Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz

Keeping the area clutter free allows for calmness in the room. There is always room for a few live plants to give that sense of life and to ground you...

The goal for this project was to create a space that felt “beachy” for the Lewis’ who moved from Utah to San Diego last year. These recent retirees needed a casual living room for everyday use and to handle the wear and tear of grandchildren. They also wanted a sophisticated environment to reflect this point in their lives and to have a welcoming atmosphere for guests. Photos courtesy of Ramon C Purcell

Open plan kitchen living area in a log cabin on the outskirts of London. This is the designer's own home. All of the furniture has been sourced from high street retailers, car boot sales, ebay, handed down and upcycled. The dining table was free from a pub clearance (lovingly and sweatily sanded down through 10 layers of thick, black paint, and waxed). The benches are IKEA. The painting is by Pia. Design by Pia Pelkonen Photography by Richard Chivers

Erin Feinblatt

A small basement common area, shared between two guests bedrooms and housing a laundry closet keeps the finishes stream-lined and contemporary. The wood-look tile floor adds warmth and interest, while the homeowner's collages of family photos makes the room personal.

Chase Daniel

Carriage House loft bedroom shares space directly with open bathroom with barn door separation from loft kitchen/living space - Interior Architecture: HAUS | Architecture + BRUSFO - Construction Management: WERK | Build - Photo: HAUS | Architecture

Interior Design by Mackenzie Collier Interiors (Phoenix, AZ), Photography by Jaryd Niebauer Photography (Phoenix, AZ)

1920's Bungalow revitalized open concept living, dining, kitchen - Interior Architecture: HAUS | Architecture + BRUSFO - Construction Management: WERK | Build - Photo: HAUS | Architecture

Zac and Zac Photography

Immo Photo

Eco-Rehabarama house. This dining space is adjacent to the kitchen and the living area in a very open floor-plan. We converted the garage into a kitchen and updated the entire house. The red barn door is made from recycled materials. The hardware for the door was salvaged from an old barn door. We used wood from the demolition to make the barn door. This image shows the entire barn door with the kitchen table. The door divides the laundry and utility room from the dining space. It's a practical solution to separate the two spaces while adding an interesting focal point to the room. Love the pop of red against the neutral walls. The door is painted with Sherwin Williams Red Obsession SW7590 and the walls are Sherwin Williams Warm Stone SW 7032.

Matt Bolt, Charleston Home + Design Magazine