Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

Elemental Design Group had a big challenge in transforming an inaccessible hillside into a beautiful outdoor landscape. The garden includes terraces for an outdoor kitchen, spa deck, dining deck, swimming pool and fireside lounge. The harmoniously integrated spaces are as beautiful by night with downlighting, up lighting, integrated hardscape lights and the warm glow of fire. Existing decks that were originally disconnected were redesigned to seamlessly flow down to the pool. The pool includes an elevated grade beam to hide the automatic cover, a sun shelf, fire pots, sheer descent water feature, glass tile accents, and color-changing pool lights. Powder coated laser-cut metal panels hide the undersides of the deck providing hidden storage and a dramatic backdrop for the pool area. Custom metal fencing surrounds the pool and upper decks, complimenting the Cor-Ten steel fire pit and retaining walls. Travertine coping and treads, with bluestone porcelain tile, and colorful plantings, are just some of the accents for this functional and luxurious family space.

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

Bedroom window featuring custom drapery layered over plantation shutters, creating a soft, finished look that combines texture, privacy, and light control. This custom home in The Peninsula community of Cornelius, NC features a full-home installation of motorized plantation shutters designed for both style and function. Many of the windows in the home were oversized, located at significant heights, and difficult or impossible to reach manually. Motorization was the ideal solution, allowing the homeowner to control light and privacy throughout the home with ease while maintaining a clean, cohesive design aesthetic. The shutters were custom-fitted to each opening, enhancing the architectural lines of the home while providing durability, energy efficiency, and precise light control in every room. This project highlights how motorized window treatments can solve accessibility challenges in high-end custom homes without compromising design.

Close up of the custom plantation shutters installed on double French doors with detailed cutouts around lever handles, highlighting precise craftsmanship and a seamless custom fit. This custom home in The Peninsula community of Cornelius, NC features a full-home installation of motorized plantation shutters designed for both style and function. Many of the windows in the home were oversized, located at significant heights, and difficult or impossible to reach manually. Motorization was the ideal solution, allowing the homeowner to control light and privacy throughout the home with ease while maintaining a clean, cohesive design aesthetic. The shutters were custom-fitted to each opening, enhancing the architectural lines of the home while providing durability, energy efficiency, and precise light control in every room. This project highlights how motorized window treatments can solve accessibility challenges in high-end custom homes without compromising design.

Elemental Design Group had a big challenge in transforming an inaccessible hillside into a beautiful outdoor landscape. The garden includes terraces for an outdoor kitchen, spa deck, dining deck, swimming pool and fireside lounge. The harmoniously integrated spaces are as beautiful by night with downlighting, up lighting, integrated hardscape lights and the warm glow of fire. Existing decks that were originally disconnected were redesigned to seamlessly flow down to the pool. The pool includes an elevated grade beam to hide the automatic cover, a sun shelf, fire pots, sheer descent water feature, glass tile accents, and color-changing pool lights. Powder coated laser-cut metal panels hide the undersides of the deck providing hidden storage and a dramatic backdrop for the pool area. Custom metal fencing surrounds the pool and upper decks, complimenting the Cor-Ten steel fire pit and retaining walls. Travertine coping and treads, with bluestone porcelain tile, and colorful plantings, are just some of the accents for this functional and luxurious family space.

Hard-to-access bathroom window above a soaking tub fitted with motorized plantation shutters, allowing convenient control of light and privacy in a wet-area environment. This custom home in The Peninsula community of Cornelius, NC features a full-home installation of motorized plantation shutters designed for both style and function. Many of the windows in the home were oversized, located at significant heights, and difficult or impossible to reach manually. Motorization was the ideal solution, allowing the homeowner to control light and privacy throughout the home with ease while maintaining a clean, cohesive design aesthetic. The shutters were custom-fitted to each opening, enhancing the architectural lines of the home while providing durability, energy efficiency, and precise light control in every room. This project highlights how motorized window treatments can solve accessibility challenges in high-end custom homes without compromising design.

Elemental Design Group had a big challenge in transforming an inaccessible hillside into a beautiful outdoor landscape. The garden includes terraces for an outdoor kitchen, spa deck, dining deck, swimming pool and fireside lounge. The harmoniously integrated spaces are as beautiful by night with downlighting, up lighting, integrated hardscape lights and the warm glow of fire. Existing decks that were originally disconnected were redesigned to seamlessly flow down to the pool. The pool includes an elevated grade beam to hide the automatic cover, a sun shelf, fire pots, sheer descent water feature, glass tile accents, and color-changing pool lights. Powder coated laser-cut metal panels hide the undersides of the deck providing hidden storage and a dramatic backdrop for the pool area. Custom metal fencing surrounds the pool and upper decks, complimenting the Cor-Ten steel fire pit and retaining walls. Travertine coping and treads, with bluestone porcelain tile, and colorful plantings, are just some of the accents for this functional and luxurious family space.

Custom plantation shutters installed on double French doors with detailed cutouts around lever handles, highlighting precise craftsmanship and a seamless custom fit. This custom home in The Peninsula community of Cornelius, NC features a full-home installation of motorized plantation shutters designed for both style and function. Many of the windows in the home were oversized, located at significant heights, and difficult or impossible to reach manually. Motorization was the ideal solution, allowing the homeowner to control light and privacy throughout the home with ease while maintaining a clean, cohesive design aesthetic. The shutters were custom-fitted to each opening, enhancing the architectural lines of the home while providing durability, energy efficiency, and precise light control in every room. This project highlights how motorized window treatments can solve accessibility challenges in high-end custom homes without compromising design.

Elemental Design Group had a big challenge in transforming an inaccessible hillside into a beautiful outdoor landscape. The garden includes terraces for an outdoor kitchen, spa deck, dining deck, swimming pool and fireside lounge. The harmoniously integrated spaces are as beautiful by night with downlighting, up lighting, integrated hardscape lights and the warm glow of fire. Existing decks that were originally disconnected were redesigned to seamlessly flow down to the pool. The pool includes an elevated grade beam to hide the automatic cover, a sun shelf, fire pots, sheer descent water feature, glass tile accents, and color-changing pool lights. Powder coated laser-cut metal panels hide the undersides of the deck providing hidden storage and a dramatic backdrop for the pool area. Custom metal fencing surrounds the pool and upper decks, complimenting the Cor-Ten steel fire pit and retaining walls. Travertine coping and treads, with bluestone porcelain tile, and colorful plantings, are just some of the accents for this functional and luxurious family space.

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

This project began with the goal of updating both style and function to allow for improved ease of use for a wheelchair. The previous space was overstuffed with an island that didn't really fit, an over-sized fridge in a location that complicated a primary doorway, and a 42" tall high bar that was inaccessible from a wheelchair. Our clients desired a space that would improve wheelchair use for both cooking or just being in the room, yet did not look like an ADA space. It became a story of less is more, and subtle, thoughtful changes from a standard design. After working through options, we designed an open floorplan that provided a galley kitchen function with a full 5 ft walkway by use of a peninsula open to the family den. This peninsula is highlighted by a drop down, table-height countertop wrapping the end and long backside that is now accessible to all members of the family by providing a perfect height for a flexible workstation in a wheelchair or comfortable entertaining on the backside. We then dropped the height for cooking at the new induction cooktop and created knee space below. Further, we specified an apron front sink that brings the sink closer in reach than a traditional undermount sink that would have countertop rimming in front. An articulating faucet with no limitations on reach provides full range of access in the sink. The ovens and microwave were also situated at a height comfortable for use from a wheelchair. Where a refrigerator used to block the doorway, a pull out is now located giving easy access to dry goods for cooks at all heights. Every element within the space was considered for the impact to our homes occupants - wheelchair or not, even the doorswing on the microwave. Now our client has a kitchen that every member of the family can use and be a part of. Simple design, with a well-thought out plan, makes a difference in the lives of another family. Photos by David Cobb Photography

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.

Embark on a transformative journey with our open floor remodeling project, where the confines of separate spaces give way to a harmonious, spacious haven. Two walls vanish, merging a cramped kitchen, dining room, living room, and breakfast nook into a unified expanse. Revel in the brilliance of natural light streaming through new windows, dancing upon fresh flooring. Illuminate your culinary adventures with modern lighting, complementing sleek cabinets, countertops, and glass subway tiles. Functionality takes the spotlight – bid farewell to inaccessible doors, welcoming a wealth of drawers and pullouts. The living room undergoes a metamorphosis; witness the rebirth of the fireplace. The dated brick facade yields to textured three-dimensional tiles, evoking contemporary elegance. The mantel vanishes, leaving a canvas of modern design. This remodel crafts a haven where openness meets functionality, and each detail weaves a narrative of sophistication and comfort.