Jim Schmid Photography
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor family room remodel in Charlotte with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Winquist Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room remodel in Phoenix

Grand open concept kitchen with (2) islands. There is seating at an island or at the built-in breakfast table off to the side. White island has functional cabinet storage on all sides. Dark walnut island has storage on (3) sides and the last side has a decorative wainscot panel and foot rail. Both islands incorporate sinks: the white island sink is used primarily for food prep and the walnut island sink is used primarily for rinsing off dishes and other cleaning up tasks.

Fully integrated Signature Estate featuring Creston controls and Crestron panelized lighting, and Crestron motorized shades and draperies, whole-house audio and video, HVAC, voice and video communication atboth both the front door and gate. Modern, warm, and clean-line design, with total custom details and finishes. The front includes a serene and impressive atrium foyer with two-story floor to ceiling glass walls and multi-level fire/water fountains on either side of the grand bronze aluminum pivot entry door. Elegant extra-large 47'' imported white porcelain tile runs seamlessly to the rear exterior pool deck, and a dark stained oak wood is found on the stairway treads and second floor. The great room has an incredible Neolith onyx wall and see-through linear gas fireplace and is appointed perfectly for views of the zero edge pool and waterway. The center spine stainless steel staircase has a smoked glass railing and wood handrail. Photo courtesy Royal Palm Properties

Christopher Davison, AIA
Example of a large arts and crafts l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Austin with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Living Room and Lounge areas are separated by a double sided custom steel fireplace, that creates two almost cube spaces on each side of it. The spaces are unified by a continuous cove ceiling finished in hand troweled white Venetian plaster. The wall is the Lounge area is a reclaimed wood sculpture by artist Peter Glassford. The Living room Pelican chairs by Finn Juhl sit atop custom "Labyrinth" wool and silk rugs by FORMA Design. The furniture in the Lounge area are by Stephen Ken, and a custom console by Tod Von Mertens sits under a Venetian Glass chandelier that is reimagined as a glass wall sculpture. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon

Client wanted a spacious kitchen with separate work zones so she could cook while her husband helped clean up. Kitchen island was designed to grow with the family and features seating for up to 5 people and a homework station, complete with outlets in the drawers, at the end of the island. Bar was intentionally designed as a more masculine version of the kitchen. The left side houses drinkware while the right side is a coffee and tea nook. Porcelain countertop runs the entirety of the bar to provide an anxiety-free coffee making experience (for us slightly OCD people out there!). Custom built parquet dining table with easy to maintain black chairs for the couples 2 young kids.

Remodel by CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio. Photography by Kurtis Miller Photography.
Example of a country medium tone wood floor living room design in Atlanta with gray walls, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace

Example of a large classic master gray tile and porcelain tile marble floor alcove shower design in Providence with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink and gray walls

A more casual and open architecture, as depicted in this lake-side view, is complemented with a more formal and private treatment on the opposite side, to create a balance that perfectly expresses the owners' wishes. The use of stone, wood and metal form a rich yet seamless palette of colors and textures. The decks, terraces and large windows form direct connections to the beautiful lake frontage. Aaron Leitz Photography

An LCD TV mounted to a swing-arm hides behind cabinet doors above the Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer. The kitchen island with undermount sink has storage on 2 sides, and a breakfast bar. By removing walls and creating new entry points, a modern kitchen with an era-appropriate look for a home built in 1914 enlivens a family with natural light and plenty of work and gathering places. The Butler’s pantry and kitchen includes a laundry room, dining area, chalkboard column and a swivel-mount TV above the refrigerator. Photo by Toby Weiss for Mosby Building Arts.

Lawrence Luk Photography
Transitional medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray cabinets

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Kids' room - rustic kids' room idea in Dallas

Custom made bed and headboard, custom lacquer side tables, and white lacquer built-ins.
Inspiration for a large contemporary master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Suggested products do not represent the products used in this image. Design featured is proprietary and contains custom work. (Dan Piassick, Photographer)

Example of a home office design in Boston

This modern farmhouse kitchen is in a former 1820s stable converted into a home. Natural cherry and soft green painted cabinet finishes paired with Zellige tile accents and beamed ceilings reflect the vintage character of the old barn and compliment the open plan of the space. The Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden in plain sight while the 48” Wolf range and steam oven are positioned perfectly, allowing this family to stay together while cooking, socializing and eating. By moving the cramped kitchen to the opposite side of the home, this Morris County New Jersey kitchen and bath remodeler was able to take advantage of a much larger and underutilized space while also improving the overall flow in the remainder of the home.

Corinne Cobabe
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean vinyl floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island