2020 National Design Trends

From the Wall Street Journal…Cozy Comfort With a Soul…

National Design Trends 2020 The continuing prediction of the demise of gray 🙂 Wall Street Journal “polled” 100 designers regarding trends for 2020 The Top 6 Interior-Design Trends for 2020 Oval furniture is making sharp angles seem passe. The reign of white Carrara is giving way to many-colored marble. We canvassed over 100 décor pros to bring you the design trends that are winning—and waning Even if chain-retailer prices are tolerable, it’s become less appealing to buy a bed or dresser thinking you’ll replace it in a few years. “Longevity is in, throwaway culture is out,” said Shea Soucie, co-founder of Soucie Horner, a design and architecture firm in Chicago. The toll that disposable furniture takes on the environment has people looking at revitalizing old pieces, noted Richmond, Va., designer Sara Hillery, “especially those with meaning.” Said Rome-based designer Achille Salvagni, “No one wants to inherit that IKEA coffee table.” IN: Pieces Worth Keeping Discerning Americans are turning to furniture with soul, like this Custom Rift Sawn Oak Dresser made for Sunday Shop by New Orleans workshop Doorman (below). “There is a palpable shift toward collecting fewer but better things that represent shared experiences through real craftsmanship,” said Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Italian brand Poltrona Frau. Also gaining value: the history inherent in antiques and hand-me-downs. Said Elizabeth Lowrey, of Boston’s Elkus Manfredi Architects, “If it’s meaningful, find a place for it.” OUT: Bleached and Whitewashed Floors Blanched wood surfaces, a hallmark of Scandinavian and Modern Farmhouse styles, are fading. “Clients worry that it will be too identifiable as ‘a look’ from this period and not stand the test of time,” said San Francisco designer Kendall Wilkinson. Also taking a powder: the flooring materials that were part of the gray wave of the past five years. “Gray woods have been reigning supreme for years, but we’re seeing a shift to warmer palettes,” said Glencoe, Ill., designer Andrea Goldman. IN: Warm Woods Underfoot People want rooms that are a bit more cozy, with richer, darker colors, noted Jenna Rochon, co-founder of Transition State design in Los Angeles. On the floor, that translates to walnut, mahogany and dark oak. New York designer Young Huh also noted a tendency toward “finishes with old-world charm.” Honey-toned species like oak and maple contribute to a casual vibe, said Ms. Goldman, “but since they pair nicely with warmer hues, the final look is not as faded out” as that of bleached wood. OUT: Gray…Again! Yes, we confidently reported last year that the ubiquitous gray that charcoaled homes inside and out in 2018 was past its prime. Designers had tired of the sooty shade, but apparently the public hadn’t. “As we close out the decade, the ‘cool gray everything’ style is finally (and thankfully) out for good,” ventured Laura Muller, owner and principal designer of Four Point Design Build. Designer and artist Barry Lantz in Carmel, Ind., despaired of gray, “It’s like a gloomy winter day all year.” IN: Earth Tones Four of the 16 colors in Farrow & Ball’s new Colour by Nature line are green. Home Depot’s Behr paint declared its Back to Nature green (right, bottom) their 2020 color of the year. Joa Studholme, color curator at Farrow & Ball, credits the verdant trend to environmental awareness, while many of the polled designers mentioned olive green as part of an earthy, organic palette that includes chocolate brown, camel, deep reds, ocher and burnt orange. Ms. Huh told us that hard, cold, “all-masculine spaces” are tired. Mr. Salvagni believes 2020 is the year to shake, “the tyranny of the straight line,” as seen in this particularly tyrannical acrylic desk. Sara Hillery observed that the rise of linearity coincided with the flourishing of Facebook and Instagram. “Images of stark, modern rooms flooded social media, and furniture followed suit with the rise of track arms and square frames,” said the Richmond, Va., designer. IN: Softer Living “Moving away from the geometric shapes of the recent past, there was a strong emergence of softened corners, round legs, curved backs,” said Denise Morrison, a designer in Newport Beach, Calif., who reports that many vendors have introduced oval tables. She points to the Skate Oval Dining Table by Tracey Boyd, Four Hands Collection, (below )The trend can also be seen as a backlash to oppressive masculinity. “We’re embracing the feminine touches and a soupçon of the romantic,” said Ms. Huh. OUT: Colorless Stone You know Carrara and Calacatta marble. They’re frequently mispronounced—even by people who can afford whole kitchen islands of them—as “Carrera” and “Calcutta.” Chicago designer Kate Taylor identified it as “veiny white marble” when she opined that it had reached its peak of popularity. “White and gray marble had a very long and full life, but with oversaturation comes monotony,” agreed fellow-Chicagoan Donna Mondi. “It can still have a part in your story, just don’t count on it to be the lead.” IN: Multicolored Marble Taking uneventful white stone’s place? Ms. Taylor points to multicolored geological wonders like the marble at right, which New York’s ABC Stone calls Opera D’Arte. Also crowding out Carrara and Calacatta are man-made materials, said Ms. Goldman. “We’re seeing clients select porcelain and techno quartz over natural stone, even in high-end homes, thanks to the practicality and durability of it.” Said Miami architect Kobi Karp of engineered stone, “It can mimic high-end materials at an attainable price.” OUT: White Slipcovers “For a long time, [washable] cotton slipcovers were our best bet for white upholstery, so that it would not be destroyed by stains,” said Caitie Smithe, a designer with Chicago’s Walter E. Smithe. New York’s Vicente Wolf enumerated their shortcomings: “Cotton slipcovers are super high maintenance. They shrink, fade, stain and need to be pressed.” Added Four Point Design Build’s Ms. Muller, “Slipcovers also typically have a loose, casual—almost sloppy—fit, which over time and several washings, become a ‘misfit.’” IN: White Sofas Ms. Smithe predicts that in 2020, the gray-upholstery trend will be replaced by white upholstery, driven by advances in performance fabric. “The technology has created options that are as soft and stylish as a ‘regular’ non-performance fabric without a difference in price,” she said, “and they repel stains better than ever.” Said designer Jenny Madden, of Hoboken, N.J., “Now that performance fabrics…include textures as soft as chenille, why do upholstery any other way?” Thank you to: Catherine Romano

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We are proud to be noted as THE BEST contractor AGAIN in Louisville and Kentucky by Home Builder Digest and GC Magazine. When it comes to home construction, remodeling and design, enjoy the peace of mind that come’s with Wolford’s signature superior quality.

2020 Kitchen Trends

 

When it comes to kitchen design, we have seen so many trends come and go in the last few years, but one that has been going strong for some time now (and will continue to be seen in 2020) is a combination of painted (or in this case, sprayed) cabinets accentuated with natural wood. In fact, natural wood cabinets should be the hottest trend in the new year and that goes for all spaces in the house, not only kitchens

2020 Kitchen Design Ideas

How I love the feel of this kitchen! It feels spacious and BRIGHT, which is so important in any kitchen.

Walls are “Benjamin Moore Graytint 1611”.

Cabinet Paint Color

The perimeter cabinets are “Benjamin Moore OC-17 White Dove”. “BM White Dove” is a classic and timeless white paint color, often recommended by cabinet makers and interior designers. The kitchen island and hood are Natural Oak.

The countertops are Calcutta Quartzite.

Range: 48” Wolf range

Cabinet Door Style

Kitchen Cabinet Door Style: Flat panel, shaker style with inner panel slight round-over detail.

Backsplash tile is by Waterworks

Hardware – Restoration Hardware Ephram (Egg Knob) – Polished Nickel 

Cabinetry: Shelves are made of Natural Oak.

Counterstools

These are one of my favorites counterstools because they’re timeless, and especially because they’re easy to clean.

Counterstools: Serena & Lily.

Inspired by this Look:

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Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is 5” Natural Quarter Sawn White Oak with Bona Finish and great for dogs! (Hides scratches!) Did I mention I have the 2 cutest dogs in the world??

          For Your Dream Kitchen call me, Martha Wolford@ 502.387.5935!

Thank you to Home Bunch for the ideas!!

 

 

 

Kitchen of the Week: Refacing Refreshes a Family Kitchen on a Budget

Two-tone cabinets, vibrant fabric and a frosty backsplash brighten this eat-in kitchen

With two teenage boys going off to college in a few years, this couple didn’t want to break the bank on a kitchen renovation. However, they were tired of living with the room’s dark and gloomy style. In addition, they wanted a closer connection to their backyard patio, which they had to walk through another room to access. By repurposing what she could and keeping the existing layout intact, interior designer Sabrina Alfin was able to give them a bright, fresh and new-to-them kitchen at about a third of the cost of a complete renovation.

Before Photo

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

“After” photos by Dean J. Birinyi Photography

Kitchen of the Week
Who lives here: A couple and their two teenage boys
Location: San Carlos, California
Size: 209 square feet (19.5 square meters)
Designer: Sabrina Alfin Interiors

BEFORE: While not compact, the previous kitchen looked small and cramped because it was so dark. In addition, the family had to cart food and drinks through another room to their backyard entertainment space. However, their appliances, granite countertops and cabinet bases were in great shape.

“At first they thought they wanted an all-white Shaker kitchen, but I thought that could wind up looking too stark and antiseptic for them — I wanted them to have something more cool updated to reflect them,” Alfin says. So she nudged them toward a two-tone cabinet scheme that injected the room with more color.

Learn more about using two-tone cabinets

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

AFTER: “My clients liked blue but didn’t want nautical navy or to go too beachy,” Alfin says. Instead, she helped them find a grayish teal that’s updated and sophisticated.

One of the biggest cost savers was refacing rather than replacing the cabinets. The designer added new custom Shaker doors and drawer fronts, updating the classic style with long bar pulls.

Lower cabinet paint: Refuge, No. 6228, Sherwin-Williams; upper cabinet paint: Ice Cube, No. 6252, Sherwin-Williams; bar pulls: Emtek

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Alfin didn’t stop at just blue and white. She knew that her clients loved deep reds and wanted to find a fabric that incorporated those while tying into the teal. She also knew that spicy colors would warm up the blue and white scheme and steer it away from a coastal look.

She had the built-in bench refaced in white, with new drawer fronts and hardware that coordinates with the cabinetry. The eat-in area is an important part of the room, as the family enjoys almost all their meals together in here.

New recessed lighting and vintage-style glass pendants help brighten the room. Framed groups of vintage bottle caps add an eclectic touch. In case you’re wondering, the door leads to the existing pantry.

Chairs: Crate & Barrel; bottle cap artwork: Bed Bath & Beyond; Eastmoreland pendant lights: Rejuvenation

How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets

Before Photo

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

BEFORE: Here’s a glimpse of the original upholstered bench. The family wanted to keep the existing table, and Alfin made it work with new chairs, a refaced bench and new upholstery.

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

AFTER: “I was looking for fabric that had a lot of visual interest and has the blue in it, and I found a bunch to show them — my clients fell in love with this one,” Alfin says. “It was so much fun to work with them, as they were so willing not to go down the neutral path and to take artistic risks.”

Rowten fabric: No. 4354 in Fiesta, Pindler & Pindler

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

The upholstery has a contrasting welt detail.

Callahan welt fabric: No. 2381 in turquoise, Pindler & Pindler

Before Photo

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

BEFORE: The room didn’t have a physical connection to the adjacent patio and outdoor entertainment area.

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

AFTER: The biggest structural change to the room is the new window over the sink, which opens to the patio. Alfin took out the cabinets flanking the original window, which gave her room for a 7½-foot-wide window. Of the window’s three panes, two slide open to the outdoors, making it easy to pass food and drinks through to the bar counter on the other side.

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Another cost saver was preserving the existing granite countertops, but the coordinating granite backsplash had to go. The designer replaced it with classic 6-by-3-inch subway tiles. Next she added a border of 3-by-1-inch frosty glass accent tiles. “We could have gone with just white subway tile, but it would have looked too monolithic,” she says. “We wanted to break it up without too much contrast — we already had that from the two-tone cabinets.”

She also added LED lighting underneath the cabinets. Previously the only source of light on the counters had been from the vent hood.

Arctic White subway tile: Daltile; Frost Iridescent accent tile: Water & Light series, Boyce & Bean

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

A spicy mat at the sink picks up on the colors of the bench fabric across the room.

The floor looks like weathered driftwood but is actually porcelain tile. Because the homeowners have dogs, they needed the durability of porcelain.

Sidecar floor tile: SpeakEasy series, 36 by 12 inches, Crossville

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

When it comes to refacing cabinets, Alfin says that although finding good-quality paint-grade doors and drawer fronts is important, the key is finding a great painter. She recommends looking for someone who is very detail-oriented.

“They should do good prep work on the cabinet bases first, filling in all the holes,” she says. She also says it’s best if the painter has a spray booth in which to paint the doors and drawer faces before bringing them to the house to install. “It’s not cheap, but it’s still a lot less expensive than buying all new cabinetry,” she says.

How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets

THANK YOU TO HOUZZ AND MARTHA WOLFORD FOR THE GREAT INFO!!

KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

HOMEBUNCH VIA MARTHA WOLFORD

 

Hi, everyone! How are you today? Do you remember the other day when I mentioned I had done a little decor shopping for my house? Well, I must confess that the shopping was bigger than I planned it to be and it really inspired me to do a huge cleaning around my house. I didn’t change any piece of furniture, just moved them around and I changed the decor – pillows, rugs and decorative items and, together with a REALLY deep cleaning, my house now feels new, fresh and completely renewed – without going through a real renovation. I look around and I’m in love with my home and that’s a wonderful feeling. Now, don’t ask about my back… I can barely move today! 🙂

Now, let’s talk about today’s Home Bunch’s Top 5 Picks! If you’re new to it, I started this new series on my Instagram, where I choose my “Top 5 Picks” with the goal to inspire you and bring you some extra information on interior design. While I was preparing this post, I realized that it would be impossible for me to pick only 5 kitchen island design ideas so I hope you don’t mind but I have chosen a few extras! 🙂

Make sure to click the links provided under each photo so you can see the full posts and know all details and sources.

Have a great time, my friends, and thank you so much for you presence and continuous support. I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

 

Home Bunch’s Top 5: Kitchen Island Ideas.

1: Walnut Kitchen Island: If you read the blog for a while now chances are that you have seen the kitchen above. This grey kitchen became one of the most popular posts on Home Bunch and I am sure this kitchen island has a lot to do with it. The island is Natural American Black Walnut with 25% sheen. Design: @the_brothers_stonington 📷 @chrisveithinteriors.

 

See Full Details: Grey Kitchen Design.

 

#2: Traditional Kitchen Island

2: Traditional Kitchen Island Design: Talking about popular posts, this entire home got a lot of love when I shared it on Instagram. This kitchen features a white kitchen island with a traditional and timeless design. Design: @gerrardbuilders 📷: @joepurvisphotos.

 

See Full Details: Painted Brick Cottage.

 

#3: White Oak Kitchen Island

3: White Oak Kitchen Island: There’s nothing I don’t love here! The White Oak kitchen island brings warmth to this entire space. The double x insets are custom and the island countertop is Calacatta marble slab, polished. Design: @Pattersoncustomhomes & @Brandonarchitects 📷: @chadmellon.

 

See Full Details: Modern Coastal Shingle Home.

 

#4: X Inset Kitchen Island

4: X Inset Kitchen Island: This is a very popular design used on both sides of the island. The paint color is Deep Space by Benjamin Moore. Design: @graystonecustombuilders & @blackbanddesign 📷: @ryangarvin.

 

See Full Details: Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

 

#5: Narrow Kitchen Island

5: Narrow Kitchen Island: Let’s be honest, not all of us have a huge kitchen and this is when a narrow, but functional, kitchen island comes handy. This one is perfect from every angle! See dimensions on this post. Design: @briahammelinteriors 📷: @spacecrafting_photography.

 

See Full Details: Colorful Interiors.

 

#6: Long Kitchen Island

6: Long Kitchen Island: I mean, who needs go to the gym having an island this long at home? Just run around it a few times and you’re done for the day! Jokes apart, this is a dream kitchen and this is, by all means, a dream kitchen island! 🙂 Design: @akconstructionent.

 

See Full Details: New-Construction Modern Farmhouse Inspiration.

 

#7: Double Islands

7: Double Islands: I will be honest with you, I have never been a fan of kitchen with double islands until I saw the kitchen above. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Software. 📷: @pictureperfecthouse.

 

See Full Details: Interior Design Ideas: House For Sale.

 

#8: Dark Kitchen Island

8: Dark Kitchen Island: This gorgeous modern farmhouse kitchen features a combination of Maple cabinets, white cabinets and a dark kitchen island. Paint color is Dark Pewter by Benjamin Moore. Design: @kelseyleighdesignco & @mcgregorhomes 📷: Nested Tours.

 

See Full Details: Mid-century Modern Farmhouse.

 

#9: Hickory Kitchen Island

9: Hickory Kitchen Island: This is yet another very popular post on Home Bunch. The Hickory island features X insets and shiplap. The finish is a natural stain. Design: @timbertrailshomes 📷: @stofferphotographyinteriors.

 

See Full Details: Interior Design Ideas.

 

 

 

 

Posts of the Week:

2020 Kitchen Design Ideas.

2019 New Year Home Tour.

Dark Cedar Shaker Exterior.

Beach House Interior Design Ideas.

Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Atlanta.

Nantucket Shingle Style Home.

Fairbanks Ranch California Homes.

Transforming a House Into a Home.

Small lot Beach House.

Interior Design Ideas

From Wolford and Home Bunch!

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Interior Design Ideas: Modern English Tudor Design…. Hello, my wonderful friends! It’s great to have you here for a new “Interior Design Ideas”. Meticulously built by Hendel Homes and with interiors by Danielle Loven of Vivid Interior Design, the architectural direction of this Modern English Tudor residence expertly balances modern and traditional elements, reflecting on the common threads of an English Tudor country house and Hamptons grandeur. The result? A casual, sophisticated home that feels perfectly at ease in its Midwestern foundation. This modern reinvention of timeless design delights with highly refined and detailed living spaces spread over three floors and I am sure this house tour will inspire you from the beginning to the end. Try to relax, have a good time and pin your favorite interior design pictures! These stunning pictures bySusan Gilmore Photography and Landmark Photography should fill up your boards!   Interior Design Ideas: Modern English Tudor Design This home is a flawless modern interpretation of English Tudor architecture and it’s situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood in Minnesota. The stucco is custom color. Landmark Photography. Windows Windows are Marvin Windows in “Bronze”. Landmark Photography. Front Porch Porch flooring is stamped concrete. Landmark Photography. Room to Roar This expansive home features an open layout, 7,836 square feet, 4 Bedrooms & 7 Bathrooms. Landmark Photography. Cars This home is a classic car collector’s dream! The home comes with a two level four-car attached garage plus detached garage with storage for up to 10 more vehicles. Landmark Photography. Garage Doors The garage doors are custom. Landmark Photography. Roof Roof is combination of Cedar Shake and metal. Landmark Photography. Front Door Front Door: Marvin Windows in “Bronze”. I love the symmetry the windows on each side create. Lighting: Flambeaux Gas Lanterns – Other Beautiful Outdoor Sconces: Here, Here, Here, Here, Here & Here. Similar Planters: Here (fiberglass) & Here (ceramic). Gutters are copper. Landmark Photography. Foyer You will find in this home an unsparing collection of exclusive finishes throughout, from designer wall-coverings, marble mosaics, double herringbone and concrete tile with vintage graphic detail to custom furniture and lighting, all presented with a curated approach that is both upscale and welcoming. Hardwood Flooring: 6″ Riffed and quartered white oak, eased edge, custom Stain – with Herringbone inset pattern at raised ceiling locations. Foyer Lighting – Arteriors (discontinued) – similar here. Susan Gilmore Photography. Great Room The foyer opens directly to this spacious and elegant Great room. Paint color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28. All furniture is available through the designer. Metal and Leather Accent Chair – Casa Midy. Landmark Photography. Chandelier Lighting – Visual Comfort Landmark Photography. Coffee Table Black Raffia Coffee Table: Bernhardt. Susan Gilmore Photography. Sofas Sofas from Hickory Chair in Designer’s Guild fabric. Landmark Photography. Upscale Living Room Decor Ideas: JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content. Fireplace Fireplace is Limestone by Francois & co. Art & Accessories from Vivid Home. Susan Gilmore Photography. Openness The open-air environment is flooded with natural light and enhanced by a consistent color palette which connects the spaces perfectly. Landmark Photography. Interior Doors & Windows Interior windows are painted to match the Marvin Bronze in “Sherwin Williams Medium Bronze”. Pillows: Throw Pillows in Beacon Hill Fabric. Throw: Hermès. Landmark Photography. Dining Room Lighting: Visual Comfort. Dining Table: Custom Dining Chairs: Custom – Host Chairs in Maxwell Fabric. Susan Gilmore Photography. Ceiling Paint Color Ceiling Paint Color: 50% Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore/ 50% Collingwood OC-28 by Benjamin Moore. Landmark Photography. Casework Paint Color Casework Paint Color: Casework – Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17. Landmark Photography. Materials Natural metals, woods, and organic materials conform in new ways with classic silhouettes and rich textures. Antique Dough Bowl: Here &Here. Landmark Photography. Ceiling Treatment Ceiling Treatment: Reclaimed Alder Beams. The ceiling height in this space is 12′. Landmark Photography. Kitchen This extraordinary kitchen features a custom range hood and open shelving in aged brass and zinc finishes. Kitchen island is made of Walnut. Landmark Photography. Backsplash Backsplash is Jeffrey Court Calcutta marble mosaic tile – installed only at the range wall. Small Scale beveled subway 12″ x 12″, mesh mounted – similar here, here, here& here. Grout: TEC Bright White. Pot Filler: Kohler Artifacts Pot Filler. Range: Wolf. Similar Kitchen Hood: here. Susan Gilmore Photography. Perimeter Kitchen Cabinet Perimeter Kitchen Cabinet Details: Painted Flat panel with custom moldings. Paint color is Benjamin Moore OC-17 White Dove. Backsplash Between Fridges: Cistallo Quartzite Full Height. Susan Gilmore Photography. Kitchen Island Countertop Countertop is Cristiallo Quartzite, waterfall edge. Island Tray: Here. Susan Gilmore Photography. Sink & Faucet Kitchen Sink: Kohler K6427-0 Whitehaven. Kitchen Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Pull-Down Faucet. Filtered Water Faucet: Newport Brass. Paneled Dishwashers: Bosh. Island Dimensions Kitchen Island Dimension:  3.5 x 8′ Counterstools are available through the designer. Landmark Photography. Kitchen Shelves This kitchen is full of inspiring ideas! To keep a sense of symmetry (see picture above), the designer added a glass opening to the wall with brass floating shelves. Hardware – Ashley Norton – similar Pulls & Knobs. Susan Gilmore Photography. Kitchen Pendants Light fixtures in iron and brass lend the property a distinct architectural edge. Pendants are Robert Abbey. Landmark Photography. Beautiful Counterstools: (Always check dimensions before ordering. ) JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content. Refrigerator A custom buffet is flanked by paneled refrigerator and freezer by Subzero. Landmark Photography. Flow The optimized floor plan offers formal and informal spaces that open to the exterior grounds for fluid indoor/outdoor living and entertainment. Wall paint color continues to be Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Landmark Photography. TV A TV is placed in the custom hutch. Landmark Photography. Family Room The kitchen opens directly to a very comfy and stylish family room/lounge area. Notice the high ceiling, the beams and the tall windows. Custom Sectional from Vivid Home. Accent Chair in Clarke & Clarke fabric. Accent Tables from Modern History & Currey & Co. Throw Pillows in Opuzen fabric. Lighting: Visual Comfort Extra Large Lantern in Aged Iron. Landmark Photography. Ottoman Leather Tufted Ottoman: Four Hands. Susan Gilmore Photography. Hide & Seek Custom Walnut doors with glass X insets conceal the butler’s pantry and a bar. Similar Pulls: Here. Landmark Photography. Bar The bar features Walnut cabinetry with Cistallo Quartzite countertop and floating brass shelving. Susan Gilmore Photography. Butler’s Pantry This butler’s pantry is truly a dream! Countertop is Cistallo Quartzite. Backsplash: Cistallo Quartzite 4″ Height. Floor: Rift and Quartered Solid White Oak with Custom Stain Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Susan Gilmore Photography. Paint Color Sherwin Williams SW 7625 Mount Etna. Roman Shade in Romo fabric. Sink: Blanco B401734 Ikon Apron Front Sink. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Pull-Down Faucet. Appliances: Wolf Ovens and Bosch Dishwasher. Landmark Photography. Powder Room Located just off the mudroom, this powder room is elegant and features a gorgeous wallpaper. Mirror: Here. Bathroom washstand is DXV – similar here & here. Faucet is DXV – similar here. Sconce: Visual Comfort. Landmark Photography. Wallpaper Wallpaper is Wallpaper: Osborne & Little Nina Campbell Gold Leaf On a Black Background. Ceiling: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW6258. Susan Gilmore Photography. Hall Paint Color Collingwood by Benjamin Moore. Landmark Photography. Main Powder Room My jaw just dropped! Vanity is Walnut, custom-designed. Countertop and backsplash is marble. Chandelier: Robert Abbey. Sconces: Visual Comfort Light in Hand Rubbed Antique Brass 4”W x 20.5”H. Vessel Sink: Konbow. Faucet: Newport Brass. Similar Mirror: here, here & here. Interior doors are Alder – custom stained. Landmark Photography. Wallpaper Wallpaper: Schumacher Metallic Strie Silvered Taupe (available through the interior designer). Susan Gilmore Photography. Home Central Custom desk and bookcase are painted in Ben Moore White Dove OC-17. Desk top is Oak, dark stained. Roman Shades in Robert Allen fabric. Flushmount: Hudson Valley. Sconces: Norwell. Landmark Photography. Wallpaper Wallpaper is Innovations Achel. Ceiling paint color 50% Ben Moore Classic Gray / 50% Collingwood OC-28. Accessories from Vivid Home. Susan Gilmore Photography. Mudroom Mudroom Flooring: American Florim Charleston 3×36 Glazed Porcelain Tile, Rubble Tile, colors: White, Grey and Timber – installed in a Herringbone patterned. Grout: TEC Dove Grey. Wall paint color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Cabinetry isBen Moore White Dove. Bench is Oak with a custom dark stain color. Baseboards: 11″ – Paint Grade. Landmark Photography. Stairway Natural metals, woods, and organic materials conform in new ways, with classic silhouettes and luxurious textures. Chandelier: Visual Comfort – similar here. Landmark Photography. Details This gorgeous staircase features White Oak wood treads and wood risers. The metal railing is custom. Window Trim: Sherwin Williams Medium Bronze. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Landmark Photography. Railing A close-up on this stunning metal railing. How beautiful, right?! Susan Gilmore Photography. Bonus Room The staircase leads to the kids’ lounge/bonus room. The doorway seem here leads to the kids/teens ensuites and a laundry room. Paint color is Benjamin Moore Black Jack 2133-20. This room features a long custom desk with White Oak top, custom cabinetry and comfortable furniture. Art & Accessories from Vivid Home. Coffee Table: Here – similar here & here. Lighting: Made Goods. Landmark Photography. Boy’s Bedroom Main Walls: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20. Bookcase Wall: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20. Euros in Design Tex plaid. Sconces: Savoy House. Loveseat by Bernhardt. Landmark Photography. Ensuite Cabinet: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. Floor Tile: 9.5″ x 19.25″ Enlonged Hex Jeffrey Court Artic Stone Field Hex. Countertop: Carrera Marble. Faucet: Delta. Sink: Mirabelle. Lighting: Visual Comfort. Landmark Photography. Girl’s Bedroom Accent wall is painted in Benjamin Moore 2117-30 Shadow. Walls are Ben Moore Collingwood OC-28. Bed is custom. Euros are in Harlequin fabric – Beautiful & Good Quality Bedding: here, here, here &here. Roman shade in Cowtan and Tout fabric. Bolster is in a Robert Allen fabric. Loveseat by Bernhardt. Landmark Photography. Ensuite Bathroom Cabinet: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258. Floor Tile: 8″x 8″ Geometric Printed Tile Fioranese Ceramic #45 Certosa – similar style: here. Lighting: Visual Comfort. Faucet: Delta. Sink: Mirabelle. Landmark Photography. Master Bedroom Ceiling paint color is Benjamin Moore Black Jack 2133-20. Nightstands: Here. Four Poster Bed: CFC. Fan: Minka Aire. Landmark Photography. Wall Paint Color Wall color is Benjamin Moore OC-28 Collingwood. Artwork by Emma Lawrenson. Susan Gilmore Photography. Fabric Euros, Accent Pillows and Roman Shades in Kravet Fabric. Settee is custom with Romo Black fabric. Susan Gilmore Photography. Master Bathroom The master bathroom is luxurious and features a great layout. Vanities are custom stained Oak. Freestanding Tub: Jacuzzi. Tub Filler: DXV – similar here. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Susan Gilmore Photography. Shower Tile Shower Walls: 12×24” Honed Marble Tile – similar here. Shower Floor: 2×2” Honed Carrara Marble Tile – similar here. Hexagon Marble Mosaic Tile: here. Hansgrohe Rain Showerhead. Kohler Showerheads. Landmark Photography. Flooring & Countertop Floor tile is 12×24 London Calling Honed marble tile (similar here). Wall color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Countertop is white marble. Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Faucets: Brizo. Sinks: Kohler. Landmark Photography. Bathroom Layout Inspiring bathroom layout! Cabinetry I absolutely love the stain color on this Oak cabinetry. It works beautifully with the white marble. Susan Gilmore Photography. Make-up Beautiful and practical make-up vanity. Landmark Photography. Dressing Room The dressing room certainly has a nice view… but don’t worry! It also features automatic blinds. Flooring: Carpet; Black Label #2403 Tip sheared wool/viscose blend. Landmark Photography. Laundry Room Countertop is Quartz, Caesarstone Pebble. Flooring: Porcelain Tile – 8 x 24 #53 West End Pulpis by Tile x Design – similar here. Landmark Photography. Basement Bathroom Sink: Kohler Brockway wash sink – 48″. Faucets: Kohler. Soap Dish: Kohler. Floor: 2×10” textured black ceramic tile in herringbone pattern – similar here. Shower Floor: 1×1” Black ceramic hexagon tile – similar here. Shower Wall: 3×12” Beveled white ceramic tile – similar here. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Landmark Photography. Basement A custom built-in whisky bar and custom-designed abstract glass shelving are just the beginning of an amazing lower level designed for fun. The pub table/island is custom. Landmark Photography. Cabinetry Cabinetry is Walnut; Dark Custom Stained. Susan Gilmore Photography. Countertop Countertop is Titanium Granite. Sink: Blanco. Faucet: Delta. Basement Paint Color Basement Paint Color: Collingwood by Benjamin Moore. Lounge Chair in Opuzen Flamestitch fabric. Countertstools: Iron Counter Stools from Noir. Art & Accessories from Vivid Home. Ceiling Light: Arteriors. Landmark Photography. Exercise Room The exercise room features custom stained wood with walls painted in BM Collingwood OC-28. Landmark Photography. Flooring Floor: Forbo Carpet Tiles. It’s antimicrobial and wears amazing. This was a glue-down installation. Landmark Photography. Gym Bathroom The gym bathroom features a custom vanity with dark quartz countertop and slab backsplash. Similar Medicine Cabinet: Pottery Barn. Faucet: Kohler Purist. Similar Sink: here. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Landmark Photography. Outdoors Design meets function, delineating an optimized floor plan with formal and informal spaces that open to the exterior grounds for fluid indoor/outdoor living and entertainment. Landmark Photography. Screen Porch Ceiling is Cedar planks and flooring is stamped concrete. Landmark Photography. Furniture Outdoor Sofa by Century Furniture. Notice the outdoor built-in. Fire Table from Outdoor Rooms – similar here. Lounge Chairs from Palecek. Custom Outdoor Area Rug. Landmark Photography. Brackets Brackets are custom. Landmark Photography. Dimensions The screened porch is 17’4” x 15’6”. Landmark Photography. View Beautifully designed! Landmark Photography. Backyard Goals Harmonious outdoor pool blends form and function to provide the complete backyard living experience with lush landscaping and an outdoor kitchen for entertaining. Landmark Photography. Outdoor Kitchen The outdoor kitchen features a Cedar pergola. Landmark Photography. Outdoor Counterstools The outdoor counterstools are by Palecek. Landmark Photography. Architecture Details This home truly exudes inspiring architectural details that will stand the test of time. Landmark Photography. Trim Paint Color Trim: Benjamin Moore Silver Fox 2108-50. Landmark Photography. Timeless Beauty I woundn’t mind coming home to this! Landmark Photography.   Many thanks to the builder and interior designer for sharing the details above! Builder: Hendel Homes (Instagram – Facebook) Interior Designer: Vivid Interior Design (Instagram – Facebook) Photography: Susan Gilmore Photography (Instagram – Facebook) & Landmark Photography (including 1st imag   Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!   Wayfair: Up to 70% OFF – Clearance!!!   Serena & Lily: HUGE Sale – Free Shipping with code: JUMPIN   Joss & Main: Warehouse Clearout – Up to 70% off!   Pottery Barn:Up to 20% off your order + free shipping with code “SUMMER”   One Kings Lane: High Quality Design Decor for Less.   West Elm: Up to 70% off clearance take an extra 20% off clearance + free shipping with code DIVEIN   Anthropologie: See the super-popular Joanna Gaines Exclusive line!   Urban Outfitters: Hip & Affordable Home Decor.   Horchow: High Quality Furniture and Decor. Up to 30% off the entire site!   Neiman Marcus: Extra 40% off your entire purchase with “SAVE40-1NSW-N7KYV”   Saks Fifth Avenue: The Designer Sale: up to 75% off   Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF. New Decor!   Posts of the Week: 2019 New Year Home Tour. Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Urban Farmhouse. Beautiful Homes of Instagram: British Columbia. Reinvented Classic Kitchen Design. Beautiful Homes of Instagram. Interior Design: Ideas House Tour. Florida New-Construction Family Home. Southern Beach House with Modern Interiors. Traditional Kitchen Reno Ideas. Neutral Home Interior Ideas. Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Reno Inspiration. Palm Beach, Florida Home Design. Rustic Modern Farmhouse. Interior Design Ideas: Colorful Interiors. Interior Design Ideas New Home Inspiration. Grey Kitchen Paint Colors. THANK YOU HOME BUNCH FOR THE GREAT INFORMATION!!!

What’s Popular in Kitchens Now

Working the Room:

We break down 9 kitchen design ideas that are making people happy — and show how to make them work for you

Whether it’s a splash of color in the cabinets, a champagne-brass drawer pull or a wall of open shelving, the kitchen ideas homeowners and designers are loving now can elevate everybody’s favorite gathering space to home showpiece status.

Kitchens remain the most popular room for homeowners to renovate, and it’s no wonder why — thanks to the array of popular and practical countertop, cabinet and lighting styles out there, an updated kitchen can make a house feel fresh again in a way other rooms can’t. Here are the kitchen design ideas that pros, homeowners and Houzz photos say are taking off or still going strong.

Trend No. 1: Colorful Cabinets

What the pros say. “Painted cabinets are having a bit of a moment,” says designer and decorator Nancy Harper of Washington, D.C.-based Studio Miel. Harper and other pros agreed that blues and greens are the go-to non-neutral colors of choice now, but Harper says she could see other bold hues — emeralds, darker shades — also take hold soon.

What popular Houzz photos say. Seven of the 10 most-saved kitchen photos uploaded in the last three months feature cabinets with some color, including four examples of blue cabinets, one example of green and two black. Even if gray and white are still more common in most remodels, many Houzz users are drawn to brighter pops of personality.

Getting the low-key look. Paul McAlary, of Pennsylvania-based kitchen and cabinet design firm Main Line Kitchen Design, says more colorful cabinets, particularly bolder shades like navy blue, can cost more. He doesn’t recommend painting them yourself as it can damage the quality of the cabinets. Instead, he suggests homeowners get their color fix through the easier-to-update walls or backsplash. Still, painting your cabinets yourself is definitely the affordable option if you want to get the look for less.“They’ll never look quite like they actually should, but it’ll be [an updated] color and they’ll be OK for a few years,” McAlary says.

Getting the full-out look. Incorporate vibrant cabinetry in just the island or base cabinets, or create dimension and visual interest by pairing all-around colorful cabinets with contrasting countertops and on-trend brass or gold hardware.

Find kitchen designers and see their projects | Browse gold and brass hardware

AUREA STONE

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Trend No. 2: Marbled Quartz

What the pros say. Homeowners looking to make a more dramatic, organic statement with their kitchen countertops used to gravitate toward natural stones such as granite for the unique speckling and veins. But pros say more natural-looking quartz — an engineered product that contains mostly quartz mineral, as well as resins, pigments and polymers — is showing up in more kitchens.

Designers are seeing more and more higher-end remodelers opting for quartz countertops that are designed to look like marble. Mary Kathryn Reese of Dallas-based Kitchen Design Concepts says slabs of these types of quartz, such as the popular Aurea Stone shown here, also are available in larger slabs now, making it easier to create seamless countertops.

Granite, still pricey but available in more affordable varieties than quartz, still reigns in some areas.

What homeowners say. Engineered quartz overall beat out granite 43 to 34 percent among homeowners updating countertops in the 2018 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. (Countertops, homeowners said, were the kitchen feature they were most likely to splurge on.)

Quartz’s expanding pattern palette may be contributing to its growing popularity, along with other pluses like its stain resistance and durability. Homeowner Jennifer Dabbs, who worked with Studio Miel’s Harper to renovate her 1894 Washington, D.C.-area kitchen, says quartz’s reputation for being a more contemporary style initially gave her pause. “I was afraid it would look too modern in our home,” Dabbs says. “However, we chose a stone that replicates a marble and turns out to be exactly what we wanted in terms of functionality — low maintenance — and look.”

What saved Houzz photos say. Favorite kitchen photos from the previous three months feature a number of white and white marbleized quartz countertops, including Cambria’s Brittanicca and Walker Zanger’s Calacatta 981 Quartz, which can be striking against a wood butcher-block island or countertop extension.

Battle of the Countertops: Granite vs. Quartz

Studio Miel

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Trend No. 3: Open Shelving

What the pros say. Open shelving can make a kitchen look taller and airier. As this look gets more popular, Luke Owen of Kansas City-based Owen Homessays his team has seen a corresponding spike in requests for hideaway places for smaller appliances, outlets and other clutter.

Dishes, plants and knickknacks displayed on open shelves need thoughtful curation to avoid a cluttered look, so having spaces to tuck away less-attractive counter-crowders can keep things balanced and tidy. Having fewer pieces on the shelves also minimizes the risk of your favorite platter crashing down. (Open shelves typically aren’t made to withstand the weight cabinets are.)

What homeowners say. Though it can work with a number of styles, the sometimes minimalist, sometimes rustic vibe of wood and metal open shelving fits right in with transitional, contemporary and farmhouse kitchen styles — the first, second and third most-popular new kitchen styles that renovating homeowners chose when updating their kitchens, according to the Houzz 2018 Kitchen Trends Study.

What saved Houzz photos say. Natural wood open shelving seems to come up the most in recent popular photos, though white and black examples also appear.

Getting the low-key look. Even just a few shelves can draw the eye up and make a small space look bigger.

Getting the full-out look. More shelves mean more styling and maintenance to keep your kitchen from looking too busy. To create that sleek, intentional feeling with more shelves, group items by color, leave some shelf space open and carve out plenty of sturdier, hidden space for bulky appliances and mismatched dishware.

Style Your Open Kitchen Shelving Like a Pro

Owen Homes LLC

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Trend No. 4: Still Shaker

What the pros say. The versatility of basic Shaker cabinets — defined by their flat center door panels and a generally clean raised-square frame — continues to make them a popular pick for kitchens. “Shaker-style cabinets are very popular because they can look a little bit traditional and they can look a little bit modern,” Harper says. “They have clean lines, so depending on the hardware that you choose and other elements in the kitchen, it can go either way.”

What homeowners say. By choosing Shaker style for her cabinet redo, Dabbs says she was able to give a nod to her traditional house’s history while giving the space a fresh update. It also saved her a significant amount of money, as the inset cabinets she had initially wanted would have cost $20,000 more.

And she’s not alone: Shaker cabinets remain the most popular among all segments of homeowners, according to Houzz research.

What saved Houzz photos say. More than half of the 20 most popular recent kitchen photos featured Shaker-style cabinets.

See more kitchens with Shaker-style cabinets | Find cabinet pros

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

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Trend No. 5: Staying Connected

What the pros say. High-tech touch-screen refrigerators and ovens have yet to really catch on with the typical homeowner, pros say, but smart electronics are appearing in the kitchen in other ways.

The Dallas-area clients that Reese works with can be a little leery of major appliances with too many bells and whistles, Reese says. “They’re a little afraid of that technology,” she says. “Is it going to break? How much will it cost to fix it? How long will it take to fix it? Is it going to be too difficult for me to actually cook even though the whole premise is to enable the whole cooking experience?” Other pros echoed similar sentiments.

Where technology is cropping up more in the kitchen is through wireless speakers, smart lighting and voice-controlled TVs and assistants. Harper says her clients are always looking for more outlets and often a separate charging station in the kitchen for powering their devices, though she’s noticed she’s adding fewer USB connector ports as technology evolves.

What homeowners say. Touchscreen controls or built-in speakers appear in 1 in 4 new appliances that homeowners are choosing as replacements for their old gadgets, the kitchen study found. Wireless and voice-controlled appliances appear in 11 percent of upgraded appliances.

Getting the low-key effect. A voice-controlled or wireless speaker or digital assistant comes in handy in the kitchen when you need a measurement converted or background dinner-making music.

Getting the full-out effect. Homeowners reported their refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves and range hoods were their top updated appliances, so tricking out those major players with touchscreens and smart controls may be the way to go if you’re tech-happy (and have the budget for it).

Future Home: How We’ll Be Living in 10 Years

Joseph Deats Photography

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Trend No. 6: Going Gray

What the pros say. There’s nothing drab about gray these days, and there hasn’t been for quite a while. In fact, a lot of pros consider it the new(ish) neutral.

What homeowners say. While white still holds the lead for most popular cabinet color among homeowners, gray wins for go-to wall color.

What saved Houzz photos say. Gray shows up in Houzzers’ kitchen ideabooks constantly.

Getting the low-key look. A gray island, accent wall or tile can add an element of calm sophistication to a kitchen.

Getting the full-out look. Because gray is so mellow a color, your kitchen may be able to handle gray cabinets, shelving and backsplash, like the kitchen shown here, without feeling overpowering.

When to Go Gray in the Kitchen | Browse gray tile choices

Haven Design and Construction

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Trend No. 7: Let There Be Light

What the pros say. Owen says good lighting is the second-biggest kitchen priority he hears from clients behind opening up a kitchen space into a living area. To get it, he might add a picture window above a sink or score more natural light by knocking down a dividing wall. Statement pendants, like the ones shown here, are also popular, as are sconces, which can come in handy in illuminating an open shelf.

What saved Houzz photos say. Dramatic pendant lights and chandeliers, many with gold details, are a repeat sight in the recent most-saved kitchen photos.

Getting the low-key look. Light fixtures can be a great place to test out a trend, as they’re typically easy to replace or upgrade, Harper says.

Getting the full-out look. Statement lights you can control with your voice or a smartphone are all the rage.

Find kitchen light fixtures

Pickell Architecture

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Trend No. 8: White Everything

What the pros say. The all-white trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, to some pros’ dismay. “You’re spending all this money for cabinets and all this money for countertops and everything else, and when everything is white nothing stands out,” McAlary says. Harper says if her clients are leaning toward a white-on-white look, her team will typically suggest adding tile or backsplash that makes the space a little more dynamic and unique — an approach she expects to see more of going forward.

What homeowners say. White still tops remodeling homeowners’ favorites list when it comes to cabinets and backsplashes, and it narrowly trails gray in wall color preference, according to the Kitchen Trends Study.

What saved Houzz photos say. Survey-taking homeowners and pros say all-white everything is still the most common choice in practice, but when Houzz users are planning or daydreaming about their next projects as they’re scrolling through photos on the site, it’s mostly shades of blue and gray they covet. Could that mean white kitchens might get knocked from their popularity throne in the next few years?

Getting the low-key look. White is classic and crisp, and it works with all kinds of kitchen styles. White countertops paired with either white upper or lower cabinets or a white backsplash leave room to break things up with a gray island, black countertops or another colorful accent.

Getting the full-out look. White cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances — go to town!

More guides to creating a beautiful white kitchen

Sealy Design Inc.

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Trend No. 9: Mixing Metals

What the pros say. As cabinet pulls, light fixtures, faucets and other hardware are one of the easiest parts of a kitchen to swap out, they’re a logical place to try something new. And pros say that while oil-rubbed bronze and brass were must-haves recently, people are experimenting with a variety of metal finishes, including champagne brass and charcoal stainless.

“It’s not just about brass anymore. I feel like for a while everybody wanted brass, but there are so many beautiful options out there,” Harper says. “And I think people are a little bit more comfortable mixing metals too.” A client might opt for brass hardware and a different metallic colorin lighting, she says.

What saved Houzz photos say. Saved kitchen photos from the past three months feature a mix of more golden brass hardware and darker bronzes, often set against the glint of stainless steel appliances.

Getting the low-key look. Just one element — a pendant light, stool legs, a faucet — with a different finish can help you avoid any matchy-matchy monotony and give your kitchen a bolder, lived-in edge.

Getting the full-out look. Incorporating too many different finishes in one space can feel busy, but two or three can make things interesting and sophisticated.

Browse kitchen hardware finishes

Tell us: What kitchen trends are you loving? Homeowners and designers, please share your favorite kitchen colors and finishes in the Comments.

More
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
15 Top Countertop Materials
How to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any Budget

THANK YOU TO HOUZZ FOR THE GREAT INFORMATION!

32 Home Design Trends for 2019

Creamy cabinets, abstract kitchen islands, destination bathtubs, compact laundry hubs and more are in store for homes

If you’re looking to redecorate or renovate your home in 2019, you’ve come to the right place. We searched through Houzz data, browsed hundreds of home design photos, reread past articles and interviewed professional designers to bring you this collection of materials, colors and other home design ideas that you can expect to see a lot more of in 2019. Which will you bring home?

1. Full-tile backsplash feature walls. Attention-grabbing backsplash tile is nothing new in well-designed kitchens. We’ve seen colorful geometric and quirky patterns show up in a lot of kitchens for years now.But what many professionals are seeing more of lately is an interest in taking the tile from countertop to ceiling, including behind floating shelves and flanking range hoods, to create a striking feature wall.

This idea aligns with some broader trends as well. The 2018 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study shows that half of homeowners are opening up their kitchens to interior spaces, and that the most popular kitchen layout is the L-shape. This openness means the kitchen is always on display and therefore in need of a good focal point. A full-tile feature wall draws your eye in, whether through shimmer and texture with something like a simple white subway tile or through bold color and pattern as with a Moroccan design.

It’s also a relatively cost-effective way to achieve a stunning effect. Buying an extra several square feet of tile won’t break the budget, but it looks high-end.

2. Window walls. Cabinet design has become much more efficient in recent years. Deep drawers on perimeter and base cabinets that bring items at the back of the cabinets out into the open means that fewer kitchen cabinets are needed overall. In response, designers and homeowners have shifted to removing upper cabinets on at least one kitchen wall, often to create an expansive window wall that can deliver views and lots of natural light.

“This makes the kitchen more open and expansive,” designer Jennifer Ott says. “It feels less top-heavy. To make up for the lost storage space, walk-in pantries or pantry walls, in which the cabinets span the floor to ceiling, are extremely popular. With upper wall cabinets out of the way, homeowners can put in a line of pendant lighting to light their countertop surfaces in lieu of undercabinet lighting.”

3. Wood on wood (on wood). Many of the most popular kitchen photos in 2018 featured lots of wood, and it’s easy to see why. Wood adds loads of warmth and character, and it pairs well with whites and grays, two of the most popular colors for kitchen cabinets and walls.

Ott says she’s seeing an increase in interest for medium-tone woods rather than super dark or light ones. Wood also adds charm that aligns with the trend toward farmhouse style, which has been gaining in popularity every year for the past three years, according to the recent Houzz kitchen trends report.

Upscale Construction

Gorgeous walnut wood cabinets and ceiling create a soothing, inviting atmosphere in this Healdsburg, California, kitchen by Claudia Juestel of Adeeni Design Group and Sutro Architects. Meanwhile, the white countertops and backsplash; steel countertop, shelf and appliances; and polished concrete floor cool things down.

4. Cream-colored cabinets. White is still the top choice for cabinet color, according to the Houzz kitchen report, but no two whites are created equal. Some paint companies offer more than 150 white paints — how do you choose?

Many homeowners are moving away from the bright, stark whites and embracing off-whites that feel warmer and cozier, like Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball, shown here in a Boston kitchen by Lisa Tharp Design.

Creamy cabinets paired with other warm finishes like wood and brass and blue-gray tile create a calm and serene feel that works well with transitional and farmhouse-inspired styles, the two most popular kitchen styles.

5. Quartz countertops. Engineered quartz was finally crowned the most popular countertop material in 2018 following a three-year decline in granite, according to Houzz research.

The natural stone and resin material is incredibly durable and can visually mimic the look of more expensive and maintenance-heavy materials like marble and slate.

In fact, quartz is so popular that even risings costs associated with trade tariffs haven’t dissuaded homeowners, who save elsewhere in their remodeling budgets in order to still get quartz countertops. “Prices for quartz that either was made in China or routed through China are now seeing 20 percent markups to make up the increased purchase price,” designer Carl Mattison says. “I find in my world people are relying on me, the designer, to help offset costs so they can still get what they want.”

Quartz vs. Granite: The Battle of the Countertops

6. Emerald and deep teal islands. As you’ll see later in this article, darker, moodier colors seem to be catching on. Mattison sees a lot of emerald and deep teal being used in kitchens, especially for islands, like the Deep Sea Dive by Sherwin-Williams on the island in this St. Louis kitchen by Jennifer Chapman Designs.

“The perimeter cabinetry can be a neutral from white to gray and the island can bring a pop of color to the space,” Mattison says. “By doing only the island a color, people can see the color without it being overwhelming.”

7. A new take on white subway tile backsplashes. A backsplash in standard white 3-by-6-inch subway tile is a classic look that works in almost any style of kitchen. But as with everything that peaks in popularity, design fatigue can set in and designers and homeowners start looking for an alternative while sticking with the freshness of white tile.

Larger-format tiles in herringbone, chevron or stacked patterns — anything other than the traditional offset brick pattern — gives the same crisp look but with a bit more nuance and interest, without taking a huge design risk. “With the larger size, the grout lines are minimized, and a clean, fresh take on the old is just what people are looking for,” Mattison says.

Ott is seeing even more of a departure from standard rectangular tile. “Sharp, linear geometric patterns are being nudged aside by softer, curvier, abstract organic patterns and nature motifs,” she says.

The circle-pattern tile in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen by Walker Woodworkingand Greenbrook Design Center is a good example.

Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These

8. Custom drawer inserts in an unexpected color or stain. Designers often suggest that homeowners splurge on the areas they interact with the most. Cabinet hardware is a good example, because you’ll be touching the handles or pulls several times a day. But designer Sarah Robertson likes to go a bit further.

She often encourages clients to go with a custom drawer insert in an unexpected color or stain, different than what’s on the cabinet drawer exterior. Shown here inside her own kitchen are custom stained walnut drawer inserts. “These are something I really try to talk clients into doing,” Robertson says. “You don’t think about how often drawers are open in the kitchen. You’re in and out of them all the time. It’s such a beautiful touch to have inside drawers.”

9. Kitchens that completely open to the outdoors. A single door connecting a kitchen to an outdoor area doesn’t cut it anymore. What homeowners want is a blurring of inside and out. Large sliding and collapsible doors give that feeling and help increase living space.

10. Countertop cabinets. A designer’s kitchen is always a good place to spot great design ideas. Going back to Robertson’s personal kitchen, you’ll see two countertop cabinets in each corner flanking the sink.

Corners in kitchens often go unused because they’re difficult to reach and wind up being dead space. A tall cabinet with a drawer on the bottom creates a smart storage opportunity for quick-grab items like spices, oils and snacks.

11. Black is back. OK, it’s not like black ever went away, it’s just that we’re finding homeowners are more open to really taking a chance on embracing a heavy dose of the dramatic color in their kitchens.

Large swaths of black range hoods, island accent colors and even full-on all-black cabinetry has been popping up a lot lately. Many of the most popular kitchen photosuploaded to Houzz in 2018 featured black or dark cabinets.

Pair black cabinets with white walls, backsplash and countertops for a dynamic, sophisticated and high-contrast look.

Black’s reemergence is probably a reaction against all the whites and bright colors that have been popular for so long, Ott says. But there’s also a confidence element at play. Ask homeowners to imagine black cabinets in their kitchens and they might think you’re crazy. But show them a stunning photo and they might reconsider.

As homeowners see photos on sites like Houzz that show big doses of black cabinets or painted millwork, and as they work with professional designers and color consultants who tout black’s design strengths, they become more confident that they can pull off this elegant, luxurious look in their own home.

Karen Dubinsky of Marcia Moore Design says she used photos she found on Houzz to persuade her clients to go with all-black cabinets and trim in the St. Louis kitchen shown here.

Model Remodel

12. Abstract island shapes. One of the most popular articles of the year on Houzz was about island shapes you might not have thought of. That might be surprising, considering that the majority of islands you see tend to be rectangular. But that just doesn’t work for every kitchen layout.

Modifying the shape into something more free-form can open up circulation paths and create more work and storage space.

13. Gray, white and wood. While the aforementioned kitchen trends will certainly show up again and again in 2019, it’s worth looking at what’s likely to be the most dominant kitchen trend. This photo of a Boston space by Hawthorn Builders is a good example of the type of kitchen you’re likely to see more of in the coming year.

This kitchen combines almost every top trend from the recent Houzz kitchen report: an L-shaped layout, transitional style, white Shaker-style cabinets, white quartz countertops, gray walls, a white backsplash, wood floors and stainless steel appliances.

Bathrooms

14. Destination bathtubs. There’s been a lot of debate over the years over whether you should keep a bathtub when remodeling your bathroom. But it’s clear that those who enjoy taking baths really enjoy taking baths. Couple that with people spending more to increase the size of their bathrooms and create a spa-like environment and you’ve got some homeowners who aren’t just keeping the tub, they’re celebrating it.

The ever-popular freestanding tub is now more like a free-range tub, out in its own pasture, creating a destination all its own, with a great view and other accessories to turn bathing into a significant event.

If you’ve got the room, it’s worth considering putting a freestanding tub off on its own. Most people don’t use their bathtub every day, so keeping it out of the more frequent daily path from shower to vanity makes sense.

This destination tub by 20|20 Builders looks like you’d need a plane ticket to Bali just to have a soak. But all the San Francisco homeowners have to do is walk out their bathroom door.

15. Natural wood vanities.Bathrooms can often look and feel cold with all that tile, glass and metal. Wood vanities help bring a large dose of warmth. And while wooden vanities aren’t new, what’s catching on is a turn away from dark stained and lacquered vanities — which hide things like grain pattern and knots — toward reclaimed wood or light wood with clear stains that celebrate the details of the grain.

Here, a reclaimed-hemlock vanity stuns in a Boston bathroom by Realm Interiors.

16. Electric fireplaces. Going back to the destination tub and the idea of creating a spa-like environment in the bathroom, is there anything more luxurious to go with a good soak than flickering flames from a fireplace? 

Electric fireplace inserts are relatively low-cost and easy to install, so they can be a worthwhile investment for all the pampering they afford.

17. Easy-reach shower controls. Reaching in to turn on the shower in the morning and getting hit with a cold blast of water is no way to start the day.

Relocating the shower controls to an opposite wall during a remodel solves that problem. You can see in this shower by designer Bronwyn Poole how the controls are on the wall opposite where you enter, far from the shower spray to the left.

Talk to your designer and builder about the additional cost that might come from adding the extra plumbing to get this feature.

18. Painted shiplap. White shiplap has certainly been having a moment in recent years. And while its popularity isn’t necessarily waning, its look is changing. Painted shiplap, usually in grays or dark blues, is showing up a lot. It’s a great look for bathrooms because it adds texture, dimension and character in a room that can often feel sterile.

19. Moroccan tile floors. Moroccan-patterned tile has been a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes and fireplace surrounds for years now. Increasingly, though, it’s showing up in large swaths as bathroom flooring. You get the clean feel of tile with all the color and style of a bold rug.

In this bathroom by designers Alexandria Hubbard and MJ Englert of Case Design/Remodeling, concrete tiles with various Moroccan-inspired patterns read as one pattern, and correspond with a shower niche.

Shop for Moroccan-inspired tile

Houzz contributing writer Becky Harris based her entire bathroom redesign, shown here, on the floor tile. “Once I found this tile, most of my plans revolved around it,” she says. “Warm gray, light blue-gray, charcoal gray, black and white and powdery blue came into play in my color palette.”

20. Drying station. Few things convey a sense of luxury in a bathroom more than a designated drying station, as evident in this space designed by Howell Custom Building Group and Leana Porter of Shutter Dog Design.

The station features an inset white oak drainable drying platform, a linen closet made of custom maple in a driftwood stain, a built-in bench and a skylight.

21. No-glass showers. Glass shower enclosures are great for controlling water spray while keeping an open and airy feel. But cleaning such enclosures is no day at the spa.

If you’ve got the room, you can create a completely open shower area like the one in this Tiburon, California, bathroom by Schneider Design Associates. A small curb and partial wall offset a large marble-tiled wet area with enough room for multiple wall-mounted shower heads, a rain shower head and a freestanding tub.

Living Rooms

22. Spanish style. Implementing Spanish-inspired style and other Mediterranean influences in a living room will automatically check a lot of the boxes on many homeowners’ wish lists. Light, airy, relaxing, casual, comfortable — these are all elements that come naturally with the style.

Creamy white plaster walls, linen upholstery, a collected look, wrought iron light fixtures, large fireplaces and natural wood architectural elements like ceiling beams define this approachable look.

In this popular living room photo uploaded to Houzz in 2018, designer Michael Ostrow of Grace Home Furnishings used rich coffered ceilings, an iron chandelier, a jute rug on tile floors, a pronounced fireplace and stately chairs mixed with laid-back sofas to create a breezy atmosphere in Palm Springs, California.

Large wood beams and corbels, a soaring ceiling, oversize fireplace and mantel, antiques and inviting furniture feature in this Spanish-influenced living room by Chris Hutchens of Summer Classics.

23. Mix of fabrics. “After years of iconic midcentury modern furniture being all the rage, there’s a shift toward softer, more comfortable pieces that have a ‘lived in’ vibe,” Ott says.

One way designers and homeowners are embracing this is by mixing various fabrics and patterns for a generous collection of textures and sheens.

This New York living room by Studio Aubergine Interior Design features a mix of leather and upholstery, a deep-pile rug and textured wallpaper behind the display shelves.

In this home built by David Weekley Homes, the living room offers a good mix of textures and sheens. There’s the smoothness of the suede chairs and linen sofa and the textured surfaces of the sofa pillows and jute rug. Add in the wood trunk and side table, a leather stool and drapery and it’s a winning combination.

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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.

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.

Elegant steel-and-glass doors on the left separate this living room by Christine Kimberlee Designs from an adjoining room.

Dining Nooks
26. Stand-alone furniture benches. Built-in bench seating in a dining nook off a kitchen is highly prized for its comfiness and storage. But when you can’t afford the built-in approach, or it’s not practical, consider a stand-alone furniture bench, as designer Amy Storm of Designstorms did in this Chicago kitchen.

A standalone furniture bench turns almost any dining spot into more of a lounge area, and you could tuck a few baskets underneath to hold blankets, games, place settings and more.

Laundry Rooms
Compact laundry stations. Don’t think you need a full-on dedicated room for doing laundry. Many designers have created super-efficient laundry areas in spaces the size of a hallway closet.Here, designer Janie Hungerfordtucked a laundry station into a closet-size nook of custom millwork in a light oak stain. It includes dog-print wallpaper (Best in Show by Osborne & Little), graphite-colored appliances, a hanging rod and an ironing board on the door.

Here, Carly Nemtean and Lauren Poetker of Carriage Lane Design-Build put a laundry station behind sliding pocket doors and added fun wallpaper, a folding countertop and rods for hanging and drying clothes.

Exteriors
28. White board and batten. The modern farmhouse look isn’t just sweeping through interiors. Exteriors are also seeing some of that throwback love. Five out of the 10 most popular exterior photos uploaded to Houzz in 2018 featured white board-and-batten siding.A board-and-batten method of construction delivers a charming, homey look and adds texture and interest to what might otherwise be a boring flat facade. And white makes a home pop against any landscape.

Color

29. Dark and moody. As mentioned earlier with kitchen cabinets, the dark side is expanding its force. “There’s been a sharp turn toward deeper, darker, moodier shades such as navy, black and forest greens,” Ott says. “It’s a reaction against all the whites and brights that have been popular for so long. Colors swing in and out of popularity, so it’s darker, moodier colors’ turn in the spotlight.”

30. Ceiling, walls and trim the same color. Ott says accent walls are pretty much over. Instead, many homeowners are taking the now-popular moody colors and applying them to every available surface — walls, trim, ceiling — as shown here and in the previous photo. “The effect is a cozier feeling, and gives a more finished result rather than the more jolting effect of just one feature wall,” Ott says.

Home Tech

31. Voice-assisted appliances. Indeed, the robots are here, and more are coming, whether we like it or not. Home tech is a tricky thing. Everyone seems to like the idea of the convenience promised by more technology in the home, but many people find a headache where there should be relief.

Still, voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home seem to be here to stay. Houzz research shows that home assistants in kitchens, for example, increased in 2018 compared with 2017. And with the devices showing up in more and more homes, more appliances that integrate with voice assistants will become more prevalent.

In 2018, for example, Amazon launched its own microwave, seen here. The appliance connects with an Amazon Echo and allows you to ask Alexa, the company’s voice assistant, to “reheat, defrost or microwave your desired cook time and power level.” Whether or not that’s a feature you think you need in your kitchen is up to you.

32. Video chat. In October 2018, Facebook announced Portal, a device with a 12-megapixel camera on the front that allows you to video-chat with your Facebook friends. Put it on your countertop or in your living room and you can make a video call with anyone who has Facebook Messenger — they don’t also need a Portal.

It’s a nifty feature that feels like something sci-fi has promised us for a long time. The timing, however, isn’t great. With all the security and misuse-of-data issues now dogging Facebook, some homeowners may think twice about giving the company a literal peek into their homes. Nevertheless, die-hard early adopters will make this something you can expect to see in homes in 2019.

The Best General Contractors in Louisville

FROM GENERAL CONTRACTORS MAGAZINE! THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR!

1) Wolford Built Homes

Website | 502.228.5885 | 7804 Springfarm Glen Drive PO Box 767 Prospect, KY 40059

Wolford Built Homes is one of Louisville’s premier luxury custom home builder and remodeler. The company was established in 1974 by Ron Wolford, a registered home builder that has built over 700 projects in Louisville and Northern Kentucky. He has won many awards including The Home Builders Association of Louisville’s Tour of Remodeled Homes “Best of” and was featured on the international TV show Cribs. The company’s homes have also been featured in Homearama and The Dream Factories’ “Dream House”, an 800-square foot traditional home with four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a master suite, a finished lower level and a three-car garage. The firm also received multiple awards from the Home Builders Association of Louisville including the 2012 Best Builder/Remodeler, Best Model Home, Best Remodeling Project Over $100k, and Best Home Design under $1.2M.

Throughout the years, the company remains one of the area’s finest luxury custom home builders that incorporates the latest trends in home design with traditional architecture and details perfectly blended with innovative technology.

https://www.generalcontractors.org/the-best-general-contractors-in-louisville-kentucky/

French Interior Design Ideas

This beautiful French style home is located in the heart of West Texas. The expansive single story 4,300 square foot floor plan was designed by Brit Jones Interiors and architect Tyler Gentry, of 17 Services. It was built by Scott Lane Homes.

You are immediately greeted with a stunning staircase leading you into a foyer filled with unique and one-of-a-kind french antiques. The interiors also feature a neutral color palate with pops of soft blue and traditional furniture styles.

I haven’t seen a tailored home like this one in some time and I really think you guys will love it as much as I do.

This French-style home exudes timeless architectural details and plenty of curb-appeal.

The home features a foyer, dining, living, kitchen, den, 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and 2 half baths, den, playroom, private office, large mudroom with wrapping room, courtyard and expansive lawn in front and back.

 Shutters

Shutters are rough cedar painted in Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue and made to look weathered with sand paper. The homeowner painted them herself!

Front Door

Black steel and glass front doors are custom made – 10 foot tall.

Brick

Exterior Brick: Mangum Brick in Country French color with white mortar.

Stucco

Instead of regular stucco the homeonwer did a “brick slurry” where they did the stucco over the brick in a hand finish instead of a sprayed finish. Color is a custom tan finish.

Trim Color

Dark Exterior Trim Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Seal Skin.

Roof

Roof is Tamko Thunderstorm Grey.

Windows

Windows are Pella Aluminum clad in bronze.

Stone

Exterior stone is Castlerock stone in a mix of cream and white with white mortar.

Lighting

Front Lanterns are Troy Larchmont Lanterns in hand forged iron in Age Pewter finish.

Welcome Home!

The black steel double doors open to a stunning French foyer.

Foyer Paint Color

White French Interior Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

Chandelier: Aidan Gray

Sconces: Aidan Gray

Blue Chair

The blue foyer chair is a French antique.

Antique Door

The barn door in the foyer is a true antique door from France.

Get the Look:

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Drapery

The window coverings are custom drapes and shades from Susan Cannon at Budget Blinds. They are drapes on French radius rods with motorized wove. Brittany, the homeowner, loves her them!

Chairs and ottoman are from Wisteria.

Similar Side Table: here .

Details

Foyer drapes are a French Blue with a custom embroidered banding on a French rod.

Dream Kitchen & Dining Room

This French-country kitchen and dining room are full of beauty and character.

Dining table and bench are Classic Home Furniture. Similar here (table & bench).

Dining Chairs

Wingback Dining Chair: Wayfair

Side Chairs: World Market. Similar here, here & here.

Similar Vase: here (large).

Kitchen

Isn’t this one of the most beautiful French kitchens you have ever seen?! Its design and choice of materials are impeccable.

Backsplash

The herringbone backsplash is reclaimed bricks from a building in Chicago. The homeowner took it all the way up the wall to make it more dramatic with the custom cast stone vent hood.

Cabinet pulls can be found here.

Lighting

Kitchen Lighting: Feiss.

Kitchen Hood

Kitchen vent hood is sprayed cast stone material that is custom-made in place.

Countertop

Kitchen countertop is Honed Arabescato Marble.

Similar Counterstools: here, here, here & here.

Get the Look:

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Hardware

Kitchen Hardware: Jeffrey Alexander Pulls and the Durham knobs for perimeter.

Cabinetry

Cabinets are Pine, shaker style cabinet door with a beveled edge. Cabinet paint color is Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

Kitchen Sink: Rohl.

Appliance Pull: Here.

Faucet

Kitchen Faucet: Danze Opulence Satin Nickel.

Hardwood

Hardwood Flooring: Hill Country Innovations Coastal Dunes Collection in color Cape Cod.

Similar Plaid Pillows: Here & Here.

Kitchen Pantry Cabinet Color

Paint Color: Uncertain Gray by Sherwin Williams.

Lighting

Industrial Farmhouse Lighting: Lighting is Hammered Copper one light pendant from Nebraska Furniture. Similar here.

Beams

The kitchen ceiling features stained wood grid ceiling.

Arch

A brick archway divides the kitchen area from the living room.

Living Room Ceiling

The living room features cathedral ceiling with beam.

Chandelier: Quorum.

Layout

The picture above gives us an idea of the layout; arches lead to foyer, next to a sitting area, dining room, kitchen and pantry on far left (by the refrigerator).

Patio Door

A large slide door with transoms opens to the patio.

Paint Color & Furniture

Wall & Trim Color: Alabaster by Sherwin Williams SW 7008.

Sofas are Bernhardt.

Chairs are Lee Furniture.

Get the Look:

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Powder Room

Countertop is Honed Arabescato Marble.

Cabinet Paint Color

Cabinet Color: Pewter Tankard Sherwin Williams.

Hardware: Anthropologie.

Grey Den

This rustic den features reclaimed wood ceiling and brick flooring. Breathtaking!

Den sofa is Mayo Furniture.

Ceiling Details

Note from the Designer: “The ceiling in the den is reclaimed barn wood beams over regular cedar planks that my husband distressed himself with nails, chains, and hammers”. – Brittany Jones.

Reading Nook Lighting

Reading Nook Lighting: Savoy House.

Den chairs are Century Furniture. Similar here, here & here.

Brick Flooring

Brick Flooring: Reclaimed bricks from an old building in Chicago. The designer/homeowner found the bricks from a vendor in Waco, Texas who sources the brick directly from a brick cutter in Chicago.

Laundry Room

The laundry room also features brick flooring.

Countertop: Polished “Shadow” Quartzite.

Hardware: Jeffrey Alexander.

Daughter’s Bedroom

The color palette of this bedroom is a dream!

Bedding

Bedding is a mix of Pottery Barn, and Bella Notte.

Chandelier

White Chandelier: Home Depot gold chandelier that the designer redid with chalk paint and added pearl strands from her wedding. Similar here.

Window

Window Treatment: Custom blush velvet cornice, white sheer drapes over a white and cream woven wood shades.

Bathroom Paint Color

Best White: Sherwin Williams SW 7008 Alabaster.

Lighting: Feiss.

Bathroom Tray Decor

Perfection!

Mirror & Sconces

Bathroom Mirror: similar here.

Sconces: Pottery Barn.

Bathroom Hardware

Bathroom Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs.

French Master Bedroom

Bedding is RH and Ballard Designs.

Window Treatment: Woven wood shades under white linen drapes.

Chandelier

Chandelier is Regina Andrew.

Paint Color

Trim and wall color is Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

Barn Door

The barn door is a custom designed door from a local carpenter and painted by the designer in Annie Sloan – custom mix of Duck Egg Blue, Old White, French Linen, and Coco.

Master Bathroom

Bathroom Faucet: Danze.

Countertop: Polished Arabescato Marble.

Cabinet Hardware

Bathroom Cabinet Hardware: Restoration Hardware.

Bathroom Chandelier

Terracotta Ballerina 6 light chandelier.

 Neutral Hues

How stunning is this bathroom? Notice the wall tile and the linen drapes.

Tub Surround Tile: Handmade white subway tile with a polished white finish. Similar here.

Master Bathroom Floor: Emser Tile Pietre Del Nord in color Maine with matte finish.

Interior Design & Photography: Brit Jones Interiors ( Instagram).

Inspiring Color Palette

Timeless Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams Alabaster. Benjamin Moore Bird’s Egg. Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. Sherwin Williams Watery. Sherwin-Williams Silver Strand. Benjamin Moore White Sand.

 

How to Design a Plan for Your New Home or Remodel

Building or renovating a house? Follow these 6 steps to draw up a plan that delivers the goods…

Most importantly…..

What you need and what you think you want are not the same thing.

Before you can even begin to design your own home (or design anything for that matter), you need to establish a clear brief for the project. This is more than just a wish list — it covers all aspects of the project: size, appearance, location, orientation, sensory qualities, cost, construction methods and much more. Let’s take a look at writing a brief in detail.

Archier

Your written brief will form the foundation of your entire house design. It is a description of your design objectives, which you will refer back to constantly and, as such, requires careful consideration.

The step-by-step process outlined below is the method I use to create briefs for every project I do. Whether you are designing a new house or extending an existing one, the approach is the same. Work through the steps, and by the end you will have not only a comprehensive and detailed brief but also a greater understanding of what it is you need rather than simply what you want.

Don’t worry about getting it right the first time; there will be plenty of opportunities to refine it later. What matters is that you get everything out of your head and down on paper so that the project can start to move forward.

SHED Architecture & Design

1. Compile a list of “likes” and then analyze them. The first step in designing your own home is to establish the sort of house you want to create and why. You should begin by collecting images of all the things you like and that speak to you about the type of home you want to create. I find Houzz to be the best tool for this because you can easily share your list and collaborate with other family members.

Browse images on Houzz for inspiration

m3architecture

Now this is where it starts to get interesting. Take each of the images you have chosen and look at it more closely. For each one, ask yourself what it is specifically that attracted you to the image, and note it down. It could be obvious, such as a particular material or shape, or it could be something less tangible, such as a feeling of comfort you infer from the image.

Can you picture yourself living in the room or house in the photo? If so, how does it feel to be there? Ask yourself what it is about that feeling that you want to emulate in your own home. It’s important to try to draw out the qualities that you want your home to have, rather than simply gathering shiny images of how you want it to look.

S&K Group

2. Look more closely at how you live. Now it’s time to look critically at how you live in your current home. It doesn’t matter if you own a house, rent an apartment or sleep on your parents’ sofa. We all inhabit space, and we all do it in slightly different ways.

Ask yourself the following questions about your current living situation. Spend some time on each one and be as critical as you can:

• What do you like about where you live and what don’t you like?
• Which rooms do you prefer to spend time in and which do you rarely use?
• What is it specifically that you like and dislike about these spaces?
• Which functions of your lifestyle do you feel are well-addressed and which ones are not?
• If you could improve just one thing, what would it be, regardless of cost and practicality?

3rdSpace

Next, make a list of all the items you own that will require storage in your new home, including the amount of space required for each and the best location for it. Don’t underestimate storage; it can make or break even the best-designed homes.

Finally, sit and watch how people move around in your current living spaces. Can you identify any conflicts that could be avoided in your new home? This is especially common in kitchens and bathrooms, where a lot of activity takes place.

schulberg demkiw architects

3. Draw up a list of spaces. You are now ready to start compiling a list of the rooms you hope to include in your new home. This is not as easy as it sounds. Lots of “what if” questions, doubts and uncertainty will start to crop up. This is normal and an integral part of the design process. Just keep going.

I would urge you not to dwell on these doubts for too long. Accept that you don’t have all the answers at this stage, and move on. It’s more important to identify the right questions so that you can address them as the design progresses.

Don’t worry about budget or practicalities just yet. There will be plenty of time to downsize if and when it becomes necessary. Be as extravagant as you like. This list is simply a draft of what it is you want — or rather what you think you want. It will be subject to plenty of adjustment before it is finalized, so don’t stress over it too much.

Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC

Be sure to consider the entire range of activities you would like your building to host. Think in terms of what the house can do for you, and try to envision any future needs you might have. Don’t forget to include outdoor living spaces in this list.

If you are planning an addition or refurbishment project, include both the existing spaces you want to keep and the additional spaces you want to create.

Read more about doing an addition

Archier

4. Analyze the list. Next, look at each of the rooms on your list in turn, using a separate page or document for each, and consider the following questions:

• What specific activities will normally happen in this space (for a kitchen, this may be eating or socializing in addition to cooking)?
• What furniture will you want to put in the spaces you are going to design? Include any built-in storage you think you may need. Look back at your storage list and make sure you include the storage requirements for each room.
• Can you categorize the room in some way? Would you call it a public or a private space? Is it open or closed, inward- or outward-looking? Will it be a primary or secondary space in your home?
• Can you combine two or more of the rooms on your list? Consider multifunctional spaces that can serve different purposes at different times. This is a great way to start to rationalize your list.

• Now revisit the qualities and feelings you identified from your list of likes, as well your analysis of the rooms you enjoy spending time in. What qualities do you want each of the rooms on your list to have? This may include access to natural light at certain times of the day, or feelings of spaciousness, comfort, warmth, serenity or cleanliness, for example. Think about rooms in your current home that you rarely use and make sure you aren’t simply replicating them in your new home.

ZeroEnergy Design

5. Establish big-picture goals and priorities for the project. You should now have a good handle on the specifics of each room. It’s time to take a step back and think about the project as a whole. As with any project, it’s important to establish a clear list of goals from the outset. These goals will help guide the decision-making process as you move forward, and form a handy touchstone when you face difficult choices or conflicting opinions.

They might be environmental goals, such as minimizing energy use or water consumption, or economic goals, such as maximizing affordability and minimizing ongoing maintenance costs. Your goals could also be personal ones, such as allowing for flexibility toward any future lifestyle changes or creating the perfect place to hold lavish dinner parties. Think of your goals as the values you want your final design to embody.

Fearns Studio

Finally, consider what relationship each room might have to another one. You might want a kitchen to be close to a dining area or to open onto the garden, for example. Alternatively, you might want to locate the bedrooms away from the main living area to ensure that they are quieter and more private.

Note it all down; you can’t write too much on all this stuff. Be as expansive and as specific as you like, but prioritize each item into “nonnegotiable,” “important” and “nice to have.”

Angus Mackenzie Architect

6. Finalize your list and address common mistakes. The last step in this process is about bringing it all together. You should have an overview of the rooms you think you need and their relationship to one another, as well as a fairly detailed description of what each room should contain and how it should feel.

There are, however, some very common mistakes people make during this process. Take one last look at your list to make sure you aren’t guilty of any of the following:

• Focusing too much on aesthetics. Instead, think more about quality, comfort and functionality. Trust me, looks can come later.
• Thinking purely room by room. Be sure you have set real goals and values for your whole project from the outset. A good designer is able to focus on the little details without forgetting the bigger picture.

schulberg demkiw architects

• Not considering all family members’ thoughts and feelings. Although you may be the one leading the design, don’t forget the other occupants of your home. The more they are invested in the process, the richer the design will become.
• Trying too hard to “keep up with the Joneses.” Just because your neighbors have a hot tub on the roof doesn’t mean you have to have one too. Stick to your specific needs and those of your family, and forget what everyone else is doing.
• Not considering the future. If this process is going to be worthwhile, your design needs to have flexibility to allow it to grow with you and your family. None of us know what the future holds, so aim for a design that can easily adapt should your circumstances change.

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Thank you to Houzz and

Mark Gregory