Pak Cheung This section is a new gable dormer that adds much-needed volume to this attic. The choice of paint color added bright and playful feel to the space. The challenge when adding a dormer is maintaining structural support of the ridge beam. In this case, given the age of the house, finding point loads to support the existing beam would have created unknown conditions and required renovation work on the first and basement levels. The engineer's solution was to create an A-frame girder (see the triangle shape on the top left of photo) supported on existing exterior bearing walls. The new gable dormer is tied into this girder. We installed new hardwood flooring throughout the space. Though the attic had two large existing skylights, to bring in more natural light we added two more skylights—one in the bathroom and one in the hallway. We also installed new recessed lights throughout the entire space and in the bathroom.

Transitional bathroom photo in New York

Photo by: Chad Holder
Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and cement tile backsplash

This site offered a pre-existing "drainage ditch" that was somewhat functional but quite unattractive. We widened it, added some curves, and used 4 sizes of stone to give it a more natural look. Photo by Jay Sifford.

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Photographer: Chris Bucher
Example of a classic backyard deck design in Indianapolis with decking and no cover

Pre-existing foundation plantings were removed and garden "rooms" were created. Each area features a focal point such as the armillary and fountain.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Atlanta.

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Tony Moody
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless guest carpeted bedroom remodel in Boise with green walls

The carefully executed renovation of the pool, terraced patio and pool house transformed the home’s exterior into a gracious resort-like retreat. The biggest challenge was the existing pool house, which would have been considered a tear-down by many contractors because of its water and mold issues. Thanks to BOWA’s skilled team the newly refinished and beautifully appointed space is now perfect for entertaining the homeowner’s extended family and friends in comfort. © Bob Narod Photography and BOWA

The carefully executed renovation of the pool, terraced patio and pool house transformed the home’s exterior into a gracious resort-like retreat. The biggest challenge was the existing pool house, which would have been considered a tear-down by many contractors because of its water and mold issues. Thanks to BOWA’s skilled team the newly refinished and beautifully appointed space is now perfect for entertaining the homeowner’s extended family and friends in comfort. © Bob Narod Photography and BOWA

This 1970’s Ranch was purchased by a young family with active boys and animals. Changes were needed in this home for the family to be comfortable. With a very limited budget, Obelisk Home was challenged to be creative but keep with the clients sensibilities. We painted paneling, painted trim in custom colors, and took the room to a new level. High gloss paint on brick added to a bright open feel. New art, lighting, furniture and accessories were brought in to work with existing furniture that was incorporated from the clients Oklahoma home. Old, dark and full becomes light, airy and cozy. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw

A former summer camp, this site came with a unique set of challenges. An existing 1200 square foot cabin was perched on the shore of Thorndike Pond, well within the current required setbacks. Three additional outbuildings were part of the property, each of them small and non-conforming. By limiting reconstruction to the existing footprints we were able to gain planning consent to rebuild each structure. A full second story added much needed space to the main house. Two of the outbuildings have been rebuilt to accommodate guests, maintaining the spirit of the original camp. Black stained exteriors help the buildings blend into the landscape. The project was a collaboration with Spazio Rosso Interior Design. Photographs by Sean Litchfield

Large master blue tile green floor wet room photo in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

The carefully executed renovation of the pool, terraced patio and pool house transformed the home’s exterior into a gracious resort-like retreat. The biggest challenge was the existing pool house, which would have been considered a tear-down by many contractors because of its water and mold issues. Thanks to BOWA’s skilled team the newly refinished and beautifully appointed space is now perfect for entertaining the homeowner’s extended family and friends in comfort. © Bob Narod Photography and BOWA

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A custom built vanity to resemble a piece of freestanding furniture and fit into a pre-existing niche.
Elegant bathroom photo in New York

The carefully executed renovation of the pool, terraced patio and pool house transformed the home’s exterior into a gracious resort-like retreat. The biggest challenge was the existing pool house, which would have been considered a tear-down by many contractors because of its water and mold issues. Thanks to BOWA’s skilled team the newly refinished and beautifully appointed space is now perfect for entertaining the homeowner’s extended family and friends in comfort. © Bob Narod Photography and BOWA