After many years of having no outdoor living space and dealing with overgrown plants and trees the owner’s decided it was time to revitalize their backyard. They knew they wanted a large sitting area with a wood burning fireplace, room for outdoor dining and a place for the grill. A connecting walk would be needed to get guests from the driveway to the outdoor space. Last but not least, the owners wanted the ability to and a reason for stepping out of their unusable patio doors. The designers decided from the start the fireplace would be the prominent feature and focal point for the entire project. A large fireplace accented with sitting walls and arbors was positioned to anchor the corner of the patio. Stone was chosen to set the fireplace apart as its own element. Brick was used for the sitting walls and brick accents were added to the fireplace to tie into the house. An inlaid herringbone brick detail was incorporated above the stone mantle to simulate artwork which is typically found above indoor fireplaces. Flagstone was used for the wall caps and hearth to match the patio and thicker flagstone tread stock was used for the mantle and top. The arbors were added to visually balance the pergolas at the opposite side of the patio. For the patio the designers created a series of offset spaces to help subtly divide the space into two areas, sitting and dining. Two large existing trees also help dictate the shape of the patio. Cut flagstone was chosen for the surface bordered by a double soldier edge of brick. The brick edging also surrounds a decorative gravel area topped with an urn fountain which provides a secondary focal point and the sound of water. Large flagstone treads were used for the steps leading to the previously unused patio doors. Opposite the fireplace a short walk leads to a square transition area with a statue chosen by the owner. The statue provides a strong focal point when entering from the driveway. A longer walk leads from this space along the house to the driveway. The pergolas and arbors were designed by the landscape designer as part of this project but were ultimately contracted separately by the owner. The larger square pergola was intended as an area for a bench or two separate from the main patio. The longer pergola was added later in the design phase to help provide shade to the interior of the house. The arbors at the fireplace were added to balance out the wood elements at the opposite side while adding additional architectural interest to the fireplace. While this project was predominantly hardscaping, planting and lighting were also incorporated into the design. Several large existing trees were retained and serious of smaller understory trees were added to help enclose the space. The designer’s took advantage of the large trees to place down lights on the branches to achieve a moonlight effect at night. Additional lighting was used on the pergola, to accent focal points, to up light the smaller trees and around the patio. Massed planting of Japanese forest grass provides bold foliage color for the shady garden. A mulch path leads off behind the fireplace to another garden and a secluded area ideal for a bench or small table and chairs. Additional plantings were added along the rear property line to screen and unsightly fence. This project has obviously completely changed the way the owners use their backyard. They now have a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors with the use of the patio doors. The large patio allows for entertaining small gatherings outdoors for the first time. The fireplace has definitely become the primary gathering place for family and friends.

Intentional. Elevated. Artisanal. With three children under the age of 5, our clients were starting to feel the confines of their Pacific Heights home when the expansive 1902 Italianate across the street went on the market. After learning the home had been recently remodeled, they jumped at the chance to purchase a move-in ready property. We worked with them to infuse the already refined, elegant living areas with subtle edginess and handcrafted details, and also helped them reimagine unused space to delight their little ones. Elevated furnishings on the main floor complement the home’s existing high ceilings, modern brass bannisters and extensive walnut cabinetry. In the living room, sumptuous emerald upholstery on a velvet side chair balances the deep wood tones of the existing baby grand. Minimally and intentionally accessorized, the room feels formal but still retains a sharp edge—on the walls moody portraiture gets irreverent with a bold paint stroke, and on the the etagere, jagged crystals and metallic sculpture feel rugged and unapologetic. Throughout the main floor handcrafted, textured notes are everywhere—a nubby jute rug underlies inviting sofas in the family room and a half-moon mirror in the living room mixes geometric lines with flax-colored fringe. On the home’s lower level, we repurposed an unused wine cellar into a well-stocked craft room, with a custom chalkboard, art-display area and thoughtful storage. In the adjoining space, we installed a custom climbing wall and filled the balance of the room with low sofas, plush area rugs, poufs and storage baskets, creating the perfect space for active play or a quiet reading session. The bold colors and playful attitudes apparent in these spaces are echoed upstairs in each of the children’s imaginative bedrooms. Architect + Developer: McMahon Architects + Studio, Photographer: Suzanna Scott Photography

Intentional. Elevated. Artisanal. With three children under the age of 5, our clients were starting to feel the confines of their Pacific Heights home when the expansive 1902 Italianate across the street went on the market. After learning the home had been recently remodeled, they jumped at the chance to purchase a move-in ready property. We worked with them to infuse the already refined, elegant living areas with subtle edginess and handcrafted details, and also helped them reimagine unused space to delight their little ones. Elevated furnishings on the main floor complement the home’s existing high ceilings, modern brass bannisters and extensive walnut cabinetry. In the living room, sumptuous emerald upholstery on a velvet side chair balances the deep wood tones of the existing baby grand. Minimally and intentionally accessorized, the room feels formal but still retains a sharp edge—on the walls moody portraiture gets irreverent with a bold paint stroke, and on the the etagere, jagged crystals and metallic sculpture feel rugged and unapologetic. Throughout the main floor handcrafted, textured notes are everywhere—a nubby jute rug underlies inviting sofas in the family room and a half-moon mirror in the living room mixes geometric lines with flax-colored fringe. On the home’s lower level, we repurposed an unused wine cellar into a well-stocked craft room, with a custom chalkboard, art-display area and thoughtful storage. In the adjoining space, we installed a custom climbing wall and filled the balance of the room with low sofas, plush area rugs, poufs and storage baskets, creating the perfect space for active play or a quiet reading session. The bold colors and playful attitudes apparent in these spaces are echoed upstairs in each of the children’s imaginative bedrooms. Architect + Developer: McMahon Architects + Studio, Photographer: Suzanna Scott Photography

Transitional kids' room photo in New York

What was once a cramped, underperforming mudroom and a rarely used office has been thoughtfully reconfigured into a spacious, hardworking hub for daily life. By removing the wall between the two rooms, we unlocked valuable square footage to create a mudroom that truly supports how the family enters, exits, and organizes their day. The new layout integrates dedicated drop zones, custom storage, and a fully functional laundry area, all designed with both durability and ease of use in mind. Every detail was considered to bring order to high-traffic moments—whether it’s managing backpacks and shoes or keeping laundry seamlessly incorporated into the home. The result is a highly functional, intentionally designed space that transforms a once-overlooked area into an essential part of the home’s daily rhythm.

alyssa kirsten
Small urban u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash and white cabinets

Turned an empty, unused formal living room into a hip bourbon bar and library lounge for a couple who relocated to DFW from Louisville, KY. They wanted a place they could entertain friends or just hang out and relax with a cocktail or a good book. We added the wet bar and library shelves, and kept things modern and warm, with a wink to the prohibition era. The formerly deserted room is now their favorite spot. Photos by Michael Hunter Photography

Design Dilemma: Our clients needed a place to store their beautiful bass and their extensive collection of books and records. Solution - We transformed this unused corner in the great room into a beautiful and functional storage space. Using a subtle instrument rack so the client could easily remove the bass to play, we were able to showcase the bass as a work of art and make it a focal point in the space. We also added a rolling ladder to access the top of the bookshelf and to make the space more interesting. Photo Credit: Holland Photography - Cory Holland - Hollandphotography.biz

Sauna Under a Stairway: Add Sauna to an Unused Space - A sauna can be incorporated into an unused closet or even under a stairway-- as shown here. This is a custom Finnleo sauna, comfortable for 2-3 people.

Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz Inc. Sharing a pass through with the kitchen. the tv room is flooded with light. Its modest size makes it the coziest area of the house, and because of that it is the couple's favorite wintertime spot. "It's so comfortable to just lay around in," Jennifer says. "You sit down and all of a sudden you're falling asleep." The Milo Baughman settee is currently Jennifer's favorite piece. A recent birthday gift from Raymond, Jennifer found the tufted leather sofa on Etsy and drove 10 hours across Pennsylvania to pick it up. Always up for a design adventure, "It was well worth it," she says. "It's amazing." Martini SIde Table, in brass: West Elm Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz

Sauna Under a Stairway: This 2-3 person sauna includes a full-platform middle bench, custom sloped ceiling and a Junior heater through the lower bench.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

When this young family of four and their aging dog, Bernie, moved into their new home, it was evident that changes needed to be made for the house to work for them. The kitchen was cramped and crowded and didn’t allow for the large family gatherings they enjoyed hosting. Without a mudroom between the garage and kitchen, there was no place to drop groceries, schoolbags, coats or boots. And an unused dining room sat empty, save for the furniture. We immediately set out to open up walls and make better use of the space. A mudroom was added, outfitted with cabinetry lockers for jackets and schoolbags with room for baskets for shoes under the bench. A glass pocket door was installed to let the light flow from the window on the front of the house into the adjacent kitchen. In the kitchen, we took advantage of the unused dining room and broke through the wall creating one large, open plan, kitchen and family room. An expansive island was installed to provide seating in the kitchen and give sight lines from the sink to the family room from which to keep an eye on the littles while they played. A desk area was also created in front of one of the windows, giving great light for homework and crafts. While the floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room kept us to a galley kitchen layout, their dog, Bernie was thankful we maintained his views of the park-like setting in the backyard.

The client had several requirements for this Seattle kids bathroom remodel. They wanted to keep the existing bathtub, toilet and flooring; they wanted to fit two sinks into the space for their two teenage children; they wanted to integrate a niche into the shower area; lastly, they wanted a fun but sophisticated look that incorporated the theme of African wildlife into the design. Ellen Weiss Design accomplished all of these goals, surpassing the client's expectations. The client particularly loved the idea of opening up what had been a large unused (and smelly) built-in medicine cabinet to create an open and accessible space which now provides much-needed additional counter space and which has become a design focal point.

This beautiful custom sauna is in the home of Osmo Vanska, Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra. Osmo has had Finnleo saunas in multiple residences. As you can see from these photos, Osmo’s sauna is a great addition to his beautiful master bath suite. The custom sauna from Finnleo was designed to fit in the footprint of a large jetted tub which was removed. Sauna features include: panoramic Solace all-glass front, indirect backrest lighting and black granite stone behind the Himalaya rock tower heater.

A custom-built banquette turned this unused dining room into a warm and inviting nook perfect for family gatherings or a peaceful moment of quiet self-reflection. Velvet upholstery in a rich rust color reminiscent of a desert sunset cleverly disguises additional storage built-in below.

The primary bedroom and bathroom are the showstoppers of this phase! Unused and awkwardly located closets in both the bedroom and bathroom were removed to make way for additional square-footage in the bath and replaced with a sizable and functional reach-in closet in the bedroom. A dated and cramped shower stall was removed in favor for an expansive step in shower spanning the width of the bathroom and a new transom window washes the room in natural light. While the previous bathroom was only able to accommodate a single vanity, the new layout allowed us to create double matching vanities mirrored across from each other - a much appreciated addition for a primary bath. Floating walnut vanities boast impressive storage and are capped with tower cabinets with hidden outlets for charging and storing electronic bathroom tools. While the color palette is restrained - black, white, gray, and brown - the result is a timelessly modern and masculine space that is at once striking and warm. Modern geometric patterns play with each other throughout the material selections.

Walk-in shower - small transitional multicolored tile and mosaic tile porcelain tile walk-in shower idea in Portland with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls and an undermount sink

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com