No, it’s not in a European dungeon — although you probably figured that out from the stainless steel appliances. It’s Gerard Butler’s New York kitchen and it manages to be subtly masculine and cozy at the same. It seems like the sort of kitchen where you might roast a whole pig just as easily as you could boil up some pasta.

During the colder months, this kitchen would be especially nice to warm up in. It’s not the typical light and bright kitchen we’re used to seeing, but it works. We’re jealous of Gerard! You can read more about it here.

What do you think of his kitchen?

Image courtesy of Architectural Digest

Mr. Butler’s beautiful kitchen is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Most people love to pick out colors, fabrics and finishes when remodeling, but I love the first step: space planning. When done right, it can produce a finished room that feels larger and performs more efficiently.

–Natalie Myers, interior designer

Writing for Houzz.com, Myers walks us through the key steps to make sure you’re using your home’s space effectively — no matter the amount or arrangement. Her process will help you find the best arrangement for your lifestyle (after all, that’s what matters), and though she uses wide-open floor plans to illustrate her points, she says “these tips will work for any space-planning challenge, big or small.”

Here are Myer’s steps, quickly. Be sure to read her full piece for the details.

What are your space needs? How much space do you have, and what do you need the space to do? When creating a dining space within a kitchen, for example, make sure to leave room for diners to sit and pull out chairs.

What are your space relationships? Once you’ve figured out what you need from your space, you can start to arrange those spaces in relation to each other. Comfortable seating nearby a children’s play space, for example.

What are the existing conditions? Take into account things you can’t change easily or that affect which spaces go where: locations of doors, electrical outlets, architectural columns, and so on.

Don’t let paths of travel be an afterthought. We’re guessing she’s pointing this out because she often sees this rule violated.

That’s just a sampling of the advice Myers shares in her article for Houzz.com. Any other tips or tricks you’ve learned about effectively using space?

[photo by Richard Shugar AIA, LEED AP, via Houzz.com]

Space planning: Using what you have effectively is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

In this video, a case study of a living room interior design project from Lou Manfredini’s HouseSmartsTV, the designer talks through her process — and notes that the process started with her clients asking to incorporate an Asian influence. That tidbid helped inform the design approach, setting the tone for the room without becoming too obvious or overbearing.

Watch the video for more tips ideas on how to best tackle your own interior design project, and of course, you can find more videos from HouseSmartsTV on YouTube.

Living room design: Interior decorating tips from HouseSmartsTV is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

• Overzealous Decorative Painting: Color is great, but be judicious. Remember that you’re not living in a beautiful photograph — this is actually your home. Once the newness of that apple green accent wall wears off, will you really want to look at it every day?
• Furniture Pushed Up Against the Walls: Do you really want to strain to converse with someone who is sitting on a chair huddled against the wall on the other side of the room? MLuxe recommends creating conversation spaces instead.
• A Single Light Source: Unless your room is incredibly small, you’ll need more than one lamp. A single overhead light can be harsh. For activities like reading, you’ll want to have smaller, concentrated lights.

Decorating missteps: Design ideas to avoid is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Articulating a vision is one of the most difficult aspects to building a home or planning a remodeling project. For those who are not interior designers or architects, Autodesk Homestyler has come to the rescue. The 3D design software is free, entirely Web-based and easier than hammering a nail.

With Autodesk Homesyler, users can create their dream home from scratch by choosing from a wide range of floor plans and more than 22,000 name-brand products from the product catalog (including Marvin Window and Doors). To kick-start inspiration, users can browse the design gallery to view and tinker with designs made by other users. There’s also a series of advice videos from professional interior designer Nadia Geller.

No more flipping through design magazines and spending hours perusing real estate websites. A mental picture isn’t good enough. Check out Autodesk Homestyler to render your dream project. It just might be the first step toward completion.

Autodesk Homestyler gives consumers the ultimate 3D interior design tool — for free is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

This month’s issue of Architectural Digest includes a tour of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s new Los Angeles home, which was designed by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Think the bright, eclectic space was inspired by the Prince of Darkness? Think again. “Sharon rules the roost when it comes to decor,” Lawrence-Bullard said.

With their now-adult children having flown from the nest and their previous home becoming something of a tourist attraction after the success of their reality show, Sharon says the couple sought a quieter, simpler refuge. Sharon stumbled upon a 10,000-square-foot home in a gated community in Hidden Hills. They pounced and immediately had the home converted from seven bedrooms to just three. That’s when Lawrence-Bullard came in.

The Osbourne home has all the charm of an English farmhouse with massive windows overlooking green hills and fields. We particularly like the use of sliding barn doors, which creates more intimate settings amid a floor plan full of sprawling rooms. The home is accented with purple and light blue hues throughout, combining vitality and luxury against distressed white paint and wood floors.

Be sure to check Architectural Digest for more on the home.

[Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest]

The Osbournes’ home brings English countryside to Los Angeles is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

It’s a modern and chic take onthe bathroom, with what appears to be slate floors and walls, lots of natural light and a monochromatic look accentuated with pops of color.

But it’s the bath-shower that really draws attention. We love the curved showerhead that allows water to pour down like a waterfall and we especially love the sunken tub. It makes the bathroom look 10 times bigger. The eye barely registers that it is a tub-shower combination.

The one thing we wonder though: Is it safe? Without any (visible) handrails, could stepping down into the tub be more of a falling risk? What do you think? Is a sunken tub-shower combination a fresh new look for the bathroom?

A new tub-shower combo is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

You can more great master bedroom design tips and ideas from Candice on her website.

Video: Turning a bland attic into a master bedroom is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Gravity (designed by Emil Kozak) from ferm LIVING
This bright blue, boldly geometric wallpaper would add oomph to any room. For an unusual twist, try it on the ceiling.

Fornasetti Collection from Cole & Son
This whimsical wallpaper would be perfect for a walk-in or entryway closet.

The Vibe from Afro Chic
Afro Chic’s funky print is surprisingly versatile and would work well in a modern living room or a girl’s bedroom.

Pure Paintable from Graham & Brown
Paintable wallpaper may sound like an oxymoron, but in reality it’s the best of both worlds. Use this wherever you want a little subtle texture in your house.

Kinky Vintage: Naughty Noir by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen from Graham & Brown
This darkly elegant flocked wallpaper is described by Graham & Brown as “Marrakesh meets Marie Antoinette”. It might be too much for every day use, but if you have a guest room you’ve been dying to experiment with, or a library/office, it could be just the ticket.

MLuxe’s eye on wallpaper is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

The March 2011 issue of Architectural Digest include a predictably great photo feature about musician Sheryl Crow’s 1920s home in the Hollywood Hills. With a original Spanish tile on the staircase, and furniture from the Pottery Barn, and a host of instruments strewn about the house, Crow’s home effortlessly blends classic decor with more modern elements.

According to AD: “The Ginebra sectional sofa and vintage cocktail table [in photo at right] were found at 22 Bond St.; the sea-grass rug is by Pottery Barn. Ron Pippin’s trophylike 2007 sculpture Deer with Copper Horns is displayed on a wall.” The photo shows a bit of the home’s Spanish-style architecture and gives a taste of Crow’s decorating style.

The home sits on an 11-acre property that also includes a bridge arching over a small ravine and a garden complete with tepee. Learn more — and see many more photos — at Architectural Digest’s website.

Take a peek inside Sheryl Crow’s 1920s Hollywood home is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style