Flea Market Chic by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell. CICO Books, $29.95. www.cicobooks.com Photo Credit: CICO Books

leather chair, shag rug, Casesarstone countertops, metal coffee table, Modern Fan Co ceiling fan, reclaimed hardwood floors

This property was purchased by a lovely empty nester couple that was looking for a home that offered primarily one level living. This late 1950’s rambler was outdated with sight line issues and included a claustrophobic kitchen that was separated from the main dining room. One of the challenges we encountered was figuring out a way to create an open floor plan with good sight lines while removing the structural obstacles including a supporting wall and a stand alone island that was too large for the size of the kitchen. In addition, we needed to add cabinets which would allow the kitchen to remain functional, open. We had a fairly small kitchen footprint and 8 ft. ceilings, which meant we had to be very strategic with our takeaways and additions to room. To remove the load bearing wall and open up the kitchen to the dining room, we cut the roof trusses and installed a beam flush with the ceiling. The two structural posts were designed into the cabinet façade to appear as a design element as opposed to a structural element. We designed short upper cabinets with glass against the 8 ft. ceiling to achieve the sight lines and open feeling the homeowners desired. New custom built cabinets were installed and finished with a custom oil rubbed glaze. A glass tiled backsplash, granite countertops, and Brazilian Cherry flooring upgraded this dated space into the modern upscale look the designer envisioned. We also removed the center island and added a smaller “floating” island on wheels that made the kitchen space more open and functional. Once the partition walls came down, the owners saw the designer's vision as a spacious, flowing floor plan centered on an elegant kitchen with a quaint lounging area flanked by a functional family room, living room, and dining room. By creating a functional design within the original exterior walls this allowed our client the ability to add detailed finishes and upgrade materials and still within their original budget.

This soft contemporary home was uniquely designed to evoke a coastal design feeling while maintaining a Hill Country style native to its environment. The final design resulted in a beautifully minimalistic, transparent, and inviting home. The light exterior stucco paired with geometric forms and contemporary details such as galvanized brackets, frameless glass and linear railings achieves the precise coastal contemporary look the clients desired. The open floor plan visually connects multiple rooms to each other, creating a seamless flow from the formal living, kitchen and family rooms and ties the upper floor to the lower. This transparent theme even begins at the front door and extends all the way through to the exterior porches and views beyond via large frameless glazing. The overall design is kept basic in form, allowing the architecture to shine through in the detailing. Built by Olympia Homes Interior Design by Joy Kling Photography by Merrick Ales

Striking eclectic coastal home by Borges Brooks Builders of Watercolor, FL. Photo by Fletcher Isacks.

Photography by Barry Fitzgerald

Eclectic Libary featuring safari-inspired prints and colors on Philadelphia's Main Line

Double-height ceilinged living room. Divided into two seating and entertaining areas. White walls, white leather sectional, and colorful pillows in fuschia, copper, and teal.

White walls & white sofa with splashes of color.

Lounge, martinis, and entertaining in this loft media area with cube coffee tables and lofty view.

New and vintage furniture & accessories, infused with color, create a warm “lived in” feeling for an active family’s new home.