Search results for "Boosted problem solving" in Home Design Ideas

What is an ADU: Accessory Dwelling Units:
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. The term “accessory dwelling unit” is a institutional-sounding name, but it’s the most commonly-used term across the country to describe this type of housing. While the full name is a mouthful, the shorthand “ADU” is better.
ADUs vary in their physical form quite a bit, as there are detached ADU, attached ADU, second story ADU (above garage or work shop), addition ADU, internal ADU.
IMPORTANT:
There’s simply too few permitted ADUs to make a real difference in the housing stock. But, even if they aren’t going to solve all a city’s problems, they may help homeowners solve some of their problems. The most common motivation for ADU development is rental income potential, followed by the prospect of flexible living space for multigenerational households.
We at FIDELITY GENERAL CONTRACTORS, providing a single point of contact to homeowners interested in this product, from conceptual stage including plans, city legwork, project managing of the construction stage including assistance with material purchase and other coordination, all the way to completion.
(this project showcases a detached ADU, 400 SQ.)

When we got to our client's house, she not only needed to remodel her kitchen but also to solve a serious problem of mold behind her walls due to an old water leak. We checked all the cabinets and determined that they were not affected by mold. We solved the mold problem by removing all the cabinets and drywall and replaced with new drywall. We then took the cabinets to our workshop and refaced all of them. The kitchen cabinets were done in a white gloss level acrylic door while the peninsula was done in a sapphire color. We also made some modifications to the layout by removing the cabinets above the cooktop and installing a hood and floating shelves on both sides. This gave the kitchen more space and a modern and light style. Next we installed a Calacatta quartz countertop and a tile backsplash. Lastly, we added a wine cooler, LED lights under the wall cabinets and in the toe kick and pendant lights over the island.

Where are you from? What is your idea of paradise?
Most of people reading this are likely not to come from Antigua and Barbuda, but after seeing the recent project, which we had a pleasure to handle, you may end up redefining your personal paradise!
FAR FAR AWAY
It was surely one of the most remote locations where our products were delivered. We were comissioned to produce hundreds of square meters of Flat Pebble Tiles and Standing Pebble Tiles which for us and for the client really do the job.
Not only we were taking care of the production, but also we were taking care of the shipping and organized it entirely. Not that it was any problem for us! We are well experienced in the field of export from Indonesia, which makes us probably one of the most professional supplier of Indonesian natural stone sinks, bathtubs and mosaics.
STONE IS OUR PASSION
Why we have been chosen for this project? It's simple:
We are communicative - our team is always ready to discuss your ideas, give advice and provide service that will greatly contribute to your project. With each project we are moving forward, gaining new experience and solving new problems. We never let our clients down - every dispute and inconsistency is solved as quickly as possible, and the project is always finished flawlessly.
We are experts - the numbers are speaking for themselves. Dozens of Stone Bathtubs, thousands of Stone Sinks, or tens of thousands of Pebble Tiles - this is what we produced in the period of just 3 years! All in the greatest achievable quality, thanks to our strict quality control. But quality control would require another article to exhaustively elaborate on...
We cater for all tastes - we encourage you to see our website www.Lux4home.com, where you will find out the diversity of our catalogue. And this is just our regular regular offer! Mind you, each year we produce dozens of customized products for the ones with special taste.
WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR PROJECT
Take a moment to admire the beautiful project in Antigua. See the gallery and get amazed! We were truly blessed to handle this project, and we are looking forward to handling many more. Perhaps we would find more than a single paradise?
Find the right local pro for your project

Our client asked for a more functional and visually pleasing backdrop to his outdoor patio space. The result incorporates lighting, fresh paint, and touches of aged wood trim, to give an old-world European feel. The feature of the design solves a problem our client did not realize he had. A broken and leaking downspout led to deterioration of the home’s stucco finish. To solve this problem and route the water away from the outdoor entertaining space, we constructed a large scupper which also serves as a gateway/arbor. Rainwater harvesting and use of thermally modified wood add points for sustainability.

What is an ADU: Accessory Dwelling Units:
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. The term “accessory dwelling unit” is a institutional-sounding name, but it’s the most commonly-used term across the country to describe this type of housing. While the full name is a mouthful, the shorthand “ADU” is better.
ADUs vary in their physical form quite a bit, as there are detached ADU, attached ADU, second story ADU (above garage or work shop), addition ADU, internal ADU.
IMPORTANT:
There’s simply too few permitted ADUs to make a real difference in the housing stock. But, even if they aren’t going to solve all a city’s problems, they may help homeowners solve some of their problems. The most common motivation for ADU development is rental income potential, followed by the prospect of flexible living space for multigenerational households.
We at FIDELITY GENERAL CONTRACTORS, providing a single point of contact to homeowners interested in this product, from conceptual stage including plans, city legwork, project managing of the construction stage including assistance with material purchase and other coordination, all the way to completion.
(this project showcases a detached ADU, 400 SQ.)

When we got to our client's house, she not only needed to remodel her kitchen but also to solve a serious problem of mold behind her walls due to an old water leak. We checked all the cabinets and determined that they were not affected by mold. We solved the mold problem by removing all the cabinets and drywall and replaced with new drywall. We then took the cabinets to our workshop and refaced all of them. The kitchen cabinets were done in a white gloss level acrylic door while the peninsula was done in a sapphire color. We also made some modifications to the layout by removing the cabinets above the cooktop and installing a hood and floating shelves on both sides. This gave the kitchen more space and a modern and light style. Next we installed a Calacatta quartz countertop and a tile backsplash. Lastly, we added a wine cooler, LED lights under the wall cabinets and in the toe kick and pendant lights over the island.

This customizable leather sofa chaise solved a lot of problems in their space. With windows for walls, they wanted to feature the view without sacrificing comfort. The headrest of this sofa raise and lower to solve that problem. They made it their own with custom colors and stitching.

What is an ADU: Accessory Dwelling Units:
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. The term “accessory dwelling unit” is a institutional-sounding name, but it’s the most commonly-used term across the country to describe this type of housing. While the full name is a mouthful, the shorthand “ADU” is better.
ADUs vary in their physical form quite a bit, as there are detached ADU, attached ADU, second story ADU (above garage or work shop), addition ADU, internal ADU.
IMPORTANT:
There’s simply too few permitted ADUs to make a real difference in the housing stock. But, even if they aren’t going to solve all a city’s problems, they may help homeowners solve some of their problems. The most common motivation for ADU development is rental income potential, followed by the prospect of flexible living space for multigenerational households.
We at FIDELITY GENERAL CONTRACTORS, providing a single point of contact to homeowners interested in this product, from conceptual stage including plans, city legwork, project managing of the construction stage including assistance with material purchase and other coordination, all the way to completion.
(this project showcases a detached ADU, 400 SQ.)

What is an ADU: Accessory Dwelling Units:
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. The term “accessory dwelling unit” is a institutional-sounding name, but it’s the most commonly-used term across the country to describe this type of housing. While the full name is a mouthful, the shorthand “ADU” is better.
ADUs vary in their physical form quite a bit, as there are detached ADU, attached ADU, second story ADU (above garage or work shop), addition ADU, internal ADU.
IMPORTANT:
There’s simply too few permitted ADUs to make a real difference in the housing stock. But, even if they aren’t going to solve all a city’s problems, they may help homeowners solve some of their problems. The most common motivation for ADU development is rental income potential, followed by the prospect of flexible living space for multigenerational households.
We at FIDELITY GENERAL CONTRACTORS, providing a single point of contact to homeowners interested in this product, from conceptual stage including plans, city legwork, project managing of the construction stage including assistance with material purchase and other coordination, all the way to completion.
(this project showcases a detached ADU, 400 SQ.)

The client was excited to purchase a home in the beautiful resort of Sandestin, but was not pleased with the dark interiors, heavy mouldings, tile floors, dated fixtures and heavy feel of the interior of the home. We solved their problems by completely renovating the interiors. Ceilings were raised, floors were replaced, cabinetry and fixtures were replaced and a problem area in the living room was solved. They now have the open, clean, airy beach home of their dreams and I couldn't be more pleased with how this home turned out for them.
anthony vallee

When we got to our client's house, she not only needed to remodel her kitchen but also to solve a serious problem of mold behind her walls due to an old water leak. We checked all the cabinets and determined that they were not affected by mold. We solved the mold problem by removing all the cabinets and drywall and replaced with new drywall. We then took the cabinets to our workshop and refaced all of them. The kitchen cabinets were done in a white gloss level acrylic door while the peninsula was done in a sapphire color. We also made some modifications to the layout by removing the cabinets above the cooktop and installing a hood and floating shelves on both sides. This gave the kitchen more space and a modern and light style. Next we installed a Calacatta quartz countertop and a tile backsplash. Lastly, we added a wine cooler, LED lights under the wall cabinets and in the toe kick and pendant lights over the island.

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage.
For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized.
Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed.
“Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said.
The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family.
“We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said.
The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience.
“I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison.
One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said.
The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said.
The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new.
The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime.
“They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added.
“Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said.
The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves.
“I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.”
Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home.
Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way.
“I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said.
A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby.
“I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said.
Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said.
“The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said.
“I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

Set inside a circle of 100-year-old maple and oak trees, while complimenting the main home’s architecture, these ‘tree houses’ give shelter, space for imagination & safe play outdoors for twins. Mimicking the trees’ height and scale, and mirrored in each of their designs, these two 6 foot square base by 14 foot tall twin play structures allow for each child to have its own personal space, yet are connected at the center swings.
These unique treehouses have been built with sustainable sourcing and upcycled construction methods. When Martine Ilana, Principal designer of Temescal, considered what a ‘treehouse’ would look like for her twins, immediately it’s ideation was focused on keeping the integrity of the forest and problem solving how to use as many repurposed and sustainable materials as possible.
Accessing the incredible selection of salvage materials from a salvage yard in Detroit, Temescal was able to source non-toxic, and structurally sound woods to build the structure itself.
Healthy building materials include: Metal Roofing and Water based Low VOC paints. A slatted exterior structure was designed to create a rain screen and in addition complement the Main home’s exterior design. Designed with an end of life intention for longevity and a easy means to pull apart these structures apart once the children are older, the foundations can be used for a future ADU.
The slide posed the largest problem to source as recycled plastic slides are not made available to residential projects by US based manufactures and repurposed from Facebook marketplace hit many dead ends. Ultimately, she chose to use a HDPE high density polyurethane plastic slide that would allow for its material to be recycled once at the end of this life.
Every detail, both in their exterior and interior, of these upcycled treehouses was considered with care and an artistic touch that enhances the landscape and forest surrounding them.

The owners of this true mid-century ranch in Wheaton were ready for a kitchen update. The home’s main living room area is decorated in a very cool, sparse way with plenty of nods to mid-century design. A new kitchen would need to bridge classic and modern notions of Mid-Century expression through the style’s characteristic clean lines and artistic notions of simplicity and straightforward functionality.
The idea was to keep a hint of mid-century influence in a modern design that could somehow be more open while accommodating more storage
The objectives were:
• Stay within the existing space while creating an open feel and winning more storage room
• Make the space brighter while using a darker cabinet finish
• Create proper ventilation for the range
Design challenges we solved for:
• Open the kitchen to the adjacent dining room without sacrificing storage
• Remove multiple layers of flooring to make the kitchen floor level with the rest of the house
• Match the new kitchen flooring to the flooring in nearby dining and living spaces
Problems solved. Here’s what we did:
• Took out soffits around the kitchen to allow for taller cabinets with more storage
• Added cabinet pull-outs that maximize under-cabinet storage space
• Used large cabinets in standard sizes
• Skipped cabinets on the window wall, opting for space- and light-friendly floating shelves
• Enhanced overall brightness with bright, white counters and textured white tile that offered a connecting contrast to the darker woodgrain cabinets
• Took out a post between the kitchen and dining room to make the space feel more open
• Added under-cabinet lights – unobtrusive and handy for task lighting
The owners love the look, feel and functionality of their new kitchen. Its sleek, modern character and notions of mid-century spirit add new excitement to the home’s original 1958 personality.

Set inside a circle of 100-year-old maple and oak trees, while complimenting the main home’s architecture, these ‘tree houses’ give shelter, space for imagination & safe play outdoors for twins. Mimicking the trees’ height and scale, and mirrored in each of their designs, these two 6 foot square base by 14 foot tall twin play structures allow for each child to have its own personal space, yet are connected at the center swings.
These unique treehouses have been built with sustainable sourcing and upcycled construction methods. When Martine Ilana, Principal designer of Temescal, considered what a ‘treehouse’ would look like for her twins, immediately it’s ideation was focused on keeping the integrity of the forest and problem solving how to use as many repurposed and sustainable materials as possible.
Accessing the incredible selection of salvage materials from a salvage yard in Detroit, Temescal was able to source non-toxic, and structurally sound woods to build the structure itself.
Healthy building materials include: Metal Roofing and Water based Low VOC paints. A slatted exterior structure was designed to create a rain screen and in addition complement the Main home’s exterior design. Designed with an end of life intention for longevity and a easy means to pull apart these structures apart once the children are older, the foundations can be used for a future ADU.
The slide posed the largest problem to source as recycled plastic slides are not made available to residential projects by US based manufactures and repurposed from Facebook marketplace hit many dead ends. Ultimately, she chose to use a HDPE high density polyurethane plastic slide that would allow for its material to be recycled once at the end of this life.
Every detail, both in their exterior and interior, of these upcycled treehouses was considered with care and an artistic touch that enhances the landscape and forest surrounding them.

Hi, I’m Jordan. Before spending 20 years working for industry giants like Pulte, Lennar, Centex, and Beazer, I proudly served our country in Desert Storm/Desert Shield with the US Airforce. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Technology from Purdue University, and in 2002 I became the youngest VP of Construction that Pulte ever had. I was instrumental in building 40k+ homes and learned a lot from those experiences. I had the privilege of working directly with the external Building Science group to create industry manuals and became an expert in Building Envelopes. I take a diagnostic approach to problem-solving by understanding, identifying, developing a solutions roadmap, and coordinating the right team of specialists.
I consider myself a realist when working within budgets and always respect the resale value of any work we perform.

Problem solved!...The pantry doors could only be opened to 90 degrees due to the wall behind it and the shelves could therefore not be rolled completely out with the spice racks in their way. So to resolve the problem...the spice racks were given piano hinges along the left sides so that they could swing out of the way to allow the shelves to roll out... a magnet keeps it in place while closed.

Set inside a circle of 100-year-old maple and oak trees, while complimenting the main home’s architecture, these ‘tree houses’ give shelter, space for imagination & safe play outdoors for twins. Mimicking the trees’ height and scale, and mirrored in each of their designs, these two 6 foot square base by 14 foot tall twin play structures allow for each child to have its own personal space, yet are connected at the center swings.
These unique treehouses have been built with sustainable sourcing and upcycled construction methods. When Martine Ilana, Principal designer of Temescal, considered what a ‘treehouse’ would look like for her twins, immediately it’s ideation was focused on keeping the integrity of the forest and problem solving how to use as many repurposed and sustainable materials as possible.
Accessing the incredible selection of salvage materials from a salvage yard in Detroit, Temescal was able to source non-toxic, and structurally sound woods to build the structure itself.
Healthy building materials include: Metal Roofing and Water based Low VOC paints. A slatted exterior structure was designed to create a rain screen and in addition complement the Main home’s exterior design. Designed with an end of life intention for longevity and a easy means to pull apart these structures apart once the children are older, the foundations can be used for a future ADU.
The slide posed the largest problem to source as recycled plastic slides are not made available to residential projects by US based manufactures and repurposed from Facebook marketplace hit many dead ends. Ultimately, she chose to use a HDPE high density polyurethane plastic slide that would allow for its material to be recycled once at the end of this life.
Every detail, both in their exterior and interior, of these upcycled treehouses was considered with care and an artistic touch that enhances the landscape and forest surrounding them.

These unique treehouses have been built with sustainable sourcing and upcycled construction methods. When Martine Ilana, Principal designer of Temescal, considered what a ‘treehouse’ would look like for her twins, immediately it’s ideation was focused on keeping the integrity of the forest and problem solving how to use as many repurposed and sustainable materials as possible.
Set inside a circle of 100-year-old maple and oak trees and complimenting the home’s architecture, these ‘tree houses’ give shelter, space for imagination & safe play outdoors for the twins. Mimicking the trees’ height and scale, and mirrored in each of their designs, these two 6 foot square base by 14 foot tall twin play structures allow for each child to have its own personal space, yet are connected at the swings.
Accessing the incredible selection of salvage materials from a salvage yard in Detroit, Temescal was able to source non-toxic & structurally sound woods to build the structure itself.
Healthy Building Materials include: Metal Roofing and Water based Low VOC paints. A slatted exterior structure was designed to create a rain screen and in addition complement the Main home’s exterior design.
The slide posed the largest problem to source as recycled plastic slides are not made available to residential projects by US based manufactures and repurposed from Facebook marketplace hit many dead ends. Ultimately, she chose to use a HDPE high density polyurethane plastic slide that would allow for its material to be recycled once at the end of this life.

Solving the issue of a blank fence area where they needed an added artistic touch. Problem solved through art!
Patio - traditional patio idea in Other
Patio - traditional patio idea in Other
10