Inspiration for a contemporary foyer in Miami with porcelain floors, a double front door and a dark wood front door.

41 West Coastal Retreat Series reveals creative, fresh ideas, for a new look to define the casual beach lifestyle of Naples. More than a dozen custom variations and sizes are available to be built on your lot. From this spacious 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom model, to larger 4 and 5 bedroom versions ranging from 3,500 - 10,000 square feet, including guest house options.

The entrance was changed adding arches and columns to give it an open entry way feel with porcelain tile, the entry also had a wood porcelain for a more grand look as you walk in. Photo credit: Peter Obetz

The doorway to the beautiful backyard in the lower level was designed with a small, but very handy staging area to accommodate the transition from indoors to out. This custom home was designed and built by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Joshua Caldwell.

Black onyx rod railing brings the future to this home in Westhampton, New York. . The owners of this home in Westhampton, New York chose to install a switchback floating staircase to transition from one floor to another. They used our jet black onyx rod railing paired it with a black powder coated stringer. Wooden handrail and thick stair treads keeps the look warm and inviting. The beautiful thin lines of rods run up the stairs and along the balcony, creating security and modernity all at once. . Outside, the owners used the same black rods paired with surface mount posts and aluminum handrail to secure their balcony. It’s a cohesive, contemporary look that will last for years to come.

Slate-look Porc. Tile laid transition-less in foyer
Inspiration for a small traditional front door in Orlando with white walls, porcelain floors, a double front door and a dark wood front door.

Inspiration for a large midcentury foyer in Boston with a double front door, a white front door, white walls and porcelain floors.

Photo of a small transitional foyer in Toronto with grey walls, porcelain floors, a double front door, a white front door and black floor.

Inspiration for a large transitional foyer in Vancouver with grey walls, porcelain floors, a double front door and a white front door.

This modern house is a departure from the traditional style of new homes in the area. Stone, stucco, mahogany and glass create a dynamic composition on the exterior. The interior features open spaces and well considered materials and finishes. Energy efficient systems and appliances were employed throughout.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

2 Infiniti wall lamps by Davide Groppi were used in the living room to give indirect soft subdued lighting, together with 2 Sampei floor lamps to project direct light on the floor. Iron mesh red statues with LED bulbs are hanging from an iron beam. Natural light comes in by the large loft-like windows and glass made entrance door.

Our handmade steel doors make a wonderful statement piece for any style of home. They are available in both double and single door configurations, with a curved or flat top. There are 3 separate ‘in-fills’ available for each door type, meaning your door can be totally unique and customized to suit your taste and style of home. Unlike traditional timber doors, steel doors will never bow, twist, crack or require re-painting or staining. They sit inside a matching steel frame and are faster than a timber door to install. The window/ glass sections of the doors are openable and come with removable flyscreens to aid in natural ventilation.

This entry renovation worked entirely within the existing structure of the house. The closet opposite the front door was removed to create more depth physically and visually. Most of the work was done with interior finishes and custom built-ins. The split level residence presented many challenges to design and construction, but the result is a path filled with beautiful details and thoughtful transitions. Photo by: Daniel Contelmo Jr.

The tile in this front entrance is 24 x 24 Trav Classico tile x-cut ad honed. and the flooring in the den is unfinished engineered Walnut hardwood with Ebony Satin finish. The front doors are two 36 x 104 inch solid Walnut slabs with a curved custom top design, two tempered sandblasted insulated lites and custom crossers.

Entry Space. New Tile, Refinished wood stairs, window casing, trim, and door, new paint. Photos by Brigid Wethington
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional foyer in Baltimore with a double front door, a medium wood front door, white walls and porcelain floors.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary mudroom in Charleston with white walls, porcelain floors, a double front door, a glass front door and multi-coloured floor.

Entry vestibule
This is an example of a small transitional vestibule in New York with purple walls, porcelain floors, a double front door, a white front door and green floor.

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean foyer in San Diego with beige walls, porcelain floors, a double front door, a dark wood front door and beige floor.