchored by only four bolts." Adrienne DeRosa Photography

Example of a mid-sized trendy galley light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, window backsplash, an island, gray countertops and quartz countertops

This home is 1.5 stories, with finished bonus space above the garage. It has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, with the master located on the first floor. For the exterior, we used a mix of cultured stone, vinyl siding, and vinyl shakes. We used Trex trim to accent all of the windows and doors, add decoration in the gables, and around the front pillars.

Example of a classic foyer design in Los Angeles with white walls

Steven Keating
Inspiration for a large contemporary split-level wood exterior home remodel in Seattle with a shed roof

Mid-sized danish black split-level wood and board and batten gable roof photo in Portland with a metal roof and a black roof

You need only look at the before picture of the SYI Studio space to understand the background of this project and need for a new work space. Susan lives with her husband, three kids and dog in a 1960 split-level in Bloomington, which they've updated over the years and didn't want to leave, thanks to a great location and even greater neighbors. As the SYI team grew so did the three Yeley kids, and it became clear that not only did the team need more space but so did the family. 1.5 bathrooms + 3 bedrooms + 5 people = exponentially increasing discontent. By 2016, it was time to pull the trigger. Everyone needed more room, and an offsite studio wouldn't work: Susan is not just Creative Director and Owner of SYI but Full Time Activities and Meal Coordinator at Chez Yeley. The design, conceptualized entirely by the SYI team and executed by JL Benton Contracting, reclaimed the existing 4th bedroom from SYI space, added an ensuite bath and walk-in closet, and created a studio space with its own exterior entrance and full bath—making it perfect for a mother-in-law or Airbnb suite down the road. The project added over a thousand square feet to the house—and should add many more years for the family to live and work in a home they love. Contractor: JL Benton Contracting Cabinetry: Richcraft Wood Products Photographer: Gina Rogers

Jenn Baker
Inspiration for a large industrial galley concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, wood backsplash, an island and black appliances

Keith & Shari wanted to open things up, while preserving the recently installed laminate floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen was mostly original with the exception of the range and hood, which were recent upgrades. The layout worked fine for them, but capturing more storage and modernizing were priorities. The first thing we did was to remove the top 1/2 of two of the walls to gain visual space. Next, we expanded the cabinetry to fill the unused table space in the kitchen. Since the space is now open, both the living and dining rooms are close enough for comfortable conversation. White painted cabinetry helped to further expand the visual size of the new space. The herringbone layout of the tile floor avoided conflict with the laminate floor in the living room. Quartz countertops, a full height tile splash, LED under-cabinet lighting, and concealed angled plug strips add clean, bright, bullet-proof, and stylish elements to complete the space in a soft, elegant, & timeless manner. Photo by: Warren Smith, CMKBD, CAPS

Mid-sized scandinavian black split-level wood and board and batten gable roof idea in Portland with a metal roof and a black roof

Landmark Photography
Example of a beach style single-wall multicolored floor dedicated laundry room design in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink, white walls and black countertops

Designed by DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Ann Arbor designer Kami Michels Built by DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Carpenter Gerry Davids Photographed by Angela Brown Photography LLC

Transitional dutch front door photo in Grand Rapids with a white front door and gray walls

Inspiration for a coastal dark wood floor foyer remodel in Los Angeles with beige walls and a white front door