Search results for "Straightforward" in Home Design Ideas

This backyard project transformed an underused grass area into a spacious and functional outdoor living space with a new 17' × 19'7" pressure-treated wood deck.
The homeowners wanted a large, straightforward platform that would create more usable space for outdoor dining, entertaining, barbecuing, and enjoying the surrounding mature trees. The finished deck provides a strong visual connection between the home and backyard while offering plenty of room for flexible furniture arrangements and everyday family use.
The deck was constructed using pressure-treated lumber, selected for its durability, value, and suitability for Ontario’s changing seasonal conditions. Careful planning was required to establish the layout, footing locations, finished elevation, and clean transition along the rear of the home.
For this particular project, the homeowner chose to complete the deck without a step along the open edge. This was a project-specific design decision based on their preferred use and layout of the backyard.
Every home and property is different. Northlink can help homeowners explore customized deck layouts, stair configurations, railings, materials, sizes, and finishing details based on their space, priorities, and budget.
This Barrie deck project reflects our Build Better™ approach: thoughtful planning, quality craftsmanship, and a finished outdoor space designed around the way the homeowner wants to live.
Planning a new deck in Barrie or Simcoe County? Contact Northlink to discuss a custom design for your home.
Build Better™
Better Planning. Better Craftsmanship. Better Results.

For an industrial look, this condo kitchen used a concrete finish to add more character to the space. The flooring was stained a dark gray, and the structural concrete walls are exposed to accent the floors. The walls were skim coated and sealed with a natural coating.
The kitchen countertops are stunning yet straightforward featuring Statuary Classique Quartz from MSI Surfaces which is elegant, durable and requires no maintenance. This marble-look quartz is a soothing white background, and delicate veins make for great countertops with waterfalls.
The Backsplash wall tile is a Bergamo Herringbone Mosaic by MSI Surfaces which is an elegant natural beautiful white marble tile that features soft gray tones in the veins. The herringbone design reflects a modern take on a traditional pattern as seen on Vimeo.

The owners of this true mid-century ranch in Wheaton were ready for a kitchen update. The home’s main living room area is decorated in a very cool, sparse way with plenty of nods to mid-century design. A new kitchen would need to bridge classic and modern notions of Mid-Century expression through the style’s characteristic clean lines and artistic notions of simplicity and straightforward functionality.
The idea was to keep a hint of mid-century influence in a modern design that could somehow be more open while accommodating more storage
The objectives were:
• Stay within the existing space while creating an open feel and winning more storage room
• Make the space brighter while using a darker cabinet finish
• Create proper ventilation for the range
Design challenges we solved for:
• Open the kitchen to the adjacent dining room without sacrificing storage
• Remove multiple layers of flooring to make the kitchen floor level with the rest of the house
• Match the new kitchen flooring to the flooring in nearby dining and living spaces
Problems solved. Here’s what we did:
• Took out soffits around the kitchen to allow for taller cabinets with more storage
• Added cabinet pull-outs that maximize under-cabinet storage space
• Used large cabinets in standard sizes
• Skipped cabinets on the window wall, opting for space- and light-friendly floating shelves
• Enhanced overall brightness with bright, white counters and textured white tile that offered a connecting contrast to the darker woodgrain cabinets
• Took out a post between the kitchen and dining room to make the space feel more open
• Added under-cabinet lights – unobtrusive and handy for task lighting
The owners love the look, feel and functionality of their new kitchen. Its sleek, modern character and notions of mid-century spirit add new excitement to the home’s original 1958 personality.
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This exquisite shift pattern machine woven area rug in cream, beige and blue color is bound to bring a elegant look to your area. This area rug out there in numerous sizes options top quality material that makes it terribly durable in high traffic areas. This floor covering is extremely straightforward to wash and maintain. Get this machine created vogue in numerous sizes.

The modern staircase provides a straightforward transition to the new mezzanine, with dark engineered-hardwood treads set against simple white risers. The restrained detailing helps the stair feel integrated into the loft rather than a later addition.

The balance of form and function is the hallmark of modern design. This staircase is a perfect example of that elegant simplicity. The dark-stained treads, newels, and smooth wood handrail create a rich foundation, while the parallel horizontal stainless steel rods add a sleek touch. With a beautiful overlook from the second floor, the staircase serves as a stunning focal point for the home. However, it's the interplay between the dark wood and gleaming steel elements that truly sets this project apart, demonstrating how material contrast can elevate a straightforward design into something memorable.
1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

For an industrial look, this condo kitchen used a concrete finish to add more character to the space. The flooring was stained a dark gray, and the structural concrete walls are exposed to accent the floors. The walls were skim coated and sealed with a natural coating.
The kitchen countertops are stunning yet straightforward featuring Statuary Classique Quartz from MSI Surfaces which is elegant, durable and requires no maintenance. This marble-look quartz is a soothing white background, and delicate veins make for great countertops with waterfalls.
The Backsplash wall tile is a Bergamo Herringbone Mosaic by MSI Surfaces which is an elegant natural beautiful white marble tile that features soft gray tones in the veins. The herringbone design reflects a modern take on a traditional pattern as seen on Vimeo.

This Sonoma County tasting room facelift uses inexpensive, “off-the-shelf” materials and straightforward design to reflect the Taft Street brand of “quality, everyday wine at a good value”. Having started in a garage, the owners wanted humble and approachable materials – so the space relies on plywood and rough framing lumber as finish materials. Concrete floors continue the industrial feel of the nearby production areas, while chalk-board black walls, gray and orange wool furnishings and cork stools make the space inviting and fun.
Architecture by Tierney Conner Design Studio

Completed in 2015, this 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath was designed for a developer with a intolerably tight budget. Our simple solution employs a straightforward mix of flowing spaces borrowed from California great room houses with design elements found in more traditional residential design.
The house is entered through a generous entry hall flanked by a formal Dining Room on one side and a Home Office/Den on the other. The far end of this Entry Hall deposits into a large Great Room and open kitchen that is this home's gathering and entertainment hub. A small alcove at the end of the kitchen allows for everyday meals while the island functions as this entire space's focal point. Completing the entertainment concept of this level is a covered porch accessed through a sliding door in the Family Room.
The upper level is accessed via a stair at one end of the plan and is organized around a wide hallway that terminates in a tech space for kids. 3 generous children's bedrooms and an ample Master Suite with a view toward the Olympic Mountains complete this level. Finish selections throughout the house were purposely kept clean, light and simple. The exterior form of the house, while simple, allows for a variety of roof schemes that appeal to different price points in the marketplace. We also designed a bonus room option that can be accessed via the stair and resides over the garage.

Putting together an exceptional dining space is like planning the perfect party – the key to success is to make it feel inviting and relaxed. Displaying streamlined, straightforward design, the Dean table can serve as a future foundation for stellar celebrations. Exposed dovetail joinery translates into transparent function and beauty on the solid oak stunner, which is accompanied by our equally sleek Oliver side chairs. Airy and contemporary in appeal, they boast dapper grey fabric and frames of stainless steel.

A modern home with traditional forms and straightforward detailing combines painted brick, lap siding and antique wood structural elements to create a one-of-a-kind home on a 2.4 acre relatively flat lot. A circular drive partially screened by low brick walls and strategically placed landscaping brings you onto the site where one can make a stop at the porte-cochère drop off on their way to the garage or continue to a welcoming front porch. This 2-story home has 5 bedrooms and 5 ½ baths with 6,125 sq. ft. of conditioned spaces and a total of 9,731 sq. ft. under roof.
As you enter an intimate sized foyer, there’s a dining room to the right that opens to the kitchen and features a large picture window facing the front yard with a ceiling with white oak beams. Straight ahead you’re led to a living room that features a pre-cast stone fireplace mantle and painted coffered ceilings. It is part of a great room with a kitchen and large island that continues with white oak accents in some of the cabinetry. Pairs of arched openings and a pocket door flank each end of the room leading to a scullery kitchen on one end and to guest bedroom and master bedroom suites on the other.
The outdoor cooking and living areas are conveniently located thru French doors right off the great room and a game room that is part of the house that extends into the back yard providing great access and views to a pool and a basketball sport court. An outdoor fireplace adds a cozy touch to a seating area that is next to the outdoor cooking and dining area.
The master bedroom suite is positioned to take advantage of views to the backyard and also has access to a back porch. Easy access is provided to a well-appointed master bath that leads to his and her closets. Upstairs there are 3 more bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets. An office is also provided which is positioned above the dining room below so that it shares the continuation of the large picture window idea that affords beautiful views of the front yard and a lake across the street. A small common area located off the stair landing provides a place for the kids to hang out.

This gorgeous custom wine cellar acts as a dramatic entrypiece as you walk into this beautiful home in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California. San Juan Capistrano is a lovely community located slightly inland, tucked within Orange County near cities like Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Irvine.
This fantastically designed wine cellar, courtesy of the master wine cellar builders at Vintage Cellars, is a unique representation of fun and bespoke features that can be incorporated into a traditional redwood, yet modern and bright wine cellar like this. The wine room draws you in from across the house, with its warm redwood tones and interesting wrought iron and glass door. Wine Cellar doors are often overlooked, but proper knowledge of door materials, glass specifications, threshold placement and hanging procedures are key to creating that perfect airtight room. Additionally, based on the location of your room within your home, the amount of glass in your wine cellar, and your location in the world, levels of cooling capacity need to be seriously considered.
Glass is a naturally poor insulator. Because there has been a very heavy push for "wine cellar art," "wine cellars as art," and wine cellars as a main design component within high end homes, glass wine cellars are often incorporated in high trafficked areas or spaces where each homeowner can show off their prized wines to friends in an almost showcase like display.
When you first enter this large custom wine cellar in Orange County, Southern California, standing out first immediately on your left is a unique work station with a scanner, label-maker, and table top - perfect for inventorying the 3,500 bottles that this rustic wine cellar holds. The e-Sommelier system integrated allows this homeowner to catalog each and every wine within his collection, first letting the program know he owns it, how many bottles, which vintages, and with the click of a button - custom wine labels each with a bar code. Accompanied with the bar code scanner, the e-sommelier system has become a great companion for wine cellars and wine collectors alike, allowing a somewhat seamless and straightforward process in inventorying wines.
Directly past the wine inventory station is a vertical row of large format bottle coved trays, displaying some of the owner's favorite wines in the most coveted vintages.
This large walk in custom wine cellar in all heart redwood wine racking fills most of its capacity utilizing double deep, individual bottle storage. At waist height spanning the entire circumference of the wine room is a high reveal display row, highlighted with LED lighting and more single deep storage behind.
The back wall, in addition to the high reveal display row and double deep individual bottle storage, incorporates a rectangular wine work center with glass rack above - perfect for decanting, storing uniquely shaped bottles, and opening your favorite bottles with friends. Directly below this countertop are two drawers. A unique feature throughout this wooden traditional large walk in wine cellar in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California is the incorporation of wine barrel into the room's corner walls, work stations, countertops, and center custom table.
This custom wine cellar near Newport Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto De Caza, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, and other gorgeous beach communities in Orange County, also incorporates wine case storage throughout the bottom, and a small area above the wine inventory system for split bottles.
Vintage Cellars, as well as the homeowner, are very happy with the way this beautiful project turned out, and we would love the opportunity to help you with you wine cellar projects!
Please contact us today to speak with one of our wine cellar specialists and begin building your wine cellar dreams today!

The balance of form and function is the hallmark of modern design. This staircase is a perfect example of that elegant simplicity. The dark-stained treads, newels, and smooth wood handrail create a rich foundation, while the parallel horizontal stainless steel rods add a sleek touch. With a beautiful overlook from the second floor, the staircase serves as a stunning focal point for the home. However, it's the interplay between the dark wood and gleaming steel elements that truly sets this project apart, demonstrating how material contrast can elevate a straightforward design into something memorable.
1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Completed in 2015, this 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath was designed for a developer with a intolerably tight budget. Our simple solution employs a straightforward mix of flowing spaces borrowed from California great room houses with design elements found in more traditional residential design.
The house is entered through a generous entry hall flanked by a formal Dining Room on one side and a Home Office/Den on the other. The far end of this Entry Hall deposits into a large Great Room and open kitchen that is this home's gathering and entertainment hub. A small alcove at the end of the kitchen allows for everyday meals while the island functions as this entire space's focal point. Completing the entertainment concept of this level is a covered porch accessed through a sliding door in the Family Room.
The upper level is accessed via a stair at one end of the plan and is organized around a wide hallway that terminates in a tech space for kids. 3 generous children's bedrooms and an ample Master Suite with a view toward the Olympic Mountains complete this level. Finish selections throughout the house were purposely kept clean, light and simple. The exterior form of the house, while simple, allows for a variety of roof schemes that appeal to different price points in the marketplace. We also designed a bonus room option that can be accessed via the stair and resides over the garage.

A custom pool mosaic turns a beautiful pool into a truly personal one. AquaBlu Mosaics offers one of the widest selections of ready-to-install pool mosaics online, including sea turtles, dolphins, mermaids, sharks, reef scenes, mandalas, medallions, and more. Each mosaic is crafted from glass tile and arrives pre-mounted for straightforward installation. We also offer fully custom mosaic design for homeowners and builders who want something one of a kind. Whether it's a single accent piece on the pool floor or a full scene built into the steps, we can make it happen. Ships nationwide, custom orders welcome. Start your mosaic at aquablumosaics.com.

Photo by Jim Raycroft
Our client for this project, an amateur pianist, wanted to create a music room for a nice new piano he was planning to purchase. The project scope would also include a new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space, but the new piano was the priority.
LIFTING THE CEILING
The client was moving into a row house, and hoped to accommodate occasional gatherings of musician friends for informal recitals. Because acoustics were important we asked sound engineers from Acentech to visit the site. They noted that the ideal space would have higher ceilings and would be more like a cube than the “half a cube” we were dealing with. “How can we raise the ceiling and make the space a cube?” our client asked.
Designer Josy Raycroft started to explore the possibility of combining the second and third floor units by removing the front half of second floor ceiling, thereby opening up a 2-story music space in the shape of a nearly perfect cube. Thus, the project turned from a straightforward floor plan modification into a complete reimagining of the whole row house, with the client’s new Steinway D as the focal point. Josy and the client started with the piano and created the space around it.
ADDRESSING EVERYDAY NEEDS
For the client’s more mundane needs, Josy switched the location of the bathroom and kitchen—moving the bathroom towards the middle of the second floor where it would be convenient to the rest of the spaces, and placing the kitchen towards the back. The remainder of the third floor was transformed into bedroom and office space open to the music room below.
Products and finishes coordinator Karin Mahdavi worked with the client to select understated finishes for the living spaces so that they would support the piano room without competing with it. As a result the living spaces flow seamlessly into the piano space, creating a coherent whole out of the different parts, kind of like a Schubert piano sonata.

The dining room, similar to the other public spaces, incorporates flying beams, light troughs, gallery walls, and built-ins. It is simple, straight-forward, and smart. A small kitchen area lies beyond with kitchen counter and stools and plain white cabinets.

This super-efficient European-style closet mixes warm tones with high-gloss accents for a stunning effect.
• European-inspired Virtuoso system creates a modern look.
• Lago® Milano Grey finish adds to the modern feel.
• High-gloss, solid acrylic Parapan drawer faces in Cappuccino finish offer a sleek and light touch to the color palette.
• Matte Aluminum poles add texture and hanging space.
• Push-to-open drawer hardware ensures ease of use.
• Minimalist design offers elegant yet straightforward storage and organization.

The Andrej Sideboard combines classic tapered legs and straightforward angles with a splash of white, showing how traditional and modern can coexist beautifully in style. This asymmetrical piece is highly sustainable due to its solid Ash wood base legs, Forest Stewardship Council certified wood veneer, and white lacquer cupboards. Ample storage is available, with this unit making use of both open shelving and closed doors.

A modern home with traditional forms and straightforward detailing combines painted brick, lap siding and antique wood structural elements to create a one-of-a-kind home on a 2.4 acre relatively flat lot. A circular drive partially screened by low brick walls and strategically placed landscaping brings you onto the site where one can make a stop at the porte-cochère drop off on their way to the garage or continue to a welcoming front porch. This 2-story home has 5 bedrooms and 5 ½ baths with 6,125 sq. ft. of conditioned spaces and a total of 9,731 sq. ft. under roof.
As you enter an intimate sized foyer, there’s a dining room to the right that opens to the kitchen and features a large picture window facing the front yard with a ceiling with white oak beams. Straight ahead you’re led to a living room that features a pre-cast stone fireplace mantle and painted coffered ceilings. It is part of a great room with a kitchen and large island that continues with white oak accents in some of the cabinetry. Pairs of arched openings and a pocket door flank each end of the room leading to a scullery kitchen on one end and to guest bedroom and master bedroom suites on the other.
The outdoor cooking and living areas are conveniently located thru French doors right off the great room and a game room that is part of the house that extends into the back yard providing great access and views to a pool and a basketball sport court. An outdoor fireplace adds a cozy touch to a seating area that is next to the outdoor cooking and dining area.
The master bedroom suite is positioned to take advantage of views to the backyard and also has access to a back porch. Easy access is provided to a well-appointed master bath that leads to his and her closets. Upstairs there are 3 more bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets. An office is also provided which is positioned above the dining room below so that it shares the continuation of the large picture window idea that affords beautiful views of the front yard and a lake across the street. A small common area located off the stair landing provides a place for the kids to hang out.
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