Search results for "Inefficient" in Home Design Ideas

We recently took on an exciting whole-home renovation for this lovely historic Trinity in Center City Philadelphia. Originally built in the mid-1800s, the house footprint is just over 17’ x 13’. As is typical of this type of 3-story house, the kitchen is located in the basement, making this house four floors of occupied space with overall square footage totaling just under 900 square feet.
The homeowner felt the former kitchen was cramped, dimly lit, and inefficiently designed, and she was in search of help in bringing her artistic vision for the space to life, blending both old and new elements through an exciting mix of textures and character. High on her priority list was integrating her wonderful collection of objects gathered from her travels around the world.
We brought our design skills and construction experience to the team, working with the homeowner and the designer to develop a host of creative solutions, including the installation of an Indonesian screen as a sliding door covering a newly reconfigured utility area, which includes a new on-demand hot water heater, mounted next to a new electrical panel with ample room for service and access.
Other Noteworthy Features and Solutions:
New crisp drywall blended with original masonry wall textures and original exposed beams
Custom-glazed adler wood cabinets, beautiful fusion Quartzite and custom cherry counters, and a copper sink were selected for a wonderful interplay of colors, textures, and Old World feel
Small-space efficiencies designed for real-size humans, including built-ins wherever possible, limited free-standing furniture, and no upper cabinets
Built-in storage and appliances under the counter (refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, and microwave drawer)
Additional multi-function storage under stairs
Extensive lighting plan with multiple sources and types of light to make this partially below-grade space feel bright and cheery
Enlarged window well to bring much more light into the space
Insulation added to create sound buffer from the floor above
All Photos by Linda McManus Photography

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation.
The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft.
This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months.
With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped porcelain tile and white floor open concept kitchen remodel in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops
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Example of a mid-sized classic porcelain tile sunroom design in Richmond with a skylight

The kitchen in this 1950’s home needed a complete overhaul. It was dark, outdated and inefficient.
The homeowners wanted to give the space a modern feel without losing the 50’s vibe that is consistent throughout the rest of the home.
The homeowner’s needs included:
- Working within a fixed space, though reconfiguring or moving walls was okay
- Incorporating work space for two chefs
- Creating a mudroom
- Maintaining the existing laundry chute
- A concealed trash receptacle
The new kitchen makes use of every inch of space. To maximize counter and cabinet space, we closed in a second exit door and removed a wall between the kitchen and family room. This allowed us to create two L shaped workspaces and an eat-in bar space. A new mudroom entrance was gained by capturing space from an existing closet next to the main exit door.
The industrial lighting fixtures and wrought iron hardware bring a modern touch to this retro space. Inset doors on cabinets and beadboard details replicate details found throughout the rest of this 50’s era house.

This project is a Houzz Kitchen of the Week! Click below to read the full story!
https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/116547325/list/kitchen-of-the-week-better-brighter-and-no-longer-basic
Our clients came to us wanting an elegant and functional kitchen and brighter living room. Their kitchen was dark and inefficient. The cabinets felt cluttered and the storage was there, but not functional for this family. They wanted all new finishes; especially new cabinets, but the floors were going to stay and be refinished. No wall relocation was needed but adding a door into the dining room to block the view from the front into the kitchen was discussed. They wanted to bring in more light somehow and preferably natural light. There was an unused sink in the butler’s pantry that they wanted capped, giving them more space and organized storage was a must! In their living room, they love their fireplace because it reminds her of her home in Colorado, so that definitely had to stay but everything else was left to the designers.
After all decisions were made, this gorgeous kitchen and living space came to life! It is bright, open and airy, just like our clients wanted. Soft White Shiloh cabinetry was installed with a contrasting Cocoa island. Honed Levantina Taj Mahal quartzite was a beautiful countertop for this space. Bedrosians Grace 4”x 12” wall tile in Panna was the backsplash throughout the kitchen. The stove wall is flanked with dark wooden shelves on either side of vent-a-hood creating a feature area to the cook area. A beautiful maple barn door with seeded baroque tempered glass inserts was installed to close off the pantry and giving them more room than a traditional door. The original wainscoting remained in the kitchen and living areas but was modified in the kitchen where the cabinets were slightly extended and painted white throughout. LED tape lighting was installed under the cabinets, LED lighting was also added to the top of the upper glass cabinets, in addition to the grow lights installed for their herbs. All of the light fixtures were updated to a timeless classic look and feel. Imbrie articulating wall sconces were installed over the kitchen window/sink and in the butler’s pantry and aged brass Hood classic globe pendants were hung over the island, really drawing your attention to the kitchen. The Alturas fixture from SeaGull Lighing now hangs in the center of the living room, where there was once an outdated ceiling fan. In the living room, the walls were painted white, while leaving the wood and stone fireplace, as requested, leaving an absolutely amazing contrast!
Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging

Julie Mikos Photography
Small elegant galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and white appliances
Small elegant galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and white appliances

While renovating their home located on a horse farm in Bedford, NY, it wasn’t surprising this husband and wife (who also is an equestrian) wanted their house to have a “barn feel”. To start, sourced reclaimed wood was used on the walls, floors and ceiling beams. This traditional kitchen, designed by Paulette Gambacorta, features Bilotta Collection cabinetry in a flush flat panel custom green paint with a glaze on maple. An added detail of a “crossbuck” end on the peninsula was custom made from reclaimed wood and inspired by the look of barn doors. Reclaimed wood shelves on iron brackets replaced upper cabinets for easy access. The marble countertops have a hand cut edge detail to resemble the look of when the stone was first quarried. An antique carpenter’s work bench was restored by the builder, for use as an island and extra work station. An apron front sink and a wains panel backsplash completed the barn look and feel.
Bilotta Designer: Paulette Gambacorta
Builder: Doug Slater, D.A.S. Custom Builders
Interior Designer: Reza Nouranian, Reza Nouranian Design, LLC
Architect: Rich Granoff
Photo Credit:Peter Krupenye

This homeowner loved her home, loved the location, but it needed updating and a more efficient use of the condensed space she had for her master bedroom/bath.
She was desirous of a spa-like master suite that not only used all spaces efficiently but was a tranquil escape to enjoy.
Her master bathroom was small, dated and inefficient with a corner shower and she used a couple small areas for storage but needed a more formal master closet and designated space for her shoes. Additionally, we were working with severely sloped ceilings in this space, which required us to be creative in utilizing the space for a hallway as well as prized shoe storage while stealing space from the bedroom. She also asked for a laundry room on this floor, which we were able to create using stackable units. Custom closet cabinetry allowed for closed storage and a fun light fixture complete the space. Her new master bathroom allowed for a large shower with fun tile and bench, custom cabinetry with transitional plumbing fixtures, and a sliding barn door for privacy.

An under used whirlpool tub and inefficient layout were rectified by removing the tub and outdated glass block shower to create a generous walk-in shower area and dual vanity with built ins for storage. Woods and textured materials add warmth and sophistication to the space.

This homeowner loved her home, loved the location, but it needed updating and a more efficient use of the condensed space she had for her master bedroom/bath.
She was desirous of a spa-like master suite that not only used all spaces efficiently but was a tranquil escape to enjoy.
Her master bathroom was small, dated and inefficient with a corner shower and she used a couple small areas for storage but needed a more formal master closet and designated space for her shoes. Additionally, we were working with severely sloped ceilings in this space, which required us to be creative in utilizing the space for a hallway as well as prized shoe storage while stealing space from the bedroom. She also asked for a laundry room on this floor, which we were able to create using stackable units. Custom closet cabinetry allowed for closed storage and a fun light fixture complete the space. Her new master bathroom allowed for a large shower with fun tile and bench, custom cabinetry with transitional plumbing fixtures, and a sliding barn door for privacy.

2010 REGIONAL AWARD WINNER
Built in 2000, this center hall colonial in Fairfax Station, Virginia had a kitchen that was neither functional nor aesthetically pleasing.
First, the floor plan was poorly rationalized. The work triangle was inefficient, a large pantry took up too much floor space, and a series of railings between the kitchen and family room obstructed traffic flow.
Aesthetically, the space was dated. Dutch cabinetry, floral wallpaper and a faux Victorian chandelier all cried for an update. Additionally, the homeowners wanted to incorporate high-end appliances and other amenities like a wine cooler and steam cooker.
Overall, the owners were seeking to replace worn out-of-style kitchen with a substantially upgraded “open” facility that combines traditional and contemporary features configured to support multiple social and culinary needs.
Working with Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, they decided to implement a series of strategic revisions that would support their new use goals.
First, they removed an obstructive bearing wall between the existing kitchen and mudroom, creating a recessed niche for a new 48” gas range with custom hood. An unused desk taken out provided a spot for the new 48” two-drawer refrigerator/freezer.
A custom-designed L-shaped granite-surfaced island with bar sink, icemaker and mini-drawer refrigerator takes center stage in the space and offers seating for six. Now the chef can entertain guests while preparing the meal.
From an aesthetic point of view, the interior features are nothing less than stunning. Softly painted walls, decorative ceramic tile backsplashes and granite surfaces combine with custom made cabinets to create an elegant space. Antiqued soft-opaque cabinet facings, wood panel refrigerator door inserts, glass-facing display cabinets and a custom mantle range hood are true works of craftsmanship. Fine detail is expressed with flutes and corbels. Beauty is truly in the details of this award-winning kitchen.

This client wanted to revive their inefficient outdated and closed off kitchen, and bring new life, light and functionality to the space. The new space includes a coffered ceiling with crown molding, maple cabinetry, opalescence granite and a travertine and mosaic backsplash. By removing the peninsula and replacing it with an island, we improved both the flow and function in this space. The room was capped off with updated lights and appliances.
Todd Myra Photography

The easy-to-use, energy saving features position the Valor G3 insert as a leader in efficient, effective zone heating - a true upgrade in heat control, product reliability and overall home comfort.
Update your existing living space with a wide selection of stunning fireplace designs in both traditional and contemporary appeal. A diverse collection of fronts, trims and hearth accessories provide endless installation opportunities for your dated, inefficient fireplace. Embodying over 100 years of Valor tradition accompanied by the latest in state-of-the-art technology, the Legend G3 continues to be the industry's number one selling radiant gas insert.

This was a small cabin located in South Lake Tahoe, CA that was built in 1947. The existing kitchen was tiny, inefficient & in much need of an update. The owners wanted lots of storage and much more counter space. One challenge was to incorporate a washer and dryer into the space and another was to maintain the local flavor of the existing cabin while modernizing the features. The final photos in this project show the before photos.

Well situated in Mont Royal, this split-level home had many positives apart from its dated interior, and layout of many small and inefficient rooms. This was all at odds with the owners’ lifestyle and aesthetic.
The client had architectural plans designed for a third floor addition that were to include a master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The desired look for the entire house influenced all aspects of construction. Apart from the removal most walls on the main floor, everything was stripped back to the most simple and pure of finishing materials.
The existing floors were refinished in a smoked grey matte palette and offset the rich warm walnut accents in the kitchen and soft white walls.
With an abundance of white walls throughout, feature walls were essential in both the master bedroom and ensuite. The deep charcoal wall in the bedroom provides dramatic contrast to the teak headboard and hammered silver light fixture. The ensuite’s feature wall is made of pewter ceramic tiles that add texture and elegance to this simple space.
Materials and furnishings throughout were selected for their simplicity and form.
Photo : Drew Hadley

Big changes at this Wayne Pa kitchen remodel. This homes original kitchen was tight and poorly designed for the space. We removed a wall between the kitchen and an adjoining sitting room as well as a ton of inefficient framed pantries and closets to open up the space. We installed a new 7 ½’ window overlooking the backyard patio and pool as well as bringing great natural light into the space. With a family of 5 this customer needed lots of storage and fridge space. We designed the new kitchen with this in mind. The Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Frost door style gives this kitchen a clean bright feel and all the pantries and 2 fridges give the customer all the storage they could dream of. The flooring was replaced throughout the first floor and kitchen with kid and lifestyle friendly Coretec waterproof luxury vinyl which will hold up to plenty of wet feet from the backyard pool. The steel grey granite with a leathered finish has a smooth textured feel and coordinates well with the flooring and other finishes. The tile backsplash was installed in a herring bone pattern adds to this awesome new look. Everything was expertly installed by lead carpenters Steve McHenry and Rick Morro. What a great project with happy homeowners.

Big changes at this Wayne Pa kitchen remodel. This homes original kitchen was tight and poorly designed for the space. We removed a wall between the kitchen and an adjoining sitting room as well as a ton of inefficient framed pantries and closets to open up the space. We installed a new 7 ½’ window overlooking the backyard patio and pool as well as bringing great natural light into the space. With a family of 5 this customer needed lots of storage and fridge space. We designed the new kitchen with this in mind. The Fabuwood cabinetry in the Galaxy Frost door style gives this kitchen a clean bright feel and all the pantries and 2 fridges give the customer all the storage they could dream of. The flooring was replaced throughout the first floor and kitchen with kid and lifestyle friendly Coretec waterproof luxury vinyl which will hold up to plenty of wet feet from the backyard pool. The steel grey granite with a leathered finish has a smooth textured feel and coordinates well with the flooring and other finishes. The tile backsplash was installed in a herring bone pattern adds to this awesome new look. Everything was expertly installed by lead carpenters Steve McHenry and Rick Morro. What a great project with happy homeowners.

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation.
The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft.
This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months.
With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

This homeowner loved her home, loved the location, but it needed updating and a more efficient use of the condensed space she had for her master bedroom/bath.
She was desirous of a spa-like master suite that not only used all spaces efficiently but was a tranquil escape to enjoy.
Her master bathroom was small, dated and inefficient with a corner shower and she used a couple small areas for storage but needed a more formal master closet and designated space for her shoes. Additionally, we were working with severely sloped ceilings in this space, which required us to be creative in utilizing the space for a hallway as well as prized shoe storage while stealing space from the bedroom. She also asked for a laundry room on this floor, which we were able to create using stackable units. Custom closet cabinetry allowed for closed storage and a fun light fixture complete the space. Her new master bathroom allowed for a large shower with fun tile and bench, custom cabinetry with transitional plumbing fixtures, and a sliding barn door for privacy.
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