'Tis the season to be touching your toes to the ocean, spending lazy days at the lake, and lounging poolside. Being near the water is a quintessential part of summer, so why not incorporate reminders of your day at the beach into your home décor? Visual cues will keep you refreshed, even midweek when you're cooped up inside.

When Ashley and Greg purchased their home they knew that a kitchen remodel was in their future. The existing space was poorly designed, with dated appliances, unattractive cabinetry, and a fair amount of plumbing and electrical issues. Starting from scratch, they designed and built a beautiful, modern, and functional space that makes you wonder - is this even the same house?!

From deep charcoal to dusty white, gray is a versatile option for color in the kitchen. It's a refreshing take on neutral that's slightly off the beaten path for kitchen colors and can be taken to a level of dramatic sexiness, if you so desire…

Lately, I've been a major stress-case. An insurmountable list of things to do is getting the best of me, and I know I'm not alone in this feeling. It's important to create an environment at home that imbues a sense of calm to counteract the crazy. Your home should be a place to rejuvenate and refresh. If that's not the case, make a few tweaks to start creating that reality.

The recent post on today's remodeling choices sparked some great comments regarding granite counters, among other possible trends in residential design. Whether you love or hate granite, it's safe to say that it's dominated the residential market for the past decade or more, and doesn't appear to be phasing out quite yet. For those looking for something different, yet still in a similar price range, quartz surfacing is a great option. Here's why...

I have an aversion to getting rid of glass jars. As a result, a full upper cabinet in our kitchen is devoted to jars of all shapes and sizes. We use them as drinking glasses, flower vases, salad dressing mixers, and more. While I love my empty jar collection, I'm swayed by some of these creative uses for recycled glass jars as more permanent fixtures in the kitchen.

When Andi, Dean and their building neighbors decided to re-paint the faded exterior of their Victorian home, it quickly became apparent that the process was not for amateurs. Located in the Alamo Square neighborhood of San Francisco, not far from the famous painted ladies, their building is over a century old. Full of intricate architectural detailing and historical significance, it was important to take the proper steps to restore their exterior, both for the sake of maintaining its historical value and bringing back the vibrant color and detail it once embodied.

Name: Chelsea Olson
Location: Presidio Heights — San Francisco, Ca
Size: 430 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 — rented

Chelsea is a friend and coworker as well as a talented graphic designer, photographer, and fashion blogger. I've been looking forward to sharing her seamlessly styled, yet functional, space on the site. It's the perfect mix of elements collected over time, both vintage and modern, paired with many of her own creations, including some impressive refinished and repurposed furniture projects.

I know I'm not the first to crave an outdoor escape in the midst of city life. For those lucky enough to have even the smallest balcony, here are some ideas for making it into a beautiful retreat. And for the rest of us, these dreamy pictures are here to provide a virtual getaway.

A couple of months ago my boyfriend decided to take on birding as a hobby. Since then I've noticed birds more than ever before - from the hummingbird living in the tree outside our apartment window, to the great horned owl babies in Golden Gate Park. This roundup is for the lazy birder, it's all about making them come to you!