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

This backyard is what Kids and Parents dream about! The yard was large, over grown, and lacked a clear definition of what the space was for. With two young, energetic girls, who love to explore, the owner wanted to keep it as natural as possible, but add several new elements. A fireplace was added to the patio area which created indoor-outdoor living. A small outdoor kitchen was added for entertaining. A large pool with Baja shelf , a Jacuzzi, and seats through out create an oasis as the focal point. The bike paths were defined by gravel. We removed two enormous trees and used them to mulch the entire yard. The trunks were used as a fun obstacle course. A shady area was kept for the tire swing and picnic area. And the finishing touch; handprints in the new sidewalk!

This townhome located on Lake Anna of Reston, VA own into a confined gall kitchen with a very limited cabinet space, short wall cabinets, big closet taking over big portion of kitchen, duct chase creating a big barrier, plumbing chases causing bulkhead and a bearing wall header to name a few of obstacles Their dream was to walk in from front door and have a clear view of wall to wall scenic view of the lake. Modernize the kitchen, eliminate bearing walls, lots of storage, upgraded appliances and so much more. They have been chasing this dream for years and have been turned down by multiple firms due to level of difficulty of the project, budget constraint and as she put it “cleeking with a design firm that can feel her needs” Our staff spent countless number of hours to hear her and bring her dream to reality. The main constraint was the bearing wall on corner of foyer and living room, which was a closet, main duct chase and return ducts, obscene amount of plumbing and not to mention structural load. By the way of re-routing mechanical chases, and reformulating all second-floor plumbing stack to back walls, and then inserting few structural beams that transfer the second-floor joists to front and back wall, we have accomplished the biggest goals of all and created the view open floor plan Now home to a big island with cooktop and beverage center. The home has front to back clear view of the scenic lake. ¬¬¬With expanding the kitchen into front breakfast area, we have doubled up on storage and cabinet space. Long line of gorgeous counter top and full backsplash under new Led lighting has glorified this kitchen project. The linear porcelain floor tile has complimented the counter top and her trophy accessories.

Family room with custom large screen TV mount, loft hangout, swing, and obstacle course mount system. This area has become the all around gathering area for the family.

Project: Hamilton Street – New Westminster About this Project The snow had melted, and our past clients were ready to have us back! This time, to transform their kitchen from its cookie cutter aesthetic to a space that was sophisticated and timeless. Kitchen: The previous kitchen had a layout that worked well but was in serious need of a makeover. The visual focus in this renovation is the harmony of the materials used; how the cool and warm tones come together to create this inviting space. The backsplash adds a sense of personality along with the carefully placed open shelving in both the upper cabinets and island. Working around the existing sprinklers was one of the obstacles we faced while designing this kitchen. At the fridge, we worked around this by setting back the upper cabinets and creating a landing space above the fridge. One of our favourite things about this kitchen is the use of interior organization. These custom additions make for a well equipped and organized kitchen. Special Mentions: The black plumbing fixtures by Riobel and sink by Blanco offer some contrast against the white countertops and backsplash. We jazzed up the old fireplace mantle and surround by using White Oak for the mantle and tile from Julian Tile.

Glacier Glass Splashback. This client opted for two tone cabinets and therefore wanted a neutral backdrop to make to make their cabinets sing! We created a glass splashback behind the range cooker, and then some matching glass up stands. This gives the client flexibility of repainting the walls to transform the look of the kitchen. The two-tone cabinets have a hand crafted feel, and we particularly love the flash of dark grey on the mantel. Glass is the perfect alternative to tiles. Modern, easy clean and completely customisable it has many advantages. It is possible to choose any colour or design, creating something completely unique. The versatility of glass means that it can be shaped around any obstacle, including cooker hoods and shelving. At DIY Splashbacks we can create bespoke glass products in any size, shape, colour, pattern or image. It's even possible for clients to provide their own image, and we can digitally print on to it. Whatever your inspiration is, we can make it. Visit our website to discover more. © glasssplashbacks.com

This backyard is what Kids and Parents dream about! The yard was large, over grown, and lacked a clear definition of what the space was for. With two young, energetic girls, who love to explore, the owner wanted to keep it as natural as possible, but add several new elements. A fireplace was added to the patio area which created indoor-outdoor living. A small outdoor kitchen was added for entertaining. A large pool with Baja shelf , a Jacuzzi, and seats through out create an oasis as the focal point. The bike paths were defined by gravel. We removed two enormous trees and used them to mulch the entire yard. The trunks were used as a fun obstacle course. A shady area was kept for the tire swing and picnic area. And the finishing touch; handprints in the new sidewalk!

This project was a commercial law office that needed staircases to service the two floors. We designed these stairs with a lot of influence from the client as they liked the industrial look with exposed steel. We stuck with a minimalistic design which included grip tread at the top and a solid looking balustrade. One of the staircases is U-shaped, two of the stairs are L-shaped and one is a straight staircase. One of the biggest obstacles was accessing the space, so we had to roll everything around on flat ground and lift up with a spider crane. This meant we worked closely alongside the builders onsite to tackle any hurdles.

Art Deco Inspired Glass Bathroom. Bold black glass, with a simple designer Bathroom suite. Glass is the perfect alternative to tiles. Modern, easy clean and completely customisable it has many advantages. It is possible to choose any colour or design, creating something completely unique. The versatility of glass means that it can be shaped around any obstacle, including bathroom fittings. At DIY Splashbacks we can create bespoke glass products in any size, shape, colour, pattern or image. It's even possible for clients to provide their own image, and we can digitally print on to it. Whatever your inspiration is, we can make it. Visit our website to discover more. © glasssplashbacks.com

This project entailed updating a finished basement and boys' playroom that was underutilized and contained many design obstacles from lolly columns to mechanical equipment. The client wanted the space to blend with the eclectic old style of the rest of her home, and also wanted to incorporate a couple of existing custom millwork pieces. With three boys, all with varying interests from art to toy collections, the client needed this space to cater to their hobbies. Ultimately the clients received exactly what they wanted- a multifunctional space that all could enjoy that can only be defined as breathtaking. Photography: Maryland Photography Inc.

Minimalist kitchen photo in Boston

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.

The grand opening of Eagle Rock Dog Park in May of 2019 was long awaited by members of the Eagle Rock community. With so many members of the community being dog owners, they wanted a nice place where they could take their dogs for some exercise and play time. The city of Los Angeles appointed the talented Craig Raines as the architect on the project, and ForeverLawn Pacific Coast was called in to install K9Grass® synthetic turf. In just four days, the team installed 8,500 square feet of K9Grass Classic around several obstacles such as mounds, boulders, and a fallen tree. K9Grass Classic is a durable, low-maintenance product that’s ideal for a dog park. Now the city won’t have to worry about the park becoming smelly and unsightly or the dogs digging up holes.

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!

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.

XS residence is a living concept proposal for singles. The project is characterized by its L-shaped, elevated floor. The height differences on the floor as well as on the ceiling are the sole elements that define the space. The apartment is hence transparent, yet given the sense of rooms and corners. This former warehouse has existing pipes cutting through the interior at the entry where it resulted in stairs and undesirable, immediate climbs. By embracing the obstacle and extending it, the reading of the new, one bedroom apartment is as pure as lines (flows) and surfaces (spaces). The heart of the radial layout is a sunken gathering platform. This introvert space is embraced by the elevated floor, which serves as the extension of seating, The visitors thereby sit naturally facing each other and converse. The elevated outer ring is an active, fluid platform which receives visitors. At its height, the dinning guests have a great view toward the city skyline which is otherwise hindered. This space also creates a buffer to the exterior where neighbors pass by. The renovation removed the old flat ceiling, exposing the pitched roof structure to enhance the scale change of the space. The apartment is at its maximum height where activities and interactions take place and shrinks at the perimeter. It is an open layout with sense of spaces and intimacy.

This project entailed updating a finished basement and boys' playroom that was underutilized and contained many design obstacles from lolly columns to mechanical equipment. The client wanted the space to blend with the eclectic old style of the rest of her home, and also wanted to incorporate a couple of existing custom millwork pieces. With three boys, all with varying interests from art to toy collections, the client needed this space to cater to their hobbies. Ultimately the clients received exactly what they wanted- a multifunctional space that all could enjoy that can only be defined as breathtaking. Photography: Maryland Photography Inc.

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.