Shawnee homeowners contacted Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc. to update their family room which featured all golden oak cabinetry and trim. The furnishings represented the mid-century with well-worn furniture and outdated colors. The homeowners treasured a few wood pieces that they had artfully chosen for their interest. They wanted to keep these and incorporate them into the new look. These pieces anchored the selection of the new furniture and the design of the remodeled family room. Because the family room was part of a first floor remodel and the space flowed from one room to the next, the colors in each room needed to blend together. The paint colors tied the rooms together seamlessly. The wood trim was sprayed white and the walls painted a warm soothing gray. The fireplace was painted a darker gray. A floor plan was created for all the furnishings to meet the homeowners’ preference for comfortable chairs that would focus on the fireplace and television. The design team placed the TV above the mantel for easy viewing from all angles of the room. The team also chose upholstered pieces for their comfort and well-wearing fabrics while ensuring that the older traditional pieces mingled well with the contemporary lamps and new end tables. An area rug anchored the room and gold and warm gray tones add richness and warmth to the new color scheme. Hunter Douglas wood blinds finished in white to blend with the trim color completed the remodel of this beautiful and updated transitional room. Design Connection Inc. of Overland Park provided space planning, remodeling, painting, furniture, area rugs, accessories, project management and paint and stain colors.

Our client’s loved mauve as was in style in the late 1980’s when this Olathe custom home was built on acreage. The before pictures feature mauve moiré wallpaper and gold accents. What is most dated was the low cabinet size of 30 inches that was popular at that time. Arlene Ladegaard principal designer of Design Connection, Inc. was contacted after updating many rooms in their home. The first decision was to leave the marble tile floor that had been installed a few years back. Wallpaper in the purple tones was requested. The client loved purple and had accents of it in many rooms in her home. They are Kansas State University graduates. A new standard height cabinet of 36 inches was specified along with Cambria quartz countertops. A mosaic backsplash hinted of the purple accents to blend beautifully with the newly updated floral purple and silver wallpaper. Brushed nickel was chosen for the plumbing fixtures as well as an oval mirror above the countertops. The client’s love the new look including the Kohler ADA height toilet. There is no more bending down. The design of this new powder blends well with the Traditional Style of the home and works with the surrounding spaces. Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design Overland Park provided: Cabinet design and specifications, wallpaper, countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, installation as well as project management.

Shawnee homeowners contacted Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc. to update their family room which featured all golden oak cabinetry and trim. The furnishings represented the mid-century with well-worn furniture and outdated colors. The homeowners treasured a few wood pieces that they had artfully chosen for their interest. They wanted to keep these and incorporate them into the new look. These pieces anchored the selection of the new furniture and the design of the remodeled family room. Because the family room was part of a first floor remodel and the space flowed from one room to the next, the colors in each room needed to blend together. The paint colors tied the rooms together seamlessly. The wood trim was sprayed white and the walls painted a warm soothing gray. The fireplace was painted a darker gray. A floor plan was created for all the furnishings to meet the homeowners’ preference for comfortable chairs that would focus on the fireplace and television. The design team placed the TV above the mantel for easy viewing from all angles of the room. The team also chose upholstered pieces for their comfort and well-wearing fabrics while ensuring that the older traditional pieces mingled well with the contemporary lamps and new end tables. An area rug anchored the room and gold and warm gray tones add richness and warmth to the new color scheme. Hunter Douglas wood blinds finished in white to blend with the trim color completed the remodel of this beautiful and updated transitional room. Design Connection Inc. of Overland Park provided space planning, remodeling, painting, furniture, area rugs, accessories, project management and paint and stain colors.

Bill Taylor
Example of a classic formal and open concept dark wood floor and coffered ceiling living room design in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Mid-sized country medium tone wood floor bathroom photo in Charleston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray walls, marble countertops and brown cabinets

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.

Our clients requested a Tuscan-style kitchen that conveyed the flavors of living in Europe. They envisioned a barrel ceiling with red brick arranged in a herringbone pattern. This barrel ceiling set the stage for the ornate details featured in the woodwork throughout this exquisite home. To see pictures and details of this whole home design by Design Connection, Inc., please visit our portfolio: http://www.DesignConnectionInc.com/portfolio

Small urban vertical balcony garden photo in Melbourne with a roof extension

Inspiration for a mediterranean staircase remodel in San Francisco

Our clients had thought very hard about remodeling or moving. Their family was at a point where they needed to move or remodel. They loved their neighborhood. In researching their options they found Design Connection, Inc, on Houzz website. After much thought they decided to remodel their entire first floor of their home to make the space more family friendly. Our design team at Design Connection, Inc. came up with a plan to remodel the kitchen space and update all the fixtures, flooring, fireplaces. Space plans allowed the client to see where all the new furnishing were going to be placed, as well as choices for carpet, countertops, plumbing, a new island, lighting, tile furniture and accessories. An approval was given and everything was ordered. The client stated “The process was simple and went smoothly.” The construction process from start to finish took a mere two months and finished on time and on budget. The furniture was delivered at one time and the pictures hung by our professional installer. The accessories were the final element to complete this beautiful project. The client’s left for a few hours with an empty house and came back to their dream home. They were thrilled! Design Connection, Inc. provided space plans, cabinets, countertops, tile, painting, furniture, area rugs accessories, hard wood floors and installation of all materials and project management.

Outdoor Room with a View! Designed & Built. Family parties and gatherings are fun and easy with all the right spaces. The scenic drive coming home adds to the curb appeal as it sense with the architecture as well the homes interior. Once inside thou, you are drawn right back out by the mountain view and gorgeous swimming pool. The glistening water makes you want to have fun in and around the pool. The outdoor living spaces under the covered patio is great for dining alfresco, watching movies and hanging out around the fire pit day or night. Destinations spaces allow guest to layout, read, eat or just relax. Fountains and streams of water dance in and around the pool, creating sounds of tranquility & excitement. Shade structures, lighting, gardening & native landscapes complete this home energy. No need to go out,.. when everything you need is just right outside your door. Creating memories that will last a lifetime will be cherished for generations to come.

  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

After the devastating Tubbs fire, Craig reimagined this Calistoga property into a wine country retreat for the owners' family as well as corporate/wellness guests. He approached the design by studying the natural elements of the site including trees, views and light, the vernacular design of the area and the clients’ personality. Craig designed a barn and the house – made up of a one-story and a two-story building – connected by a stunning 20-foot steel and glass breezeway. Expansive doors and windows create seamless indoor/outdoor flow and numerous patios and the pool area provide comfortable outdoor spaces. The modern and warm interior is bright, luxurious and comfortable.

Photography by Patrick Ray With a footprint of just 450 square feet, this micro residence embodies minimalism and elegance through efficiency. Particular attention was paid to creating spaces that support multiple functions as well as innovative storage solutions. A mezzanine-level sleeping space looks down over the multi-use kitchen/living/dining space as well out to multiple view corridors on the site. To create a expansive feel, the lower living space utilizes a bifold door to maximize indoor-outdoor connectivity, opening to the patio, endless lap pool, and Boulder open space beyond. The home sits on a ¾ acre lot within the city limits and has over 100 trees, shrubs and grasses, providing privacy and meditation space. This compact home contains a fully-equipped kitchen, ¾ bath, office, sleeping loft and a subgrade storage area as well as detached carport.

The wallcovering is comprised of wood pulp from sustainably managed forests. It has a double layer, featuring a top layer that is laser cut to reveal hints of metallic foil below, which adds a flickering glimmer to the space, like an explosion of stars in the night. The natural selenite art is such a stunner, providing a subtle glimmer as it catches the light from different angles.

Designed and built in conjunction with Freemont #2, this home pays homage to surrounding architecture, including that of St. James Lutheran Church. The home is comprised of stately, well-proportioned rooms; significant architectural detailing; appropriate spaces for today's active family; and sophisticated wiring to service any HD video, audio, lighting, HVAC and / or security needs. The focal point of the first floor is the sweeping curved staircase, ascending through all three floors of the home and topped with skylights. Surrounding this staircase on the main floor are the formal living and dining rooms, as well as the beautifully-detailed Butler's Pantry. A gourmet kitchen and great room, designed to receive considerable eastern light, is at the rear of the house, connected to the lower level family room by a rear staircase. Four bedrooms (two en-suite) make up the second floor, with a fifth bedroom on the third floor and a sixth bedroom in the lower level. A third floor recreation room is at the top of the staircase, adjacent to the 400SF roof deck. A connected, heated garage is accessible from the rear staircase of the home, as well as the rear yard and garage roof deck. This home went under contract after being on the MLS for one day. Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing

When clients begin considering a kitchen remodel, they're often thinking about more than new cabinetry or countertops. They're thinking about how they want to live in their home. For this project, the goal was to create a kitchen that felt more open, connected, and functional for everyday life. The original kitchen was relatively small and enclosed. A wall with a single doorway separated it from the formal dining room, while a half-wall divided it from the main living area. The space functioned well enough, but it didn't support the way the homeowners wanted to gather, entertain, and interact with family and guests. Rather than simply updating finishes, we took a comprehensive approach to reimagining the entire layout.

Matthew Millman
Small modern gray one-story metal flat roof idea in San Francisco

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.