A large open concept kitchen and family room offers full views from end to end. The white kitchen (see previous photo), and its breakfast area, open the open concept family room. The entire space is surrounded by windows which flood the rooms with light.

We made some small structural changes and then used coastal inspired decor to best complement the beautiful sea views this Laguna Beach home has to offer. Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, click here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/

Inspiration for a farmhouse limestone floor and brown floor powder room remodel in San Diego with furniture-like cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops and brown countertops

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Chris Veith
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in New York

Transform your backyard into an elegant retreat with outdoor entertainment features from Techo-Bloc. Installations like outdoor kitchen areas, outdoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits offer the luxuries of family time, romance, elegance and fun, while also adding value and beauty to your home. Shown: Techo-Bloc Aberdeen slabs in Azzurro and the Baltimore retaining wall in Brushed Pewter.

Inspiration for a small modern 3/4 multicolored tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove shower remodel in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized coastal light wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Portland Maine with white walls

Clopay Coachman Collection carriage style garage door with crossbuck design blends seamlessly into this modern farmhouse exterior. It takes up a substantial amount of the exterior but windows and detailing that echoes porch railing make it look warm and welcoming. Model shown: Design 21 with REC 13 windows. Low-maintenance insulated steel door with composite overlays. Photos by Andy Frame, copyright 2018. This image is the exclusive property of Andy Frame / Andy Frame Photography and is protected under the United States and International copyright laws.

Inspiration for a large contemporary formal and open concept linoleum floor living room remodel in Miami with no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and white walls

Lincoln Barbour
Living room - mid-sized 1960s open concept living room idea in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

New remodeled L-shape kitchen with creme maple glazed cabinets and grey counter tops.(stainless steel appliances).
Mid-sized elegant l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls, an island, a single-bowl sink, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

Stephanie Russo
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Sacramento with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The simple lines of Denali and Hilton come together for a sensible approach to modern style; designed to complement today's busy lifestyle. Denali's textured surface offers rich dimensional flair, while Hilton adds a touch of glimmer with a reflective gloss surface. Both finishes come together on the island as a design focal point offering seating, a second sink and generous storage.

Coronado, CA The Alameda Residence is situated on a relatively large, yet unusually shaped lot for the beachside community of Coronado, California. The orientation of the “L” shaped main home and linear shaped guest house and covered patio create a large, open courtyard central to the plan. The majority of the spaces in the home are designed to engage the courtyard, lending a sense of openness and light to the home. The aesthetics take inspiration from the simple, clean lines of a traditional “A-frame” barn, intermixed with sleek, minimal detailing that gives the home a contemporary flair. The interior and exterior materials and colors reflect the bright, vibrant hues and textures of the seaside locale.

Photo by Keiana Photography
Example of a large transitional l-shaped open concept kitchen design in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Chipper Hatter Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photography by Jennifer Hughes
Transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Baltimore with shaker cabinets, marble countertops, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

A rustic modern bedroom featuring warm reclaimed wood accents, a cozy ambiance, and large windows that invite natural light and mountain views, creating a relaxing and sustainable retreat in this organic mountain home.