Example of a mid-sized trendy porcelain tile and beige floor powder room design in Chicago with a one-piece toilet, gray walls and a pedestal sink

Meerkat sculptures welcome visitors to the entryway of the home
Design ideas for a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Quintessential Home For Luxe Living Spire partnered up with Moceri and built the Villa Cortile, one of the homes in the Pinnacle subdivision in Oakland Township, MI. The home features a grand circular dining room that leads to a cozy library/wine room at one end and a bar and two pantries at the other. It includes two French balconies that overlook the pool. A master suite wing with a separate sitting room warmed by a two-way fireplace, which is centered on the floating tub in the spa bath. It also includes a lower level that opens directly to the swimming pool and hot tub. This home was featured in the Ultimate Homearama in 2014. An event that provide visitors with the ultimate in luxury home living, design trends and ideas that are attainable in their own home.

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

A happy visitor sips from one of the many fountains.
Photo of a transitional landscaping in Orange County.

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic built-in desk dark wood floor home office photo in Salt Lake City with white walls and no fireplace

The existing kitchen was in a word, "stuck" between the family room, mudroom and the rest of the house. The client has renovated most of the home but did not know what to do with the kitchen. The space was visually cut off from the family room, had underwhelming storage capabilities, and could not accommodate family gatherings at the table. Access to the recently redesigned backyard was down a step and through the mud room. We began by relocating the access to the yard into the kitchen with a French door. The remaining space was converted into a walk-in pantry accessible from the kitchen. Next, we opened a window to the family room, so the children were visible from the kitchen side. The old peninsula plan was replaced with a beautiful blue painted island with seating for 4. The outdated appliances received a major upgrade with Sub Zero Wolf cooking and food preservation products. The visual beauty of the vaulted ceiling is enhanced by long pendants and oversized crown molding. A hard-working wood tile floor grounds the blue and white colorway. The colors are repeated in a lovely blue and white screened marble tile. White porcelain subway tiles frame the feature. The biggest and possibly the most appreciated change to the space was when we opened the wall from the kitchen into the dining room to connect the disjointed spaces. Now the family has experienced a new appreciation for their home. Rooms which were previously storage areas and now integrated into the family lifestyle. The open space is so conducive to entertaining visitors frequently just "drop in”. In the dining area, we designed custom cabinets complete with a window seat, the perfect spot for additional diners or a perch for the family cat. The tall cabinets store all the china and crystal once stored in a back closet. Now it is always ready to be used. The last repurposed space is now home to a refreshment center. Cocktails and coffee are easily stored and served convenient to the kitchen but out of the main cooking area. How do they feel about their new space? It has changed the way they live and use their home. The remodel has created a new environment to live, work and play at home. They could not be happier.

A fine feathered friend door knocker announces visitors with endearing style. Photography: Jessica Klewicki Glynn
Inspiration for a coastal entryway remodel in San Francisco

Dramatic, classic and modern; Obelisk Home’s challenge from the homeowner. We now had to convince the client that a dramatic black alligator wallpaper mixed with a black metallic tile, a sleek black countertop and a colorful listello strip would be the perfect mix in this small space. It is simple, yet shiny light fixtures and a mirror, create reflectivity, warmth and interest. The cabinets were finished in a warm grey with lots of under-cabinet space for storage. Powder baths never seem to have enough storage, but not this one. This space is now the favorite of the homeowners and visitors. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw

A welcoming entry for any visitor!
Example of a trendy single front door design in Seattle with blue walls

Found along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida, Seagrove Beach is a mile-and-a-half beach that encircles a small cove and lures visitors with its beauty and serenity. Watercolor was named for the thick grove of windswept trees that surround it.

Design: Eric Blanz of Blanzscape LLC Photo: Margot Hartford © 2015 Houzz
Island style exterior home photo in San Francisco

This mountaintop site, the location for a proposed garage and shop would, from its second story, offer a million dollar view of the expansive valley below. This unusual building takes this opportunity to the max. The building’s first level provides various spaces for shops garage bays, and storage. Cantilevered roofs off each side shelter additional work space, and transition visitors to the apartment entry. Arriving upstairs, the visitor enters between private bed-bath spaces on the uphill side, and a generous open kitchen and living area focused on the view. An unusual cantilevered covered porch provides outdoor dining space, and allows the apartment’s living space to extend beyond the garage doors below. A library ladder serves a mini-loft third level. The flexible interior arrangement allows guests to entertain from the kitchen, or to find a private nook in the living area, while maintaining a visual link to what makes this place special.

Photo: Robert Burns © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic entryway remodel in Portland

Bedroom - rustic carpeted bedroom idea in Denver with beige walls, a stone fireplace and a corner fireplace

Our young client greets visitors from her secret play space tucked under the stairs. On the left of the stair enclosure is a mud room with a bench and ample storage accessible from the garage. Photos by Scott Hargis.

Matt Kocourek Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Kansas City with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Life's A Beach... Along the Eastern Shore of Massachusetts lies an unexpected beauty. Great Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts, once pasture for the town’s sheep and cattle, remains a New England secret, a hidden jewel, an oasis for wildlife and beach lovers. The homeowners, long-time Ipswich residents and avid boaters, left their previous Ipswich address, longing for the Great Neck lifestyle, for the fresh salt air, the birds, the beaches and the ocean breeze; NOT for the dark, cramped kitchen that came with this house purchase. Windhill Builders was called in immediately and 3 months later, Voila’! The crisp white kitchen with clean lines, immaculate finishes and dreamy white marble were exactly what the homeowners dreamed of. The custom wine cooler & bar area, barn door and coordinating white mudroom perfected the flow for the homeowners. They love their new coastal cottage! Photo by Eric Roth

The front door welcomes visitors into a small entry area.
Small elegant laminate floor and brown floor front door photo in Indianapolis with beige walls and a dark wood front door