Design Elements
Master Bathroom
Finishes in whites and grays brighten up the space and materials with a variety of textures help keep it from feeling sterile. Marble and marble-look tile create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. The floor tile is large-format ceramic made to look like marble. A 3-by-5-foot basket-weave inlay of marble adds interest.
3. A Sandy, Watery, Woody Color Palette Once you have your beach in mind, that should give you a color palette. Architect Michele Kolb of Rosenberg Kolb Architects suggests starting with the floor or walls to anchor the scheme. “I think of sand, beige and gray tones of sand, so I might do a tile floor in that color palette,” she says. She pulls from watery tones as well, like the crystal blue or light aqua of the Turks and Caicos’ water, where she’s had many clients. She also pulls color from driftwood, as seen here in a New York bathroom she designed. “It’s a wood color but with a grayer tone, just like wood left on the beach to gray naturally,” she says. The variegated glass tiles, meanwhile, feel like the “undulation of waves in water,” she says. Shop for bathroom vanities
A French antique reinforced the tone — the faux cow head on the range hood was the project’s mascot. “He inspired the entire kitchen,” Barth says. Originally, she wanted to attach it to a zinc hood, but when that proved too costly, she took things into her own hands, painting the hood to look like zinc. “I love teaching myself how to do things,” she says. The backsplash and counters are Carrara marble. The piece over the range is an antique Italian fireback with a 1733 family crest. Take the kitchen tour: Found Objects and Old Italian Farmhouse Charm
9. Farmhouse Charm Design takeaway: Use reclaimed hardware, tile and wood to add timeless character. Marie Barth and her husband, Brian Forcine, brought the simplicity and warmth of an antique Italian farmhouse kitchen to their new home in Pennsylvania. “We wanted something relaxing and unpretentious,” says Barth, who has a passion for design. Working with cabinetmaker Kevin Ritter of Timeless Kitchen Cabinetry, they mixed reclaimed chestnut boards, copper grilles, simple oil-rubbed bronze hardware, European antiques, plaster walls, terra-cotta floors and salvaged pieces to create an inviting kitchen that looks as though it has been here for centuries rather than months.
It can be an easy fix. If you went for an all-gray living room but have a nagging feeling that the resulting design is a little cold and impersonal for a living space, simply adding a splash of gold can be a wonderful rescue remedy. The quickest fix is to add gold to one large surface, which means the walls or, even easier, the floor. Browse gold-toned rugs Tell us: How have you used gold or other metallics in your home? Share photos and tips in the Comments. More Restful Bedroom Designs Strike Gold Black, White and Gold Add Up to Bathroom Design Heaven
It makes a great focal point. Hanging a gold-framed mirror over a mantel is a classic way to add opulence to a room. Allow it to be the focus of the design, rather than have it fight for attention, or its effect will be lost. That means adding a scattering of gold here and there in the room, and keeping everything else understated.
It enlivens a plain room. Contemporary black-and-white color schemes are so easy to live with and update, but they can lack warmth and depth. So why not solve that issue by making a piece of furniture in a striking gold tone a focal point? Yes, it’s another exception to the ‘"small doses” rule, but covering a sofa or an armchair with a gold upholstery fabric will lift a pared-back design. Velvet and chenille, which glint and glow, add to the feeling of luxury. Find sofas in golden fabrics
It contrasts with dark colors. Gold-colored fabrics or accessories are also the perfect partner for warming up deep and dramatic color schemes, which are predominantly black, dark blue, chocolate brown and deep aubergine. If you want your gold-tinged design to look its best, keep the color scheme around it simple, with the dark background shade complemented by just one other accent. Green and turquoise work beautifully. Pair Dark Green With Gold for a Sumptuous, Satisfying Look
It’s not as showy as you think. There are some situations in which a larger dose can look fabulous — for example, the sofas shown here. For an on-trend look, search for an aged, antiqued or warm yellow gold that’s dull or matte in finish. Anything too bright, shiny or brassy will be hard to comfortably match with jewel tones like the ones in the photo. What about mixing and matching gold with other metallics, such as silver, copper, bronze or brass? Avoid it, but if you must, make one metal the dominant one and the others mere accents.
25. Glass-and-steel room dividers and interior doors. Glass and steel have been popular materials in recent years for front doors and shower enclosures. But good ideas spread quickly. Expect to see a lot more glass-and-steel dividers and doors between interior rooms. They create an open feel and allow light to pass between rooms while still providing some privacy and noise control. Plus, they just look cool, adding a stylish graphic element or contrasting color to otherwise white walls.
24. Custom wood wall treatments. No, this isn’t the wood panel wall look of yesteryear. Rather, many designers are creating custom wood feature walls as a way to add warmth and texture. Mattison had the wall shown here handcrafted out of tongue-and-groove flooring, with the “tongue” removed. With other projects he’s nailed up 1-by-2-inch wood strips directly to the wall, and has played around with creating diagonal or herringbone patterns or other style treatments. “Having a custom wall or walls in any home easily gives it a higher-end feel,” he says.
Contemporary - Lawson Homes - Modernist timber and concrete project. Exterior - Beige & dark soffits
Contemporary - Lawson Homes - Modernist timber and concrete project. Wood ceiling?! Lights on rails? Bench.
Contemporary - Lawson Homes - Modernist timber and concrete project.
Contemporary - Lawson Homes - Modernist timber and concrete project. Wood ceiling floor ceiling & walls?! Lights on rails?
Living room. Even if you try to keep stuff out of the living room, it will eventually migrate back to your more commonly used spaces. Build or buy storage (at least 24 inches deep) with large doors and deep drawers. It’s all about the ease of throwing stuff in there quickly.
And don’t stop at vanity storage. Maximize your storage by using your mirror as a medicine cabinet as well. If you don’t like the feel of a bulky medicine cabinet at your sink, recess it into the wall. This can often create even deeper storage.
Closed storage. Everyone likes the look of open shelving when everything is lined up just so, but the truth is, it’s not always practical to keep everything in perfect order. Closed storage can look just as great, when it’s well thought out. If you have lots of stuff, stay away from open shelving whenever you can, and conceal your stuff behind doors and drawers.
Rooms With Bookshelves Hang paintings and framed photos in front of the shelves. This adds an extra layer of dimension. I tend to do it with small paintings tucked in front of the shelves full of books and other favorite objects, but as you can see here, a larger painting can anchor a big piece of furniture. I also learned about the magic of Command Hooks from a blogger I interviewed. They eliminate the fear of punching permanent holes into your beautiful built-ins that might be holding you back from hanging art this way.
Declutter. Avoid cluttering rooms that have a low ceiling. Each item in the room will add to that feeling of being boxed in. Use inventive storage methods and keep your rooms tidy.
12. Feature walls. Orient your feature wall vertically. Don’t be afraid to do something daring in a space with a low ceiling. Just ensure that you don’t emphasize that low ceiling in the process. Wall paint: Texas Leather, Benjamin Moore
Transoms. Transoms above doors and windows add a sense of height and allow more light in as well, which will make your space feel even more spacious. Explore more ways to use tr
Low furniture. By choosing low-profile furniture, you create the impression of higher ceilings. It’s especially important that furniture of the right scale be used for a space with lower ceilings. Low-slung backs on couches and chairs can produce dramatic effects.
Vertical wall sconces. Not only do the vertical elements of the lights themselves help to create the look of a taller wall, but the light cast up and down from sconces really helps to create height by tricking the eyes.
7. Mirrors. Use full-height mirrors wherever you can to create the illusion of higher ceilings. As every magician knows, mirrors are amazing at creating false appearances. Discover how to use mirrors for more light and style
Paint. By painting your walls, baseboards and ceilings the same color, you blur the lines of where your walls end and where your ceilings begin. If you think your wall color is too dark for the ceiling, then dilute the wall color with 50 percent white and try that on the ceiling instead. Daybed: Holly Hunt
Curtains. Hang your curtains directly from your ceiling to help to create the illusion of height. And by going with a ripple-fold detail on your curtains, you can emphasize that height even more with the consistent vertical detail.
Kitchen cabinets. The best way to make your kitchen ceiling appear higher is by bringing your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. It doesn’t matter if you can’t access the top shelves on a regular basis; the aesthetic effect is well worth the investment.
Bookshelves. By using tall, skinny bookshelves that go to the ceiling, you draw the eye upward and create the illusion of height.
10. Assuming You Need a New Layout “I’d never automatically dismiss the existing layout of a kitchen,” Barber says. “It’s often planned that way for very practical reasons, such as placement of doors and windows and the most logical traffic flow.” Solution: A tweak to the layout, such as making it open plan or adding a breakfast bar or an island, may be all that’s needed, she says. This can save money because you won’t have to move electrical and plumbing systems. “If you’re designing a kitchen layout from scratch, address the practical considerations first: How many people will be using the kitchen on a regular basis? Do you do a lot of entertaining?” she says. “This will help you work out the kitchen’s size and function.” Then consider how the work triangle — cooktop, sink and fridge — will best fit your layout, she says. Allow enough space between the three points of the triangle, so you’re not walking yards between them every time you use your kitchen.
Common Kitchen layout mistakes: Poorly Positioned Cabinet Doors and Drawers Cabinet doors and drawers can end up blocking doorways and walkways when they’re opened, Barber warns. Solution: “Planning is key,” she says. “Before you commit to a layout, think about how and where all the elements in your kitchen will open, including cupboards, drawers, the fridge and dishwasher, and how people will move through the space.”
Not Maximizing Vertical Wall Space In a small kitchen, every bit of space counts, and your walls offer valuable storage real estate, Barber says. Solution: “Taking your cupboards right up to the ceiling will maximize your storage potential in a compact kitchen,” she says. “If you don’t like the idea of rows of closed-door cupboards, you can always mix it up with open shelving.” Tip: If your wall cabinets are positioned over a cooktop, minimum clearance rules apply, Barber says. The minimum requirements can vary for electric and gas cooktops, and range from 2 to 3 feet, she says.
Lighter wood flooring with darker wood island and Lower cabinets only contrasted with white walls / backsplash instead of upper cabinets, open upper shelving, gold door handles & knobs, matching gold & white pendants, door matching cabinet & island color, custom hood,
Inadequate Space Between the Sink and the Stove The area between the sink and the stove is the main food preparation area, so although there are no set guidelines, you’ll want a decent expanse of countertop space there, says Cherie Barber, owner of Renovating for Profit, which offers online instruction in remodeling. Solution: When planning your kitchen, make sure the layout meets the practical day-to-day needs of the kitchen user, she says.
Wasted Space on a Kitchen Island Kitchen islands are great for increasing your prep and storage space but will work only if you have the room, Findlay says. If your kitchen is small, an island can be a waste of space. “Placing an island in the wrong spot is another recipe for disaster,” she says. “A poorly positioned island can obstruct the flow of traffic to and from the sink, refrigerator, stove and primary workstations, creating a bottleneck in your kitchen.” Solution: Choose an island only if your kitchen can accommodate it or specify a narrow one. Findlay suggests having about 40 inches on both sides of the island for good traffic flow. “Deciding how big or small your island unit should be will depend on what it needs to house and the proportions of your kitchen,” she says. “I would recommend a minimum width of [about 47 inches] for a kitchen island. But if you don’t plan on installing a sink or a stovetop in it, you could go as narrow as [about 24 inches] in width.
. Forgetting About Function When planning your remodel, make sure you put your kitchen’s busiest areas — the sink, stove and fridge — in practical locations that are relevant to one another while allowing enough space for people to use and access them comfortably, Findlay says. When choosing cabinetry, make sure the doors won’t block your workflow when they’re open, she says. “The last thing you want is your fridge and cupboard doors banging into each other every time you open them!” Solution: Plan your kitchen layout as far in advance as possible, and choose your appliances before you start looking at cabinetry, Findlay says. “This will allow you to fit your units around your appliances, rather than the other way around, giving you a seamless look that’s both smart and space-efficient.” Tip: Think about how many people live in your home and will be using the kitchen at one time, she says. If it’s going to get crowded, you may have crammed too many elements into the kitchen layout and may want to consider scaling back.
Poor Lighting Placement If you don’t put the right light fixtures over your countertops, you will end up prepping, cooking and cleaning up in the shadows, says home stager Naomi Findlay. “Another common lighting mistake is prioritizing aesthetics over functionality. Pretty pendants are beautiful, but if they don’t shine enough light over your work surfaces, they will not be practical,” she says. Solution: Findlay recommends positioning lighting slightly in front of you rather than directly overhead or behind you. Installing downlights, pendant lights and sconces on separate circuits makes it easier to control your lighting levels and atmosphere, she says. And don’t forget to choose bulbs that emit sufficient light, so you can see what you’re doing when you’re chopping and cooking.
Not Measuring Appliances Lack of planning when it comes to appliances can lead to excessive protrusion from oversize refrigerators. “This can affect the ability to open cabinets and other appliances in your kitchen, and reduce circulation space,” Gordon says. Not measuring small appliances like microwaves, blenders and food processors can be an issue too. Without a proper home, they can end up sitting out on the counter and creating clutter, she says. Solution: Select appliances well in advance, checking the dimensions and the way appliances open to ensure that your kitchen layout can accommodate them in concealed, tailored storage, Gordon says. This also applies to pots and pans.
This Trending Now story features the most-saved dining room photos uploaded to Houzz since April 1, 2019. Curious which dining room photos are serving up the most inspiration lately? Check out this countdown of the 10 most popular dining rooms uploaded to Houzz in the last three months. Take note of the dramatic chandeliers, paint colors, wallpaper and table and chair combinations that have been getting attention recently.
Wainscot in dining room
Built in in dining room
Shelving in dining room
Homeowners’ request. Simple, clean, elegant lines, with high-contrast grout and fixtures to create a vibrant bathroom on a modest budget. Space saver. “A shallow but wide vanity allows for ample storage while maintaining floor space,” Other special features. Tiled tub surround. Black wall sconces. Designer tip. “Matching the wall niche tile to the floor tile creates an unexpected consistency, adding a layer of visual interest as the eye ties the two together,” Hill says
ional feel. Space savers. A pedestal sink helps the room feel more open, as does an updated D-ring shower curtain rod that allows ample light to stream in from the window, which also makes the room feel bright and airy. New recessed wall niches increase storage in the small space. Style point. Coordinated chrome fixtures—faucet, towel bar, tub hardware and toilet paper holder—help “provide a more elegant look,” designer Gina Muzio says. “Subtle features like this work to really bring a room together.”
3. Light and Airy. Finishes - mixed. Ledge in bathtub area. Space saver. “Using a ledge at the tub-shower enclosure allows for clean, architectural storage without relying on niches,” designer Andy Beers says. Style point. “Adding a stained cabinet and mixing the metal finishes make the room feel fresh without feeling too childlike,” Beers says. Other special features. Hexagonal 1-inch porcelain floor tiles. Wall, shower and tub surround tiles measuring 4 by 8 inches. The vanity is alder wood with a custom gray wash and a quartz countertop. Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to mix finishes in a bathroom,” Beers says. “The faucets, lighting and cabinet hardware are all different in this bath, but they each add something important to the room.” Essence single-hole faucet in StarLight chrome: Grohe; French Canvas wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Designers: Andy Beers of Ore Studios and John DeForest of DeForest Architects Location: Seattle Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters); 5 by 13 feet Homeowners’ request. The owners wanted the renovation of this children’s bathroom to result in a bright, clean space with classic finishes that would age well.
Colors of vanity, drawer handles, backsplash, floor tiles etc. good combination
Colors - wall, shower stall tiles, vanity.
It’s an attention-grabbing frame. Black picture frames are a classic choice for artwork. Similarly, black window sashes are great for homes with a picturesque view. Black window mullions or trim present the scenery beyond like a gallery piece, drawing the eye to it without clashing. Black window sashes also look great from the outside in, giving your home a manor-like appeal reminiscent of age-old luxury homes.
Consider using matte black for items like metal baskets or cage lamps, towel bars, slim mirror trim or any other elements with thin lines that you want to pop like a crisp architectural drawing.
Under the stairs storage idea
Kids bedroom with ropes for climbing
Roof top deck?
Black and brass door handles to match the black hood, island and black & white cabinets
Black hood, steel range, white cabinets with black doors, black island with white marble top, brass plumbing and light fixtures
Pendants above bathtub and alcove by bathtub
Open floor plan tips
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