Search results for "Thrilling" in Home Design Ideas

Our clients wanted a REAL master bathroom with enough space for both of them to be in there at the same time. Their house, built in the 1940’s, still had plenty of the original charm, but also had plenty of its original tiny spaces that just aren’t very functional for modern life.
The original bathroom had a tiny stall shower, and just a single vanity with very limited storage and counter space. Not to mention kitschy pink subway tile on every wall. With some creative reconfiguring, we were able to reclaim about 25 square feet of space from the bedroom. Which gave us the space we needed to introduce a double vanity with plenty of storage, and a HUGE walk-in shower that spans the entire length of the new bathroom!
While we knew we needed to stay true to the original character of the house, we also wanted to bring in some modern flair! Pairing strong graphic floor tile with some subtle (and not so subtle) green tones gave us the perfect blend of classic sophistication with a modern glow up.
Our clients were thrilled with the look of their new space, and were even happier about how large and open it now feels!

Like most of our projects, we can't gush about this reno—a new kitchen and mudroom, ensuite closet and pantry—without gushing about the people who live there. The best projects, we always say, are the ones in which client, contractor and design team are all present throughout, conception to completion, each bringing their particular expertise to the table and forming a cohesive, trustworthy team that is mutually invested in a smooth and successful process. They listen to each other, give the benefit of the doubt to each other, do what they say they'll do. This project exemplified that kind of team, and it shows in the results.
Most obvious is the opening up of the kitchen to the dining room, decompartmentalizing somewhat a century-old bungalow that was originally quite purposefully compartmentalized. As a result, the kitchen had to become a place one wanted to see clear through from the front door. Inset cabinets and carefully selected details make the functional heart of the house equal in elegance to the more "public" gathering spaces, with their craftsman depth and detail. An old back porch was converted to interior space, creating a mudroom and a much-needed ensuite walk-in closet. A new, larger deck went on: Phase One of an extensive design for outdoor living, that we all hope will be realized over the next few years. Finally, a duplicative back stairwell was repurposed into a walk-in pantry.
Modernizing often means opening spaces up for more casual living and entertaining, and/or making better use of dead space. In this re-conceptualized old house, we did all of that, creating a back-of-the-house that is now bright and cheerful and new, while carefully incorporating meaningful vintage and personal elements.
The best result of all: the clients are thrilled. And everyone who went in to the project came out of it friends.
Contractor: Stumpner Building Services
Cabinetry: Stoll’s Woodworking
Photographer: Gina Rogers

This transitional kitchen brings in clean lines, simple cabinets, warm earth tones accents, and lots of function. This kitchen has a small footprint and had very little storage space. Our clients wanted to add more space, somehow, get the most storage possible, make it feel bright and open, have a desk area, and somewhere that could function as a coffee area. By taking out the doorway into the dining room, we were able to extend the cabinetry into the dining room, giving them their desk area as well as storage and a nice area for guests! A custom appliance garage was made that allows you to have all the necessities right at your hands and gives you the ability to close it up and hide all of the appliances. Trash, spice, tray, and drawer pull outs were added for function, as well as 2 lazy susans, wine storage, and deep drawers for pots and pans.
The homeowner fell in love with the matte white GE Cafe appliances with the brushed bronze accents, and quite frankly, so did we! Once we found those, we knew we wanted to incorporate that metal throughout the kitchen.
New hardwood flooring was installed in the kitchen and finished to match the existing wood in the dining room. We brought the warmth up to eye level with open shelving stained to match.
We love creating with our clients, and this kitchen was no exception! We are thrilled with how everything came together.
Find the right local pro for your project

This custom sphere bubbling pondless fountain was built using river rock and limestone edgers. This fountain can run with water over the gravel or dry and pondless.
Project Budget: Varies depending on the fountain piece, as shown $4000- $8,000
Photograph by Jason Heller of Neptune's Water Gardens
Neptune's Water Gardens is the premier water feature design and installation company in the #Omaha Metro area. Our naturally balanced, low-maintenance ecosystem ponds work with Mother Nature, not against her. We pride ourselves in creating water features that appear to have always existed in their surrounding landscape. Whether you choose an ecosystem #pond, decorative #fountainscape, #Pondless® #Waterfall or the new #RainXchange™ System that pairs a rainwater harvesting system with a #decorative water feature – you'll be thrilled with the sight and sound that water brings to your #landscape. From #trees to #shrubs; #patios to retaining walls, the experienced #designers and #craftsman at #Neptune's Water Gardens will be able to bring all of your #outdoor living ideas to reality .
For more information and inspiration visit our website http://www.omahaponds.com .
Serving the Omaha Metro Area and Eastern #Nebraska and Western #Iowa . Services include pond help, pond cleaning and repair, pond and water feature maintenance, boulder bubblers and fountains, water garden and koi pond design and installation, pondless and disappearing waterfall design and installation, landscape design installation and maintenance, Stone and paver patios and retaining walls .
#neptuneswatergardens #ncn #cac #aquascape #pondstars

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours
Envision Virtual Tours has been the high resolution photography standard for the last 13 years. When you require the best, Envision Virtual Tours is there!
Surround yourself with beauty, relaxation and natural fun in Georgia’s Blue Ridge, only 90 miles north of Atlanta via I-575 and Hwy 515, but a million miles away from the traffic, stress and anxiety of the city. With 106,000 acres located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge is definitely the cure for whatever ails you. Rent a cozy cabin or a luxury mountain home, or stay in a bed & breakfast inn or hotel -- and simply relax.
Enjoy Mother Nature at her best…
Renew your spirit on a day hiking to nearby waterfalls or horseback riding on forested trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Bring the family and discover the thrill of an Ocoee River whitewater rafting adventure, ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway or treetop canopy adventure. Rent a pontoon or a jet ski on beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. Pick strawberries or blueberries at Mercier's, a 65 year old family orchard. Catch a trout on the tailwaters of the Toccoa River or a clear mountain stream; Blue Ridge is the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia.
Fall in Love with Blue Ridge…
Fall in love with the authentic mountain towns of Blue Ridge and McCaysville. Blue Ridge is an Art Town, filled with art galleries, antique and specialty shops, restaurants, small town atmosphere and friendly people. A river runs through the quaint town of McCaysville, twin city with Copperhill, Tennessee. Stand in both states at one time at the Blue Line, which marks the spot where Georgia ends and Tennessee begins. Here the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River, flowing northward into Tennessee.

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life.
The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time.
The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room.
Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage.
Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee.
We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces.
In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color.
The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook!
Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home.
The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client.
Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients!
We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms.
This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties.
Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door.
Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens.
On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining.
The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to.
The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

APD was hired to update the kitchen, living room, primary bathroom and bedroom, and laundry room in this suburban townhome. The design brought an aesthetic that incorporated a fresh updated and current take on traditional while remaining timeless and classic. The kitchen layout moved cooking to the exterior wall providing a beautiful range and hood moment. Removing an existing peninsula and re-orienting the island orientation provided a functional floorplan while adding extra storage in the same square footage. A specific design request from the client was bar cabinetry integrated into the stair railing, and we could not be more thrilled with how it came together!
The primary bathroom experienced a major overhaul by relocating both the shower and double vanities and removing an un-used soaker tub. The design added linen storage and seated beauty vanity while expanding the shower to a luxurious size. Dimensional tile at the shower accent wall relates to the dimensional tile at the kitchen backsplash without matching the two spaces to each other while tones of cream, taupe, and warm woods with touches of gray are a cohesive thread throughout.

This coffee table is clearly not used for coffee – nor does it actually have to be. What’s the star in this scene? This large geode-like agate rock of course – absolutely gorgeous! “No two are alike,” designer MaRae Simone says. “You shouldn’t want what everybody else has. I want you to be the only one with something like this.” Indeed, MaRae is a big fan of rocks like these for a reason. The unique, crystalline presence of the agate art form is juxtaposed by beautiful candlesticks by Mikaela Dörfel.
MaRae Simone Interiors, Marc Mauldin Photography

This master bathroom renovation transforms a builder-grade standard into a personalized retreat for our lovely Stapleton clients. Recognizing a need for change, our clients called on us to help develop a space that would capture their aesthetic loves and foster relaxation. Our design focused on establishing an airy and grounded feel by pairing various shades of white, natural wood, and dynamic textures. We replaced the existing ceramic floor tile with wood-look porcelain tile for a warm and inviting look throughout the space. We then paired this with a reclaimed apothecary vanity from Restoration Hardware. This vanity is coupled with a bright Caesarstone countertop and warm bronze faucets from Delta to create a strikingly handsome balance. The vanity mirrors are custom-sized and trimmed with a coordinating bronze frame. Elegant wall sconces dance between the dark vanity mirrors and bright white full height mirrors flanking the bathtub. The tub itself is an oversized freestanding bathtub paired with a tall bronze tub filler. We've created a feature wall with Tile Bar's Billowy Clouds ceramic tile floor to ceiling behind the tub. The wave-like movement of the tiles offers a dramatic texture in a pure white field. We removed the existing shower and extended its depth to create a large new shower. The walls are tiled with a large format high gloss white tile. The shower floor is tiled with marble circles in varying sizes that offer a playful aesthetic in an otherwise minimalist space. We love this pure, airy retreat and are thrilled that our clients get to enjoy it for many years to come!

Garage and patio remodeling, turning a 2 car garage and a driveway into an amazing retreat in Los Angeles
Patio - mid-sized contemporary patio idea in Los Angeles
Patio - mid-sized contemporary patio idea in Los Angeles

This amazing home features a backyard patio and pool area with a spectacular custom pool with many features including island which feature sitting areas and fire pit a spa as well as incredible slide which goes into the swimming pool. The pool measures roughly 2300 square feet, and has a deep end of 10'0". The spa is raised and has 12 therapy heads. There is LED colored lighting throughout the project. There is a 300 square foot zero depth beach entry into the pool with agitator jets to keep the water moving. There is also a sunshelf within the pool. The lazy river wraps around the sunken island, and the current in the lazy river is propelled by a commercial waterpark quality pumping system. The sunken island has lighting, a fire pit, and a bridge connecting it to the decking area. There is an infinity edge on one edge of the pool. The pool also has an in-floor cleaning system to keep it clean and sanitary. The swimming pool also has the ability to change colors at night utilizing the amazing LED lighting system. The pool and spa exposed aggregate finish is French Gray color. The slide that cascades down the grotto is custom built. The waterfall grotto also provide a thrilling jump off point into the deepest part of the pool. This amazing backyard was designed and built for a home in Bull Valley Illinois.

Example of a mid-sized transitional 3/4 blue tile and glass tile mosaic tile floor and black floor bathroom design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
This total revamp turned out better than anticipated leaving the clients thrilled with the outcome.
Finecraft Contractors, Inc.
Interior Designer: Anna Cave
Susie Soleimani Photography
Blog: http://graciousinteriors.blogspot.com/2016/07/from-cellar-to-stellar-lower-level.html

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped porcelain tile open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Noon Honey
Porcelain Tile
8x48 Matte Chevron : 8x48 Matte : 8x48 Polished
Warm and bursting with light, NOON is a contemporary
expression of the simple life. The natural warmth of
wood restores the lively pace of a thrilling life to urban
spaces, in perfect harmony with the surrounding
environment. Irregular veins, knots and splits, unique
boards with their striking shaded effects allows this
porcelain collection to illuminate the original material,
bringing a splendid, practical glow to the setting.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled.
As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool.
But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots."
We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away.
The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel
The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper.
This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on.
The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function
During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept.
We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking.
After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work.
We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall.
All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again.
The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions
We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house.
We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think.
The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh
We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?).
All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay.
The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next).
Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

Our clients had thought very hard about remodeling or moving. Their family was at a point where they needed to move or remodel. They loved their neighborhood. In researching their options they found Design Connection, Inc, on Houzz website.
After much thought they decided to remodel their entire first floor of their home to make the space more family friendly.
Our design team at Design Connection, Inc. came up with a plan to remodel the kitchen space and update all the fixtures, flooring, fireplaces. Space plans allowed the client to see where all the new furnishing were going to be placed, as well as choices for carpet, countertops, plumbing, a new island, lighting, tile furniture and accessories. An approval was given and everything was ordered. The client stated “The process was simple and went smoothly.”
The construction process from start to finish took a mere two months and finished on time and on budget. The furniture was delivered at one time and the pictures hung by our professional installer. The accessories were the final element to complete this beautiful project. The client’s left for a few hours with an empty house and came back to their dream home. They were thrilled!
Design Connection, Inc. provided space plans, cabinets, countertops, tile, painting, furniture, area rugs accessories, hard wood floors and installation of all materials and project management.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards
Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and
needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We
were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will
become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through
two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy,
fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom—
making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.
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