This open living space was given new purpose and added detail when the wall that previously divided the two existing rooms was removed. The new space was treated to new hardwood flooring throughout, new crown moldings, built-in desk and storage areas as well as a professionally selected color palette. The result was a space that will give lasting quality and an improved comfort of living throughout the years.

Thirty years ago, the homeowners' previous deck was strong and well-built, but time takes its toll and it needed to be replaced. We replaced it with a brand spanking new composite and cedar haven, perfect for a peaceful retirement.

This open living space was given new purpose and added detail when the wall that previously divided the two existing rooms was removed. The new space was treated to new hardwood flooring throughout, new crown moldings, built-in desk and storage areas as well as a professionally selected color palette. The result was a space that will give lasting quality and an improved comfort of living throughout the years.

Lovely, clean-lined landscape by Pamela Crawford featuring lots of bromeliads, containers, and Mexican beach pebble borders. See over 2000 photos of Pamela's work at pamela-crawford.com. Photographed by Allen Rokach.

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This large open concept kitchen and dining space was created by removing a load bearing wall between the old kitchen and a porch area. The new porch was insulated and incorporated into the overall space. The kitchen remodel was part of a whole house remodel so new quarter sawn oak flooring, a vaulted ceiling, windows and skylights were added. A large calcutta marble topped island takes center stage. It houses a 5’ galley workstation - a sink that provides a convenient spot for prepping, serving, entertaining and clean up. A 36” induction cooktop is located directly across from the island for easy access. Two appliance garages on either side of the cooktop house small appliances that are used on a daily basis. Honeycomb tile by Ann Sacks and open shelving along the cooktop wall add an interesting focal point to the room. Antique mirrored glass faces the storage unit housing dry goods and a beverage center. “I chose details for the space that had a bit of a mid-century vibe that would work well with what was originally a 1950s ranch. Along the way a previous owner added a 2nd floor making it more of a Cape Cod style home, a few eclectic details felt appropriate”, adds Klimala. The wall opposite the cooktop houses a full size fridge, freezer, double oven, coffee machine and microwave. “There is a lot of functionality going on along that wall”, adds Klimala. A small pull out countertop below the coffee machine provides a spot for hot items coming out of the ovens. The rooms creamy cabinetry is accented by quartersawn white oak at the island and wrapped ceiling beam. The golden tones are repeated in the antique brass light fixtures. “This is the second kitchen I’ve had the opportunity to design for myself. My taste has gotten a little less traditional over the years, and although I’m still a traditionalist at heart, I had some fun with this kitchen and took some chances. The kitchen is super functional, easy to keep clean and has lots of storage to tuck things away when I’m done using them. The casual dining room is fabulous and is proving to be a great spot to linger after dinner. We love it!” Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

After spending more time at home, the recently retired homeowners recognized that their nearly 30-year-old 1990s style bathroom needed an update and upgrade. Working in the exact footprint of the previous bath and using a complementary balance of contemporary materials, fixtures and finishes the Bel Air Construction team created a refreshed bath of natural tones and textures.

Thirty years ago, the homeowners' previous deck was strong and well-built, but time takes its toll and it needed to be replaced. We replaced it with a brand spanking new composite and cedar haven, perfect for a peaceful retirement.

The clients wanted to change out and upgrade the windows in their sunroom that Creative Wood Products did many years ago. They also wanted to replace the door that led into the room from the outside. The clients chose an Andersen window product that they really liked. The interior trim was replaced with new western red cedar rough sawn to mimic the previous look. On the exterior, the same trim style was used to match the previous look as well. The new windows really changed the appearance of the room, both inside and out. The room now feels bigger and with the modern style window, warmer. Once the trim on the exterior is stained, they will look like they have always been there. Thank you very much Mr. & Mrs. Henderson for continuing to trust Creative Wood Products with updates to your home!

Our clients bought this 20-year-old mountain home after it had been on the market for six years. Their tastes were simple, mid-century contemporary, and the previous owners tended toward more bright Latin wallpaper aesthetics, Corinthian columns, etc. The home’s many levels are connected through several interesting staircases. The original, traditional wooden newel posts, balusters and handrails, were all replaced with simpler cable railings. The fireplace was wrapped in rustic, reclaimed wood. The load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living room was removed, and all new cabinets, counters, and appliances were installed.

Initial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool. Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space. Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.

This client approached me with an HOA issue. The house had been previously designed and approved by their neighborhood HOA. However, the Home Owners Association had trouble visualizing how the house would sit on the sloping lot and how it would coexist with other houses built twenty years prior. Therefore, I was brought in to render the house and property following three different color schemes. This is the final rendition approved by the HOA.

After spending more time at home, the recently retired homeowners recognized that their nearly 30-year-old 1990s style bathroom needed an update and upgrade. Working in the exact footprint of the previous bath and using a complementary balance of contemporary materials, fixtures and finishes the Bel Air Construction team created a refreshed bath of natural tones and textures.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in San Francisco

Poltrona Frau chairs around a table the owners had previously. Elliptical Fort Street Studio carpet. Custom two-year sheer drapery. Custom buffet unit designed by Stephen Wanta and fabricated by Tod Von Mertens. Grouping of Vibia Lighting over.

Nearing the finish line! down to the punch list, some landscaping and a concrete parking spot. I had a difficult time remembering the little two room shack I had purchased a few years previous.

Another beautiful deck wrapped up just in time for cooler fall weather. This deck went many years without maintenance by previous owner. We were able to remove the rotted decking and fortunately the framing was still in good condition. We put down new pressure treated boards and brought this deck back to life! Message us if you're looking to upgrade your outdoor entertaining space for the fall!

Thirty years ago, the homeowners' previous deck was strong and well-built, but time takes its toll and it needed to be replaced. We replaced it with a brand spanking new composite and cedar haven, perfect for a peaceful retirement.