Search results for "Challenging" in Home Design Ideas

Incorporating contemporary elements like folding glass walls into the home’s historic fabric presented unique challenges. The project required innovative solutions to meet modern energy efficiency standards and sustainability goals without compromising the architectural integrity. The design had to respect the original Mid-Century Modern aesthetic while providing the creature comforts expected today.

Our client is a nice elderly person that wanted easy access to taking showers without having to climb into a bathtub.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids' gray tile and travertine tile single-sink alcove bathtub remodel in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids' gray tile and travertine tile single-sink alcove bathtub remodel in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Erika Ward’s Western Cape Classic design for her new kitchen as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge pulls in subtle ocean colors and elements, bold blue curtains and all white cabinets, combining both African and Asian décor elements. With LIFECORE Abella Moderna serving as the foundation, it adds warmth to the space. Plus the low VOC was especially important to Erika now that her 6-year-old is one-year post chemotherapy.
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One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle.
This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen.
The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light!
Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light.
The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room.
Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous.
Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD
Photography by: LOMA Studios
For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Toronto with black walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Erika Ward’s Western Cape Classic design for her new kitchen as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge pulls in subtle ocean colors and elements, bold blue curtains and all white cabinets, combining both African and Asian décor elements. With LIFECORE Abella Moderna serving as the foundation, it adds warmth to the space. Plus the low VOC was especially important to Erika now that her 6-year-old is one-year post chemotherapy.

The front of the house features seamlessly integrated elements of universal design. A key UD component of any home is at least one step-free route into the house. Our Design Challenge home has step-free routes to three entry doors as well as a route from the driveway, to the backyard and back patio! Someone can walk or roll from the driveway to the front and side decks. Gardeners can reach the raised planters easily. The front entrance is level with the first floor and is protected from the elements by the porch roof. So, the family is protected from sun, rain, or snow when entering or exiting.

Designing additions for Victorian homes is a challenging task. The architects and builders who designed and built these homes were masters in their craft. No detail of design or proportion went unattended. Cummings Architects is often approached to work on these types of projects because of their unwavering dedication to ensure structural and aesthetic continuity both inside and out.
Upon meeting the owner of this stately home in Winchester, Massachusetts, Mathew immediately began sketching a beautifully detail drawing of a design for a family room with an upstairs master suite. Though the initial ideas were just rough concepts, the client could already see that Mathew’s vision for the house would blend the new space seamlessly into the fabric of the turn of the century home.
In the finished design, expanses of glass stretch along the lines of the living room, letting in an expansive amount of light and creating a sense of openness. The exterior walls and interior trims were designed to create an environment that merged the indoors and outdoors into a single comfortable space. The family enjoys this new room so much, that is has become their primary living space, making the original sitting rooms in the home a bit jealous.
Photo Credit: Cydney Ambrose

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Inspiration for a large modern master bedroom remodel in Miami with multicolored walls and engineered wood floors
Inspiration for a large modern master bedroom remodel in Miami with multicolored walls and engineered wood floors

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it!
A little bit about us…
Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades.
While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life.
What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us.
With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients.
Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

Erika Ward’s Western Cape Classic design for her new kitchen as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge pulls in subtle ocean colors and elements, bold blue curtains and all white cabinets, combining both African and Asian décor elements. With LIFECORE Abella Moderna serving as the foundation, it adds warmth to the space. Plus the low VOC was especially important to Erika now that her 6-year-old is one-year post chemotherapy.

"The biggest challenge, or rather a puzzle, was the structural scope. The existing kitchen had columns approximately 2 feet in from the exterior wall that supported the second story. Our vision required removing and relocating these columns, which involved installing new steel beams, footings, and columns. This allowed us to create a cleaner, rectangular space for the design." Designer, Jeff Hines

Alek Lisefski / tiny-project.com
Trendy kitchen photo in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances
Trendy kitchen photo in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Erika Ward’s Western Cape Classic design for her new kitchen as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge pulls in subtle ocean colors and elements, bold blue curtains and all white cabinets, combining both African and Asian décor elements. With LIFECORE Abella Moderna serving as the foundation, it adds warmth to the space. Plus the low VOC was especially important to Erika now that her 6-year-old is one-year post chemotherapy.

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it!
A little bit about us…
Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades.
While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life.
What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us.
With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients.
Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

Premium American Crafted Aluminum Cabinets. Durable, Weatherproof, Customizable, Easy Maintenance.
Example of a large transitional l-shaped and backyard stamped concrete patio kitchen design with a roof extension
Example of a large transitional l-shaped and backyard stamped concrete patio kitchen design with a roof extension

WALL TILE: Pratt & Larson
Pratt & Larson - Cream Wall Tile - C200
When selecting a palette, I wanted to use colors from traditional Ranch and Bungalow/Craftsman style homes then balance with silhouettes that are more current. For my own bath, I opted for a cream tile. I wanted cream tile that doesn’t feel dingy or dated and Pratt and Larson has the perfect glossy cream that’s slightly iridescent. The idea of testing cream on a client doesn’t feel right since I wasn’t 100% confident with the idea but in my own home, it felt like a safe place to explore. The modern 2x6 tile stacked then paired with the handmade cream tile is the most unexpected surprise to me. I absolutely love this and can’t imagine a white tile in this room. It would feel pretty boring.

Erika Ward’s Western Cape Classic design for her new kitchen as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge pulls in subtle ocean colors and elements, bold blue curtains and all white cabinets, combining both African and Asian décor elements. With LIFECORE Abella Moderna serving as the foundation, it adds warmth to the space. Plus the low VOC was especially important to Erika now that her 6-year-old is one-year post chemotherapy.

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel.
Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com
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