Inspiration

Welcome to a peek inside the brain of a young architect remodeling her own 125-year-old house (#ThisOldHouse in other posts). As I design, demo, renovate, and make dust, I’m constantly looking for inspiration as to what my little design lab will look like. Below are all of the inspiration posts to date, so if you want to look at pretty pictures of design that will leave you drooling, look no further than these inspiration blogs below. If you want more of the beautiful details curated by this young architect, check out my Pinterest or Instagram. But most of all, enjoy and let me know what you think! All of these posts are individual blogs and I’d love to hear your comments about the designs.

Inspiration #70: Kitchen Range Hood

Last week we looked at kitchen cooktop inspiration so it’s only fitting that this week we look at the other half of the puzzle: the oft-forgotten details of the range hood! A range hood is the unsung hero of the cooktop, a sometimes hidden workhorse that makes cooking a pleasant experience instead of smokey, smelly, and face-melting. This week – let’s look at range hood inspiration ideas that give that hardy vent the attention it deserves.

Inspiration #69: Kitchen Cooktop

It’s a new year – and a new (big) project has started at #L2HQ! First up, the kitchen sink workspace – arguably one of the most important spaces in the kitchen.

Inspiration #68: Kitchen Sink Workspace

It’s a new year – and a new (big) project has started at #L2HQ! First up, the kitchen sink workspace – arguably one of the most important spaces in the kitchen.

Inspiration #67: Outdoor Shower pt 2

Last week we looked at modern outdoor showers to give a refreshing take on this humid summer. This week we’re following up with some outdoor showers that are even better – they’re by the beach! Let’s jump right in. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to […]

Inspiration #66: Outdoor Shower pt 1

Maybe it’s because I spent all last week sweating it out in our near-100% humidity building the new south fence at #L2HQ, but I’ve been dreaming of an outdoor shower lately. Refreshing after working in the backyard, rinsing off after going for a long ride, or for no reason at all – an outdoor shower […]

Inspiration #65: Backyards of Greece

The wanderlust continues this week with seeking out the outdoor spaces of a specific country I’ve not yet been to: Greece! These backyards of Greece are sure to make you want to grab your swimsuit and cool down. So settle in and dream of summer escape with me. This is the latest in a weekly […]

Inspiration #64: DIY outdoor furniture

As the weather continues to improve and we all look for ways to enjoy the outdoors, some great DIY outdoor furniture seemed to be just the trick for this week’s inspiration. Pallets, wood, whatever you have on hand, and some ingenuity could mean a new place to relax this weekend and all summer. Let’s take […]

Inspiration #63: Coastal backyard

It seems like I’m not the only one who enjoyed last week’s inspiration escape, so we’re returning this week with a look at larger bodies of water – coastal backyards! From the Atlantic around to the Pacific, the Baltic down to Lion’s Head, each coastal backyard today has great architecture and a breathtaking view. So […]

Inspiration #62: Indoor/Outdoor Kitchen

It’s Friday – AND it’s a long weekend! The weather in the midwest is warming up, but also threatening storms, so I’m dreaming of somehow bringing the outside in – and thinking about holiday food led me to the indoor/outdoor kitchen setups that are becoming popular. For a very brief period of time, I considered […]

Inspiration #61: Lake Cabin

Welcome to a special edition of the inspiration post, Wanderlust Wednesday! With so many of us still working from home and sheltering in place, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got the wanderlust itch. This week it’s cabin fever – somewhere warm, on the water, secluded…a lake cabin it is! So take a minute […]

Inspiration #60: hammock inspiration

Last week we covered great backyard design ideas for an outdoor movie night, but ever since then I’ve been dreaming of relaxing in this almost-summer weather with a good book – so this week we’re looking at hammock inspiration! Whether it’s tropical, woods, urban, or countryside – we’ve got you covered with some inspiration images […]

Inspiration #59: Outdoor Movie Night

Another week has flown by and the weather here is trying to decide if it wants to be summer. Being at home during this shelter-in-place is making me think of ways to use the backyard at L2HQ – including for our increased movie and show time at night. This week, let’s look at some outdoor […]

Inspiration #58: Backyard String Lights

Last week’s look at modern shade sails also got me thinking about lighting – more specifically, backyard string lights that provide both needed light and a sense of cozy living. String lights take less of a structural load, but mounting and spans should still be thoughtfully considered when designing and installing at your home. This […]

Inspiration #57: Modern Shade Sail

While I’m grateful to have a giant tree in my backyard that provides shade to the new deck, I regularly dream of having a modern shade sail for the extra sunny days and long summer nights. More common in Australia and parts of Europe, shade sails are picking up in popularity in modern new builds […]

Inspiration #56: Modern Fence Gate

Today’s post is a bit utilitarian, but following up on last week’s modern vertical fence, I’m also researching for a modern fence gate at the alley of #L2HQ. My perspective is that even something entirely utilitarian can be designed well. And, from my research, a well-designed gate that provides access for both humans and vehicles […]

Inspiration #55: Modern vertical fence

It’s been awhile, but let’s jump back in. It’s almost summer and my brain is dreaming of continued backyard projects. Specifically, I’ve been thinking through the possibility of a modern vertical fence design for a south fence on my property that needs replaced to keep the girlfriend’s dog in the yard (because she only minds […]

Inspiration #54: Back to black (bathroom hardware)

We’re nearing the one year anniversary mark of the #L2HQ master bathroom being done, so I thought this week I’d share some inspiration images from when I was deciding on the tub and black bathroom hardware. Black fixture finishes have become very popular since then, so let’s take a look at some of the images that […]

Inspiration #53: Backyard patio design

While we haven’t yet been blanketed in snow, a wet fall and winter has got the best of #L2HQ and the deck is not quite finished. I work on days when the weather gets warm enough, but it hasn’t kept me from dreaming about the finished product. Today I thought we’d look at the patio design […]

Inspiration #52: Back in the backyard – fence design

While I was away in Denmark refueling the creative fire, the backyard became a jungle. I’ve been getting it back to ground prep and continuing to demo. Now all that’s left is the upper platform at the door – and that comes down this weekend! All of the framing material is at #L2HQ and I’m […]

Inspiration #51: Special Edition – Denmark home entry style

Happy Friday! It’s been a busy summer over at #L2HQ getting the dining room finished, speaking at conferences, attending others, traveling for work and meetings, and sneaking in a vacation. That last bit is where today’s inspiration comes in. You see, this past Sunday I got back from 10 heavenly days in Denmark and I […]

Inspiration #50

Today is officially the 50th inspiration blog! I thought I’d share some shower and bathroom designs that make great use of natural light by way of skylights to add a soft glow to the space. Ranging from modern to craftsman to contemporary, let’s take a look at 6 great bathroom skylight designs. This is the latest […]

Inspiration #49

Sometimes a sink is just a sink. But sometimes it’s a breath of fresh air, making you eager to start the day. Sometimes…a modern sink design can make all the difference. How to treat the sink was a big deal, and ended up being the biggest change during design for #L2HQ. Let’s look at some inspiration […]

Inspiration #48

Welcome back! The master bathroom at #L2HQ is done but the inspiration continues on. One of the things I looked at out of necessity – but ended up being able to design around – was a glass divider. Depending on the layout of a bathroom, a shower spray can reach farther than is acceptable, or […]

Inspiration #47

In the search for tapware for the master bathroom renovation at #L2HQ, I considered black shower hardware. I knew it would blend well with the floor tile and pop against the shower wall tile I had chosen and was looking forward to a matte finish that I didn’t have to worry about keeping polished. And thus […]

Inspiration #46

As the master bathroom at #L2HQ moves forward quickly, I’m looking into bathroom tile accent wall options at every free moment. Subway, slab, marble, mosaic…all the options. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to see them […]

Inspiration #45

Happy Friday! The rain has not let up in my neck of the woods, so I’m cheering myself up by looking at bathroom ideas. As I mentioned in the latest blog, the projects are shifting from the exterior to the master bathroom/en suite. Nothing like a little bit of shower tile inspiration to cheer a lady up! This is […]

Inspiration #44

Happy Friday! Last week we covered the modern wooden gate for the side of the house, but I wanted to also look at some modern wire fence options for that side location. There’s a double-edged sword of security: the solid wood gate provides potential security from exterior intruders, but it also blocks line of sight. […]

Inspiration #43

Happy Friday! It’s time to look at some awesome modern wooden gate options to go in the horizontal fence that we talked about last week. This week we’ll focus on the side gate that happens between the houses – let’s go! This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want […]

Inspiration #42

Happy Friday! Last week we covered some built-in furniture ideas for the backyard as we prep for new deck space at #L2HQ. We’ve previously looked at some cool backyard fence ideas, but as we get closer to fence time, I thought it would be worth revisiting what the modern horizontal fence might end up like. Here […]

Inspiration #41

Happy Friday! Last week we dug into some patio paver designs and styles…sorry I couldn’t help myself with the pun. It’s late. This week we’re going to take a look at some fabulous lounge furniture to go at the patio level. I’m still toying with the idea of built-in furniture, so let’s jump in! This […]

Inspiration #40

WELCOME BACK! The last 4.5 months have been a whirlwind of work, conferences, home project planning, and demolition. There will be an L² Design Lab progress post in the next two weeks over on the blog, but suffice to say – a lot of decisions have been made and a lot of work has been […]

Inspiration #39

Back to the backard! We’ve covered layout and integrated steps. Time to look at the modern horizontal fence that will enclose the backyard space. The fence will line the north side of the property and portions of it will wrap south at the alley. Privacy fences aren’t common in my historic neighborhood, but they’re allowed. […]

Inspiration #38

Oh my. After a month of crazy project schedules and traveling for board meetings, it’s time to get back to the inspiration in life! The winter has recently taken a turn for the worse after acting like we would have an early spring, the results being an architect wishing for beautiful backyards to bask in […]

Inspiration #37

I’ve been working on the plans for the exterior work to be done (hopefully) this summer on #ThisOldHouse and thought I’d change up the inspiration topic to show some of the thought processes, ideas, and how they’ve grown. Let’s start with the backyard layout. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture […]

Inspiration #36

We took a bit of a hiatus while I worked on the new website – ta da! But now it’s time to get back to what really matters – awesome architecture! This week we’re focusing on open shower and tub concepts. So let’s get to it! This is the latest in a weekly post of […]

Inspiration #35

Back to the bathroom we go! This week we’re taking a look at open tub shower configurations. As I continue to ponder the future en suite layout at #ThisOldHouse, I’m constantly considering efficient yet modern ways to lay out the wet space portion. With converting a once-bedroom – that still has the original hardwood floor from 1890 […]

Inspiration #34

This week’s inspiration stays in the kitchen. We’ve been looking at counter material details, so this week I thought we’d look at modern kitchens with open shelving systems and dark cabinets. Sometimes it’s nice to have something heavy to ground the eye. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If […]

Inspiration #33

In the last inspiration blog, we looked at butcher block counters, so I thought this week we’d stay in the kitchen and look at the beauty of a well-crafted concrete countertop. Smooth to the touch, durable, and modern – what more could you ask for? This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. […]

Inspiration #32

This week’s inspiration stays in the kitchen. After a look at clean, minimal kitchens and then at built-in cabinet layouts, let’s check the counter. The butcher block counter to be specific. I love me a good place to cut my veggies, and the wood brings some warmth to the white, modern spaces. This is the […]

Inspiration #31

This week’s inspiration stays in the kitchen. Last week we looked at minimal kitchens with bare walls or open shelves. Today, let’s look at built-in cabinets for the minimal feel with some storage space. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can […]

Inspiration #30

This week’s inspiration stays in the kitchen. After traveling the past two weeks, eating delicious croissants, and seeing how people in northern Spain live, I’m craving the minimal life and clean lines that come with it. So let’s see how that looks in a minimal kitchen. This is the latest in a weekly post of […]

Inspiration #29

This week’s inspiration goes back to the kitchen in search of a different detail – the waterfall counter edge. It’s all the rage right now, so I thought I’d look and see if I could find details that might work with the peninsula in #ThisOldHouse’s impending kitchen renovation. This is the latest in a weekly […]

Inspiration #28

This week’s inspiration stays in the bathroom. More specifically the shower details – because while a soak tub looks gorgeous, the shower is where the day to day prep happens. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you […]

Inspiration #27

This week’s inspiration stays in the bathroom. Last week we looked at linear bathroom layouts, but we’re switching to a clustered bathroom layout this week. The master bathroom space is mostly rectangular, so while I don’t have as much space to work as in some of the pictures below, grouped functions that feel open are […]

Inspiration #26

This week’s inspiration stays in the bathroom. The new master bath layout in #ThisOldHouse will have the sink, toilet, and shower grouped together in a 7′ x 8′ space, so I’m trying to figure out how to make a linear bathroom layout that feels open and spacious. This is the latest in a weekly post […]

Inspiration #25

Time to get so fresh and so clean. Grab your rubber ducky or a glass of wine, we’re looking at the luxury of a soaking tub this week. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to […]

Inspiration #24

This week’s inspiration heads back to the master bathroom – specifically the bathroom counter. Because where you get ready should be as calm and stunning as you are. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to […]

Inspiration #23

This week’s inspiration takes a look at the possibilities of a painted joist ceiling. At #ThisOldHouse, I’ll be taking down this godawful faux beadboard 1) because it’s ugly and 2) because of previous water damage that I know it’s hiding. Because I have to take it down, and because I’ve seen from taking down the […]

Inspiration #22

This week’s inspiration goes back to the kitchen. More specifically, to the kitchen backsplash. Because whether it’s for cleaning function or aesthetic flair, backsplashes prove their value time and time again. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you […]

Inspiration #21

Time to prepare your singing voice, it’s time to look at some fantastic showers for this week’s #ThisOldHouse inspiration. Open shower here, gorgeous marble there, we’re covering all the squeaky clean bases. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. […]

Inspiration #20

This week’s inspiration stays in the kitchen. Perhaps because I’m battling a cold right now that has me wanting everything clean, but these simple, white kitchens are really speaking to me this week. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go […]

Inspiration #19

This week’s inspiration shifts focus back to the kitchen. I started both a Blue Apron and a Plated subscription this summer (I cancel whichever meal set looks less tasty for the week) and have really enjoyed taking time to cook healthy foods, but it has me dreaming about bright kitchens and a better kitchen counter…or […]

Inspiration #18

This week’s inspiration is a bit of everything in the bathroom as my brain flits from thought to thought while I’m juggling a lot of things at work and #ThisOldHouse. But…they’re all pretty great! So let’s jump into these overall layouts and vanity details. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture […]

Inspiration #17

And we’re back! We’re now in the full swings of summer and I made it through the other side of a project deadline. The summer heat has me constantly thinking about the master bathroom design in #ThisOldHouse. Particularly, the detail at the shower alcove to hold soaps and other shower necessities without it appearing to […]

Inspiration #16

As spring settles, I’m continuously thinking about the kitchen in #ThisOldHouse. What does the new peninsula want to look like? Now that I definitely have to take the ceiling out, do I expose the beams? What do the walls want to be? This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If […]

Inspiration #15

A busy week with lots of meetings and errands after work has me dreaming of relaxing in a soaking tub with wine and never getting out…or at least not until I’m sufficiently pruney. Since I have a marvelous, fits-two-people soaking tub for the master bathroom I’m designing for #ThisOldHouse, I’ve been curating images of how […]

Inspiration #14

Continuing last week’s trend of a beautiful white kitchen, let’s dive into some images with some more beauties. Gloss or matte, marble or concrete – these kitchens sure do sing! I’d be happy to have any of them in my home. This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you […]

Inspiration #13

This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to see them curated on my pinterest (sometimes before they even hit the blog), go here. This week we’re switching back to the kitchen as we dive into spring […]

Inspiration #12

This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to see them curated on my pinterest (sometimes before they even hit the blog), go here. This week we’re looking at more open concept shower and bath spaces, including […]

Inspiration #11

This is the latest in a weekly post of residential architecture inspiration. If you want to see past weeks, you can go here. If you want to see them curated on my pinterest (sometimes before they even hit the blog), go here. After getting a minor catastrophe under control at #ThisOldHouse, it’s time to return […]

Inspiration #10

Week 10 of inspiration images returns to the kitchen just as I deal with a pipe leak that will have me tearing out my own kitchen ceiling. My guess is over the coming weeks you’ll see details of exposed beam ceilings or other options as I work through what the future kitchen design will look […]

Inspiration #9

After a short hiatus of traveling, we’re back and eager to share more inspiration!  Let’s go back to the bathroom and look at some Australian and European influences When the bathroom shower alcove is the same size as the tile…it’s a detail even Bob would love. Not to mention those gorgeous minimal fixtures.   A […]

Inspiration #8

This is part of a series on residential design inspiration. Have you missed previous blogs in the series? You can find them here…or add us to your feedly and you’ll never miss one again! Let’s return to the bathroom for week 8 of inspiration. Showers, tubs, and tile – oh my! The clean lines, the […]

Inspiration #7

Week 7 of #ThisOldHouse inspiration pictures takes us back to the kitchen! More beautiful open shelving and simple range hoods, complete with pretty tile and hardwood accents like a bow wrapping the present of these gorgeous kitchens. Open kitchen shelving in a contrast color can offset the simplicity of white cabinets like a piece of […]

Inspiration #6

Week 6 of inspiration is back in the master bathroom. Let’s take a closer look at open-concept bathroom showers and floor materials, shall we? Drool on, my friends.   When you can’t handle the crazy tile patterns, a simple and modern white shower with black fixtures is just the ticket.   Because seamless, clean tile […]

Inspiration #5

Week 5 of inspiration takes a look at the kitchen! While saving up for the master bath has been my focus of late, I’m always looking for great kitchen designs as inspiration for the future #ThisOldHouse remodel. As always, I trend towards clean lines, muted colors, and simple, minimal design. See below for more inspiration! […]

Inspiration #4

Week four of the inspiration sneak peek takes us back to the master bathroom. As the design gets finessed, it looks more and more like the soaking tub will be separate from the shower or near a window. Outside of a couple tile details, this means you’re going to see a lot of tubs as […]

Inspiration #3

Week 3 of #ThisOldHouse inspiration shifts to the office, as I’m currently removing the last of the wallpaper for the renovation. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inspiring the new design: Monochrome-y goodness and all the organized things.   Muted color and big desks.   Scandinavian influence and sketch space.   Simple and calm, with […]

Inspiration #2

Week two of #ThisOldHouse inspiration. Enjoy!

Inspiration #1

The next project for #ThisOldHouse is in the design phase which means lots of inspiration image searching. I thought, since we all love good design, it would be great to give you the inside scoop to the ideas for the next project: The master bath and closet.  

#ThisOldHouse Inspiration: cast iron tub

It’s been about a month since the last #ThisOldHouse blog – so it’s time for some more inspiration! The house came with the original cast iron tub and I knew after a couple weeks of planning that it would stay in the full bath. The downside of old things is that they’re, well…old. Which means […]

My Favorite Things: the pieces of my story

Note: This is the fifth post in a group series called #ArchiTalks in which Bob Borson of Life of an Architect gives a group of us architects a theme or a set of questions and we all have to post our response… this month’s theme: My Favorite Things.   The first thing that came to my […]

#Thisoldhouse Inspiration: tile everything

  It has been awhile since the last #thisoldhouse update. As Thanksgiving came and went, and prep for the last AIA Indiana and YAF Indy events for the year did the same, my calendar seemed to fill faster than I could turn around. As mentioned in the “Day in the Life” post, this is where a decision […]

Words of wisdom: your great potential

  I’m reading Seth Godin’s Linchpin right now and this quote from my Pinterest board “Words on Creativity” jumped out at me. In the book, Seth talks about the cog vs the indispensable person, how we’re all able to do great things, we just have to make our lizard brain get out of the way […]

Words of Wisdom: Constructing the Future

The architecture and construction professions have a million metaphors for creating the dream of the future we aspire to. Build, construct, “draw up”, lay the foundation, etc. There’s tons of them. Here’s the thing: The metaphors mean little to nothing if you aren’t actively acting on them. Too frequently we forget that we have to […]

Words of Wisdom: What’s next?

Well, the creative but not stable option didn’t pan out. The lesson learned is I’m worth the leap. The second lesson learned is – and this may come more from my general thoughts on life – something better is waiting. There’s always a next.   What about you? What’s next on your journey? What goal […]

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

I love a little alliteration, but not as much as I love design. And with that, here’s my inspirational thought for the week.   I’m heading into a fork in the road and I’m choosing creativity over security. I don’t know what that looks like long-term, but I know it won’t be failure so long […]

Pillows on the walls

No, we’re not talking a padded cell, though I’m sure at some point every designer has felt they needed one. Robert Bronwasser of Smool has started marketing his design for organizational “pillows” for your walls. Upon immediately looking into the design and designer, I realized he was from the Netherlands. Bah. Of course. My dutch […]

Neon dreams of safekeeping

This week’s thinking thursday takes a look at a team out of Switzerland who have studied their environment and made a dual-functioning product out of their research. Their name is SputnikZurich and they make cool products out of the orangeglo safety vests people hate. Here’s their product description: Sputnik Zurich is a small scale manufacturer […]

Pillow Talk

While browsing design-milk the other day, I came across this pillow. The description from the maker’s website says  “The starting point of designing ‘HUHU’ is for encouraging people to get emotional compensation by using the object. Many people have their unconscious / fidgeting behaviour including chewing nails, shaking legs so on. ‘HUHU’ try to help people to be […]

Eastvold Inspiration

A part of our constant source of design inspiration is fueled by browsing other design blogs and taking note of… noteworthy products. We ran across Eastvold Custom Woodworks earlier today on Design Milk and love some of their stuff. They also do a line of pet-friendly products as well as custom cabinetry for the kitchen, […]

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Inspiration #70: Kitchen Range Hood Last week we looked at kitchen cooktop inspiration so it’s only fitting that this week we look at the...

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