The stainless steel double oven and range hood compliment the white cabinetry and metal hardware. Warm tones in the stonewood granite backsplash and island countertop add interest and depth. Dark hardwood floors ground the space. The island features an integrated cutting board and trash bins creating a functional workspace. Ilir Rizaj

Since the pandemic more of us are working from home and loving it. Working from home can often means “repurposing.” A spare bedroom becomes a home office, and that sometimes means a less-than-comfortable place to work. Then there’s the distraction of a busy family and friendly dog just down the hall. The owners of this Minneapolis home wanted a bigger, more private place to work from home. With harsh Minnesota winters, they also needed a big garage to both cars, lawn and garden equipment and recreational toys The design accomplished both: A second floor, finished, private work from home but not-in-the-home office above a big two+ car garage. This 24’ X 24’ garage can easily fit two cars and lots of recreational and maintenance equipment. With the stairs located inside the garage there’s no worry about slipping on icy, snowy stairs each winter. The second-floor office is fully finished and heated. It’s become the perfect home office just a few steps from the back door. The new garage/office was designed to match the exterior of the existing home in both style and color. Landscaping has just begun and will tie the home and garage together. The owners get lots of questions from curious neighbors about this project because this design could work with many homes in this neighborhood. A similar design could accommodate a second-floor apartment, art or yoga studio.

Hallway - traditional medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway idea in Huntington with beige walls

Photo by Sean Ryan Pierce
Exterior home photo in Los Angeles

Since the pandemic more of us are working from home and loving it. Working from home can often means “repurposing.” A spare bedroom becomes a home office, and that sometimes means a less-than-comfortable place to work. Then there’s the distraction of a busy family and friendly dog just down the hall. The owners of this Minneapolis home wanted a bigger, more private place to work from home. With harsh Minnesota winters, they also needed a big garage to both cars, lawn and garden equipment and recreational toys The design accomplished both: A second floor, finished, private work from home but not-in-the-home office above a big two+ car garage. This 24’ X 24’ garage can easily fit two cars and lots of recreational and maintenance equipment. With the stairs located inside the garage there’s no worry about slipping on icy, snowy stairs each winter. The second-floor office is fully finished and heated. It’s become the perfect home office just a few steps from the back door. The new garage/office was designed to match the exterior of the existing home in both style and color. Landscaping has just begun and will tie the home and garage together. The owners get lots of questions from curious neighbors about this project because this design could work with many homes in this neighborhood. A similar design could accommodate a second-floor apartment, art or yoga studio.

The front of the house features an open porch, a common feature in the neighborhood. Stairs leading up to it are tucked behind one of a pair of brick walls. The brick was installed with raked (recessed) horizontal joints which soften the overall scale of the walls. The clerestory windows topping the taller of the brick walls bring light into the foyer and a large closet without sacrificing privacy. The living room windows feature a slight tint which provides a greater sense of privacy during the day without having to draw the drapes. An overhang lined on its underside in stained cedar leads to the entry door which again is hidden by one of the brick walls.

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Photo: Robert Burns © 2015 Houzz
Kitchen - eclectic kitchen idea in Portland

Not all garage doors are created equal. Dynamic Garage Doors are custom designed for each individual project. Our full custom design and manufacturing abilities allow us to create unique custom garage doors that naturally blend into each home's authentic architectural style. This Mid Century style carport was converted into a fully functional garage but presented a problem when it came time to retrofit it with a custom wood garage door. Since the ground was pitched at a sloping angle it required the need of a custom designed asymmetrical garage door that would compensate for the huge gap at the bottom of the garage door opening. Taking careful measurements was of essence to handcraft a garage door that would fit perfectly into the awkwardly shaped garage opening. Once everything was calculated to perfection our designers came up with a minimalistic Mid Century style garage door design that would complement the home's architectural elements. The answer was a fine-lined garage door design with horizontal tongue and groove slats in solid mahogany that were carefully stained to simulate and match the home's existing ipe wood accents. We opted for ipe-stained mahogany in lieu of real ipe to save the client on the custom garage door cost while still delivering a garage door that will last a lifetime and look like a naturally blended architectural element of the home. Enclosing the carport and adding a Dynamic Garage Door re-purposed and graduated a simple carport to a fully functional garage with a working automatic garage door. Investing in a custom garage door for this sloping carport will prove to return the investment at time of resale. Not to mention, of course, the curb appeal enhancement it gave the home.

A simple, 1-1/2 car garage design to be compatible with the basic rancher.
Example of a mid-sized classic attached two-car garage design in Baltimore

3 car garage and workshop in Linkwood, Maryland, with loft apartment above.
Large elegant detached three-car garage workshop photo in Baltimore

This 1914 family farmhouse was passed down from the original owners to their grandson and his young family. The original goal was to restore the old home to its former glory. However, when we started planning the remodel, we discovered the foundation needed to be replaced, the roof framing didn’t meet code, all the electrical, plumbing and mechanical would have to be removed, siding replaced, and much more. We quickly realized that instead of restoring the home, it would be more cost effective to deconstruct the home, recycle the materials, and build a replica of the old house using as much of the salvaged materials as we could. The design of the new construction is greatly influenced by the old home with traditional craftsman design interiors. We worked with a deconstruction specialist to salvage the old-growth timber and reused or re-purposed many of the original materials. We moved the house back on the property, connecting it to the existing garage, and lowered the elevation of the home which made it more accessible to the existing grades. The new home includes 5-panel doors, columned archways, tall baseboards, reused wood for architectural highlights in the kitchen, a food-preservation room, exercise room, playful wallpaper in the guest bath and fun era-specific fixtures throughout.

Inspiration for a rustic concrete floor hallway remodel in Other

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Overhead glass doors are great use for converted garages that can be used for entertaining. Our customer re-purposed an old entry door and turned it into a dining room table. This eclectic space gives off the modern vibe that is made when home owners decide to convert their garages into a unique living space. Sarah F.

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Austin

Homeowner and GB General Contractors Inc had a long-standing relationship, this project was the 3rd time that the Owners’ and Contractor had worked together on remodeling or build. Owners’ wanted to do a small remodel on their 1970's brick home in preparation for their upcoming retirement. In the beginning "the idea" was to make a few changes, the final result, however, turned to a complete demo (down to studs) of the existing 2500 sf including the addition of an enclosed patio and oversized 2 car garage. Contractor and Owners’ worked seamlessly together to create a home that can be enjoyed and cherished by the family for years to come. The Owners’ dreams of a modern farmhouse with "old world styles" by incorporating repurposed wood, doors, and other material from a barn that was on the property. The transforming was stunning, from dark and dated to a bright, spacious, and functional. The entire project is a perfect example of close communication between Owners and Contractors.

A Garden room separating garage from house proper. A repurposed tannery bench found and detailed by the architect creates this handsome room. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design.