Graced with an abundance of windows, Alexandria’s modern meets traditional exterior boasts stylish stone accents, interesting rooflines and a pillared and welcoming porch. You’ll never lack for style or sunshine in this inspired transitional design perfect for a growing family. The timeless design merges a variety of classic architectural influences and fits perfectly into any neighborhood. A farmhouse feel can be seen in the exterior’s peaked roof, while the shingled accents reference the ever-popular Craftsman style. Inside, an abundance of windows flood the open-plan interior with light. Beyond the custom front door with its eye-catching sidelights is 2,350 square feet of living space on the first level, with a central foyer leading to a large kitchen and walk-in pantry, adjacent 14 by 16-foot hearth room and spacious living room with a natural fireplace. Also featured is a dining area and convenient home management center perfect for keeping your family life organized on the floor plan’s right side and a private study on the left, which lead to two patios, one covered and one open-air. Private spaces are concentrated on the 1,800-square-foot second level, where a large master suite invites relaxation and rest and includes built-ins, a master bath with double vanity and two walk-in closets. Also upstairs is a loft, laundry and two additional family bedrooms as well as 400 square foot of attic storage. The approximately 1,500-square-foot lower level features a 15 by 24-foot family room, a guest bedroom, billiards and refreshment area, and a 15 by 26-foot home theater perfect for movie nights. Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

Kitchen Designer: Clay Cox; Photos: Frank Berna Photography
Example of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, green backsplash and an island

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

Photo: Kayla Pearson © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic home office remodel in Chicago

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

The Alba Main level: 2265 Sq Ft Basement: 2025 Sq Ft Total: 4290 Sq Ft Description The Alba As you walk through the front Courtyard gate you will feel the invitation to come inside this home. From the moment you enter this inviting home, you’ll be taken by its beauty and attention to detail. Enjoy the long, open view across the grande room and through the picture windows to the great outdoors beyond, or focus on the scenery inside, with a wall of built-in niches that hold your prized travel collections or family keepsakes. The Alba’s kitchen features an artistically curved island that offers casual seating for entertaining or cook-time conversation, and the efficient layout makes everyday or gourmet cooking a breeze. A large corner pantry offers easy organization and plentiful storage. Down the hall you’ll find a study/guest room with direct access to the front courtyard. The room has a walk-in closet of its own and handy access to the elegant powder room nearby. For hobbyists, the Alba includes a hobby room with optional built-in cabinets – a wonderful place to set up shop with your favorite pastimes and projects. The Alba’s master bedroom – in addition to its high vaulted ceiling, picturesque sitting nook, and luxury bath – boasts a walk-in closet with space enough for even the most acquisitive wardrobe aficionado, and even an optional island and built-in ironing board. Downstairs you’ll find a large area to add optional basement finish with spaces you can design.

The Alba Main level: 2265 Sq Ft Basement: 2025 Sq Ft Total: 4290 Sq Ft Description The Alba As you walk through the front Courtyard gate you will feel the invitation to come inside this home. From the moment you enter this inviting home, you’ll be taken by its beauty and attention to detail. Enjoy the long, open view across the grande room and through the picture windows to the great outdoors beyond, or focus on the scenery inside, with a wall of built-in niches that hold your prized travel collections or family keepsakes. The Alba’s kitchen features an artistically curved island that offers casual seating for entertaining or cook-time conversation, and the efficient layout makes everyday or gourmet cooking a breeze. A large corner pantry offers easy organization and plentiful storage. Down the hall you’ll find a study/guest room with direct access to the front courtyard. The room has a walk-in closet of its own and handy access to the elegant powder room nearby. For hobbyists, the Alba includes a hobby room with optional built-in cabinets – a wonderful place to set up shop with your favorite pastimes and projects. The Alba’s master bedroom – in addition to its high vaulted ceiling, picturesque sitting nook, and luxury bath – boasts a walk-in closet with space enough for even the most acquisitive wardrobe aficionado, and even an optional island and built-in ironing board. Downstairs you’ll find a large area to add optional basement finish with spaces you can design.

The Alba Main level: 2265 Sq Ft Basement: 2025 Sq Ft Total: 4290 Sq Ft Description The Alba As you walk through the front Courtyard gate you will feel the invitation to come inside this home. From the moment you enter this inviting home, you’ll be taken by its beauty and attention to detail. Enjoy the long, open view across the grande room and through the picture windows to the great outdoors beyond, or focus on the scenery inside, with a wall of built-in niches that hold your prized travel collections or family keepsakes. The Alba’s kitchen features an artistically curved island that offers casual seating for entertaining or cook-time conversation, and the efficient layout makes everyday or gourmet cooking a breeze. A large corner pantry offers easy organization and plentiful storage. Down the hall you’ll find a study/guest room with direct access to the front courtyard. The room has a walk-in closet of its own and handy access to the elegant powder room nearby. For hobbyists, the Alba includes a hobby room with optional built-in cabinets – a wonderful place to set up shop with your favorite pastimes and projects. The Alba’s master bedroom – in addition to its high vaulted ceiling, picturesque sitting nook, and luxury bath – boasts a walk-in closet with space enough for even the most acquisitive wardrobe aficionado, and even an optional island and built-in ironing board. Downstairs you’ll find a large area to add optional basement finish with spaces you can design.

The kitchen is a study in contrasts. All-white perimeter cabinets meld into walls and bulkheads painted the same colour (Benjamin Moore Cloud white), while black areas -- island, sink, table, buffet, and doors -- are strategically placed to draw you into the space. White quartz countertops look sleek and clean, with a stepped edge detail reserved for the island waterfall. We added loads of glam with gold hardware. As a further decorative fluorish, we took advantage of the existing bulkheads and emphasized the tray ceiling zones with a subtle shade of pale blue-grey. This small kitchen is highly efficient! The island is only 4' long, but it's crucial for making the kitchen work as well as it does. It houses a 4-bin trash organizer right where it's needed near the clean-up zone, as well as a large bank of drawers. Continuing our mission to maximize storage, we squeezed a full-height shallow pantry into a narrow space between openings to the dining room and family room. The deep cabinet above the fridge holds large seldom-used items, as well as organization for trays and serving platters.

The Alba Main level: 2265 Sq Ft Basement: 2025 Sq Ft Total: 4290 Sq Ft Description The Alba As you walk through the front Courtyard gate you will feel the invitation to come inside this home. From the moment you enter this inviting home, you’ll be taken by its beauty and attention to detail. Enjoy the long, open view across the grande room and through the picture windows to the great outdoors beyond, or focus on the scenery inside, with a wall of built-in niches that hold your prized travel collections or family keepsakes. The Alba’s kitchen features an artistically curved island that offers casual seating for entertaining or cook-time conversation, and the efficient layout makes everyday or gourmet cooking a breeze. A large corner pantry offers easy organization and plentiful storage. Down the hall you’ll find a study/guest room with direct access to the front courtyard. The room has a walk-in closet of its own and handy access to the elegant powder room nearby. For hobbyists, the Alba includes a hobby room with optional built-in cabinets – a wonderful place to set up shop with your favorite pastimes and projects. The Alba’s master bedroom – in addition to its high vaulted ceiling, picturesque sitting nook, and luxury bath – boasts a walk-in closet with space enough for even the most acquisitive wardrobe aficionado, and even an optional island and built-in ironing board. Downstairs you’ll find a large area to add optional basement finish with spaces you can design.

The Alba Main level: 2265 Sq Ft Basement: 2025 Sq Ft Total: 4290 Sq Ft The Alba As you walk through the front Courtyard gate you will feel the invitation to come inside this home. From the moment you enter this inviting home, you’ll be taken by its beauty and attention to detail. Enjoy the long, open view across the grande room and through the picture windows to the great outdoors beyond, or focus on the scenery inside, with a wall of built-in niches that hold your prized travel collections or family keepsakes. The Alba’s kitchen features an artistically curved island that offers casual seating for entertaining or cook-time conversation, and the efficient layout makes everyday or gourmet cooking a breeze. A large corner pantry offers easy organization and plentiful storage. Down the hall you’ll find a study/guest room with direct access to the front courtyard. The room has a walk-in closet of its own and handy access to the elegant powder room nearby. For hobbyists, the Alba includes a hobby room with optional built-in cabinets – a wonderful place to set up shop with your favorite pastimes and projects. The Alba’s master bedroom – in addition to its high vaulted ceiling, picturesque sitting nook, and luxury bath – boasts a walk-in closet with space enough for even the most acquisitive wardrobe aficionado, and even an optional island and built-in ironing board. Downstairs you’ll find a large area to add optional basement finish with spaces you can design.

ASID Design Excellence First Place Residential – Best Individual Room (Traditional) This dining room was created by Michael Merrill Design Studio from a space originally intended to serve as both living room and dining room - both "formal" in style. Our client loved the idea of having one gracious and warm space based on a Santa Fe aesthetic. Photos © Paul Dyer Photography

The attic space was transformed from a cold storage area of 700 SF to usable space with closed mechanical room and 'stage' area for kids. Structural collar ties were wrapped and stained to match the rustic hand-scraped hardwood floors. LED uplighting on beams adds great daylight effects. Short hallways lead to the dormer windows, required to meet the daylight code for the space. An additional steel metal 'hatch' ships ladder in the floor as a second code-required egress is a fun alternate exit for the kids, dropping into a closet below. The main staircase entrance is concealed with a secret bookcase door. The door hardware is a concealed pivoting hinge that can withstand 700 pounds, and opens weightlessly. One Room at a Time, Inc.

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

This timeless, traditional kitchen served as the original ‘showroom’ for Jarrett Design. As many small businesses start in the homes of their owners, Jarrett Design did, too. Home studios have their challenges, as one can imagine. In this case, the ‘showroom’ had to serve as inspiration for clients while also meeting the needs of the owner’s bustling family of nine! Cooking and baking together were an integral part of family life, so the kitchen was designed accordingly. The opening between the family room and kitchen was expanded to unite the spaces and to bring the fireplace into view from the kitchen. A galley plan emerged featuring a 36” all refrigerator, a 48” pro range top, an advantium microwave, a roomy sink with a dishwasher under an enlarged window . A tall pull out for spices, oils, and vinegars along with roll out shelves and lots of cutlery dividers provides ample organization for items used most frequently. A wall was removed between the children’s study and the kitchen to make way for the large cooking island with seating and a second prep island with a sink, dishwasher and wine refrigerator. A wall with double ovens, coffee center with a beverage refrigerator below and a 30” freezer column rounds out the appliance list. Large, hand painted armoire-style pantries and a message center flank a rustic cherry hutch for glassware and pottery. A freestanding bookshelf houses the extensive cookbook collection. Pretty lighting and an array of different hardware pieces add the finishing touches. Fun fact, these photos were taken in 2017. The kitchen was designed and installed over ten years prior! Proof that smart design, classic selections and quality custom cabinetry truly do stand the test of time even in the hardest working kitchens. Matthew Villano Photography

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photographer: Sam Angel Photography Design Challenge: This 8 year-old boy and girl were outgrowing their existing setup and needed to update their rooms with a plan that would carry them forward into middle school and beyond. In addition to gaining storage and study areas, could these twins show off their big personalities? Absolutely, we said! MOTIV Interiors tackled the rooms of these youngsters living in Nashville's 12th South Neighborhood and created an environment where the dynamic duo can learn, create, and grow together for years to come. Design Solution: In his room, we wanted to continue the feature wall fun, but with a different approach. Since our young explorer loves outer space, being a boy scout, and building with legos, we created a dynamic geometric wall that serves as the backdrop for our young hero’s control center. We started with a neutral mushroom color for the majority of the walls in the room, while our feature wall incorporated a deep indigo and sky blue that are as classic as your favorite pair of jeans. We focused on indoor air quality and used Sherwin Williams’ Duration paint in a satin sheen, which is a scrubbable/no-VOC coating. We wanted to create a great reading corner, so we placed a comfortable denim lounge chair next to the window and made sure to feature a self-portrait created by our young client. For night time reading, we included a super-stellar floor lamp with white globes and a sleek satin nickel finish. Metal details are found throughout the space (such as the lounge chair base and nautical desk clock), and lend a utilitarian feel to the room. In order to balance the metal and keep the room from feeling too cold, we also snuck in woven baskets that work double-duty as decorative pieces and functional storage bins. The large north-facing window got the royal treatment and was dressed with a relaxed roman shade in a shiitake linen blend. We added a fabulous fabric trim from F. Schumacher and echoed the look by using the same fabric for the bolster on the bed. Royal blue bedding brings a bit of color into the space, and is complimented by the rich chocolate wood tones seen in the furniture throughout. Additional storage was a must, so we brought in a glossy blue storage unit that can accommodate legos, encyclopedias, pinewood derby cars, and more! Comfort and creativity converge in this space, and we were excited to get a big smile when we turned it over to its new commander.