A complete overhaul of a French Country home without changing the footprint of the floor plan resulted in the perfect home for a young bachelor. Clean lines and darker palettes call this out as a masculine environment without taking away from the home’s European charm.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Collaborations with builders on new construction is a favorite part of my job. I love seeing a house go up from the blueprints to the end of the build. It is always a journey filled with a thousand decisions, some creative on-the-spot thinking and yes, usually a few stressful moments. This Naperville project was a collaboration with a local builder and architect. The Kitchen Studio collaborated by completing the cabinetry design and final layout for the entire home. The kitchen is spacious and opens into the neighboring family room. A 48” Thermador range is centered between two windows, and the sink has a view through a window into the mudroom which is a unique feature. A large island with seating and waterfall countertops creates a beautiful focal point for the room. A bank of refrigeration, including a full-size wine refrigerator completes the picture. The area between the kitchen and dining room houses a second sink and a large walk in pantry. The kitchen features many unique storage elements important to the new homeowners including in-drawer charging stations, a cutlery divider, knife block, multiple appliance garages, spice pull outs and tray dividers. There’s not much you can’t store in this room! Cabinetry is white shaker inset styling with a gray stain on the island. At the bottom of the stairs is this nice little display and storage unit that ties into the color of the island and fireplace. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Builder: Hampton Homes Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Nothing says welcome like an inviting entryway. Here you see a walnut staircase with custom runner and metal railing. To the left you are greeted with a gallery wall featuring metallic grasscloth wallpaper, modern art, with brass accents leading you down the hall to the living room. Native House Photography

Entryway - huge transitional dark wood floor and brown floor entryway idea in Salt Lake City with brown walls and a dark wood front door

Entryway - mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and brown floor entryway idea in Boston with white walls and a white front door

Limestone Entry showing beautiful architect designed stair and rail. Mark Schwartz Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary medium tone wood floor entryway remodel in San Francisco with beige walls and a medium wood front door

Nathan Schroder Photography BK Design Studio Robert Elliott Custom Homes
Inspiration for a mediterranean marble floor and multicolored floor entryway remodel in Dallas with white walls and a dark wood front door

Dark hardwood stairs with white railing in 2008 Cape Cod styled home built by Smith Brothers in Del Mar, CA. Additional Credits: Architect: Richard Bokal Interior Designer Doug Dolezal

Utilizing under-the-stairs space, this integrated system allows the whole family to stay organized elegantly.
Example of a small trendy dark wood floor entry hall design in Nashville with white walls

Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional brown floor and dark wood floor entryway remodel in DC Metro with beige walls and a dark wood front door

The redesigned interior stairs, each column custom built in consultation with owner. The floor is European oak, with a wire-brushed pre-finish for a durable, textured surface.

Photo by: Daniel Contelmo Jr.
Example of a mid-sized beach style light wood floor and beige floor entryway design in New York with gray walls

Beach/contemporary traditional stairs
Example of a mid-sized beach style light wood floor and brown floor entryway design in Orange County with white walls and a white front door

Example of a mid-sized minimalist light wood floor and beige floor entryway design in Chicago with white walls and a dark wood front door

The owners of this project wanted additional living + play space for their two children. The solution was to add a second story and make the transition between the spaces a key design feature. Inside the tower is a light-filled lounge + library for the children and their friends. The stair becomes a sculptural piece able to be viewed from all areas of the home. From the exterior, the wood-clad tower creates a pleasing composition that brings together the existing house and addition seamlessly. The kitchen was fully renovated to integrate this theme of an open, bright, family-friendly space. Throughout the existing house and addition, the clean, light-filled space allows the beautiful material palette + finishes to come to the forefront.

The goal for these clients was to build a new home with a transitional design that was large enough for their children and grandchildren to visit, but small enough to age in place comfortably with a budget they could afford on their retirement income. They wanted an open floor plan, with plenty of wall space for art and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces to maintain the original garden feeling of the lot. A unique combination of cultures is reflected in the home – the husband is from Haiti and the wife from Switzerland. The resulting traditional design aesthetic is an eclectic blend of Caribbean and Old World flair. Jim Barsch Photography

A muted but country inspired plank design comes to this customer home, they chose to go with ProTek for waterproof performance while maintaining a classic wood look for their space that would hold up against all the little spills and action that life throws at it. With a complete line of accessories, ProTek covered their floors and stairs with ease

Jason Varney
Entry hall - huge transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor entry hall idea in Philadelphia with beige walls

Simpson Door Company 7405 - shown in Sapele Mahogany and optional Rooftop Glass
Minimalist entry hall photo in Los Angeles with white walls