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 The architects’ main challenge was how to alter the design that reflected an outdated philosophical approach to architecture that was nearly a decade old.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.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Outdoor Living Features Contractor: Artisan Exteriors Producer: CST Pavers Designer: Joey Hafner Design: Slate pavers, in a rich Sierra Blend, coupled with Versa-Lok Standard wall units to create multiple outdoor living spaces; masterfully meeting the entertainment requirements of the homeowner. Pavers and wall units, through use of color and texture, provided both definition and an effortless flow – creating a true outdoor oasis. Quality of Construction and Craftsmanship: Expert workmanship is showcased in the precise paver and wall integration with the pool, spa and outdoor living features. Having a large entertainment space was a must for the homeowners, so the team carved out elevated areas to separate spaces for the pool deck, stage, spa and outdoor kitchen. Compatibility with Related Construction Materials and Systems: The pool and coping were in great condition but the existing aggregate concrete pool deck was dangerously damaged. Paver and wall units were selected to replace, complement and expand the outdoor living space. Curved steps, coming off the home’s morning room, were added for visual integration and a welcoming element. Construction Innovation: Vents and basement windows provided several obstacles to construction. To accommodate, designers opted to incorporate a raised patio on a pressure treated lumber frame and utilize the Silca System. To capitalize on the elevation, a portable spa was incorporated into the raised patio. Overall Excellence: What began as a refurbishment of an existing swimming pool; evolved into a total backyard transformation. Slate pavers and Versa-Lok wall units helped create an outdoor paradise for family and entertainment use with a new pool deck, raised fire pit, raised stage to host musicians, outdoor kitchen and more.

The Williams Master Bathroom is one of our favorite bathroom renovations. We can’t get over how gorgeous this bathroom came out! How can you not walk into this bathroom and smile?! The bright teal subway tile totally transformed this space. Many obstacles on this project were avoided due to our well-experienced renovation team. We provided these clients with a custom vanity and linen closet, new shower, elevated tub platform with a freestanding tub, vertical running subway tile, and marble floor tile to brighten up this once peach builder’s grade bathroom.

Our recently married Clients contacted us regarding a kitchen remodel. They were envisioning changing their future home from the house the wife grew up in for 10 years to one they could call their own. Their first project, the kitchen, needed major updating and re-design to allow better flow for everyday use. Another primary goal was removal of the wall between the kitchen and family room, in order to create a better flow for entertaining purposes. After speaking with several other contractors, they had concerns as to the possibility of the bearing wall being removed, including the mechanical and plumbing obstacles.

Located on a steep hill above downtown Ventura, this modern Spanish house features panoramic views of town with the ocean and Channel Islands beyond. While the views are amazing from a large front deck, the steep slope presented some constraints on the landscape design. Although the property is about a third-of-an-acre, the only useable and open garden space is a small (about 500 square feet) area to the West of the house. The house sits at the back of the property, and another steep hill on the neighboring property behind is held back by a tall retaining wall, leaving just enough room for a narrow, hardscaped patio in the back yard. Bright plantings along the back of the property delineate the home from the neighboring property, and we chose plantings to help stabilize the soil and further develop the Spanish garden look while creating a lush, inviting feel. Additionally, we added 52 pieces of pottery to soften and add interest to the back garden and patio areas. Succulents, herbs, and California natives fill the pottery along with bright, sweet-smelling, tropical-looking, and climate-appropriate plants. Slope stabilization was paramount for the front hill. Beyond that, finding plants that would thrive on the steep slope was the next obstacle. Finally, the aesthetics could be addressed, and we worked to find plants that meshed with the architecture—blending plants with white and orange to play off the red-tiled roofs and white-plastered walls that are emblematic of the Spanish style of this house as well as the predominate style of the neighborhood. The flattish area to the West was designed with the idea of creating a contemporary take on the parterre garden. Reminiscent of Mediterranean gardens, this vegetable and herb garden substitutes formal hedges with formal Corten steel planters to honor the modern Spanish architecture of the house. The citrus, herbs, and vegetables serve the foodie clients well.

A unique West Coast Modern design by Etienne de Villiers located near Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Featuring Douglas Fir glulam timberframe, this home is modern, yet comfortable and warm - signature traits of a West Coast Contemporary design. Located on a high ridge of Denman Island, the design emulates a bridge with the master suite and living areas on one side, the guest rooms and amenities on the other and a bridge structure housing the main living area and kitchen. This glorious home captures the best elements of West Coast living with 360 views of the forest, ocean and Beaufort Mountain range across Baynes sound. We built this home on an island with ferry access, so detailed pre-planning was imperative. Our crew pre-cut and test fitted all of the members in our shop for an easy installation on-site, which made for a very smooth construction process.

Property maintenance includes mowing the 16-acre property with precise lines, line trimming around all walkways and obstacles (fences, trees, utility boxes, etc.), weeding beds, picking up sticks and blowing debris off all hard surfaces. In 2022, the property received a Silver Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals for excellence in Residential Landscape Management.

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.

It was time to replace/repair the exterior siding on this three story modern view home. The homeowners wanted a modern, unique look with low maintenance. We found three products, normally used for commercial applications that the homeowners loved. New custom gutters, Andersen windows and custom garage doors were installed. The biggest obstacle on this project was the elevation 56 steps. A new larger walkway was built with an upgraded railing. New structural concrete stairs were poured. A new roof, new exterior lights and a new front door completed the project.

Building this traditional-contemporary blend custom wine cellar in a residential home in San Juan Capistrano, California, was not an easy task. We encountered many obstacles. However, we were able to overcome them. This lovely wine room measures 13.5’ x 9.5’ x 7’. The wine racks were constructed from Alder, which is a beautiful wood species. We combined different racking styles. The total capacity of the wine cellar is 1,598 bottles. Learn more about this project: https://www.winecellarsbycoastal.com/building-contemporary-custom-wine-cellar-for-basement-in-residential-home.aspx Coastal Custom Wine Cellars 8 Waltham Rd. Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 (949) 200-8134 Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WineCellarsByC

I met Kelly & Wally when I moved to the shore many moons ago and we instantly clicked. She gave me full reign on design, so I modeled her new kitchen off of her personality…fun & glamorous with a splash of the unexpected. During the reno she became a proud grandmother, hence “Glammy”. We couldn’t stop there, we also gutted her hall bath, what an upgrade. The biggest obstacle was an “L” shaped wall, so Overholt Contracting said no problem, we’ll get rid of the walls! Then we tore out both pantries to flank her new Thermador® appliances, while keeping her walk in pantry under the stairs. The stairs also got a facelift with beautiful new cable rail. From the Cambria® single slab island counter to the Waterstone® “Super Soaker 4000” she truly has it all. All the doggies love their new space as well.

This super compact master bath features maple cabinetry with lots of custom storage details. There is a tilt-out at the sink and a 4" high pull out tray under the sink. The specially designed medicine cabinet has multiple individual interior compartments all at different sizes and depths to work around the myriad plumbing and framing impediments within the wall. At installation, the medicine cabinet slid into the wall around all of these obstacles. The cabinet protrudes slightly from the wall, giving the owners additional coveted storage space and as well as space to install under cabinet lighting. An additional valet cabinet with an open shelf over the commode provides additional storage and the interior was also custom designed and built to accommodate impediments within the wall. Minimalist decorative hardware tabs completes the look. Photo by: Jason Jasienowski

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.