Combining Pella Architect Series wood double-hung windows with fixed windows can open up small spaces by allowing more light, giving the appearance of a larger room.

Brad Haines knows a thing or two about building things. The intensely creative and innovative founder of Oklahoma City-based Haines Capital is the driving force behind numerous successful companies including Bank 7 (NASDAQ BSVN), which proudly reported record year-end earnings since going public in September of last year. He has beautifully built, renovated, and personally thumb printed all of his commercial spaces and residences. “Our theory is to keep things sophisticated but comfortable,” Brad says. That’s the exact approach he took in his personal haven in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. Painstakingly renovated over the span of two years by Candeleria Foster Design-Build of Oklahoma City, his home boasts museum-white, authentic Venetian plaster walls and ceilings; charcoal tiled flooring; imported marble in the master bath; and a pretty kitchen you’ll want to emulate. Reminiscent of an edgy luxury hotel, it is a vibe conjured by Cantoni designer Nicole George. “The new remodel plan was all about opening up the space and layering monochromatic color with lots of texture,” says Nicole, who collaborated with Brad on two previous projects. “The color palette is minimal, with charcoal, bone, amber, stone, linen and leather.” “Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated Nicole helped oversee space planning and selection of interior finishes, lighting, furnishings and fine art for the entire 7,000-square-foot home. It is now decked top-to-bottom in pieces sourced from Cantoni, beginning with the custom-ordered console at entry and a pair of Glacier Suspension fixtures over the stairwell. “Every angle in the house is the result of a critical thought process,” Nicole says. “We wanted to make sure each room would be purposeful.” To that end, “we reintroduced the ‘parlor,’ and also redefined the formal dining area as a bar and drink lounge with enough space for 10 guests to comfortably dine,” Nicole says. Brad’s parlor holds the Swing sectional customized in a silky, soft-hand charcoal leather crafted by prominent Italian leather furnishings company Gamma. Nicole paired it with the Kate swivel chair customized in a light grey leather, the sleek DK writing desk, and the Black & More bar cabinet by Malerba. “Nicole has a special design talent and adapts quickly to what we expect and like,” Brad says. To create the restaurant-worthy dining space, Nicole brought in a black-satin glass and marble-topped dining table and mohair-velvet chairs, all by Italian maker Gallotti & Radice. Guests can take a post-dinner respite on the adjoining room’s Aston sectional by Gamma. In the formal living room, Nicole paired Cantoni’s Fashion Affair club chairs with the Black & More cocktail table, and sofas sourced from Désirée, an Italian furniture upholstery company that creates cutting-edge yet comfortable pieces. The color-coordinating kitchen and breakfast area, meanwhile, hold a set of Guapa counter stools in ash grey leather, and the Ray dining table with light-grey leather Cattelan Italia chairs. The expansive loggia also is ideal for entertaining and lounging with the Versa grand sectional, the Ido cocktail table in grey aged walnut and Dolly chairs customized in black nubuck leather. Nicole made most of the design decisions, but, “she took my suggestions seriously and then put me in my place,” Brad says. She had the master bedroom’s Marlon bed by Gamma customized in a remarkably soft black leather with a matching stitch and paired it with onyx gloss Black & More nightstands. “The furnishings absolutely complement the style,” Brad says. “They are high-quality and have a modern flair, but at the end of the day, are still comfortable and user-friendly.” The end result is a home Brad not only enjoys, but one that Nicole also finds exceptional. “I honestly love every part of this house,” Nicole says. “Working with Brad is always an adventure but a privilege that I take very seriously, from the beginning of the design process to installation.”

This new construction home is located in Hinsdale, Illinois. The main goal of this kitchen was to create a real cook’s kitchen– great for entertaining and large family gatherings. The concept was to have this working kitchen loaded with appliances completely hidden since the space is open to the family room. O’Brien Harris Cabinetry in Chicago (OBH) seamlessly integrated the kitchen into the architecture. They created concealed appliance storage and designed cabinetry to look like furniture. The back wall of the kitchen was designed to look like a beautiful, paneled wall. The ovens were located off to the side – pulled up on legs so it felt lighter and not so heavy. OBH designed metal cuffs at the cabinet base so the unit looks like a piece of furniture. This kitchen has all the function but still is beautiful. obrienharris.com

kwestimages.com
Inspiration for a transitional beige tile bathroom remodel in Toronto with a niche

Within this comfortably cozy mountain retreat filled with natural light, Siemasko + Verbridge has created a space ideal for entertaining and showcasing the surrounding mountain views. Located in Sugarbush, Vermont, a refined alpine style creates a relaxed and inviting environment. Reclaimed beams and earthy materials emit a feeling of warmth throughout the condo and the fireplace, faced with local Vermont stone, is perfect for curling up in front of after outdoor adventures. The team drew inspiration from the condo’s slope-side setting, infusing the space with playful reminders of the wilderness outdoors: stag print pillows, snowflakes on the dining chairs and skiing scenes depicted on the walls as you head upstairs. Siemasko +Verbridge’s family-friendly design accommodates ample space for gear and ski storage, durable fabrics and easy-to-maintain furnishings. Coarser textiles such as antler chandeliers are balanced with softer materials like nubby pillows and knit throws providing an interesting juxtaposition of textural elements. Customized cabinetry, expansive windows and reclaimed local materials enhance the character of this slope-side chalet and redefines contemporary mountain living. Photographer: Westphalen Photography

Barry Grossman Photography
Trendy foyer photo in Miami with white walls

View looking up to the home from the street view with the spectacular desert backdrop to create the "Live In View". Builder - Build Inc, Interior Design - Tate Studio Architects, Landscape - Desert Foothills Landscape, Photography - Thompson Photographic.

Fashionable girl's bedroom featuring "Black High Heel Shoe with Feather" custom giclee print (30"x30" on canvas) of an original watercolor painting by Beverly Brown. Prints are made to order in sizes from 8"x8" up to 48"x48" on fine art paper with custom framing; or on canvas, metal or acrylic. Artwork © Beverly Brown

Alise O'Brien Photography
Beach style freestanding desk light wood floor study room photo in St Louis with white walls

Grey stained cabinetry compliments the white perimeter cabinetry and carerra countertops. Cement backsplash in "Nantes" by Original Mission Tile in soft grey and white add flair to the muted palette. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn. Refrigerator by LIebherr. Cooktop by Wolf. Bosch dishwasher. Farmhouse sink by Blanco. Cabinetry pulls by Jeffrey Alexander Belcastle collection. Photo credit: Neil Landino

The Pai Pai is the automatic hangout spot for the whole family. Designed in a fun tropical style with a reed thatch ceiling, dark stained rafters, and Ohia log columns. The live edge bar faces the TV for watching the game while barbecuing and the orange built-in sofa makes relaxing a sinch. The pool features a swim-up bar and a hammock swings in the shade beneath the coconut trees.

Andrea Patassy
Example of a trendy white tile bathroom design in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and an undermount sink

Along the fireplace, the existing brick is exposed to save on finishes, but also add a rustic texture to the space, in contrast with the clean, modern white finishes. To warm up the space, warm walnut furnishings are introduced.

When a large family renovated a home nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, all bathrooms received dazzling upgrades and this master bathroom was no exception. The spacious room faces a private yard with an abundance of greenery and views of the foothills, so I chose light, cool colors and organic materials to reference the beauty just outside. We chose an elegantly curved freestanding bath tub which echoes the beautiful, sinuous twists of the tub filler and sink faucets. I worked with my client to create a massive steam shower lined with porcelain tile that mimics marble, a much more durable and steam-friendly material than porous marble. A grand custom vanity spans one half of the bathroom and features a seated make-up area. For the vanity lighting, my client fell in love with pendants that look as if they are faceted jewels. The entire bathroom is now a luxurious, sophisticated spa. Photos by: Bernardo Grijalva

Across from Hudson River Park, the Classic 7 pre-war apartment had not renovated in over 50 years. The new owners, a young family with two kids, desired to open up the existing closed in spaces while keeping some of the original, classic pre-war details. Dark, dimly-lit corridors and clustered rooms that were a detriment to the brilliant natural light and expansive views the existing apartment inherently possessed, were demolished to create a new open plan for a more functional style of living. Custom charcoal stained white oak herringbone floors were laid throughout the space. The dark blue lacquered kitchen cabinets provide a sharp contrast to the otherwise neutral colored space. A wall unit in the same blue lacquer floats on the wall in the Den.

Lighten, brighten and open up the space were the goals of this first floor renovation on Chicago's North Shore.
Large transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Chicago with an island, an undermount sink, paneled appliances, gray countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash and glass tile backsplash

View showing expanse of the rock otcropping area with its two sets of stone slab steps curving back up from either side of the lower flagstone terrace to the middle terrace and then on up to the main terrace on the right below the house. There is an approximately 14' foot drop between the upper terrace and the lower terrace. Photos Jane Luce photo Jane Luce

Material expression and exterior finishes were carefully selected to reduce the apparent size of the house, last through many years, and add warmth and human scale to the home. The unique siding system is made up of different widths and depths of western red cedar, complementing the vision of the structure's wings which are balanced, not symmetrical. The exterior materials include a burn brick base, powder-coated steel, cedar, acid-washed concrete and Corten steel planters.

A striking island occupies the center of a spacious kitchen in Bloomfield Hills. The HPL backed real wood veneer in Ebony Sabbiata from Tree Frog bridges the tonal distance between the walnut floors and all white cabinets and walls, creating harmony and visual balance. Full height backsplashes in shiny white are laid out in a windmill pattern, punctuated every so often with intricately designed accent squares. A combination of bold veining and delicate blooming on the Calacatta quartzite countertops contributes its subtle energy to the mix. The kitchen is separated into several independent vignettes, each one laid out symmetrically. The vast island with built in sink offers all the prep space a chef could need. The built in cooktop is centered directly behind to facilitate easy cooking, while an additional sink in the clean up area expedites after dinner chores. A walk-pantry and small home office are tucked in behind the refrigerator freezer wall. Multiple lighting details, including lighted cabinet interiors and a lighted display niche above the refrigerator, complete this stunning 2015 lake home.