This room used to be one of the teenage girl's room, but they have decided to use this room as their TV and entertainment room. The room is small, the previous bedroom furnitures and the turquoise paint from ceiling to wall and the thick carpet gave the room a very stuffy feeling eventhough it had a very high ceiling. Both the teenagers definitely wanted white walls, space, comfort and a modern feel where they can invite friends and use it as well as a guest room. I opted for white all over, engineered white wood floor (warm to the feel, free from acariens and easy to maintain and clean), suggested the layout and the type of affordable furnitures and rugs from CB2 (they had fun and chose the furnitures and colors themselves - they made a great choice), (they loved the idea of the chalkboard wall in my home) chalkboard paint for fun which I aligned along the window, made better directional lights from the ceiling (led lights), simple suspension from CB2 to provide ambiance lighting at night and white lacquered TV/bookcase furniture from Ikea. Photo Credit: Coy Gutierrez

Echoed by an eye-catching niche in the shower, bright orange and blue bathroom tiles and matching trim from Fireclay Tile give this boho-inspired kids' bath a healthy dose of pep. Sample handmade bathroom tiles at FireclayTile.com. Handmade trim options available. FIRECLAY TILE SHOWN Ogee Floor Tile in Ember Handmade Cove Base Tile in Lake Tahoe Ogee Shower Niche Tile in Lake Tahoe Handmade Shower Niche Trim in Ember DESIGN Maria Causey Interior Design PHOTOS Christy Kosnic

Having a small child, loving to entertain and looking to declutter and kid-proof the gathering spaces of their home in the quaint village of Rockville Centre, Long Island, a stone’s throw from Manhattan, our client’s main objective was to have their living room and den transformed with a family friendly home makeover with mid-century modern tones boasting a formal, yet relaxed spirit Stepping into the home we found their living room and den both architecturally well appointed yet in need of modern transitional furniture pieces and the pops of color our clients admired, as there was a substantial amount of cool, cold grays in the rooms. Decor Aid designer Vivian C. approached the design and placement of the pieces sourced to be kid-friendly while remaining sophisticated and practical for entertaining. “We played off of the clients love for blush pinks, mid-century modern and turquoise. We played with the use of gold and silver metals to mix it up.” In the living room, we used the prominent bay window and its illuminating natural light as the main architectural focal point, while the fireplace and mantels soft white tone helped inform the minimalist color palette for which we styled the room around. To add warmth to the living room we played off of the clients love for blush pinks and turquoise while elevating the room with flashes of gold and silver metallic pieces. For a sense of play and to tie the space together we punctuated the kid-friendly living room with an eclectic juxtaposition of colors and materials, from a beautifully patchworked geometric cowhide rug from All Modern, to a whimsical mirror placed over an unexpected, bold geometric credenza, to the blush velvet barrel chair and abstract blue watercolor pillows. “When sourcing furniture and objects, we chose items that had rounded edges and were shatter proof as it was vital to keep each room’s decor childproof.” Vivian ads. Their vision for the den remained chic, with comfort and practical functionality key to create an area for the young family to come together. For the den, our main challenge was working around the pre-existing dark gray sectional sofa. To combat its chunkiness, we played off of the hues in the cubist framed prints placed above and focused on blue and orange accents which complement and play off of each other well. We selected orange storage ottomans in easy to clean, kid-friendly leather to maximize space and functionality. To personalize the appeal of the den we included black and white framed family photos. In the end, the result created a fun, relaxed space where our clients can enjoy family moments or watch a game while taking in the scenic view of their backyard. For harmony between the rooms, the overall tone for each room is mid-century modern meets bold, yet classic contemporary through the use of mixed materials and fabrications including marble, stone, metals and plush velvet, creating a cozy yet sophisticated enough atmosphere for entertaining family and friends and raising a young children. “The result od this family friendly room was really fantastic! Adding some greenery, more pillows and throws really made the space pop.” Vivian C. Decor Aid’s Designer

Photo by Kelly M. Shea

Walls are Sherwin Williams Wool Skein. Lantern from Visual Comfort. Dining chairs from Lee Industries. Table fromHickory Chair. Custom banquette with F. Schumacher upholstered back.

Stanislas Ledoux © 2019 Houzz

A bright and spacious extension to a semi-detached family home in North London. The clients brief was to create a new kitchen and dining area that would be more suited to their family needs, and full of lots of sunlight. Using a large roof light and crittal style doors, we connected the new kitchen to the garden, allowing the family to use the space all year round.

Red double doors leading into main entry. Photographer: Rob Karosis

The project was the result of a highly collaborative design process between the client and architect. This collaboration led to a design outcome which prioritised light, expanding volumes and increasing connectivity both within the home and out to the garden. Within the complex original plan, rational solutions were found to make sense of late twentieth century extensions and underutilised spaces. Compartmentalised spaces have been reprogrammed to allow for generous open plan living. A series of internal voids were used to promote social connection across and between floors, while introducing new light into the depths of the home.

Alise O'Brien Photography

Photograph by Michael J. Lee