This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2016 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic patio remodel in San Francisco

The Setup: After purchasing this home, the homeowners faced a unique opportunity to reimagine their kitchen and nearby spaces. Water damage from a burst pipe had left much of the home’s interior in need of repair, and while the existing kitchen was functional and in relatively good shape, it didn’t align with the family’s vision for their new home. The layout included a peninsula that wasn’t ideal, and there were some druthers with the nearby pantry. Since the space needed to be rebuilt anyway, the homeowners saw this as a chance to create a kitchen that was both highly functional for their four young children and timeless in its design. The project also included a refresh of the adjacent message center and dining room — spaces that play key roles in the family’s daily life. The goal was to create a cohesive flow between these areas, balancing modern functionality with the craftsman-inspired character of the rest of the home. Design Objectives: - Replace the outdated peninsula with a large island to maximize counter space and create new seating options. - Open up the space visually by removing soffits and rethinking the cabinetry layout. Incorporate concealed refrigeration and freezer units to provide significant storage for the family while maintaining a streamlined aesthetic. - Integrate black cabinetry into the design without making the space feel harsh or heavy. - Ensure the lighting plan balances functional task lighting with ambient accent lighting. - Avoid visual clutter in the cabinetry design while still giving a nod to the craftsman aesthetic. - Incorporate a slab backsplash as a key design feature. Design Challenges: - The outdated peninsula left dead space in the kitchen and lacked sufficient seating for the family. - The cooktop wall was cramped, with small cabinets flanking the hood, limited storage, and soffits that made the space feel closed-in. - The family needed significant refrigeration space (two refrigerators and a freezer) but wanted to avoid a cluttered look with visible stainless steel appliances. - Adding black cabinetry risked making the space feel too dark or heavy. - The original lighting plan was insufficient, particularly over the dining table where a decorative fixture proved too dim. - The family wanted shaker-style drawer fronts to match the home’s arts-and-crafts design but worried that too much shaker cabinetry might look overly busy. - Prioritizing a slab backsplash in the wish list priority planning. The Renewed Space Design Solutions: - A functional island: The peninsula was replaced with a large island that provides continuous countertop space for prepping and serving. The island also features seating for four people, creating a central hub for informal meals and activities. - Streamlined cooktop wall: The soffits were removed, and the upper cabinets on the cooktop wall were eliminated to create a more open, streamlined design. A custom oversized hood became the focal point of the wall, with the blower unit offset inside it to align with the cooktop while maintaining exterior visual symmetry. - Concealed refrigeration: Two column refrigerators and one freezer were integrated into the cabinetry, concealing them behind wood paneling that blends seamlessly with the overall design. - Warm black cabinetry: The black cabinetry was crafted from hickory with a visible grain, softening its appearance and adding warmth. The grain detail gives the cabinetry a rich, textured look that avoids feeling stark or overpowering. - Additional lighting: In the dining area, recessed can lights were added during an additional installation phase to supplement the gorgeous decorative fixture’s dim output. The new lighting plan creates a layered effect, combining functional task lighting with softer ambient lighting. - Simplified cabinetry details: Slab drawer fronts were used on the upper drawers, while five-piece shaker fronts (with slightly less prominent rail and stile pieces) were reserved for the middle and lower drawers. This approach simplified the overall look while maintaining the craftsman-inspired aesthetic. - Slab backsplash priority: The slab backsplash was prioritized by making thoughtful adjustments elsewhere, like opting not to extend cabinetry to the ceiling, which also helped visually prioritize the gorgeous slab backsplash. This decision also enhanced the kitchen’s furniture-like feel, aligning with the home’s craftsman character. - This kitchen perfectly balances practicality with timeless style. By addressing the family’s functional needs — ample seating, smart storage, and effective lighting — while incorporating thoughtful design elements like warm black cabinetry and a striking slab backsplash, Alicia created a space that works beautifully for a busy household. The result is a cohesive, inviting kitchen that honors the home’s craftsman roots and will serve the family well for years to come.

Jesse Snyder
Inspiration for a large transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Unique pull out system ELLETIPI for waste separation, provided with metal sliders for total extraction. The containers are installed inside a polymer (PP) structure which is 100% recyclable, as are all its components. The top part of the object can be used as a Shelf to store objects and cleaning products, waste bags or any other object. A hatch with a flap allows you to dispose of small objects without having to pull out the whole container. It contains a bucket with a special anti-odor lid with a filter (washable cloth that can be regenerated many times using soap and water). You can install these bins in kitchen bases, specifically under the sink. Its installation on the bottom of the kitchen base with the 8 supplied self-tapping screws is easy and practical.

Jesse Snyder
Inspiration for a large transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Photography by Caryn B. Davis Located in the Cornfield Point area of Old Saybrook along Long Island Sound, this project brought a classic, yet forgotten beach house back to life. Through a little detective work and some creative ingenuity, we restored and enhanced the exterior to it’s former glory and transformed the interior to a highly efficient and functional home all the while uplifting its quaint cottage charm. On the exterior, we recreated a wonderful, airy front porch with cozy bench seats that look out to the water. The white cedar shingle siding is pre-bleached with a subtle flair at the bottom and a delicate break at mid-elevation. The asphalt shingles are not only beautifully matched with the siding, but offer superior reflective qualities to dissipate the heat of the summer sun. On the interior, we joined the front seasonal porch with the family room to form a larger, open living and dining space with paneled walls and ceilings anchored by the original round stone fireplace. In the rear, we carefully crafted a galley kitchen and laundry space with an adjacent first floor master suite. The diminutive house and property posed multiple practical and regulatory challenges which were overcome by a strong team effort, due diligence, and a commitment to the process. John R. Schroeder, AIA is a professional design firm specializing in architecture, interiors, and planning. We have over 30 years experience with projects of all types, sizes, and levels of complexity. Because we love what we do, we approach our work with enthusiasm and dedication. We are committed to the highest level of design and service on each and every project. We engage our clients in positive and rewarding collaborations. We strive to exceed expectations through our attention to detail, our understanding of the “big picture”, and our ability to effectively manage a team of design professionals, industry representatives, and building contractors. We carefully analyze budgets and project objectives to assist clients with wise fund allocation. We continually monitor and research advances in technology, materials, and construction methods, both sustainable and otherwise, to provide a responsible, well-suited, and cost effective product. Our design solutions are highly functional using both innovative and traditional approaches. Our aesthetic style is flexible and open, blending cues from client desires, building function, site context, and material properties, making each project unique, personalized, and enduring.

Want an HGTV Styled Room? Get an Accent Wall If you’re moving into a new apartment/home or you’re finally getting to that laundry list of renovations; here’s one statement piece that will set your place apart from the rest: an accent wall. An accent wall is simply a wall that features a color that's different from the rest of the walls. It could be a green wall along the sea of beige walls or a peach wall amongst a palette of white walls. It serves as an eye-opener for guests entering the room, delivering an upbeat, fresh tone in your house. Still need more convincing on why you need an accent wall? Here's a list of how accent walls are an absolute game-changer for your place: It gives your room personality. This rule is pretty straightforward. Add a bright or even neutral color to just one wall, and it will make any room pop. The key is to select colors that play up a specific area in your home. If you have a girl nursery room, you can paint one wall cotton candy pink to highlight the plush toys and brightly colored crib. To make your office space look more "official," emphasize your creative zone with a black, front-facing accent wall that shows off your flashy accessories and computers while giving you the perfect color to concentrate in. It modernizes your place without serious renovations. Since most homes typically have similarly painted walls and tones, and accent wall gives off a modern, almost futuristic vibe. Accent walls naturally draw in our eyes, and its color distinction causes objects in the room to take a unique form. Instead of budgeting funds for new furniture, hone in a cool bohemian look with a cinnamon brown accent wall. To play up the bohemian vibes, you can add wooden accessories like tables, picture frames, vases, or compliment the brown with some colorful green houseplants! Accent walls also work as an accessory. Living in a minimalist space? No problem! An accent wall with a bright, unique hue will doll up your area without you having to add more objects. A burnt orange accent wall is the perfect look for a living room space accompanied by a tall plant, rug, sofa, and coffee table. The burnt orange opens up the room, drawing all eyes to the playful contrast of the plant’s green against the orange while balancing the place out with a neutral rug and a wooden coffee table to play up earthy tones. People will think you spent all day decorating your room when in reality you only painted one wall. You can manipulate your room to look bigger or smaller. Accent walls have a science behind them depending on what color palette you select. If you’re rooming in a small space, to make it look bigger use bright colors like lemon yellow or French roses pink to make your room more reflective, maximizing all the natural light coming in. This will leave your room feeling open and breezy. On the contrast, if you are stuck with too much space, or want to minimize a corner as a small reading nook, use dark colors like seaweed green to absorb light and tighten up the space. Hopefully, this list was able to get you excited to kick-off your new (or next set) of accent walls. Feel free to marathon HGTV while you paint or wait for the painters to arrive. Stay tuned for future pieces on how to accentuate and best practices for painting!

A cozy and functional farmhouse kitchen with warm white cabinets and a rustic walnut island.
Mid-sized country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Innovative waste bins ELLETIPI, equipped with a patented mechanism for the automatic opening of the lids when opening the cabinet door. The lid opens and the bin is extracted when you open the cabinet door; the lid also closes automatically when the bin returns in the cabinet when you close the door, guaranteeing odor protection. This object is made of polymers, and the fitting and attachment components are filled and reinforced. This system was designed to be installed on the side of the cabinet and connected to the door (not compulsory). Its main objective is to be used internally in kitchen base cabinets, under the sink. Its installation is practical and rapid, thanks to the instructions that can be used as a drilling guide and the supplied 12 self-tapping screws.

This Paradise Valley stunner was a down-to-the-studs renovation. The owner, a successful business woman and owner of Bungalow Scottsdale -- a fabulous furnishings store, had a very clear vision. DW's mission was to re-imagine the 1970's solid block home into a modern and open place for a family of three. The house initially was very compartmentalized including lots of small rooms and too many doors to count. With a mantra of simplify, simplify, simplify, Architect CP Drewett began to look for the hidden order to craft a space that lived well. This residence is a Moroccan world of white topped with classic Morrish patterning and finished with the owner's fabulous taste. The kitchen was established as the home's center to facilitate the owner's heart and swagger for entertaining. The public spaces were reimagined with a focus on hospitality. Practicing great restraint with the architecture set the stage for the owner to showcase objects in space. Her fantastic collection includes a glass-top faux elephant tusk table from the set of the infamous 80's television series, Dallas. It was a joy to create, collaborate, and now celebrate this amazing home. Project Details: Architecture: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB; Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Interior Selections: Linda Criswell, Bungalow Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ Photography: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ Featured in: Phoenix Home and Garden, June 2015, "Eclectic Remodel", page 87.

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

This decorative pillow is artwork inspired from the famous modern artist Wassily Kandinsky. He believed that art could visually express music, and is credited for painting the first modern abstractions. Kandinsky was immensely inspired by the radiantly colorful and fanciful churches and homes of Russia. In Farbstudie Quadrate, modern throw pillow, color and rhythm make beautiful music together and the artisans of Kashmir have crafted this beautiful accent pillow cover from this abstraction. A close-up view of this abstract pillow cover allows you to see the amazing chain-stitch embroidery work of master artisans who have practiced this art their entire lives.This decorative pillow cover could grace the cabin of your boat or the chair in your solarium and yet be equally as comfortable in your den. Composition: 70% Wool, 30% Cotton Size: 13 x 21 (33cm x 53cm) Backing: Canvas (See Last Picture) Pillow Insert not Included (Only Cover is on Sale) Hand embroidered in Village Cottage Units A close-up view of this abstract pillow cover allows you to see the amazing chain-stitch embroidery work of master artisans who have practiced this art their entire lives.This abstract decorative pillow cover could grace the cabin of your boat or the chair in your solarium and yet be equally as comfortable in your den. The eye-popping color and pattern of this modern throw pillow is just what the designer ordered to create a fiery focal point in your decor. Perfect wherever you need a splash of color, this art work pillow creation is as durable as it is beautiful. Easy to care for, this cushion cover could spark up an old throw pillow or grace a new pillow form. Kandinsky conveyed profound spirituality and inner human emotion through a visual language of abstract forms and colors that transcended cultural and physical boundaries. He used interrelation between color and form to create an aesthetic experience that engaged the sight, sound, and emotions of the viewer. Kandinsky viewed music as the most transcendent form of non-objective art musicians could evoke images in listeners‚ minds merely with sounds. He crafted spiritually rich paintings that alluded to sounds and emotions through sensations. Modern Artist Wassily Kandinsky used the form of concentric circles to portray the soul. Rendered here as chain stitch embroidery in art silk, this cushion cover can create a new personality for any room in which you choose to use it.

It's known as the PISA/TIMSS voyaging convoy. Every time worldwide tests results are discharged with association tables indicating champs and failures a gaggle of scientists, scholastics and grouped kindred explorers plummet on the most astounding performing nation or instruction framework to break down and write about "world's best practice". The objective continues evolving One issue with thusly of deduction is that nobody framework reliably beats the rest. In light of the 1995 and 1999 TIMSS (Trends in International Math and Science Study) results, Asian instruction frameworks in Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan overwhelmed. Accordingly, the emphasis was immovably on recognizing the reasons the Asian tigers were performing so well. In the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) 2000 results, Finland positioned first in education, fourth in arithmetic and third in science. Finland became the overwhelming focus and specialists and scholastics ran to Helsinki to find the reasons Finnish understudies performed at or close to the highest point of the table. By 2012, at the end of the day, an alternate training framework turned into the focal point of consideration. Finland descended the PISA rankings as another champ, Shanghai, rose as first in arithmetic, science and perusing. Apples aren't being contrasted with apples A second issue when making correlations is that the spots we've recognized as examples of overcoming adversity are distinctive to Australia. City-states like Singapore and instruction frameworks in profoundly performing spots like Hong Kong and Shanghai have remarkable qualities that separate them from nations like Australia, England and the USA. Contrasts in topography, the quantities of understudies and schools, the understudy cosmetics (as far as dialect, society and financial profile) and how schools, including educational modules and appraisal, are organized and oversaw significantly affect results. Singapore, when contrasted with Australia, is little topographically, more homogenous as far as dialect and culture and utilizes instructive practices that have long been out of support in Australia. These incorporate gushing kids in view of their abilities, and high-chance, focused tests and examinations. As noted in a paper titled How not to prevail upon PISA information: an unexpected examination, there are additionally social components clarifying solid execution that are troublesome, if not unimaginable, to exchange starting with one instruction framework then onto the next. Evident cases incorporate the effect of Confucian qualities and morals that stretch appreciation for power (particularly instructors), the conviction that achievement is conceivable with inspiration, fixation and diligent work, and the thought that training is focal if one is to accomplish a superior life. Confounding circumstances and end results Befuddling what has driven these nations to achievement speaks to the third trouble in expecting that what seems to prompt accomplishment in one nation can without much of a stretch be exchanged to another. To expect that everything we need to do in Australia to enhance test outcomes is to lessen the impact of the Australian Education Union, while being appealing to some, is both undemocratic and blameworthy of accepting circumstances and end results. There are a few advantages of abroad correlations PISA and TIMSS tests have been held for a long time. Thus, there is a decent arrangement of examination recognizing the attributes of more grounded performing instruction frameworks from which states and domains can learn. The early ethnographic work recording Japanese and American classes nitty gritty in Harvard distribution The Teaching Gap uncovers how the lessons in Asian classrooms are more unequivocal, obviously organized and sound and there is a desire that all understudies, with the essential offer and applications, some assistance with canning succeed. A later distribution by the Grattan Institute, Catching up: gaining from the best educational systems in East Asia, likewise distinguishes imperative lessons from fruitful Asian instruction frameworks. Positive variables incorporate giving instructors more opportunity to work cooperatively and to tutor each other, guaranteeing that educator training, course readings and the educational modules are commonly steady and concentrate on enhancing classroom rehearse. It ought to additionally be noticed that while Australian understudies don't perform in the top level in PISA and TIMSS tests, there is some reason for festivity. Understudies in the Australian Capital Territory perform well over the Australian normal and frequently coordinate the execution of top-performing abroad instruction frameworks. As far as lifting the execution of understudies from distraught foundations it is additionally critical to take note of that Catholic schools, in light of an investigation of the 2009 PISA results completed by the Australian Council for Educational Research, accomplish a value rating surpassing that of Finland. About the Author: Amy Parker writes too many academic papers for people who have troubles with it. She always gives needed advices, shows the examples of the papers and helps with writing at http://papersnetwork.net

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.