Not all renovations center on whole-home design. Frequently, more homeowners are turning to interior designers to focus on pieces of their home instead. It’s a terrific scenario for those looking only for a living room facelift or a kitchen update, but these amazing spaces have proven a challenge to Home Design & Decor’s commitment to featuring incredible comprehensive home design. Until now.
In the magazine’s first Editors’ Pick feature, we bring you our favorite rooms from submissions throughout the year. From bedrooms and living rooms to bathrooms and kitchens, peruse the best of what the Triangle has to offer, room by room, and find your own inspiration in these awe-worthy styles.
Heart & Home
If the house has a pulse, you’ll find it in the kitchen – the true heart of the home. As the backdrop for intimate moments where home-cooked meals are prepared, homework is checked, and where family members congregate just to spend time with one another, the kitchen must fulfill a tall order, ensuring the utmost in function and style. State-of-the-art appliances, natural stone countertops, sleek cabinetry, and elegant light fixtures can pull it all together.
Cocktail Couture
The space may be small, but the impact is huge! The best bar areas will be fully functional, featuring custom cabinetry, wine drawers, adequate shelving for glassware, and available counter space for preparation. Design elements such as custom tile work, wallpapers with bold patterns, and bright paint colors can give the area a chic, personalized edge perfect for mixing the tastiest cocktails.
Modern Mornings
Whether tucked into a nook in front of expansive windows or spanning the length of a modern kitchen, the breakfast area is a family gathering spot for anytime of the day. It’s a place to eat a quick bite, have a cup of coffee, complete homework, or simply have an intimate conversation while dinner’s on. Sleek, comfortable furniture and durable fabrics provide a basis for vibrant pops of color—in rugs, window treatments, or accessories—that personalize the family space, making mornings—and every moment in between—everyone’s favorite.
An Appetite for Glam
Bold. Classic. Eclectic. Cozy. Modern. Dining rooms come in all shapes and sizes and evoke a plethora of atmospheres. But one thread ties them all together. Every dining room is designed to dazzle guests by operating as the perfect backdrop to each dinner party, family meal, or extravagant event. And here, more than anywhere else in the home, a little extra glam is always appropriate.
Live & Let Live
If the foyer says “hello,” the living room says “sit down and stay a while.” Whether it boasts an elegant sitting group, a gallery wall of eclectic art, or a unique architectural element, the living room’s focal point draws guests in and establishes the mood of the space. At the intersection of the home’s comprehensive design, the living room blends colors, textures, and styles to create a space where visual impact and personal comfort are paramount.
Posh Playtime
Recreational rooms are the meeting point between family time and entertainment, where family members can relax together, watch TV, and play a game or two. Whether dark and rustic or light and contemporary, recreational room design must embrace comfort and coziness in order to become the family’s favorite getaway spot.
Work/Life Balance
Working from home shouldn’t feel like a job, and it won’t with a smart, efficient workspace that maximizes square footage, boasts organizational tools, and dresses it all up with a glamorous style that flows seamlessly within the home’s aesthetic. Built-in cabinetry, uncluttered desks and filing systems, and adequate and beautiful lighting options elevate a standard study to a posh professional space.
Slumber in Style
Intimate and deeply personal, the bedroom marries comfort and personality to create a haven within the confines of the home. From new contemporary furnishings to refurbished antique finds, every element goes hand-in-hand to infuse a clean, modern aesthetic perfect for sleeping or simply relaxing in a place all your own. Punchy fabrics, artwork, and accessories smartly infuse the space with personality.
Soak It In
The ultimate standard in personal luxury, the perfect bathroom offers a spa-like feel with the elegance of a five-star resort. Posh linens, sleek cabinetry, neutral palettes, and contemporary light fixtures and sconces create a clean, uncluttered aesthetic that invites relaxation with a soak in the tub, a moment to wash away the day and the stresses of the world while savoring the ambiance.
Storage Savvy
Perhaps closets are the most underestimated rooms in a home. After all, they’re only there to house clothes and other essentials, right? But the savviest closets go above and beyond the call of duty, offering customized storage options—shelving, cubbies, cabinetry, and hanging spaces—with the highest standards of style. Throw in a dressing area, a vanity, or even a private lounge, and it becomes a favorite room where homeowners enjoy spending time.
Form & Function
A functional back entrance shouldn’t skimp on style. Incorporating hidden closets and custom cabinetry to accommodate storage needs keep the aesthetic clean and streamlined, while architectural detailing, custom tile floors, and shiplap walls can add drama to a traditionally more utilitarian space.
Sensational Cellar
Efficient wine cellars demand controlled elements— steady temperatures and humidity levels with enough space to house a substantial wine collection and a protected location with no direct sunlight. But these climate-controlled spaces can also be beautiful and welcoming, an extension of the comprehensive home design made custom with specialty lighting, shelving, and flooring to allow homeowners the best options in which to store and showcase their collection.
Extraordinary Exterior
Beyond the back door, exists some valuable real estate that can easily extend the home’s square footage. Custom furniture, lighting, and fabrics can create the oasis of your dreams, from relaxed and casual to chic and sophisticated. And with North Carolina’s moderate seasons, this outdoor living space can offer a year-round option for entertaining guests or simply relaxing at home with friends and family.