Angle Eye Photography Dewson Construction Blackbird Woodworking

Built-in bunk beds provide the perfect space for slumber parties with friends! The aqua blue paint is a fun way to introduce a pop of color while the bright white custom trim gives balance.

The dining room serves the modern family as a gathering place for informal meals and special occasions alike.

Carrara marble walls and flooring paired with unlacquered brass fixtures from Newport Brass exude luxury in this hotel-inspired master bathroom. A hydronic towel warmer uses water to warm towels. Photo credit: Perko Photography

Alise O'Brien

The clients bought a new construction house in Bay Head, NJ with an architectural style that was very traditional and quite formal, not beachy. For our design process I created the story that the house was owned by a successful ship captain who had traveled the world and brought back furniture and artifacts for his home. The furniture choices were mainly based on English style pieces and then we incorporated a lot of accessories from Asia and Africa. The only nod we really made to “beachy” style was to do some art with beach scenes and/or bathing beauties (original painting in the study) (vintage series of black and white photos of 1940’s bathing scenes, not shown) ,the pillow fabric in the family room has pictures of fish on it , the wallpaper in the study is actually sand dollars and we did a seagull wallpaper in the downstairs bath (not shown).

Bright, white, and clean are the key words in this teenage girl's bathroom. A large vanity with make up station provides ample storage and a great place to prepare for the day. Beveled subway tiles line the bath/shower combo. White porcelain marble-look floor tiles. Stephen Allen Photography

A traditional desk accented with gold hardware stands in one corner of this serene master bedroom. A charcoal grey glass lamp illuminates the desk and is joined by a silverleaf Chippendale chair covered in navy crushed velvet. On the wall hangs a large gold-framed abstract artwork in shades of aqua, navy, gold and ivory. A wall shelf with pagoda top hangs on an adjacent wall, displaying Asian accessories in aqua and turquoise. Light gray walls with white trim contrast with the depth of the walnut stained hardwood floor. Carter Tippins Photography

This home’s bright white traditional kitchen bounces light off every surface, from the Amazon Pearl Quartzite countertops and white subway tile backsplash to the gleaming white cabinets with their polished nickel hardware. Polished nickel is repeated in the faucet that is paired with a large white farm sink. A small area rug in shades of blue covers the walnut stained hardwood floor, while a stainless-steel range stands ready to take on any cooking task. A trio of frosted globe pendants hang from gold chains above the center island. The honeycomb design of the pendants is echoed in the blue trellis pattern of the roman shades that have been accented with a navy band. Coffee bean stained barstools boast turquoise seats in a durable easy-to-clean vinyl, and the striped fabric covering the built-in banquette has been laminated for easy cleaning as well. Light gray walls and ceiling are punctuated with white trim and provide a fresh neutral backdrop for the harmonious colors living in this hardworking space. Carter Tippins Photography

A home office off the kitchen can be concealed with a pocket door. Gray-painted maple Wood-Mode cabinetry complements the kitchen finishes but makes the space unique. **Project Overview** A small, quiet, efficient office space for one that is perfect for sorting mail and paying bills. Though small it has a great deal of natural light and views out the front of the house of the lush landscaping and wildlife. A pocket door makes the office disappear when it's time to entertain. **What Makes This Project Unique?** Small yet incredibly functional, this desk space is a comfortable, quiet place to catch up on home management tasks. Filled with natural light and offering a view of lush landscaping, the compact space is light and airy. To keep it from feeling cramped or crowded, we complemented warm gray-painted maple cabinetry with light countertops and tile. Taller ceilings allow ample storage, including full-height open storage, to manage all of the papers, files and extras that find their way into the home. **Design Challenges** While the office was intentionally designed into a tiny nook off the kitchen and pantry, we didn't want it to feel small for the people using it. By keeping the color palette light, taking cabinetry to the ceiling, incorporating open storage and maximizing natural light, the space feels cozy, and larger than it actually is. Photo by MIke Kaskel.

**Project Overview** This new construction home built next to a serene lake features a gorgeous, large-scale kitchen that also connects to a bar, home office, breakfast room and great room. The homeowners sought the warmth of traditional styling, updated for today. In addition, they wanted to incorporate unexpected touches that would add personality. Strategic use of furniture details combined with clean lines brings the traditional style forward, making the kitchen feel fresh, new and timeless. **What Makes This Project Unique?* Three finishes, including vintage white paint, stained cherry and textured painted gray oak cabinetry, work together beautifully to create a varied, unique space. Above the wall cabinets, glass cabinets with X mullions add interest and decorative storage. Single ovens are tucked in cabinets under a window, and a warming drawer under one perfectly matches the cabinet drawer under the other. Matching furniture-style armoires flank the wall ovens, housing the freezer and a pantry in one and custom designed large scale appliance garage with retractable doors in the other. Other furniture touches can be found on the sink cabinet and range top cabinet that help complete the look. The variety of colors and textures of the stained and painted cabinetry, custom dark finish copper hood, wood ceiling beams, glass cabinets, wood floors and sleek backsplash bring the whole look together. **Design Challenges* Even though the space is large, we were challenged by having to work around the two doorways, two windows and many traffic patterns that run through the kitchen. Wall space for large appliances was quickly in short supply. Because we were involved early in the project, we were able to work with the architect to expanded the kitchen footprint in order to make the layout work and get appliance placement just right. We had other architectural elements to work with that we wanted to compliment the kitchen design but also dictated what we could do with the cabinetry. The wall cabinet height was determined based on the beams in the space. The oven wall with furniture armoires was designed around the window with the lake view. The height of the oven cabinets was determined by the window. We were able to use these obstacles and challenges to design creatively and make this kitchen one of a kind. Photo by MIke Kaskel