This basement needed a serious transition, with light pouring in from all angles, it didn't make any sense to do anything but finish it off. Plus, we had a family of teenage girls that needed a place to hangout, and that is exactly what they got. We had a blast transforming this basement into a sleepover destination, sewing work space, and lounge area for our teen clients. Photo Credit: Tamara Flanagan Photography

Children's study with custom built white wood computer desk. Desk was custom built to fit the spaces with white recessed panel storage cabinets. Children's homework area has light blue walls, white trim, white ceiling and medium hardwood floors. Architect - Hierarchy Architects + Designers, TJ Costello Photographer - Brian Jordan, Graphite NYC

This shingle-style home is one room “deep” throughout, so that every space has views of offshore island and rocky coastline. Casual family living spaces embrace a busy-but-barefoot lifestyle. The bright and welcoming kitchen-dining-living area is the center of the home. Formal rooms flank the front entrance hall, including the living room, interconnected dining room and library-study. Beyond the public area is fully appointed kitchen and butler’s pantry, then the casual family wing with its informal eating area, family room, porch and screened bluestone patio. Contractor: Carl Anderson, Anderson Contracting Services Photographer: Dan Gair/Blind Dog Photo, Inc.

Well-traveled. Relaxed. Timeless. Our well-traveled clients were soon-to-be empty nesters when they approached us for help reimagining their Presidio Heights home. The expansive Spanish-Revival residence originally constructed in 1908 had been substantially renovated 8 year prior, but needed some adaptations to better suit the needs of a family with three college-bound teens. We evolved the space to be a bright, relaxed reflection of the family’s time together, revising the function and layout of the ground-floor rooms and filling them with casual, comfortable furnishings and artifacts collected abroad. One of the key changes we made to the space plan was to eliminate the formal dining room and transform an area off the kitchen into a casual gathering spot for our clients and their children. The expandable table and coffee/wine bar means the room can handle large dinner parties and small study sessions with similar ease. The family room was relocated from a lower level to be more central part of the main floor, encouraging more quality family time, and freeing up space for a spacious home gym. In the living room, lounge-worthy upholstery grounds the space, encouraging a relaxed and effortless West Coast vibe. Exposed wood beams recall the original Spanish-influence, but feel updated and fresh in a light wood stain. Throughout the entry and main floor, found artifacts punctate the softer textures — ceramics from New Mexico, religious sculpture from Asia and a quirky wall-mounted phone that belonged to our client’s grandmother.

Nook with glass arabesque tile backsplash Three Week Kitchens
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Denver with gray cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances

This second floor office was converted into a Kids Study Room - complete with built in bookshelves and desks, custom painted antique mirrors, and a huge comfy sectional for lounging. We started with an existing rug and built a rich color palette from it with terra-cotta and golds adding warm color to the space. Layered in lots of patterned throw pillows and custom desk cushions to add fun and texture. We even added a wall painted with dry erase paint for homework help!

This is a studio shed for a local Portland designer. It features three distinct areas in a relatively small space – a work area, a study area for desk and shelves, and a toolshed. The patio doors open into the work area. The study area, with built-in desk and shelves, is in the front area. The study area has high windows for sunlight and different exterior siding. The toolshed is a completely separate space, with its own doors, on the side of the building.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A little personal space is important as kids are learning to balance academics and a daily routine. A study desk that masquerades as a make-up vanity gives her a quiet place to write an essay and adequate space to store her get-ready essentials. Kara Lashuay

The Study "Trot" is formed by a seating area, flanked by two built-in storage units. The generous glazing looks into a shared garden, and directs the placement of a seating area or desk. Task lighting provides the opportunity to utilize this space into the evening.

Mom and Dad can exercise and enjoy the backyard view while kids play. A convenient study area nearby is ready for homework time.
Multiuse home gym - mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor multiuse home gym idea in Dallas with white walls

This is a studio shed for a local Portland designer. It features three distinct areas in a relatively small space – a work area, a study area for desk and shelves, and a toolshed. The patio doors open into the work area. The study area, with built-in desk and shelves, is in the front area. The study area has high windows for sunlight and different exterior siding. The toolshed is a completely separate space, with its own doors, on the side of the building.

We needed a space for the kids to do homework while the parents could easily supervise what they were doing, so we carved out an area in the hallway. By enlarging this portion of the hallway it not only allowed for a "kid study" space, it also added interest to a very long hallway.

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: Lysa Wilkins Interiors Builder: Brooks + Hill Custom Builders, Inc. Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography

Teen Suite
Family room - huge transitional carpeted family room idea in Columbus with a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mid-sized mountain style loft-style medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library design in Salt Lake City with beige walls, no fireplace and a media wall

Study area for the children open to the kitchen but away from cooking areas
Hallway - transitional hallway idea in Boston

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This homework station was created with StarMark Cabinetry's Hudson door style in Oak finished in Java.
Study room - mid-sized transitional built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room idea in Other with orange walls