Loft kitchen with view of mezzanine catwalk. Open tread stair extends over bar area. Translucent panels to the left (first floor) and right (second floor) delineate the bedroom areas of the loft.

Stephani Buchman Photography
Alcove shower - mid-sized transitional kids' blue tile and porcelain tile marble floor and white floor alcove shower idea in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

This finished basement has multiple cage lights and painted black ceiling for an industrial look. Meyer Design
Basement - large industrial underground carpeted and beige floor basement idea in Chicago with gray walls

Here in Florida, we’re blessed with great weather year-round. So it’s no surprise that outdoor entertaining areas are an extremely popular way to enhance outdoor living. When our clients requested an update to their existing outdoor kitchen while they were away on vacation, we were ready to hit the ground running. While their beautiful 2-story home on a golf course had a pool and covered lanai area, the existing outdoor kitchen just didn’t function well for their needs. Mainly, they craved additional counter space and more seating. And, as avid football fans, with a son playing on a renown Division 1 college team, they also wanted a large screen TV to watch games. After all, what better way to share game day excitement than at a barbecue with family and friends? A Bigger, Better Kitchen Layout Our brilliant design team came up with a much larger, u-shaped outdoor kitchen layout for increased functionality. The extra base cabinets provided plenty of storage as well as a foundation for additional countertop space. Adjacent to the sink, we added a 24” outdoor refrigerator to keep food and beverages chilled, and the high top bar allowed for more seating around the perimeter. For cooking, our clients selected a much larger Lynx grill and side burner to replace the original grill. While the kitchen was already set up for a grilling area, it required a hood, so we built and installed a custom hood for proper ventilation. Then, we added a large screen TV above the hood for easy viewing. Finishing Touches To softly illuminate the entire space at night, we installed additional recessed light fixtures into the ceiling and under the grill hood. We also tied the Cypress wood ceiling and the crown molding together into the design with a luxurious cabinet stain. Along with these finishing touches, we added a decorative travertine stone backsplash behind the grill and homogenized the front face of the bar for a polished, matching look. Ventilation Challenges With the outdoor kitchen lanai located directly under a second-floor living area, we had expected to tuck away ventilation ductwork between the second-level floor joists and the exterior wall running parallel to the grill hood. However, upon further investigation, we discovered the second floor joist system, in fact, ran perpendicular to the grill hood. In short, we needed a new way to hide the venting without compromising the original design. Our team came up with an inspired solution: Construction of a false wall behind the outdoor kitchen allowed us to run ductwork without creating a visible chase for the vent, thus maintaining a symmetrical look on both sides of the grill and decorative hood. Exceeding Expectations In the end, we didn’t just meet our clients’ needs for a beautiful outdoor kitchen update – we exceeded them. As planned, we completed the new outdoor kitchen while they were out of town. But when our clients returned from vacation, they were so impressed with the results (and the stress-free design/build experience) that they promptly hired us for another extensive remodel – a stunning home addition!

Example of a 1950s home design design in Houston

Photo: Benjamin Hill © 2017 Houzz
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Elegant home design photo in Philadelphia

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in New York

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

Leaving ductwork and existing sprinkler piping exposed, replacing small windows with tall French doors, and updating the concrete floors with a dramatic stain-and-score technique give the city home a fresh aesthetic.

What is hiding in your ductwork?
Cottage home design photo in Chicago

Example of a small eclectic built-in desk light wood floor, brown floor and wood wall home office library design in Other with brown walls

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.

Mid-sized trendy galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The client wanted a modern and bright open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were some small challenges with the existing plumbing and the ductwork runs had to be rerouted. The end result is a gorgeous and functional modern space that suites the client’s lifestyle.