Homeowner had us open low cabin ceiling to vaulted ceiling, brightening the previous dark living room. Bill Johnson - The Photo Tour
Living room - rustic dark wood floor living room idea in Seattle with a wood stove

Outdoor living space in backyard features a fire pit and a cement tile fountain.
Example of a tuscan backyard patio design in Sacramento with a fire pit, decking and no cover

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

Low maintenance shade gardening
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic shade backyard gravel landscaping in Seattle for spring.

This is an example of an asian concrete paver landscaping in Portland.

Home office - country built-in desk light wood floor home office idea in New York with white walls

Inspiration for a cottage kitchen remodel in Sacramento

Madeline Tolle Design by Tandem Designs
Inspiration for a 1960s open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with a stone fireplace, white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Lee Manning Photography
Mid-sized farmhouse wooden straight staircase photo in Los Angeles with painted risers

Cottage kitchen photo in Sacramento

Example of a transitional master beige tile and white tile beige floor and double-sink alcove shower design in Oklahoma City with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

With the pending arrival of a beautiful baby girl, the homeowners of this 1928 Minneapolis Tudor wanted a basement that was conducive to a young child, but would still allow a place for family to gather and the occasional house guest. The original basement was typical; cold, lacking natural light with tiny, uncomfortably confined rooms and that “unique” basement smell. The goal was to reverse all of the ill effects of a rarely unappreciated space while increasing the performance of the older home. The frigid temperatures and wet, mildew odor was remedied by demolishing the entire slab floor and excavating to gain an extra six inches in ceiling height. It also allowed us to insulate to R-15, moisture proof under the new slab, install a drain tile and sump pump. Within the concrete slab is a hydronic, in-floor radiant heating system which further helps to add comfort to the space. Lastly, we also sprayed a closed-cell, expanding urethane foam on the inside of the foundation walls all the way to the first floor. To help bring more light down to the basement, we started by opening up the staircase on both sides. A curved wall bends light into the lower level while a countertop and cubbies below provide storage space for odds and ends. On the opposite wall, creatively placed cubbies provide places for paintings, ceramics and plants. We also removed the tiny 18” x 34” window on the south wall and installed a full-sized, high-efficiency, triple pane Pella egress window. To let lots of natural light into the window, we expanded the size of the cedar-lined egress well and included a built-in planter at the base to help bring life into an otherwise empty cavity. Small, unspecified spaces that became storage areas now have purpose. The areas are defined, yet open. Upon descending down the stairs, one is greeted by a large living room with curved walls, custom design media center, built-in daybed and bookshelves. Use of paint was important in the design. Naturally in older homes basements are going to have exposed beams, soffits and a whole gambit of nooks and crannies. Instead of disguising them, we played them up, which created a layer effect with the color. The color also adds a touch of playfulness which anyone, regardless of age, can enjoy. We scavenged the client’s garage and discovered that the previous homeowner kept the old, full-view glass front entry door in the garage. We re-installed the original glass knob and attached the door to sliding barn door hardware which was attached to the main structural beam of the lower level. On the other side of the door was the homeowners’ combined office and small fitness area. The office floor is a blend of thin strips of different colored cork. A built-in storage cabinet sits across from a site-built desk which forms to the curve of the dividing wall. A small, square hole in the curved wall provides a view to see who is coming down the stairs. Opposite of the office area and directly at the base of the stairs is a place for the homeowner’s treadmill. Hidden is the mechanical room, which is home to many green and energy efficient products. The washing machine is a low-water consumption unit while the dryer requires less energy to operate than most standard units. Both sit atop a checkerboard pattern of different colored VCT tiles. We also replaced the aging boiler, which only heated the first and second level, with a 95% efficient heat source for the entire house—including the basement. Behind the curved wall, the bathroom is conveniently located. A large, custom built no-formaldehyde added vanity supports the slab of remnant granite countertop. A piece of eco-resin wall panel, embedded with organic material, contains water in the shower and blends beautifully with the updated colors. Tucked under the stairs, we installed a dual-flush, low-water consumption toilet. Through creative space planning, we packed a lot of into a rather small space. As a result, we have three very happy homeowners who are enjoying their light, clean and safe lower level of their home—however, they’ve been hard pressed to think of it as a “basement”. highlights Moisture management system Insulated slab Hydronic in-floor heat Formaldehyde free cabinetry MN-made custom cabinets Ultra-low VOC paints Wool carpet Dual-flush toilet Cork floor No recessed lights Cedar egress window well with planter Re-used door Eco-resin

Photography: Laura Moss
Entryway - traditional medium tone wood floor entryway idea in New York with multicolored walls

Summer annuals display. Photo by Rachel Carlson
This is an example of a traditional partial sun landscaping in Chicago for summer.

Sheila Bridges Design, Inc
Enclosed kitchen - small transitional u-shaped enclosed kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, no island and turquoise cabinets

Our goal on this project was to create a live-able and open feeling space in a 690 square foot modern farmhouse. We planned for an open feeling space by installing tall windows and doors, utilizing pocket doors and building a vaulted ceiling. An efficient layout with hidden kitchen appliances and a concealed laundry space, built in tv and work desk, carefully selected furniture pieces and a bright and white colour palette combine to make this tiny house feel like a home. We achieved our goal of building a functionally beautiful space where we comfortably host a few friends and spend time together as a family. John McManus

Sleeping loft with a custom queen bedframe in Kingston aqua and cottage white. built-in storage is provided within the bed frame with six drawers. Exposed curved ceiling beams give an expanded and inviting feel to the sleeping loft. This tropical modern coastal Tiny Home is built on a trailer and is 8x24x14 feet. The blue exterior paint color is called cabana blue. The large circular window is quite the statement focal point for this how adding a ton of curb appeal. The round window is actually two round half-moon windows stuck together to form a circle. There is an indoor bar between the two windows to make the space more interactive and useful- important in a tiny home. There is also another interactive pass-through bar window on the deck leading to the kitchen making it essentially a wet bar. This window is mirrored with a second on the other side of the kitchen and the are actually repurposed french doors turned sideways. Even the front door is glass allowing for the maximum amount of light to brighten up this tiny home and make it feel spacious and open. This tiny home features a unique architectural design with curved ceiling beams and roofing, high vaulted ceilings, a tiled in shower with a skylight that points out over the tongue of the trailer saving space in the bathroom, and of course, the large bump-out circle window and awning window that provides dining spaces.

This Guest Bath was awarded 2nd Place in the ASID LEGACY OF DESIGN TEXAS 2015 for Traditional Bathroom. Interior Design and styling by Dona Rosene Interiors. Photography by Michael Hunter.