Elegant exterior home photo in Portland Maine

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

Trendy bathroom photo in Salt Lake City

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This charming downtown Aiken cottage is small, but packed full of functional cabinets for great storage. Steve Bracci
Example of a mid-sized classic galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Atlanta with distressed cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, an undermount sink and an island

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

Victorian exterior home idea in Denver

Wexel Art Displays acrylic wall frames use magnets to hold the artwork behind a single sheet of acrylic. Easy to install and even easier to change.
Trendy kids' room photo in Austin

Inspiration for a large privacy and full sun backyard stone and wood fence landscaping in Toronto for summer.

Great room with entertainment area, pool table, gaming area, walk up wet bar, (1) stained and lacquered, recessed paneled, cherry column constructed around monopole in between game table and entertainment; Entertainment area to include gas fireplace with full height natural stone surround and continuous hearth extending below custom entertainment stained and lacquered built in and under stair closet; (2) dedicated trey ceilings with painted crown molding and rope lighting each for pool table and TV area; ¾ bathroom with linen closet; Study/Bedroom with double glass door entry and closet; Unfinished storage/mechanical room; -Removal of existing main level basement stairway door and construction of new drywall wrapped stair entryway with arched, lighted, drywall wrapped display niche at landing; new code compliant deeper projection window well installed with dirt excavation and removal outside of study/bedroom egress window; Photo: Andrew J Hathaway, Brothers Construction

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

Over the course of six weeks we took their home from slightly outdated to stylishly modern. We began our work in the kitchen. Their existing space included oak raised panel cabinets and laminate countertops. We identified two problems right off the bat. First, the kitchen was home to an unfortunately placed island that broke up the room and made for horrible traffic flow. Second, the family was “oaked out,” with obviously dated oak cabinets abounding. The homeowners also requested that their countertops be replaced with a durable and low-maintenance material. To begin, we replaced the island and created a peninsula to open up the kitchen. We upgraded the cabinets with Showplace Wood cherry cabinets in a truffle finish that matched the home’s entertainment center in the adjacent living room. Next, we replaced the family’s door with a Showplace Wood Concord style for a more modern feel. Finally, we swapped the existing laminate counters with Cambria natural quartz countertops in the Canterbury finish for a beautiful, maintenance free work surface. Moving into the laundry room, we installed matching cabinets in this space as well. Last but not least, we installed new Wilsonart HD countertops and a Swanstone sink. With the remodel complete, we checked in with our homeowners and are happy to report pleased customers all around!

This mudroom area contains the entrance to the garage, basement, laundry room, and powder room. The hall tree is the Large Home Depot Decorator's Collection Royce Hall Tree in Polar White. We swapped out the silver hardware for oil-rubbed bronze to match the rest of the finishes in the house. The cast iron umbrella stand was purchased from a company called Best for Boots. Wall color: Edgecomb Gray with Dove White trim by Benjamin Moore

Functional kitchen with scandinavian aesthetic
Kitchen pantry - small scandinavian galley vinyl floor and brown floor kitchen pantry idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and beige countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen remodel in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This was a big girl room makeover I did for my daughter. She has always been a party animal at bedtime and that includes her climbing out of her crib around 13 months! She’s almost 5 now and once she started showing that she was a bit more responsible at bedtime, we upgraded her space. I opted for a queen size bed with a bed frame that doesn't require a box spring, which opens up for storage underneath. I also wanted the space to speak to her, so I left a small area that was for playing and reading. This space will be good as she gets older and wants to spend time in her room more often. Thinking about how she would use the space for years to come was a big deal. I made sure the larger pieces were transitional and only small items like bedding or lighting would need to be swapped out in the future. Designed by Sara Barney’s BANDD DESIGN, who are based in Austin, Texas and serving throughout Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/big-girl-room-makeover/

Porch idea in Kansas City

Stefan Hampden
Inspiration for a large modern two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Seattle