Photo by Don Kadair / Room by Beth Lavine.

Difference makers: Simple elements change the game in home design

Above: Ready to Read

Books make a difference by adding history to a space and reflecting the family that lives in the home. This built-in bookshelf in the den is centered by a “window” to the kitchen and the breakfast room beyond.


Brick Blending

Photo courtesy Ty Larkins.
Photo courtesy Ty Larkins.

An arched brick doorway gets a special paint treatment to blend with the painted cypress beams to draw your eye from the family room to the living room beyond.


Window Dressing

Photo by Melissa OivankI / Room by Claire Major.
Photo by Melissa Oivanki / Room by Claire Major.

Think you can’t enjoy the great outdoors while you are taking a shower inside? Think again. All you need is a privacy wall and a little creativity. Here, a custom barn-style glass door was created for entrance to the expansive shower in the master bath.


Color Rush

Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Karen Giffel.
Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Karen Giffel.

A bold use of color—on an accent wall or even on a throw pillow—significantly changes the dynamic of a room. In this sunroom, cabinets in a quiet weathered-wood faux finish allow the glossy orange tile backsplash to steal the show.


Bright Idea

Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Jerad Gardemal of Beth Claybourn Interiors.
Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Jerad Gardemal of Beth Claybourn Interiors.

A trio of shaded chandeliers is perfectly aligned in the master bathroom and adjoining walk-in closet to keep the look clean and consistent.


Symmetrical Swag

Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Ty Larkins.
Photo by Chipper Hatter / Room by Ty Larkins.

This room works visually, thanks in part to a pleasing symmetry. Seating in varied textures, including a velvet sofa and pairs of chairs in linen and leather, is part of a pale palette that brings the art collection to the forefront.


It’s Your Tone

Photo by Chad Chenier / Room by Ty Larkins.
Photo by Chad Chenier / Room by Ty Larkins.

Staying true to the same hue creates a cohesive space. The color scheme for the living room was derived from an antique tapestry that now hangs above the tobacco-hued velvet sofa. Two club chairs are covered in saddle-colored leather, and underfoot is a pair of patterned rugs seamed together to create a custom piece to fit the space.