arched passage, carrera marble, dignified, elegantly decorated, family home, majestic, dark wood bar stools, hanging pot rack, transom window, recessed lighting Our client was drawn to the property in Wesley Heights as it was in an established neighborhood of stately homes, on a quiet street with views of park. They wanted a traditional home for their young family with great entertaining spaces that took full advantage of the site. The site was the challenge. The natural grade of the site was far from traditional. The natural grade at the rear of the property was about thirty feet above the street level. Large mature trees provided shade and needed to be preserved. The solution was sectional. The first floor level was elevated from the street by 12 feet, with French doors facing the park. We created a courtyard at the first floor level that provide an outdoor entertaining space, with French doors that open the home to the courtyard.. By elevating the first floor level, we were able to allow on-grade parking and a private direct entrance to the lower level pub "Mulligans". An arched passage affords access to the courtyard from a shared driveway with the neighboring homes, while the stone fountain provides a focus. A sweeping stone stair anchors one of the existing mature trees that was preserved and leads to the elevated rear garden. The second floor master suite opens to a sitting porch at the level of the upper garden, providing the third level of outdoor space that can be used for the children to play. The home's traditional language is in context with its neighbors, while the design allows each of the three primary levels of the home to relate directly to the outside. Builder: Peterson & Collins, Inc Photos © Anice Hoachlander

shower
Small minimalist 3/4 beige tile and porcelain tile laminate floor and beige floor alcove shower photo in Calgary with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, solid surface countertops and a hinged shower door

Spacecrafters Photography
Entryway - craftsman entryway idea in Minneapolis

NYC designer Megan Pflug and her husband J. Penry purchased a 1962 mid-century lodge in Greenville, New York and revived the tired property to become the Woodhouse Lodge. They just wrapped a year long renovation, and this summer, unveiled a modern retreat filled with character, relaxed sophistication and a rustic-modernist vibe you’ve never seen before. (And wait until you see how she makes matte black a country thing…) Photo: Genevieve Garruppo

This historic, 19th mansion, located in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle, was redesigned to house four modern, luxury condominiums. Photo: Anice Hoachlander www.hdphoto.com

Cavan Hadley
Barn - huge southwestern detached barn idea in Santa Barbara

We used: Exterior lights: Hinkley Colfax 12-1/4" outdoor wall lights in high bronze. Porch ceiling fans: 52" Casa Vieja Mission II outdoor ceiling fan in bronze. Front porch and patio floors, treads and railings by Trex. Garage doors by Amarr, Stratford Collection. Retaining wall by Eagle Bay, Aspen Stone stone and cap in Blue Ridge. Robert B. Narod Photography

Mark Pinkerton- VI360 Photography
Example of a small trendy 3/4 gray tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and gray floor corner shower design in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

The luxurious master bathroom offers a double vanity, soaking tub, and marble shower.
Example of a huge cottage chic master black and white tile and marble tile marble floor and white floor bathroom design in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Inspiration for a small coastal loft-style medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Santa Barbara with white walls and no fireplace

The art of placement rooted in feng shui and the practical demands of nature both played intricate roles in this home’s design evolution. Project Style: Contemporary Size: 5 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms; 2 half baths; Living area - 6,200 sq. ft.; Total under roof - 8,200 sq. ft. Home Story: The inspiration for many of the design elements in this waterfront residence came from years of travel by the homeowner. Tucking away wide-ranging ideas - a hotel lobby's suspended fireplace, a restaurant's pivoting front door, a serene reflecting pool - that fused together seamlessly in a meticulous, well-thought-out manner. This home accommodates a large, very active family while serving as a backdrop for elegant art as well as nature's show-stopping displays. Challenges & Points of Interest: Potential for high waves and wind dictated specific aspects of this home's design. Careful planning avoided the need and expense of driving 30-foot deep piles. Suspending a 6' wide, 1,200-pound marble fireplace proved a gravity-defying engineering challenge. The tons of behind-the-scene steel and framing allow the fireplace effortlessly float as the home's centerpiece. The stunning, 900-pound sapele wood, custom front door opens with a finger touch thanks to its unique pivot design. Linear-patterned waterfall granite, ceiling-supplied water for tub bathing, Murphy bed, cantilevered 4-foot stair treads with stainless steel airline-cabled railing, 4-sided infinity-edge hot tub, living wall, zen garden and an intimate reflection pool with stepping stones are a few more of the design inspirations-turned reality in this highly-efficient Smart home.

The front of this property was a morphed vegetation of bittersweet, honeysuckle, rose, and weeds. The homeowner wished to reconstruct the original landscape which claimed a ledge area and none of the current plant material which required constant pruning to keep under control and to maintain a neat appearance.

Innovative Design Build was hired to renovate a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo in the prestigious Symphony building in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The project included a full renovation of the kitchen, guest bathroom and primary bathroom. We also did small upgrades throughout the remainder of the property. The goal was to modernize the property using upscale finishes creating a streamline monochromatic space. The customization throughout this property is vast, including but not limited to: a hidden electrical panel, popup kitchen outlet with a stone top, custom kitchen cabinets and vanities. By using gorgeous finishes and quality products the client is sure to enjoy his home for years to come.

Curb Appeal: the entire front part of the property is transformed. building Lab is a design build firm specialized in modern architecture.
Large modern brown two-story clapboard and mixed siding exterior home idea in San Francisco with a shingle roof and a gray roof

Large trendy galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The basement bathroom was added to give guests their own quarters. Low ceilings dictated that we leave the shower open. White subway tile, carrara marble mosaic accent, and black marble mosaic floor tile carried the design theme into the basement. Products we used: Delta Windemere 1-handle shower faucet and showerhead in oil-rubbed bronze finish (#7BT14296-OB). Delta Windemere 2-handle sink faucet in oil-rubbed bronze finish (#25996LF-OB). Paint colors used: Benjamin Moore Wickham Grey HC-171 Photos by Wright Photography

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Chicago with beige walls

A patio and seating area surrounds this home office. Unlike traditional sheds which are often tucked away and hidden in the side yard, Studio Sheds, like this home office, become a feature of the backyard landscaping.