Search results for "Characters" in Home Design Ideas

Our client sought to modernize their classic 1970s home while preserving its original charm. This full-home renovation prioritized openness and functionality. We transformed the kitchen into a bright, welcoming space, leveled the sunken living room to expand the living area, and designed seamless indoor-outdoor connections to showcase breathtaking south-west facing golf course & ocean views. The result? A beautifully updated home that harmonizes mid-century character with contemporary comfort.
The architecture was fun to work with, featuring dramatic roof pitches, a striking two-story double-sided fireplace, and thoughtfully designed room-to-room connections. Strategic wall cutouts and varying floor levels added interest and character, making this home a truly unique and dynamic space.
The kitchen connects to the exterior, dining room, and living room, and features a peninsula and a cozy morning nook for gathering. Thoughtful flow was essential for this busy space, creating distinct yet harmonious spaces to enjoy throughout the home.
Texture was thoughtfully incorporated using natural materials, including quartzite with cloud-like movement, woven light fixtures, and high-variation ceramic tile. The oak flooring, rich with knots and striking grain patterns, adds warmth and character to the space.
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Dining area just off kitchen. A special effort was made to take advantage of the spectacular view of Martha's Vineyard. The clients liked the idea of using old furniture, a lot of which they got on the island.

This bright transitional kitchen remodel features white shaker cabinets, a green kitchen island, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, open shelving, hardwood floors, under-cabinet lighting, and a glossy green tile backsplash. The updated kitchen layout adds efficient storage, a clean prep area, island seating, and a functional sink wall while keeping the space light, fresh, and inviting. This kitchen renovation blends classic white cabinetry with modern green accents for a timeless, family-friendly kitchen design.

Mid-sized elegant u-shaped dark wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, green backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and a peninsula

Joseph Schell
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts 3/4 subway tile ceramic tile and white floor bathroom design in San Francisco with an undermount tub, an undermount sink, white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet and green walls
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts 3/4 subway tile ceramic tile and white floor bathroom design in San Francisco with an undermount tub, an undermount sink, white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet and green walls

This rustic live edge Walnut dining table tells a story that began right on our client’s property in Hartland, Michigan. Crafted from Walnut that came from a tree on their own land, the table preserves a meaningful piece of their property and gives it new life as a gathering place their family can enjoy for generations.
The natural live edges were preserved to celebrate the organic shape and character of the tree, while the rich tones and distinctive grain of the Walnut remain the focal point throughout the design. An all-wood base with substantial Walnut legs continues that character from the tabletop to the floor, creating a cohesive, rustic look without introducing contrasting materials.
Beyond its beauty, this custom dining table represents what makes handcrafted furniture so personal. Instead of allowing a tree with a connection to their property to disappear, our clients were able to transform it into a functional piece of their home, one that will become the backdrop for family meals, celebrations, and everyday moments.
Unlike mass-produced dining tables made from particle board or veneer, our live edge dining tables are handcrafted from solid USA-sourced hardwood that's built to last for generations. Every slab is individually selected for its grain, character, and natural beauty, making each piece as unique as the family who gathers around it.
As a custom furniture maker we specialize in building furniture that is entirely unique; 100% custom crafted. We are furniture builders that design pieces that fit to your space and vision, and it all starts with a conversation.

Originally built in 1892, this quaint log cabin has undergone a transformative renovation while preserving its charming character. Located near the Little Deschutes River in Central Oregon, within the historic Vandert Homestead, the home now boasts bright, open spaces for everyday living, complete with flexible aluminum clad folding doors.
Working alongside contractor Bales Inc., architect Jeff Klein from Klein Architecture led the renovation with the goal of opening the once dark interior to natural light and the surrounding landscape. Central to the design was transforming a deteriorating garage into a new functional sunroom, creating a light-filled space that reorients the cabin design toward the patio and natural environment.
Restoring a Historic Cabin with Aluminum Clad Folding Doors
outdoor living with aluminum clad folding door
A Revamped Cabin Design for Indoor-Outdoor Living
The former garage is now a transitional space between the cabin and a natural stone patio. Positioned along the south elevation, the sunroom captures daylight throughout the day while acting as a buffer between the interior and exterior environments. A revised roof assembly was developed to resolve previous drainage failures. Working with framers, the design team incorporated a sloping roof system with a waterproof membrane to direct water away from the structure.
This approach not only protected the log walls but also created access to a rooftop deck from the upper level, adding functional outdoor space without expanding the building footprint.
“It was also critical to transform the existing dark, segmented interior spaces by physically opening them up to the new sunroom,” says Klein. “NanaWall systems offered the ideal solution for what we were after.”
historical homestead interior
Improving Spatial Flow, From the Kitchen to the Sunroom
The kitchen remained largely intact during the renovation, retaining many of the elements that had defined the cabin’s character for decades. Features such as the farmhouse sink, concrete countertops, butcher-block island, and built-in seating were retained, creating a perfect blend of old and new.
What changed was how the kitchen connects to the surrounding rooms. The layout now flows naturally into an adjacent dining area before extending into the newly added sunroom, delivering a seamless transition from the interiors to the outdoors through aluminum clad folding doors.
Historic log cabin with clad folding doors and windows
A Light-Filled Sunroom Designed for Gatherings with Aluminum Clad Windows and Doors
The newly added sunroom became the centerpiece of the cabin design. Designed as a bright, welcoming space, it connects the historic cabin to the natural stone patio beyond. Interior designer Sue Olson helped create the room's atmosphere by choosing finishes and furnishings that complement the cabin's rustic materials while keeping the space open and inviting.
The sunroom captures sunlight throughout the day and serves as a flexible space for dining, relaxing, and entertaining. The addition was designed to sit comfortably alongside the existing log structure while introducing expansive glazing and aluminum clad folding doors that draw daylight deep into the home.
NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors and windows
Aluminum Clad Folding Doors Open the Sunroom to the Patio
A NanaWall aluminum clad folding glass door opens the south wall of the sunroom, creating a direct connection to the natural stone patio. Spanning more than thirteen feet wide and nearly eight feet tall, the system allows the entire façade to open when the panels are folded back. Specified with pine wood frames and simulated divided lites, the door complements the cabin’s traditional materials while introducing the flexibility of modern indoor-outdoor living.
When closed, the door frames the view while bringing daylight into the sunroom. When open, the space seamlessly flows into the patio. Plus, customized with double glazed panels, these aluminum clad systems offer an insulated barrier that keeps cold weather out and keeps comfortable interiors year-round.
“The NanaWall system was the ideal solution for the proposed design,” says Klein. “The result is a seamless connection between the sheltered interior area and the openness of the outdoor environment.”
aluminum clad folding windows
A Folding Window Creates an Indoor-Outdoor Bar
Complementing the folding door and indoor-outdoor cabin design, a NanaWall aluminum clad folding window was installed at bar height along the sunroom wall facing the patio. Stretching more than thirteen feet across and just over four feet in height, the opening transforms the wall into a casual indoor-outdoor serving counter.
Specified with matching pine wood frames and simulated divided lites, the system folds away easily, creating an indoor-outdoor bar that encourages interaction between the sunroom and patio. When open, the counter becomes a flexible gathering point for meals, drinks, and conversation, allowing those inside and outside to share the space comfortably.
“The NanaWall door and window systems played a pivotal role in achieving our design objectives,” says Klein. “The connection between the indoor and outdoor environment has become seamless.”
inoor-outdoor living with clad folding windows and doors
The Flexible Design Solution for Every Home Style
Beyond creating large openings, the NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors were chosen for how well they integrate with the cabin’s traditional architecture while delivering modern functionality. The wood clad panels, specified with simulated divided lites, reflect the style and charm of classic window detailing, while panels that fold outward maximize usable space inside the cabin.
Minimal frames maximize glass area, drawing natural light deeper into the sunroom and adjacent spaces. Paired with higher weather performance sills, the systems are built to withstand the region’s climate while allowing the sunroom to shift easily between a sheltered interior space and an open-air extension of the patio.
Additionally, NanaWall aluminum clad systems feature clip-on cladding technology that allows the wood to breathe in environments where temperatures are extremely hot, humid, or cold. This, in turn, aligns with the renovation’s goal of resolving prior drainage and moisture issues.
outdoor living with NanaWall aluminum clad systems
Final Thoughts: Historic Cabin Design Reimagined for Modern Living
Today, the Vandevert Homestead perfectly blends old-time charm with modern living. The renovation maintains the historic character of the original log structure while introducing brighter, more connected spaces that better engage with the surrounding landscape.
With the transformation of the garage into a light-filled sunroom and flexible NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors, everyday living now flows naturally between the kitchen, dining area, sunroom, and patio. The result is a cabin that feels both timeless and renewed, where historic craftsmanship remains intact while the home experience is lighter, more open, and closely tied to the natural beauty of Central Oregon.

This project is new construction located in Hinsdale, Illinois. The scope included the kitchen, butler’s pantry, and mudroom. The clients are on the verge of being empty nesters and so they decided to right size. They came from a far more traditional home, and they were open to things outside of their comfort zone. O’Brien Harris Cabinetry in Chicago (OBH) collaborated on the project with the design team but especially with the builder from J. Jordan Homes. The architecture of this home is interesting and defined by large floor to ceiling windows. This created a challenge in the kitchen finding wall space for large appliances.
“In essence we only had one wall and so we chose to orient the cooking on that wall. That single wall is defined on the left by a window and on the right by the mudroom. That left us with another challenge – where to place the ovens and refrigerator. We then created a vertically clad wall disguising appliances which floats in between the kitchen and dining room”, says Laura O’Brien.
The room is defined by interior transom windows and a peninsula was created between the kitchen and the casual dining for separation but also for added storage. To keep it light and open a transparent brass and glass shelving was designed for dishes and glassware located above the peninsula.
The butler’s pantry is located behind the kitchen and between the dining room and a lg exterior window to front of the home. Its main function is to house additional appliances. The wall at the butler’s pantry portal was thickened to accommodate additional shelving for open storage. obrienharris.com

This downtown Rockford home carried the historic character the neighborhood is known for, but the kitchen needed refreshing to meet the needs of the family's daily routine. With two kids growing up in the house, the space needed more room without losing the charm that drew the family there in the first place.
Ridgewood Home Construction reconfigured the layout for better flow and added new cabinets, countertops, and a classic tile backsplash that reflected the home's character while feeling current. Updated plumbing and lighting fixtures enhanced the room's functionality, and a fresh coat of paint tied it all together. Downstairs, custom built-in storage gave the family an organized lower level. The result is a home that runs smoother for a busy family of four, with a kitchen that feels both elevated and true to its downtown Rockford roots.
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