Family room - rustic family room idea in Sacramento with a tv stand

Our client’s love of books directed much of the use of the wall space in the entry and living room. The books provide areas of color and visual interest against the newly painted accent wall in Silken Blue by Benjamin Moore.

Modern cabinetry by Wood Mode Custom Cabinets, Frameless construction in Vista Plus door style, Maple wood species with a Matte Eclipse finish, dimensional wall tile Boreal Engineered Marble by Giovanni Barbieri, LED backlit lighting.

Sam Oberter Photography
1950s gray tile and slate tile alcove shower photo in Philadelphia with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Gibeon Photography. Troy Lighting Edison Pendants / Phillip Jeffries Faux Leather Wall covering
Alcove shower - rustic alcove shower idea in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige walls, an integrated sink, concrete countertops and a hinged shower door

Mark Boisclair Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dark wood floor home bar remodel in Phoenix with white countertops

white glass tile backsplash, grey wall, black countertop, black pendant light, coffered ceiling, dark wood floor, great for entertaining, kitchen, panel refrigerator, small & functional, stainless steel appliances, transitional, under-cabinet lighting, white cabinets, white coffered ceiling with dark grey inserts, all trim semi-gloss white, all walls grey, wine cooler, wine cubbies, wine fridge, wine rack, wine storage, Peter Rymwid, Architechtural Photography

John Sciarrino
Large elegant dark wood floor and brown floor hallway photo in Miami with beige 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.”

Michael Dikter, Focus Photography NW
Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Seattle with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

A more bold approach was taken with the color scheme for the Pool Bath. The oversized subway tiles in four colors - mango, breeze, estuary and sea grass- is the focal point of the bathroom while the smaller scale mosaic flooring offsets it nicely in Tessera glass. Traditional elements were used to keep with the style of the home: the classic white of the cabinetry, countertop and sink, the simplicity of the circular mirror and the single light wall sconces complete the look. Vanity wall: Island Stone in 4 colors (mango, breeze, estuary, and sea grass) Flooring: Tessera glass mosaic – Crème Brulee Sconces: Circa Lighting NY Subway Single Light Wall Sconce Sink: Kohler Fixtures: Rohl Country Bath – A1464LM Mirror: Restoration Hardware – Dillon Oval Pivot Mirror

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

A simple modern palette encompasses the home and is evident in the dining room. Modern lighting, art and neutral tones feel contemporary, juxtaposed by rustic barn doors. ©Shoot2Sell Photography

Designed by Nathan Taylor of Obelisk Home - Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw Mason Jar Light by Boots N Gus
Kitchen/dining room combo - small traditional medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Other with beige walls and no fireplace

Emily Minton Redfield
Large trendy master gray tile and matchstick tile porcelain tile bathroom photo in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops and white walls

Amy Braswell
Example of a classic u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, blue cabinets, concrete countertops and stainless steel appliances

A typical post-1906 Noe Valley house is simultaneously restored, expanded and redesigned to keep what works and rethink what doesn’t. The front façade, is scraped and painted a crisp monochrome white—it worked. The new asymmetrical gabled rear addition takes the place of a windowless dead end box that didn’t. A “Great kitchen”, open yet formally defined living and dining rooms, a generous master suite, and kid’s rooms with nooks and crannies, all make for a newly designed house that straddles old and new. Structural Engineer: Gregory Paul Wallace SE General Contractor: Cardea Building Co. Photographer: Open Homes Photography

Michael J. Lee Photography
Example of a large beach style medium tone wood floor hallway design in Boston with gray walls

Mid-century modern living room with open plan and floor to ceiling windows for indoor-outdoor ambiance, redwood paneled walls, exposed wood beam ceiling, wood flooring and mid-century modern style furniture, in Berkeley, California. - Photo by Bruce Damonte.