One Hundred Year New Kitchen This 1913 Foursquare in Linden Hill had many original architectural features including a small kitchen sandwiched between the dining room and a back staircase. Historically kitchens were service areas and not the gathering place as they are today. This young family needed their kitchen to come into the 21st century. The designer tackled the two main problems of the kitchen lay-out: the back staircase that descended into the kitchen and the chimney flue in the middle of the house. In the early 1900’s a back stair case was commonly used to access the upstairs bathroom & bedrooms without going through the formal areas of the house. By adding a pocket door from the kitchen to the front hall and stairs, the back stair case could be removed thus gaining precious square footage in the kitchen. Another structural obstacle the furnace chimney smack dab in the middle of the house. But by relocating the furnace and removing the flue, we were able to create a large opening from the kitchen to the dining room. The family now had the “open plan” they so desired. White cabinets, honed black granite countertops are the backdrop to the colorful tile backsplash and blue walls. The once “corridor” kitchen now has a breakfast bar, pantry, plenty of counter space, new appliances. It’s still charming but works for modern family life. They are delighted.

2011 National NARI CotY Southeast Regional Award Winner, Residential Universal Design Middle age family in Fairfax, Virginia faced obstacles in their 1980’s home. The home design was dysfunctional by client home’s narrow hall ways and small bathrooms with unusable tubs and tight spacing where two people could not use it at the same time. Clients desperately needed a more fully accessible laundry, bedroom, and spacious bathroom that could be accommodating their needs for today and as well as the future. We built a 10’ x 40’ first floor room and bath to the back of the home with a full new spacious bedroom with new high efficiency gas fireplace. In addition to the bedroom the space provided a new full bathroom. Also, built out new screened-in porch with railing and handles, trex decking and low maintenance synthetic trims and ceiling panels

3D interior renderings of a Closet in a private residence
Walk-in closet - large traditional gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor walk-in closet idea in Tampa with recessed-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Transforming this open loft space into a functional and stylish family room was no small feat. Serving as both a central gathering area and a thoroughfare to other top-floor rooms, the layout presented unique challenges. Shweta boldly embraced these obstacles by enveloping the entire space in a rich, moody green hue, creating an illusion of greater expanse. With a keen eye for design, she meticulously zoned the room into distinct yet interconnected areas: a cozy seating ensemble, a captivating TV focal point, a practical hallway, and a custom-built bar. Remarkably, Shweta's DIY prowess came to the fore as she tackled every aspect of the project herself, from installing shiplap and a striking wallpaper mural to constructing the bespoke bar. To furnish this versatile space, she selected a sophisticated linen sectional complemented by laid-back bean bag chairs, while opting for ottomans over a traditional coffee table to maximize comfort and flexibility. The bar area cleverly incorporates storage solutions, ensuring the room remains uncluttered and adaptable to various styling preferences. A curated collection of thrifted artwork adorns the walls, infusing the space with character and a delightful blend of old and new.

This kitchen remodel in Lakewood has undergone such an amazing transformation from a dark, dated space to bright and functional! We experienced many obstacles in this tight space but was able to design around the challenges to create a beautiful and functional space. The original design intent was to bring the cabinets all the way to the ceiling but found out this wasn’t an option as all the soffits had interior mechanical systems and couldn’t be reconfigured. One solution was to raise the soffits on the range and sink walls to gain an extra 6” of cabinet space and build out the soffit above the refrigerator to create a custom built-in look. This extension of the soffit created the perfect opportunity for a narrow pantry cabinet facing the dining room which adds much needed storage space. By painting the soffits the same color as the cabinets, we were able to install the crown trim on top of the soffit in lieu of the cabinets to create the illusion of taller cabinets and lengthening the ceiling height. We omitted the wall cabinet to the left of the range to create a more open space both visibly and functionally. This provided the opportunity to install an accent pendant over the open counter which has been lowered to maintain one counter height throughout for a seamless look. Decorative door panels give the perfect finishing touches on the cabinetry and truly convey a custom look. The cabinets were finished in Waypoint’s Shaker style in Linen color and were paired with Amrock’s stunning gunmetal finish hardware. The existing floor tile was replaced with Daltile’s Forest Park Maple wood-look plank which now extends into the dining room creating a natural separation of kitchen/dining space to the adjacent Family room. The warmth of the floor tile compliments the Linen cabinetry color and Gunmetal finishes throughout. This beautiful kitchen offers a beautiful and functional design solution and we are thrilled our client can love their personalized kitchen for many years to come!

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

After: The client had gone to Best Tile in Wexford, PA and fell in love with one of their showroom displays. She ended up buying the exact tiles and wanted the same style from the display, making my job very easy. Design is one of the harder obstacles when redoing a bathroom yourself, and going to a tile store is helpful in narrowing down your options. My wife, Nikki, has design planning on the Bathroom Remodeling Teacher website to help you (www.bathroomremodelingteacher.com/plan). These are the before and after pictures of a large master bathroom remodel that was done by Steve White (owner of Bathroom Remodeling Teacher and SRW Contracting, Inc.) Steve has been a bathroom remodeling contractor in the Pittsburgh area since 2008. Steve has created easy-to-follow courses that enable YOU to build your own bathroom. He has compiled all of his industry knowledge and tips & tricks into several courses he offers online to pass his knowledge on to you. He makes it possible for you to BUILD a bathroom just like this contemporary style master bathroom. Check out his courses by visiting the Bathroom Remodeling Teacher website at: https://www.bathroomremodelingteacher.com/learn.

Description: In early 1994, the architects began work on the project and while in construction (demolition, grading and foundations) the owner, due to circumstances beyond his control, halted all construction of the project. Seven years later the owner returned to the architects and asked them to complete the partially constructed house. Due to code changes, city ordinances and a wide variety of obstacles it was determined that the house was unable to be completed as originally designed. After much consideration the client asked the architect if it were possible to alter/remodel the partially constructed house, which was a remodel/addition to a 1970’s ranch style house, into a project that fit into current zoning and structural codes. The owner also requested that the house’s footprint and partially constructed foundations remain to avoid the need for further entitlements and delays on an already long overdue and difficult hillside site. The architects’ main challenge was how to alter the design that reflected an outdated philosophical approach to architecture that was nearly a decade old. How could the house be re-conceived reflecting the architect and client’s maturity on a ten-year-old footprint? The answer was to remove almost all of the previously proposed existing interior walls and transform the existing footprint into a pavilion-like structure that allows the site to in a sense “pass through the house”. This allowed the client to take better advantage of a limited and restricted building area while capturing extraordinary panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood Hills. Large 22-foot high custom sliding glass doors allow the interior and exterior to become one. Even the studio is separated from the house and connected only by an exterior bridge. Private spaces are treated as loft-like spaces capturing volume and views while maintaining privacy. Limestone floors extend from inside to outside and into the lap pool that runs the entire length of the house creating a horizon line at the edge of the view. Other natural materials such as board formed concrete, copper, steel and cherry provides softness to the objects that seem to float within the interior volume. By placing objects and materials "outside the frame," a new frame of reference deepens our sense of perception. Art does not reproduce what we see; rather it makes us see.

This custom home built within a gorgeous setting had many obstacles impeding a maximization of the ocean view. We started by removing the posts to open up the space and the outdoor vista. Moving the cooking off the island allowed for a cozy reconfiguration with seating. The laundry facilities, located behind the original louvered doors were relocated to another part of the home, creating space for a new 48″ Wolf range and a dramatically expanded counter. A backsplash of handmade ceramic tiles gives an organic yet clean accent to the entire stove wall. Set into a contrasting background of natural looking wenge wood, a built-in Thermador refrigerator sits next to a large, walk-in pantry space. At the end of the short counter, an appliance garage doubles as a coffee station. The palette of pure white mixed with several wood tones reinforces the natural theme while allowing the natural light to expand within the space.

We were pleased to be brought in on this penthouse renovation in the heart of Bucktown, Chicago. The goal of this project was to revamp the space and add an additional touch of modern design through the use of warm Walnut Eco-Veneer doors. With warm tones, we were able to play on the traditional feel of the space, yet bring in modern touches with the magnetic latch hardware, concealed hinges, and flush designs. The seamlessly matching frames give an added touch of style, making these door units appear intentional and luxe. Noticed by every individual who walks through space, our Modern Interior doors are made to be an additional form of design that should complement and elevate your space. Whenever we encounter a renovation project, we often anticipate certain obstacles. Existing design elements (flooring, wall thickness, building codes, etc.) and limited budgets can usually be tough to overcome. However, with our Modern Interior door package, we can provide flexible pricing and flexible styles and finishes that are guaranteed to complement any residence. Each door line has several different complementary designs to choose from, which can add variation throughout your home, while still providing a cohesive style that creates a meaningful flow. Our Modern Interior door line comes equipped with everything you need for a no-fuss and effortless door buying process. One set price includes the door slab with desired solid wood veneer in finish of your choice, a matching adjustable frame, concealed hinges, and a magnetic lever set. Each door style provides a top of the line product and can exceed any and all expectations you might have. Our Modern Interior doors can provide an updated feel to your home, whether it is modern, contemporary or traditional. All elements of our Modern Interior Doors are geared towards updating your space and adding a luxury feel at an affordable price point. Glenview Haus has a mission to provide all design-savvy individuals with design elements that are highly coveted and unique to your home. Why blend in when you can stand out?

Most lakefront homes create a barrier — a large, unnatural obstacle that blocks beautiful views of the lake and natural surroundings. In the case of the Greyfriars Residence, the client wanted the house to become part of the landscape so visitors could enjoy the lake from anywhere on the property. The 5000 square-foot, two-story gable house was situated on the lot to maximize the incredible Lake Norman view from as much of the house as possible. Additionally, the lake can be seen through the delicate, modern silhouette from the street. This effect is achieved by adding a passage between the house and the garage. The main structure was then cross-cut, with walls and windows arranged to create a framed view from street to water’s edge. Winner of 2019 AIA North Carolina Merit Award

We were thrilled to partner with our clients in updating and renovating the entire main floor of their inviting Silver Spring home. Tucked away in one of the area’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods this once ultra-traditional-style home is now the ideal blend of past and present. Knowing that we were not only bringing their space current but also creating a tailored in-law suite for their mother’s upcoming stay — we got right to work on our mission of removing all obstacles to this family’s vision. This comprehensive project includes a larger, more functional kitchen plus Great Room addition; in-law suite with bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and living space; family room; and screened in porch / deck combination ideal for grilling, entertaining and enjoying the outdoors. The expansive and open-layout-kitchen features Dura Supreme Shaker Cabinetry painted white and paired with glistening quartz counters. The space continues on and seamlessly opens up into the breezy Great Room and dining area. The newly equipped Mini-Split HVAC System provides independent temperature control and the elegant Universal Design In-Law Bathroom ensures both safety and usability. Hardwood flooring was installed and the existing flooring throughout was refinished to match — giving way to the smooth and continuous feel throughout the entire main level. We are proud to have created and delivered this transitional redesign and remodel all while keeping a small footprint for the in-law suite and not losing any of the original space.

Hi, everyone we are in Reston, Virginia, In this project, the kitchen used to be is now the living room. My clients wanted to update their kitchen, it was a little tight where it was, there were a lot of walls. We wanted to take it away and kind of give them a bigger island so they can seat the kids and they can all have a seat together, enjoy their breakfast, and so forth in a bigger, wider space. So we also redid the entire floors throughout the house. I wanted to go with a slightly more natural look for the wood. It has a natural stain with a matte finish, which hides scratches. If you have pets or kids, we also match the wood to the floor. So there is a little bit of warmth around the white. We added sconces around the dining room area to the fireplace to kind of highlight that area there. And then we also paneled the fridge. It makes this line continue a little bit longer since they didn't have the longest run on this end. So it's not stopping by an obstacle that's metal or stainless steel. So that way, it kind of blends in a little bit more with everything, and you only have the range that's showing, which is the focal point We'll see you on the next project. Enjoy.

When challenges arise, Green Bay Remodeling delivers solutions! This client called us ‘problem solvers’ after we transformed their space with precision and creativity. Watch how we tackled obstacles to create a home that exceeds expectations.

When challenges arise, Green Bay Remodeling delivers solutions! This client called us ‘problem solvers’ after we transformed their space with precision and creativity. Watch how we tackled obstacles to create a home that exceeds expectations.

Crafted with a relaxed and effortless charm, this 5,600 SF shingle-style home offers views to the Isles of Shoals. The clients' goal was to create a warm and welcoming home that radiated both elegance and comfort while easily accommodating their newest additions to the family: their grandchildren. Despite the challenge posed by the lot's unique shape, the team worked hard so that the design seamlessly integrates with the property, avoiding any sense of imposition to the land or its inhabitants. To overcome this obstacle, the design team incorporated a custom fit angle into the floor plan, defining the open-concept rooms and perfectly aligning with the clients' vision of a friendly and casual space. The heart of the home lies in the open kitchen, with a generous granite island, a cozy breakfast nook, and adjacent open sitting areas. To ensure that the beauty of the Seacoast is always within sight, 30 strategically placed windows grace the waterside of the home, capturing the essence of the Shoals and inviting refreshing sea breezes into the interior.

Exterior home photo in New York

Master bathroom expansion. The original bathroom was only 30 -40 square feet. My customer asked me to expand into the adjoining closet and vanity area, more than tripling the space. There were load bearing obstacles that had to be modified and windows were added. The shower has a shower head, hand held sprayer and two body jets. The tub is large and holds up to 54 gallon and is 6 feet long.

A modern update to this condo built in 1966 with a gorgeous view of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City. Concrete structural columns and walls were an obstacle to incorporate into the design. White conversion varnish finish on maple raised panel doors. Counter top is Blue Flowers granite..