Orange County, CA - Garage conversions are gaining popularity in heavily populated areas such as Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and many other urban regions throughout the state of California. Many homeowners are converting their garages into actual liveable square footage. Some of the garage conversions we've seen include but are not limited to Home Offices, Playrooms, Man Caves, Entertainment Rooms, Guest Suites and/or Multipurpose Quarters. For this particular project located in Studio City, CA we were generously commissioned by our client to replace the existing roll-up garage door to actual swing-open carriage style doors featuring safari style windows for added ventilation while the children play inside the safe environment and protection of the newly converted garage. What a fantastic way to keep your kids within your supervision without them destroying your fine furniture or disturbing your peace! The garage door conversion for this home consisted of removing the existing roll-up garage door with all the track, springs and weather seal to start with a fresh, clean opening ready to receive the newly handcrafted carriage doors. Designing the carriage doors and keeping the home's original architectural essence was of utmost importance to us and the client. We also suggested awning style or safari style windows for ventilation as the garage was converted to a playroom and needed some air flow while being used. Additionally, the windows were designed to be larger than the standard carriage door size to allow more light inside the room during the day. At night, the lights inside shine through the traditional style window mullions with a warm glow that fills the exterior of the home. Preserving the traditional craftsmanship of authentically built carriage doors is always a priority when custom crafting and designing real carriage doors. Dynamic Garage Door is a true design consultation firm who also happens to manufacture world-class carriage doors and professionally installs them throughout the state of California while shipping outside of the state. Get a real carriage door conversion project price at: (855) 343-DOOR

Built in 1924, the owner of the home was looking for seating and complimentary living/dining pieces that remained practical for life with children and pets. The console and bar cart were great additions to the living/dining space where storage and presentation are attributes that go a long way in every day use and while entertaining guests.

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

The existing kitchen was in a word, "stuck" between the family room, mudroom and the rest of the house. The client has renovated most of the home but did not know what to do with the kitchen. The space was visually cut off from the family room, had underwhelming storage capabilities, and could not accommodate family gatherings at the table. Access to the recently redesigned backyard was down a step and through the mud room. We began by relocating the access to the yard into the kitchen with a French door. The remaining space was converted into a walk-in pantry accessible from the kitchen. Next, we opened a window to the family room, so the children were visible from the kitchen side. The old peninsula plan was replaced with a beautiful blue painted island with seating for 4. The outdated appliances received a major upgrade with Sub Zero Wolf cooking and food preservation products. The visual beauty of the vaulted ceiling is enhanced by long pendants and oversized crown molding. A hard-working wood tile floor grounds the blue and white colorway. The colors are repeated in a lovely blue and white screened marble tile. White porcelain subway tiles frame the feature. The biggest and possibly the most appreciated change to the space was when we opened the wall from the kitchen into the dining room to connect the disjointed spaces. Now the family has experienced a new appreciation for their home. Rooms which were previously storage areas and now integrated into the family lifestyle. The open space is so conducive to entertaining visitors frequently just "drop in”. In the dining area, we designed custom cabinets complete with a window seat, the perfect spot for additional diners or a perch for the family cat. The tall cabinets store all the china and crystal once stored in a back closet. Now it is always ready to be used. The last repurposed space is now home to a refreshment center. Cocktails and coffee are easily stored and served convenient to the kitchen but out of the main cooking area. How do they feel about their new space? It has changed the way they live and use their home. The remodel has created a new environment to live, work and play at home. They could not be happier.

Placed within an idyllic beach community, this modern family home is filled with both playful and functional spaces. Natural light reflects throughout and oversized openings allow for movement to the outdoor spaces. Custom millwork completes the kitchen with concealed appliances, and creates a space well suited for entertaining. Accents of concrete add strength and architectural context to the spaces. Livable finishes of white oak and quartz are simple and hardworking. High ceilings in the bedroom level allowed for creativity in children’s spaces, and the addition of colour brings in that sense of playfulness. Art pieces reflect the owner’s time spent abroad, and exude their love of life – which is fitting in a place where the only boundaries to roam are the ocean and railways. KBC Developments Photography by Ema Peter www.emapeter.com

Our clients wanted a space to gather with friends and family for the children to play. There were 13 support posts that we had to work around. The awkward placement of the posts made the design a challenge. We created a floor plan to incorporate the 13 posts into special features including a built in wine fridge, custom shelving, and a playhouse. Now, some of the most challenging issues add character and a custom feel to the space. In addition to the large gathering areas, we finished out a charming powder room with a blue vanity, round mirror and brass fixtures.

View of one of the children's bedrooms. The existing beams in the roof were preserved and reused in the new addition. The ribbon windows at the the top of the wall allow natural light from the bedroom to flow into the hall. Photograph by Kevin A. Latady © 2014.

Beyond the half-wall in the dining room lies a children's playroom. The half-wall allows for parents to keep an eye on the kids but hides all of the toys from view when guests enter the home. studiⓞbuell, Photography

Photo by Jack Thompson

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

A 1970's Kitchen is modernized with bright finishes. The addition of a peninsula and bar area doubles the counter space and functionality of the former kitchen and creates seating. To maximize the small space, the microwave is in the peninsula: easier for children to use and more attractive than over the range. Tennille Wood received a Peak Award by the NKBA for Excellence in Kitchen Design. Ron Ruscio Photography

A reading nook for the children was on the client's wish list for the space. We accomplished this by utilizing an Ikea Besta bench tucked away in the corner, which provided book storage below the seating area. We used Ikea wooden spice racks mounted on the adjacent wall to provide additional book storage.

The clients, a couple with grown children, previously lived in a high rise condominium and asked for house that would have the same feel and efficiency, but at ground level. The design places the majority of the house on the first floor with additional bedrooms and an exercise room on the second floor. Peter Molick Photography

Home design - transitional home design idea in Baltimore

Sunspace Sunrooms are modular units that are custom designed for your home and manufactured in a temperature controlled environment, ensuring the highest quality.Our units can be installed directly onto an existing patio, deck, and even under a previously constructed roof! Designed to extend your enjoyment of the outdoors without the usual annoyances of wind, rain, insects and harmful UV rays. Whether it’s a children’s playroom, a new addition to entertain, or simply a cozy place to relax, a new Sunspace Sunroom will add beauty, functionality and value to your home.

Placed within an idyllic beach community, this modern family home is filled with both playful and functional spaces. Natural light reflects throughout and oversized openings allow for movement to the outdoor spaces. Custom millwork completes the kitchen with concealed appliances, and creates a space well suited for entertaining. Accents of concrete add strength and architectural context to the spaces. Livable finishes of white oak and quartz are simple and hardworking. High ceilings in the bedroom level allowed for creativity in children’s spaces, and the addition of colour brings in that sense of playfulness. Art pieces reflect the owner’s time spent abroad, and exude their love of life – which is fitting in a place where the only boundaries to roam are the ocean and railways. KBC Developments Photography by Ema Peter www.emapeter.com

Example of a large 1960s u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Vancouver with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, black backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

When our customers moved to the Northern Virginia area, they found the perfect community for their family in Falls Church. Their home, however, didn’t have the square footage to accommodate all their family members comfortably, even with a main level family room addition off the back. So, the homeowners partnered with MOSS to design a pop top addition over the original main structure of the home to give them three additional bedrooms and a large, shared bathroom, giving their children space and privacy. Today, the home is spacious, comfortable, and the perfect spot for the family to enjoy for many years.