Susan Gilmore Photography. Bench by Cindy Vargas of Three Elements Studios.
Large eclectic marble floor foyer photo in Minneapolis with beige walls

Example of a country l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Boston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, granite countertops, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Holly Paulson
Tuscan wine cellar photo in Houston

Example of a tuscan u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Beautiful Rancho Santa Fe interior design by Susan Spath. Bedroom done in cooler palette with fine accessories, window treatments, interior lighting, custom upholstered furniture, and fan transom windows. Luxury furniture from Kern & Co.

Nearly two decades ago now, Susan and her husband put a letter in the mailbox of this eastside home: "If you have any interest in selling, please reach out." But really, who would give up a Flansburgh House? Fast forward to 2020, when the house went on the market! By then it was clear that three children and a busy home design studio couldn't be crammed into this efficient footprint. But what's second best to moving into your dream home? Being asked to redesign the functional core for the family that was. In this classic Flansburgh layout, all the rooms align tidily in a square around a central hall and open air atrium. As such, all the spaces are both connected to one another and also private; and all allow for visual access to the outdoors in two directions—toward the atrium and toward the exterior. All except, in this case, the utilitarian galley kitchen. That space, oft-relegated to second class in midcentury architecture, got the shaft, with narrow doorways on two ends and no good visual access to the atrium or the outside. Who spends time in the kitchen anyway? As is often the case with even the very best midcentury architecture, the kitchen at the Flansburgh House needed to be modernized; appliances and cabinetry have come a long way since 1970, but our culture has evolved too, becoming more casual and open in ways we at SYH believe are here to stay. People (gasp!) do spend time—lots of time!—in their kitchens! Nonetheless, our goal was to make this kitchen look as if it had been designed this way by Earl Flansburgh himself. The house came to us full of bold, bright color. We edited out some of it (along with the walls it was on) but kept and built upon the stunning red, orange and yellow closet doors in the family room adjacent to the kitchen. That pop was balanced by a few colorful midcentury pieces that our clients already owned, and the stunning light and verdant green coming in from both the atrium and the perimeter of the house, not to mention the many skylights. Thus, the rest of the space just needed to quiet down and be a beautiful, if neutral, foil. White terrazzo tile grounds custom plywood and black cabinetry, offset by a half wall that offers both camouflage for the cooking mess and also storage below, hidden behind seamless oak tambour. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Cabinetry: Stoll's Woodworking Photographer: Sarah Shields

This cream and beige great room interior design in a Rancho Santa Fe home features natural fabrics, exposed beams, hand-selected accessories, custom lighting and fine furniture. Interior designer Susan Spath, Kern & Co.

Luxury living room design in Rancho Santa Fe full of light. Interior lighting, custom window treatments, upholstered furniture, and the finest accessories. Interior designer Susan Spath. High end furniture and accessories from Kern & Co.

Lynn Donaldson
Inspiration for a large rustic l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Other with stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops and gray backsplash

Example of a small transitional formal and enclosed carpeted and gray floor living room design in Las Vegas with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Large custom lazy Susans for plate storage Jeff Herr Photography
Large farmhouse medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, green backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Brantley Photography
Bedroom - large contemporary master bedroom idea in Miami with gray walls and no fireplace

Elegant gravel patio photo in Burlington with a fire pit and no cover

Susan Gilmore
Example of an urban family room design in Minneapolis with blue walls and a tv stand

Brantley Photography
Living room - large contemporary open concept gray floor and ceramic tile living room idea in Miami with white walls, no tv, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

Matt Wargo Photography
Photo of a traditional full sun flower bed in Philadelphia for summer.

Brantley Photography
Elegant master dark wood floor bedroom photo in Miami with beige walls

Transitional kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, concrete countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances