Example of a large trendy dining room design in Boston with no fireplace

Scott Conover
Dedicated laundry room - large transitional concrete floor and black floor dedicated laundry room idea in Boise with white cabinets, laminate countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer, open cabinets, white countertops and gray walls

Some vintage Midcentury pieces here along with a custom made Swarovski crystal sputnik chandelier similar to the much larger one in the NYC Metropolitan Opera House! To know more about this makeover, please read the "Houzz Tour" feature article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32975037/list/houzz-tour-midcentury-meets-mediterranean-in-california Bernard Andre Photography

Create a spacious and clean design withcentral track lighting in your master bedroom. Seen in Fiddler's Creek, a Naples community
Bedroom - mid-sized scandinavian master carpeted bedroom idea in Miami with white walls

Photography by William Quarles. Designed by Shannon Bogen. Built by Robert Paige Cabinetry. Contractor Tom Martin
Example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen design in Charleston with gray cabinets, recessed-panel cabinets and an island

Photo: Lisa Russman Photography http://www.lisarussman.com/ Frame Design Lab

Frank Ooms
Living room - modern open concept living room idea in Austin with white walls

Elizabeth Taich Design is a Chicago-based full-service interior architecture and design firm that specializes in sophisticated yet livable environments.

Photo by Ross Anania
Example of a large urban medium tone wood floor bedroom design in Seattle with no fireplace

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops, turquoise cabinets and window backsplash

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized contemporary dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

The peeks of container throughout the home are a nod to its signature architectural detail. Bringing the outdoors in was also important to the homeowners and the designers were able to harvest trees from the property to use throughout the home. Natural light pours into the home during the day from the many purposefully positioned windows, but the LED accents and extraordinary hand-made fixtures sprinkled throughout act as art pieces and set the retreat aglow in the evening hours. Moving right through to the home’s open living and kitchen area allows for easy entertaining.

Inspiration for a farmhouse black floor entryway remodel in Minneapolis with gray walls and a glass front door

Example of a small trendy medium tone wood floor family room library design in Houston

Zack Benson Photography
Bathroom - cottage master white tile painted wood floor bathroom idea in San Diego with white walls and a hinged shower door

Photo: Lucy Call © 2013 Houzz
Trendy bedroom photo in Salt Lake City with gray walls

Transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Sleeping Porch Sam Oberter Photography
This is an example of a large traditional screened-in back porch design in New York with decking and a roof extension.