Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem.

This is an example of a mid-sized country mudroom in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

The entry to Hillside is accessed from guest parking a series of exposed aggregate pads leading downhill and winding around the large silver maple planted many years ago by the owner's mother Photographer: Fredrik Brauer

Marisa Vitale Photography
Design ideas for a midcentury front door in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a double front door, a light wood front door and brown floor.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional mudroom in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

A Southern California contemporary residence designed by Atelier R Design with the Glo European Windows D1 Modern Entry door accenting the modern aesthetic. Sterling Reed Photography

Schmaler Flur in dem kein Platz für klassische Schränke ist. Innovative Aufbewahrung von Accessoires
This is an example of a small eclectic entry hall in Cologne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door and brown floor.

Marcell Puzsar, Bright Room Photography
Small country foyer in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a dark wood front door and brown floor.

Michael Lucas
Photo of a country mudroom in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Inspiration for a beach style entry hall in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a black front door and brown floor.

Graced with an abundance of windows, Alexandria’s modern meets traditional exterior boasts stylish stone accents, interesting rooflines and a pillared and welcoming porch. You’ll never lack for style or sunshine in this inspired transitional design perfect for a growing family. The timeless design merges a variety of classic architectural influences and fits perfectly into any neighborhood. A farmhouse feel can be seen in the exterior’s peaked roof, while the shingled accents reference the ever-popular Craftsman style. Inside, an abundance of windows flood the open-plan interior with light. Beyond the custom front door with its eye-catching sidelights is 2,350 square feet of living space on the first level, with a central foyer leading to a large kitchen and walk-in pantry, adjacent 14 by 16-foot hearth room and spacious living room with a natural fireplace. Also featured is a dining area and convenient home management center perfect for keeping your family life organized on the floor plan’s right side and a private study on the left, which lead to two patios, one covered and one open-air. Private spaces are concentrated on the 1,800-square-foot second level, where a large master suite invites relaxation and rest and includes built-ins, a master bath with double vanity and two walk-in closets. Also upstairs is a loft, laundry and two additional family bedrooms as well as 400 square foot of attic storage. The approximately 1,500-square-foot lower level features a 15 by 24-foot family room, a guest bedroom, billiards and refreshment area, and a 15 by 26-foot home theater perfect for movie nights. Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury foyer in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a pivot front door, an orange front door and brown floor.

Architecture: RDS Architects | Photography: Landmark Photography
Large arts and crafts foyer in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a medium wood front door and brown floor.

Photo of a small beach style front door in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a brown front door and brown floor.

This home is built by Robert Thomas Homes located in Minnesota. Our showcase models are professionally staged. FOR STAGING PRODUCT QUESTIONS please contact Ambiance at Home for information on furniture - 952.440.6757. Photography by Steve Silverman

This is an example of a large modern front door in Boise with medium hardwood floors, a double front door and brown floor.

Updated Spec Home: Foyer and Great Room In our last post, we introduced you to my mom and sister’s Updated Spec Home; the Foyer and Great Room will be featured in this post. Foyer As you enter their home, to the right is a hall closet and a french door which leads to the Basement. To the left is a long wall which was perfect for an extra long console table in a rustic finish that served as a sofa table in their previous home. I love repositioning furniture, and by using this table in the entry, it makes it feel new. Additionally, we placed a vibrant piece of art previously used in my sister’s Bedroom above the table. This piece not only sets the tone for our color palette, it also makes the kind of statement you want in your Foyer – Wow! We added accessories and an unique lamp to complete the space. Great Room In the Great Room which is open to the Foyer, we installed our inspiration artwork in the place of honor over the mantel. Since the piece was vertical, it did not take up enough space. I do not like a “fussy” mantel with lots of accessories so we found these two vases in a silver leaf finish. They were perfect because they were large enough, but not too deep. Accessorizing mantels can be tricky because the majority of them are not deep. We went to Jan’s Floral Design to add vibrant color and interesting textures to the vases. The original mantel was too small and uninspired. Therefore, we had our contractor Brad Anderson built a new one based on a photo of a mantel we liked. The new mantel has lots of great detail and is the appropriate proportion for the fireplace. We replaced beige 12×12 ceramic tiles with gorgeous large pieces of smoked carrara marble for a striking fireplace surround. Check out this other mantel that we updated. For furniture, we purchased a shorter sofa in a gray tweed fabric. Typically, two throw pillows come with a sofa.We added a fun fringe to the pillows that came with the sofa. I recommend ordering pillows that match your sofa fabric and layering with custom pillows that support your color palette. We added a patterned custom pillow and a striped throw. Next, we got a small scale recliner in a yummy gray leather for my mom and a chair and ottoman in a small scale mint and gray geometric pattern for my sister. We added an accent chair in a fun small scale stripe to fill a corner and add additional seating – which is always a good thing. Remember that this was a Spec Home so there were no built-ins. As a result, we needed a media cabinet for the television and some bookcases to display my mom’s decorative box collection and my sister’s collection of blown colored glass. This set from Ballard Designs fit the bill perfectly. The back is open and airy with nice detail. The wood finish also adds a richness to the space. My mom needed a space for her computer, and this small writing desk fit the space perfectly. Finally, for finishing touches, we added a patterned rug, cornice boards in a mint leaf fabric, and great lamps for ambient lighting. These two rooms are stunning, vibrant and livable. Can’t wait to show you more in our next post! Enjoy!

Foto: Karina Kaliwoda © 2017 Houzz
Mid-sized scandinavian entry hall in Hamburg with medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door, brown floor and white walls.

Let's face it. The back door is the most used entry into the house. It's the area that needs to be the MOST organized so why not make it both functional AND beautiful, with a splash of color in an otherwise dark area of your home? All members of the family can grab what they need in a hurry, including the dog!