Inspiration for a large transitional light wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in Dallas with white walls

Izumi Tanaka
Open concept kitchen - mid-century modern galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash and paneled appliances

More of the woodland garden in late May. The creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), foam flower and columbine are still going strong.
Photo of a rustic landscaping in New York.

Ciro Coelho Photography
Inspiration for a coastal pool remodel in Santa Barbara

This Maxtrix bed allows for different sizes and ages to comfortably sleep in our high twin over full bunk bed with stairs! Top bunk raised higher for more space between beds = no more bumped heads on the bottom. Staircase is a super safe way for young children to climb + each step doubles as a storage drawer. www.maxtrixkids.com

The original master bath suite in this rustic lake house possessed high ceilings with multiple rooms and all surfaces covered in Knotty Pine. Although there were multiple windows in this space, the wood walls, floor and ceiling tended to absorb natural light and force the illumination to come from incandescent Amber fixtures. Our approach was to start with a blank slate by removing all existing partitions and doors. A metal and milk glass wall with a functioning transom and integrated door, was designed and fabricated to divide the space and provide privacy, while allowing light to transfer from the shower, water-closet, bath and dressing room. The welded steel frames his and hers vanities have inlaid white glass panels with integrated steel framed mirrors above.

See it 360
Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in Atlanta with white backsplash

Laurel Way Beverly Hills luxury home theater with glass wall garden view. Photo by William MacCollum.
Inspiration for a huge modern open concept carpeted and gray floor home theater remodel in Los Angeles with a projector screen and brown walls

Troy Thies
Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Minneapolis with granite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a double-bowl sink, open cabinets and subway tile backsplash

John Wilbanks Photography
Arts and crafts living room library photo in Seattle with red walls

Living room - modern living room idea in Seattle

FotoGrafik ARTS 2014
Large elegant master blue tile and glass tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub photo in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, granite countertops and white walls

  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

© Deborah Scannell Photography
Inspiration for a small transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in Charlotte with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

H2D transformed this Mercer Island home into a light filled place to enjoy family, friends and the outdoors. The waterfront home had sweeping views of the lake which were obstructed with the original chopped up floor plan. The goal for the renovation was to open up the main floor to create a great room feel between the sitting room, kitchen, dining and living spaces. A new kitchen was designed for the space with warm toned VG fir shaker style cabinets, reclaimed beamed ceiling, expansive island, and large accordion doors out to the deck. The kitchen and dining room are oriented to take advantage of the waterfront views. Other newly remodeled spaces on the main floor include: entry, mudroom, laundry, pantry, and powder. The remodel of the second floor consisted of combining the existing rooms to create a dedicated master suite with bedroom, large spa-like bathroom, and walk in closet. Photo: Image Arts Photography Design: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Construction: Thomas Jacobson Construction Interior Design: Gary Henderson Interiors

New Additions to Hoover + Hill This project is a continuation of the renovation and updating work Flavin Architects had previously completed at the 1958 Wales house, designed by architect Henry Hoover and Walter Hill. Our clients, a young family, desired more space for guests, a home office, a yoga studio, and covered car parking. The challenge was to respect the architects’ original vision and not to interfere with the perfect cruciform plan of the house. To accomplish these goals, we converted the existing garage/workshop structure into a guest house and then designed a new, separate carport/storage building. The new carport building shares the low-slope gable of the original Hoover structure. The post and beam structure characteristic of Hoover’s design is updated through the use of galvanized steel posts and I beams. The galvanized beams cantilever to support a sheltered walkway leading from the parking to a guest house terrace defined in relationship to the three structures surrounding it. The terrace is paved in slate with a central rain garden. Wood lattice clads the carport, providing good ventilation and letting the building glow like a lantern at night. Our guest house renovation celebrates the unique structural timber ceiling of the original garage. We replaced opaque plywood trusses with a slender cable truss structurally engineered by Webb Structural Services. This cable truss allows for a view of the timber ceiling. A wall of glass facing the courtyard replaced the original garage door. A murphy bed in the rear room enables quick conversion from guest quarters to weight room.

Example of a bathroom design in Sacramento

New Additions to Hoover + Hill This project is a continuation of the renovation and updating work Flavin Architects had previously completed at the 1958 Wales house, designed by architect Henry Hoover and Walter Hill. Our clients, a young family, desired more space for guests, a home office, a yoga studio, and covered car parking. The challenge was to respect the architects’ original vision and not to interfere with the perfect cruciform plan of the house. To accomplish these goals, we converted the existing garage/workshop structure into a guest house and then designed a new, separate carport/storage building. The new carport building shares the low-slope gable of the original Hoover structure. The post and beam structure characteristic of Hoover’s design is updated through the use of galvanized steel posts and I beams. The galvanized beams cantilever to support a sheltered walkway leading from the parking to a guest house terrace defined in relationship to the three structures surrounding it. The terrace is paved in slate with a central rain garden. Wood lattice clads the carport, providing good ventilation and letting the building glow like a lantern at night. Our guest house renovation celebrates the unique structural timber ceiling of the original garage. We replaced opaque plywood trusses with a slender cable truss structurally engineered by Webb Structural Services. This cable truss allows for a view of the timber ceiling. A wall of glass facing the courtyard replaced the original garage door. A murphy bed in the rear room enables quick conversion from guest quarters to weight room.

Native plantings of Bottlebrush Buckeye, Christmas Fern, Sedges are mixed with Hosta and Epimedium to add color, texture and interest to this hillside. The new beds are arranged in large undulating curving swaths around beneath the existing trees. A few understory trees were added for their flowering attributes and to help the tall existing trees tie into the landscape. Care was taken to keep the majority of the plantings low so as to not interfere with the view of the water. These large beds also work as a natural filter and erosion control for water coming from the homes above.