Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Houston.

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.”

Elegant medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Example of a trendy built-in desk concrete floor home studio design in Salt Lake City with white walls

Busy Bees Photography
Example of a mid-sized danish open concept light wood floor family room design in Copenhagen with white walls

Jeeheon Cho
Deck - contemporary deck idea in Detroit

Vista Estate Imaging
Example of a country freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office design in Seattle with yellow walls

Marc Rutenberg Homes
Mid-sized transitional carpeted bedroom photo in Tampa with black walls and no fireplace

Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz Inc. Jennifer's vanity is home to a treasure trove of vintage jewelry, highlighted by creative storage solutions. What was once a tool box now hangs on the wall to house various necklaces. Even with such rugged origins, the display has a decidedly feminine appeal. "My girlfriend had come across these old tool boxes at an estate sale. The person that owned them painted the tools that hung on each hook, so it makes for a great story," says Jennifer. Tool box containers: Stash Style Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz

Small trendy beige tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor and beige floor corner shower photo with open cabinets, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an island, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

Aaron Kraft / Krafty Photos
Mountain style l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands and white countertops

Example of a large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry design in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, white backsplash and ceramic backsplash

This summer bring the vacation to your family! Try some of these activities to indulge in all your backyard has to offer for the perfect #staycation getaway: 1. Gone Camping! Grab your tent and sleeping backs and transform your backyard into a campsite. Take this time to bond as a family and stargaze. Make sure to bring s’mores supplies! 2. Scavenger Hunt! Set up a fun scavenger hunt in your own backyard, equipped with a treasure map and traps. 3. BBQ Cook-Off! Choose your partner and get to work developing a tasty bbq meal sure to beat your opponents. Tip: creativity is always key to scoring extra points with the judges. Is your backyard #staycation ready? Contact us for a complimentary consultation for an exterior lighting solution suited for your needs: http://bit.ly/2Esq01m

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Hallway - eclectic hallway idea in Austin

This amazing Home bar, seating area and fire pit sits to the side of the pool where entertainment is key. There has been a bathroom installed in the bar if you look into the open door for comfort and convenience. Project Completed by http://www.stonewalldesigncorp.com/

David Burroughs Photography
Inspiration for a large coastal two-story wood exterior home remodel in Baltimore