This project is a great example of how small changes can have a huge impact on a space. ​ Our clients wanted to have a more functional dining and living areas while combining his modern and hers more traditional style. The goal was to bring the space into the 21st century aesthetically without breaking the bank. We first tackled the massive oak built-in fireplace surround in the dining area, by painting it a lighter color. We added built-in LED lights, hidden behind each shelf ledge, to provide soft accent lighting. By changing the color of the trim and walls, we lightened the whole space up. We turned a once unused space, adjacent to the living room into a much-needed library, accommodating an area for the electric piano. We added light modern sectional, an elegant coffee table, and a contemporary TV media unit in the living room. New dark wood floors, stylish accessories and yellow drapery add warmth to the space and complete the look. ​ The home is now ready for a grand party with champagne and live entertainment.

Photographer: Brendon Pinola Contractor: Lovette Construction This Tanglewood home originally had a very tiny kitchen separated from the family room and dining area. Several walls were removed to create this gorgeous open plan. The laundry was in the back corner by the bay window where ovens are currently located. The laundry was relocated to the front of the house where they had an unused formal sitting room. The laundry is now inside the walk in HIDDEN pantry that is concealed by cabinet doors. The large island is an incredible work surface and social gathering area. The cabinets are Wellborn's shaker door style with Glacier on the perimeter and Shadow Charcoal for the hood and island. This turned out to be one of my favorite projects of all time! Great clients to work with.

camilleriparismode projects and design team were approached to rethink a previously unused double height room in a wonderful villa. the lower part of the room was planned as a sitting and dining area, the sub level above as a tv den and games room. as the occupants enjoy their time together as a family, as well as their shared love of books, a floor-to-ceiling library was an ideal way of using and linking the large volume. the large library covers one wall of the room spilling into the den area above. it is given a sense of movement by the differing sizes of the verticals and shelves, broken up by randomly placed closed cupboards. the floating marble fireplace at the base of the library unit helps achieve a feeling of lightness despite it being a complex structure, while offering a cosy atmosphere to the family area below. the split-level den is reached via a solid oak staircase, below which is a custom made wine room. the staircase is concealed from the dining area by a high wall, painted in a bold colour on which a collection of paintings is displayed. photos by: brian grech

This was a complete transformation of a outdated primary bedroom, bathroom and closet space. Some layout changes with new beautiful materials top to bottom. See before pictures! From carpet in the bathroom to heated tile floors. From an unused bath to a large walk in shower. From a smaller wood vanity to a large grey wrap around vanity with 3x the storage. From dated carpet in the bedroom to oak flooring. From one master closet to 2! Amazing clients to work with!

A referral from Facebook Group, these clients were on a timeline to get into their newly purchased home that needed a whole lot of updating! We first tackled their flooring and stair railing, so they could move in. We then got to work on their owner's suite bathroom, which had a lot of unused space and outdated finishes. A few of the things we changed: we turned a built in tub to a freestanding, changed the orientation of the shower and made it larger, and swamped out a built in vanity for a freestanding furniture vanity.

Intimate Spaces turns unusable area into functional and beautiful spaces. Over 380 landscape timbers were used on this project. Retaining walls don't have to be ugly!

This once unused bonus room was transformed into a wonderful new bedroom for a boy with lots of room to grow, play and have sleepovers. We took advantage of the attic space either side of the room by recessing the TV / storage area and also on the opposite side with the double desk unit. The room was separated by the sets of drawers that have custom headboards at the back of them, this helping with the great length of this room. Custom bookcase shelving was made for the window wall to also create not only depth but display as well. The clients as well as their son are enjoying the room!

Nestled on a challenging steep, rocky incline with breathtaking ocean vistas, this backyard was initially nearly unusable due to its limited flat areas. The homeowner's vision was to transform it into a multifunctional space capable of hosting large gatherings of family and friends. The transformative design boasts four terraced decks: two featuring cozy fire pits, one equipped with a hot tub perfectly positioned for sunset viewing, and another for daytime relaxation, alongside a hidden deck designed especially for children's play. The space is further enhanced with an outdoor kitchen, a cascading water feature adorning the slope, seating nestled under a waterproof deck, and built-in wooden seating with cleverly integrated storage, all centered around a playful and inviting pool.

Formerly an unused atrium, this new room nicely stores our clients' cooking items, extra cookbooks, serving pieces, and other items in a nicely arranged room. We made use of a space that they walked by daily and felt there could be a much better use of it. Mission accomplished.

We completely renovated this primary bathroom to create a large walk in shower/wet room with free standing tub and comfortable bench. The vanity and the additional pantry style cabinets provide much needed storage and the floating quartz vanity is both stylish and makes great use of an otherwise unusable space under the window.

This 80's style ensuite remodel featured some big changes to create some much wanted space. In addition, the log and awkwardly short vanity was replaced with a two elegant pedestal sinks separated by a well designed custom cabinet with LOADS of upper storage space that's easy to access. The unused corner tub was replaced with a quaint sitting bench beneath the large windows for the family feline to enjoy and to offer some large blanket & pillow storage for the adjoining Master suite. The stunning rustic vinyl planks were installed right over top of old lino for minimal down time and a smaller height transition to the bedroom threshold. A traditional beadboard wainscoting with tall base trim replaced an again golden oak and brightened up the entire space. The acrylic bathroom stall was expanded and finished with a stunning carrara style porcelain tile that brought a touch of elegance back into the design. Overall, the new space fits better with the client's antique collection and vintage decor for a seamless and functional space where they feel relaxed and inspired.

The master bathroom needed to feel like a true retreat—a space where our clients could unwind and start or end their day feeling relaxed. The existing layout wasn’t giving them that sense of calm, so we reimagined the space to make it both functional and serene. We started by designing a spacious, glass-enclosed shower finished in a porcelain marble-style tile and accented with modern brushed brass fixtures and a built-in niche for everyday convenience. While our clients loved having a double vanity, they also wanted a little more breathing room to get ready. To create that separation, we utilized an unused area of the bathroom—relocating the toilet into its own private enclosure and expanding the vanity wall for a more open layout. The warm wood base of the vanity now adds an inviting, organic touch, while the Kichler Aviv wall sconces add sleek visual interest to the room. Now their bathroom feels calm, refreshing, and timeless.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

This primary bath was completely reimagined to better suit our clients’ lifestyle. The original space had a tiny shower, an unused tub, and a layout that wasn’t working. We transformed it with a larger, more comfortable shower, a bold pop of color in the tile, and a layout that feels practical yet stylish. The result is a fresh, functional space that our clients truly love.

This master bath transformation was just what our client needed. The unused corner jetted deck tub and small vanity area needed a transformation. Our clients wish list included a large shower with a seat and more storage. We removed the tub completely and added a large shower with handheld spray and a seat that folds up when not in use. To maximize storage with separated the vanities to his and hers with a taller cabinet, for towel storage, to offer privacy for the toilet area. The clients want a space that had a contemporary feel which includes flat panel doors in Quarter sawn white oak, with a contrasting quartz countertop in a soapstone look. The medicine cabinets were the special touch with the lift system and interior lighting.

In this late 60’s kitchen remodeled we opened up the space and added brand new custom cabinets, appliances, quartz counter tops and mix of porcelain and glass tile for a breath of fresh air. The adjacent unused dining area was enclosed to create a pantry with plenty of storage, and provided additional wall space for the refrigerator and coffee station (see before photos). A fresh coat of paint and the addition of new recessed and surface mount light fixtures lighten and brighten the contemporary Craftsman kitchen, nook and pantry.

For more exciting interior design projects visit our website: https://wendyobrienid.com.

My clients asked me to transform their current living and dining room into a music room as their children enjoy playing their Baby Grand piano on a regular basis. The wall and french door was removed that was between the living room and dining room and we installed a linear electric fireplace with storage pullouts for some of their music books along the bottom on either side as well as floating shelves above the pullouts. Their wall to wall carpet was removed and new hardwood was laid down. Ceilings were scraped and pot lights were also placed throughout the space and lighting was installed underneath the floating shelves. My client loves artwork by Toronto based artist Sharon Barr so she commissioned a piece from her and that sits above the fireplace. We also installed the "Frame" TV by Samsung on the other side of the fireplace which looks like another piece of artwork nicely framed. My client already had 2 beautiful occasional chairs that we designed at Gresham House 6 years earlier so we re-purposed them in this room to sit in front of the fireplace. In the cozy sitting area, we grounded it with a beautiful silk and wool area rug, added a comfortable leather ottoman, a small round swivel chair, a beautiful contemporary sectional and a set of nesting end tables. All of this furniture was designed by The Expert Touch Interiors at The Decorating Centre. Final touches with accessories and the floor lamp and pouff were found at Urban Barn. My client's once dated and unused space is now a well-used dual purpose room that the whole family can enjoy!

An un-used living room became the perfect spot for drinks, conversation or reading a book.
Living room - transitional living room idea in New York

A cramped and dated kitchen becomes a light, bright, and spacious great room through the removal of a wall dividing the kitchen from the living and dining rooms. The new cabinet plan is expanded into an unused breakfast nook enlarging the functional space. Efficient storage is designed with the addition of a tall pantry cabinet fitted with roll-out shelves, ample use of convenient drawer storage, trash and recycling pull-out, and an appliance garage designed to hide away an assortment of countertop appliances. Pro-style appliances by Jennair make this kitchen a chef’s dream and thoughtful design details complete the overall look.