Here's a chimney that had been neglected for far too long. Roofers rarely assess & address the flashing needs of the chimney, and they typically just leave it. In this case, the diverter had started leaking, leaving the original 70+ year old flashing on the house. We removed the original flashing & counter flashing. Then, we framed a larger diverter, and installed a custom fabricated diverter, colored to match. Before & after pictures are outstanding!

Here's a chimney that had been neglected for far too long. Roofers rarely assess & address the flashing needs of the chimney, and they typically just leave it. In this case, the diverter had started leaking, leaving the original 70+ year old flashing on the house. We removed the original flashing & counter flashing. Then, we framed a larger diverter, and installed a custom fabricated diverter, colored to match. Before & after pictures are outstanding!

Living is easy in this rustic yet refined country estate in Portland’s west hills. Remodeled in 2012 by Karen Richmond of Neil Kelly Company, this charmer started as a typical 1970’s Northwest Contemporary. Photo courtesy of Neil Kelly—Aaron Ziltener

A walk-in closet is a luxurious and practical addition to any home, providing a spacious and organized haven for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Typically larger than standard closets, these well-designed spaces often feature built-in shelves, drawers, and hanging rods to accommodate a variety of wardrobe items. Ample lighting, whether natural or strategically placed fixtures, ensures visibility and adds to the overall ambiance. Mirrors and dressing areas may be conveniently integrated, transforming the walk-in closet into a private dressing room. The design possibilities are endless, allowing individuals to personalize the space according to their preferences, making the walk-in closet a functional storage area and a stylish retreat where one can start and end the day with ease and sophistication.

Here's a chimney that had been neglected for far too long. Roofers rarely assess & address the flashing needs of the chimney, and they typically just leave it. In this case, the diverter had started leaking, leaving the original 70+ year old flashing on the house. We removed the original flashing & counter flashing. Then, we framed a larger diverter, and installed a custom fabricated diverter, colored to match. Before & after pictures are outstanding!

Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a coastal porch remodel in San Diego

Located in the picturesque San Luis Drive neighborhood, the Okimoto Residence was a major remodel and addition. What started as a minor facelift, the project underwent a series of design iterations to address the growing family's needs. The clients wanted a clean and contemporary home that wouldn't stick out in this typically traditional San Luis Obispo neighborhood. The final design was a 4 bedroom home with a large great room and play room. A 9' x 16' pocketing slider door opens the great room to the lush backyard which sits directly adjacent to the San Luis Creek. Smooth trowel stucco, a standing seam metal roof, and a texas limestone clad spine wall blend seamlessly with the warmer trim accents and clear cedar eaves. On the interior, the thoughtfully selected finishes provide a clean and inviting space that compliment the young, growing family's lifestyle.

Example of a transitional family room design in Nashville

Living is easy in this rustic yet refined country estate in Portland’s west hills. Remodeled in 2012 by Karen Richmond of Neil Kelly Company, this charmer started as a typical 1970’s Northwest Contemporary. Photo courtesy of Neil Kelly--Aaron Ziltener

Example of a large transitional formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

The breathtaking ocean views influenced the dramatic redesign of this water-front Poipu condo. The outdated condo was completely remodeled to allow full appreciation of the surrounding views, bring in a fresh new color palette, and modernize and update everything from the electrical wiring to the new luxury bath towels. The clients wanted the condo to feel “fun, happy, and cheerful,” and to stand apart from the typical vacation rental on Kauai. They wanted to turn this condo into the ultimate “beach house” that felt just as luxurious as the gorgeous natural surroundings. Fresh white ship-lap walls set the backdrop for this modern beach style, which is further enhanced with bold stripes, natural textures, and ocean-themed decor. The palette of cobalt, aqua and lichen green is fresh and vibrant against the neutral backdrop. Trina Turk’s “Peacock Print” was the inspiration fabric for the living and dining room. The print is so lively, colorful, and modern, and was the perfect place to start. Every custom detail was thoughtfully chosen to bring a sense of luxury and originality to the space. While some elements are whimsical, such as the playful octopus art & fish-themed fabric, other elements are sophisticated and classic, to help keep the design grounded. Special features include a custom-made “Moroccan Fish Scale” tile backsplash in the kitchen, crushed marble counter tops with oyster shells and float glass, and blue glass pendant lights, reminiscent of water bubbles.

  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

Casey Dunn Photography
Small eclectic built-in desk dark wood floor study room photo in Houston with blue walls and no fireplace

Texas Mountain Laurel This beautiful Texas native can be used as a shrub or a small tree. Plants produce lustrous oval leaves that are evergreen. The glossy foliage is complemented by clusters of highly fragrant purple blooms in spring. While this is a slow growing plant, they eventually can grow up to 35-feet tall; however you typically find them in the 15-foot range in urban environments. Get a head start by planting as large of a specimen as you can find. Plant in a sunny location with good soil drainage, in USDA Zones 8 or warmer.

porcelain fireplace surround with custom bar
Example of a beach style living room design in Bridgeport

When Josh Palmer, decided to update the one in his 1914 Foursquare Colonial, he knew exactly how to express his wishes to #CapitolKB designer, Jim Branham. “What I craved was something classic—nothing super trendy that would go out of style in 10 years. And I wanted white. ” A new island with a Bolivian Rosewood Butcher Block is not your typical butcher block wood. It offers elegance not typically associated with butcher blocks. The Viking range in a custom shade of orange added a bold pop of color, and takes this white kitchen from average to extraordinary.

When Josh Palmer, decided to update the one in his 1914 Foursquare Colonial, he knew exactly how to express his wishes to #CapitolKB designer, Jim Branham. “What I craved was something classic—nothing super trendy that would go out of style in 10 years. And I wanted white. ” A new island with a Bolivian Rosewood Butcher Block is not your typical butcher block wood. It offers elegance not typically associated with butcher blocks. The Viking range in a custom shade of orange added a bold pop of color, and takes this white kitchen from average to extraordinary.

A walk-in closet is a luxurious and practical addition to any home, providing a spacious and organized haven for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Typically larger than standard closets, these well-designed spaces often feature built-in shelves, drawers, and hanging rods to accommodate a variety of wardrobe items. Ample lighting, whether natural or strategically placed fixtures, ensures visibility and adds to the overall ambiance. Mirrors and dressing areas may be conveniently integrated, transforming the walk-in closet into a private dressing room. The design possibilities are endless, allowing individuals to personalize the space according to their preferences, making the walk-in closet a functional storage area and a stylish retreat where one can start and end the day with ease and sophistication.