Renovation and addition of a 1940's Colonial into a family home that's modern, cool and classic. White interiors, dark floors, open plan, loads of natural light and easy access to outdoors makes this perfect for family and entertaining. Traditional meets modern. Award winning project . Judges say : "This renovation balances traditional attributes with modern clarity. Photo: Matthew Williams

Inspiration for a farmhouse white one-story gable roof remodel in San Francisco

photo by Holly Lepere
Alcove shower - small traditional 3/4 marble floor alcove shower idea in Los Angeles with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Michelle Drewes
Living room - mid-sized transitional open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in San Francisco with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Here are the details of a job I recently completed in the town of Biggleswade, which lies on the River Ivel in Bedfordshire. My client had a fantastic red and black Victorian tiled floor with a topical seal. However, she also had a new addition to the family in the form of a new puppy and, as I’m sure most of you reading will know, puppies can be very messy and additionally urine contains Uric acid which can eat away at sealers. Therefore, my client asked me to strip off the old topical seal, before replacing with an impregnating sealer better suited to protect the tiles against an untrained puppy. My client had been replenishing the topical seal for many years, but after discussing this decided that Tile Doctor Colour Grow, an impregnating and colour enhancing sealer, would be better suited. My first task was, of course, to remove the old topical sealer. I did this using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which is a high alkaline cleaner that when used in a concentrated form can remove sealers. The alkaline helps to break down the sealer while also lifting out any ingrained dirt suffered by the stone. The solution was left to dwell for approximately twenty minutes before being scrubbing it into the tiles using a rotary machine fitted with a scrubbing pad. Nonetheless, after giving the tiles a rinse, I discovered evidence of an old impregnating sealer in the tiles that was also need to be removed before resealing. To do this I applied Tile Doctor Remove & Go which is a powerful, dedicated coatings remover which did the job although the use of a steamer and several scrubbing brushes helped with the task. After completing the stripping, I still felt that I could improve the appearance of the tiles further, so I ran over the tiles with a small six inch Tile Doctor Diamond encrusted burnishing pad fitted to a hand-held buffer to finish the cleaning process. After completely the stripping process, I gave the entire floor a rinse and left it to dry for several days. Upon my return I sealed the tiles using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is an impregnating, colour enhancing sealer that really brought out the shades of red and black in these Victorian tiles. Along with Victorian tiles, Colour Grow is also suitable for use of Flagstone, Limestone, Quarry, Sandstone and Marble tiles, amongst others. I think you will agree the floor looks transformed with the new sealer applied. Andrew Evans Bedfordshire Tile Doctor

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Houston

This house was designed as a second home for a Bay Area couple as a summer retreat to spend the warm summer months away from the fog in San Francisco. Built on a steep slope and a narrow lot, this 4000 square foot home is spread over 3 floors, with the master, guest and kids bedroom on the ground floor, and living spaces on the upper floor to take advantage of the views. The main living level includes a large kitchen, dining, and living space, connected to two home offices by way of a bridge that extends across the double height entry. This bridge area acts as a gallery of light, allowing filtered light through the skylights above and down to the entry on the ground level. All living space takes advantage of grand views of Lake Washington and the city skyline beyond. Two large sliding glass doors open up completely, allowing the living and dining space to extend to the deck outside. On the first floor, in addition to the guest room, a “kids room” welcomes visiting nieces and nephews with bunk beds and their own bathroom. The basement level contains storage, mechanical and a 2 car garage. Photographer: Aaron Leitz

Residential deck railing CableRail infill, Feeney LED lighting, and Intermediate Pickets. Photo by Danny Gray Studios
Example of a minimalist deck design in Portland

Very private backyard enclave
Photo of a contemporary partial sun side yard stone formal garden in DC Metro for summer.

Stripped of its original charm with sagging floors and water leaks, this 1900 row house was prime for a full renovation. While the staircase and marble fireplace are original, everything from the white oak flooring, crown, applied, and base moldings, to the archways and brass door hardware is new; yet they all feel original to the house. Other projects included removing soffits and tucking away randomly placed support beams and posts, relocating and expanding the kitchen, renovating each bathroom – and adding a new one, upgrading all the mechanical, electric and plumbing systems, removing a fireplace, and regrading the back patio for proper drainage and added greenery. The project is a perfect study of juxtaposing new and old, classic and modern. Photography Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Globe Electric's 10" LED Edge Strip Light with Remote Control is the perfect under cabinet light. The LED stays cool to the touch and shines at the perfect brightness. The remote control allows you to dim the light, turn it on and off with ease and set an auto-off timer at different intervals. If you have more of Globe Electric's Under Cabinet Lighting, you can use just one remote with everything! We try to make it as easy as possible. Place this light wherever you need it most with the included double-sided tape or simply use the provided screws for a more permanent placement. Changing the batteries is a breeze! Simply slide off the battery compartment cover and replace. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Requires six AA batteries (sold separately).

Luxury corner shower with half walls and linear drain with Rohl body sprays, custom seat, linear drain and full view ultra clear glass. We love the details in the stone walls, the large format subway on bottom separated with a chair rail then switching to a 3x6 subway tile finished with a crown molding. Design by Kitchen Intuitions & photos by Blackstock Photography

Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
Foyer - large 1950s slate floor and gray floor foyer idea in DC Metro with gray walls and a red front door

Mariko Reed
Design ideas for a modern concrete paver garden path in San Francisco.

A large island with a waterfall countertop provides work space for multiple cooks and seating for the grandchildren.
Example of a large transitional porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

A modern rustic black and white kitchen on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Complete with a French Le CornuFe cooking range & Sub-Zero refrigeration and wine storage units. The sink is made by Galley and the decorative hardware and faucet by Waterworks. photo credit: Alyssa Lee

Katie Kaizer Photography, Nantucket MA Anne Becker Design, Nantucket MA
Beach style bedroom photo in Boston with gray walls

The original Globe Electric Designer Series 6-ft 3-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip with 2 USB Ports was specifically designed to eliminate the unsightly traditional power bar and replace it with one you’ll want to show off! The added convenience of the handy space saver right angle plug allows your furniture to sit flush to the wall - creating more space without bent wires. A 6-foot fabric covered cord gives you the added convenience of increased range from power outlets. The three grounded outlets are perfect to use with small appliances and electronics such as lamps, computers, printers, and home theatre systems. The 2.4A combined USB ports ensure a fast charge for your devices. Compatible with smartphones (Android, iPhone), tablets (iPad, Android, Surface), eReaders (Kindle, Kindle Fire), cameras and more. Surge protected to 300 joules, you can rest assured that your small electronics are safe while plugged in. Recommended for indoor use. Patent pending.

Architect: Blaine Bonadies, Bonadies Architect Photography By: Jean Allsopp Photography “Just as described, there is an edgy, irreverent vibe here, but the result has an appropriate stature and seriousness. Love the overscale windows. And the outdoor spaces are so great.” Situated atop an old Civil War battle site, this new residence was conceived for a couple with southern values and a rock-and-roll attitude. The project consists of a house, a pool with a pool house and a renovated music studio. A marriage of modern and traditional design, this project used a combination of California redwood siding, stone and a slate roof with flat-seam lead overhangs. Intimate and well planned, there is no space wasted in this home. The execution of the detail work, such as handmade railings, metal awnings and custom windows jambs, made this project mesmerizing. Cues from the client and how they use their space helped inspire and develop the initial floor plan, making it live at a human scale but with dramatic elements. Their varying taste then inspired the theme of traditional with an edge. The lines and rhythm of the house were simplified, and then complemented with some key details that made the house a juxtaposition of styles. The wood Ultimate Casement windows were all standard sizes. However, there was a desire to make the windows have a “deep pocket” look to create a break in the facade and add a dramatic shadow line. Marvin was able to customize the jambs by extruding them to the exterior. They added a very thin exterior profile, which negated the need for exterior casing. The same detail was in the stone veneers and walls, as well as the horizontal siding walls, with no need for any modification. This resulted in a very sleek look. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Ultimate Casement Window