The Natsume Basin, or cleansing basin, is an important part of the ceremonial tea garden process. You dip the bamboo ladle or “dipper” (hishaku) into the basin to clean your hands before entering the tea house.

Benny Chan
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary brown two-story metal exterior home remodel in Los Angeles

Light hardwood floors flow from room to room on the first level. Oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures add a sense of eclectic elegance to the farmhouse setting. Horizontal stair railings give a modern touch to the farmhouse nostalgia. Stained wooden beams contrast beautifully with the crisp white tongue and groove ceiling. A barn door conceals a private, well-lit office or homework nook with bespoke shelving.

Lindsay Chambers Design, Roger Davies Photography
Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized transitional master white tile and marble tile freestanding bathtub idea in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, purple cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

Transitional bathroom photo in Minneapolis

Corey Gaffer Photography
Trendy galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, an island, solid surface countertops, stone slab backsplash and paneled appliances

The new design of the closet allowed for more efficient and beautiful space. Custom cabinets gave room for hanging and folded clothes. Custom shoe cabinet created more efficient shoe storage. Atlanta closet

Gibeon Photography
Example of a mountain style utility room design with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets and white walls

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.”

Copyright © 2009 Robert Reck. All Rights Reserved.
Example of a huge southwest master carpeted bedroom design in Albuquerque with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Crystal Cabinets
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Minneapolis

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped light wood floor and gray floor open concept kitchen photo in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Laura Dante
Inspiration for an industrial bedroom remodel in Tampa with a tile fireplace and a standard fireplace

The detailed plans for this bathroom can be purchased here: https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/sensational-spa-bathroom-plans/ Contemporary bathroom with mosaic marble on the floors, porcelain on the walls, no pulls on the vanity, mirrors with built in lighting, black counter top, complete rearranging of this floor plan.

This traditional inspired kitchen design features Merillat Masterpiece cabinets in the Verona raised panel door style in the Pebble Grey Paint finish. Kitchen countertops are Cambria Brittanica. Photos courtesy of Felicia Evans Photography.

Inspiration for a mediterranean medium tone wood floor single front door remodel in Austin with a medium wood front door

The finished product
Example of a classic rectangular pool design in New York

Transitional kitchen photo in San Diego

Rachel Loewen Photography © 2017 Houzz
Example of a danish bathroom design in Chicago