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

This amazing renovation focused on solving a series of problems that a previous kitchen expansion had created. By rearranging the appliance placement, updating the cabinetry, designing all new storage solutions and maximizing the amazing outdoor views; we cured the spit personality disorder plaguing the existing kitchen. The home now has a beautifully redesigned kitchen and living space perfect for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outside views. Vaulted ceilings with bright skylights, reflective glass wall tiles, sleek sophisticated Cambria quartz counter tops, fingerprint-free faucet, multi-functional Prolific kitchen sink by Kohler, stainless steel appliances, creative storage solutions, all new lighting and timeless shaker cabinets by Wellborn lend to the now bright, open, vivacious and flawless function of this newly renovated galley style kitchen. White base cabinets along the outside walls contrast perfectly with the dark grey island cabinets. Linear satin nickel door and drawer pulls coordinate with the stainless steel appliances and sink. An eclectic blend of vintage and modern furnishings, artwork and rugs create a comfortable balance that feels and looks timeless. Breathtaking backyard views are artfully framed by new Pella windows and doors with integral blinds between the glass. Calm, inviting neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for this refined design.
Photos by: Kimberly Kerl

This amazing renovation focused on solving a series of problems that a previous kitchen expansion had created. By rearranging the appliance placement, updating the cabinetry, designing all new storage solutions and maximizing the amazing outdoor views; we cured the spit personality disorder plaguing the existing kitchen. The home now has a beautifully redesigned kitchen and living space perfect for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outside views. Vaulted ceilings with bright skylights, reflective glass wall tiles, sleek sophisticated Cambria quartz counter tops, fingerprint-free faucet, multi-functional Prolific kitchen sink by Kohler, stainless steel appliances, creative storage solutions, all new lighting and timeless shaker cabinets by Wellborn lend to the now bright, open, vivacious and flawless function of this newly renovated galley style kitchen. White base cabinets along the outside walls contrast perfectly with the dark grey island cabinets. Linear satin nickel door and drawer pulls coordinate with the stainless steel appliances and sink. An eclectic blend of vintage and modern furnishings, artwork and rugs create a comfortable balance that feels and looks timeless. Breathtaking backyard views are artfully framed by new Pella windows and doors with integral blinds between the glass. Calm, inviting neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for this refined design.
Photos by: Kimberly Kerl

Mike Moizer
Inspiration for a small craftsman master vinyl floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and gray walls
Inspiration for a small craftsman master vinyl floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and gray walls
Find the right local pro for your project

Totally remodeled this bathroom and added a shower with a corner seat.
Inspiration for a small timeless 3/4 porcelain tile porcelain tile corner shower remodel in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and green walls
Inspiration for a small timeless 3/4 porcelain tile porcelain tile corner shower remodel in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and green walls

This simple and clean contemporary home was designed on a steeply sloping lot with a magnificent view of the Hill country. The main floor is designed to take advantage of the view and the very little level ground, while a partial lower floor steps down with the natural terrain mitigating costs and integrating into the hillside.

Mid-sized traditional beige one-story wood gable roof idea in San Francisco with a shingle roof

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Chicago with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Example of a large trendy brown two-story wood house exterior design in Chicago with a shed roof

The owner of this recently purchased property in the Berkshire village of Twyford had inherited a Jerusalem limestone floor that had been installed throughout the ground floor including the Kitchen. The previous owner hadn’t maintained the stone floor very well and as a result it had become dull, patchy and the new owner was finding it impossible to keep clean. The floor was becoming a problem for them and they had been considering ripping it all up and getting it replaced. However due to the size of the floor and potential cost of replacing it they searched for other solutions and contacted Tile Doctor to see if it could be renovated.
I scheduled an appointment with the owners to survey the floor and it wasn’t long before I realised that we could achieve a great result by polishing the Limestone using a set of diamond burnishing pads. To prove how well I thought the floor would clean up I offered to complete a demo within the small utility room. This was arranged and completed a week later, as I expected once I had finished the demo the floor looked fantastic, more importantly the client was ecstatic with the results and couldn’t wait to book us in to complete the rest of the house.
It was a large floor so I estimated the process would take 4-5 days to complete and would need to work in sections starting with the kitchen then progressing into the study and cloakroom, dining room and finishing off with the entrance hall. Thankfully I had an empty house to work in which helped as I could start sealing the area I worked on the prior day.
The limestone had become quite pitted in the high traffic area, these pits had filled up with soil and become unsightly. My first task was to deep clean the dirt filled pits and grout, to do this I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean and a stiff nylon brush making sure I could get into the pits releasing the dirt, then vacuuming up all the chemical slurry as I went along.
The next task was to fill these pits I used a two-part epoxy filler that matched the colour of the stone. Once the filler had dried, I worked through the hand burnishing blocks from 100 grit to 400 and I smoothed out the areas that had been filled.
Now the holes/pits had been filled I continued with the restoration of the floor by moving onto the burnishing process using diamond encrusted floor burnishing pads. This involves honing the Limestone with a set of burnishing pads starting at 400-grit. The pads are applied to the floor with a heavy floor buffing machine using water to lubricate the process. The pad is run over each tile around three times and the fine slurry this process generates is rinsed off afterwards with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum. You then move onto the 800-grit and then 1500-grit slowly building back the appearance of the stone.
As I had worked in sections/rooms at a time I was able to allow a full day drying time before sealing. Happy with the depth of colour from the pad system I opted to seal the floor with two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal. I had a range of sealers to choose from an in this case I felt Ultra-Seal would be most suited as it doesn’t change the natural appearance of the Limestone yet will provide years of protection and make it much easier to keep clean.
The owners were over the moon with how the limestone now looked and relieved that their problem floor had been restored. For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is designed for maintaining the patina on polished stone floors.
Dennis Buckland
Berkshire Tile Doctor

Eclectic medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, yellow backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and yellow countertops

Walls: Carter Gray CW-80, Regal Select, Eggshell
Trim: Bruton White CW-710, Regal Select, Semi-Gloss
Ceiling: Bruton White CW-710, Waterborne Ceiling Paint
A gray sitting room is accented through an array of decorations featuring a bright orange chair, wicker baskets, and decorative vases & topiary.

Steve Hall @ Hedrich Blessing Photographers
Inspiration for a large contemporary three-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Chicago
Inspiration for a large contemporary three-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Chicago

Please see this Award Winning project in the October 2014 issue of New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine: NYC&G
http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/October-2014/NYCG-Innovation-in-Design-Winners-Kitchen-Design/
It was also featured in a Houzz Tour:
Houzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29691278/list/houzz-tour-loving-the-old-and-new-in-an-1880s-brooklyn-row-house
Photo Credit: Hulya Kolabas

This amazing renovation focused on solving a series of problems that a previous kitchen expansion had created. By rearranging the appliance placement, updating the cabinetry, designing all new storage solutions and maximizing the amazing outdoor views; we cured the spit personality disorder plaguing the existing kitchen. The home now has a beautifully redesigned kitchen and living space perfect for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outside views. Vaulted ceilings with bright skylights, reflective glass wall tiles, sleek sophisticated Cambria quartz counter tops, fingerprint-free faucet, multi-functional Prolific kitchen sink by Kohler, stainless steel appliances, creative storage solutions, all new lighting and timeless shaker cabinets by Wellborn lend to the now bright, open, vivacious and flawless function of this newly renovated galley style kitchen. White base cabinets along the outside walls contrast perfectly with the dark grey island cabinets. Linear satin nickel door and drawer pulls coordinate with the stainless steel appliances and sink. An eclectic blend of vintage and modern furnishings, artwork and rugs create a comfortable balance that feels and looks timeless. Breathtaking backyard views are artfully framed by new Pella windows and doors with integral blinds between the glass. Calm, inviting neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for this refined design.
Photos by: Kimberly Kerl

In an era when housing is becoming increasingly scarce, small structures are making a big difference. The Crystal ADU is one of them — a compact, beautifully detailed dwelling designed by F9 Productions to deliver both function and artistry within just 160 square feet.
The Idea
The client came to F9 with their own sketches — early ideas drawn from the fractured symmetry of natural crystals. They envisioned a minimalist refuge that was as expressive as it was efficient.
We took that spark and shaped it into a refined architectural statement: a simple rectangle capped by a striking, asymmetrical roof that catches the light like a cut gem.
Design and Craft
The defining detail — a roof so thin it appears almost weightless — demanded careful problem-solving. Standard framing would have compromised the delicate profile. Instead, our team engineered a custom edge detail that maintains the sleek form while ensuring structural integrity and energy performance.
This kind of precision is what transforms a small project into a showcase of design craft.
Inside the Space
Step inside, and the attention to detail continues.
Every square inch is intentional. Built-in cabinetry wraps the walls, and a fold-down Murphy bed disappears to reveal open living space. In the bathroom, clever storage niches and a tankless water heater make the most of every inch. A skylight above the shower floods the space with natural light — warm, private, and bright.
Efficiency in Every Sense
Compact living comes with natural advantages. The small volume of the Crystal ADU reduces energy use, while a ductless mini-split system maintains comfort year-round.
This simplicity makes the building both efficient and elegant — a perfect reflection of F9’s design philosophy: functional minimalism with a human touch.
The Result
The Crystal ADU shows that size doesn’t define quality — design does.
It’s a small footprint with a big message: that thoughtful architecture can solve real housing challenges while creating spaces people love to inhabit.
The future of housing may be smaller, but with projects like this, it’s infinitely brighter.

This view reflects the amount of added light given off with the glass cabinetry, glass backsplash and bright white countertop and cabinetry.
Example of a classic kitchen design in New York
Example of a classic kitchen design in New York

PHIL CROZIER
Inspiration for a large contemporary travertine floor foyer remodel in Calgary with white walls and a black front door
Inspiration for a large contemporary travertine floor foyer remodel in Calgary with white walls and a black front door

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized 1950s l-shaped slate floor and multicolored floor eat-in kitchen idea in Detroit with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and an island
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