Successful Transition - Photos & Ideas

Front Door, Entryway, Gallery, Foyer and Pocket-doors

My clients home is a wonderful combination of styles. On the exterior, the architectural style is Georgian/Georgian Colonial, covered in used bricks. Their interiors however, are more contemporary and transitional. The combination of these styles was the design program I was given for this entryway. I configured the size, shape and frequency of the hand-beveled glass background pieces so they matched those of the used bricks on the exterior. I offered this idea to bring the exterior into the interior, and vice versa. There are many textures of clear glass used for the circular elements, as well as highlights created form hand-beveled glass as well. Since this entry faced south, I selected beveled glass with the intended effect (seen above) to flood the foyer with prismatic color cast through the beveled glass. In this way, the windows bring a full range of color to the interiors, but with no colored or stained glass actually being used. Photo: Martin Fine

LAKE MONTICELLO KITCHEN REMODEL

Integrity Design + Build

This kitchen is a premier example of Modern Transitional style, a top choice for 2026 that perfectly balances classic warmth with a clean, contemporary edge. It incorporates several high-performing design elements that bridge the gap between traditional comfort and modern minimalism. Key Style Indicators Two-Tone "Mushroom & Oak" Palette: The combination of soft, mushroom-toned perimeter cabinets with a natural white oak island is a hallmark of the 2026 "Warm Modern" trend. This moves away from sterile all-white looks toward a more organic, grounded feel. Modern Shaker Cabinetry: The cabinets feature the timeless Shaker profile but with the updated, thinner frames and cleaner edges characteristic of modern transitional design. Natural Materials & Textures: The use of a large quartzite countertop with expressive veining and a hand-glazed tile backsplash adds a tactile, artisanal quality that is highly favored in current high-end renovations. Architectural Integration: The vaulted ceiling and custom tapered vent hood provide a sense of "Simplified Transitional" elegance, where structural lines serve as the primary decoration rather than ornate moldings. Modern Heritage Accents: Details like the matte black hardware and the unique stained glass window insert add "personality over perfection," a major trend shift for 2026 that emphasizes custom, character-filled spaces. This style is particularly successful for Integrity Design + Build in the Charlottesville market because it offers the flexibility to adapt to both historic and new-build home architectures

LAKE MONTICELLO KITCHEN REMODEL

Integrity Design + Build

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North Carolina Project

Rae Muranski

Embarking on a new journey with a client is always an exciting and inspiring time for Moderne Living. Building a relationship and translating our clients' vision calls for trust, collaboration and guidance, and it's a role we take immense pleasure and pride in fulfilling. Moderne Living was recently commissioned to carry out a transitional design project for a North Carolina home, which on the face of it could have presented obvious challenges due to the geographical difference. Not believing that distance should be an issue, we rose to the challenge. Through careful consultation, the client revealed their vision, in turn guiding our choices on their behalf. This led us to select the Euforia range by Montbel, whose design ethos encapsulates tradition, innovation and dynamism. We set out by developing a relationship with the client through telephone conversations, an investment in time that was absolutely crucial in contributing to the success of the project. Using the client's descriptions, ideas and floor plan, along with the talents of our designer, we were able to understand, give shape to and define the vision the client had in mind for their home. We chose Euforia dining chairs, armchairs and stools because their collections offer modern elegance perfectly balanced with supreme comfort. The range takes the best of classical design and reimagines it with character, flair and modern touches. Euforia blends traditional design hallmarks including tufting (buttoned upholstery) with familiar silhouettes, solid wood frames and upholstered seats and backs. Color options are varied with neutral tones or rich, bold shades. Modern details such as chrome footrests reminds us of the harmony that can be achieved when you blend the contemporary and classic. Each new client brings with them an ideal for their home, be it on a small or larger scale, and this helps shape our approach to each client and project. We understand that our clients' visions and ideals for their home are as diverse and individual as they are, calling for Moderne Living to offer and deliver diversified styles. As we look back on this project, what we will take away from the experience is not only the professional and personal satisfaction of realizing the client's vision, and doing so without the benefit of visiting the space, but also the experience of being able to draw on what inspires us. Delivering a diversity of styles for our clients, be it contemporary, transitional or modern, remains a great source of creative energy, and continues to inspire and motivate us in our work.

A Modern Farmhouse

River Valley Landscapes

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Sophisticated Elegance

Medallion Cabinetry

"The homeowners wanted a kitchen that reflected their personalities and cooking styles. Sophisticated but still elegant." designer Rodney Lee of York, PA. After designing a successful home office space remodel, our same client came back to us to discuss plans and possibilities for their kitchen renovation. After a few discussions with the client, we decided the overall design concept for their kitchen would be “Sophisticated Elegance.” The homeowners wanted a kitchen that reflected their personalities and their cooking styles. Sophisticated but still elegant. The space had to be extremely functional and the color scheme had to have a certain warmth that matched the rest of their home. The Medallion line has a wide range of architectural elements that helped us achieve that “Sophisticated Elegance”; curved/arched range hood, openings, valances, and corbels and trim. The “Sophistication” lies purely in the detail, the fixtures, the angles in the peninsula, and the changes in height and depth. We wanted the color scheme to be as warm as possible as it would be in a bright, elegant space. We considered two colors and ended up choosing Divinity over the White Icing. The grey tones in the marble backsplash tile kept the colors modern but warm. We used natural stone versus the more aggregated quartz to maintain the use of natural product and unpredictable patterns and natural elements. We also used a dark rich stain on walnut wood as a good break from all the bright painted finishes. Oak and walnut reflect the “heart” of Pennsylvania and was a great way to maintain the use of natural elements. The kitchen was divided into individual areas, each one focused on a particular need and/or function. My biggest challenge was transitioning the peninsula into the wet bar/hutch area while maintaining proper separation from the kitchen cabinetry and still tying it into the rest of the space. A wealth of storage solutions. •Desk Area. The client wanted a functional work area so we created a furniture look with ogee edging in the walnut, provincial toe space detail in solid walnut, and open display storage at top. The desk has plenty of storage. •Main Kitchen. We were able to open up this space by creating smart transitions and separations using custom Medallion products that cater to the clients’ lifestyle. Each piece is functional while staying true to the sophisticated elegance design throughout the home. ◦Main Cabinetry: Medallion Gold Wellington Maple Divinity Classic Paint ◦48" uppers around range area; glass eclipse mullion-arched hood design ◦Mixer lift base left of range; drawer warmer with custom panel •The main work station, or power spot, can hold up to five work stations comfortably. The cook can work within the confines of the peninsula design and access everything needed to prepare complete meals in 1-2 steps. Every cabinet has deluxe roll-out trays and/or drawers, making this kitchen fully accessible. The client wanted to be able to display and stage different pieces and concepts during holidays and gatherings. We chose to go with the more modern Mission arch above the wall oven and fridge, which complimented many of the hard angles and distinct lines used in the kitchen space. My favorite part of this kitchen remodel came about just by listening to our client talk about how much they adored their daughter’s artwork. After numerous conversations, we landed on installing an artwork wall that was designed as a conversation piece and provides the ability to install different works of art.

Charming Clayton, NC Home Staging

Successful Staging/Bobbie McGrath

Unusual details, such as the built-in bookcase in this kitchen, demand an answer of how best to use them when a home enters the market. The use of glass jars, simple contrasting boxes and wrapped cookbooks provide the answer while still allowing for a clean photo. Bobbie McGrath / Successful Staging