Search results for "Problem solving" in Home Design Ideas

Problem: Homeowners had a leak in their smelly, damp basement
Solution: Problem solved... and fresh, beautiful living spaces were created!
"The homeowners called us to fix a leak in their basement... which turned out to be a backed up drain, caused by a crack in an obsolete drain tile, and two leaks in their foundation... it sort of snowballed," says Bryan Ogle, owner of Ogle Construction and Maintenance Services.
With small children in the home, the couple decided to invest in solving the problem with a long-
term solution. They wanted to make the basement safe and comfortable for their young family.
After the drain tile was fixed, the entire area was reinsulated, and finished with new sheetrock, trim, carpet and lighting. The electrical system was updated and a new laundry room (with loads of storage), bedroom and family room were created in the space. What was once a damp, smelly basement (with a dehumidifier running constantly) is now a fresh, clean living space for the family to enjoy.

In the dining room we carried through the statement fabric for the custom made valence that was used in the living room. We used simple sheers on the bottom section of the window as a cost saving measure as shades were not needed here.

ROOM WITH A VIEW. Warm woods define the adjacent dining and living areas with coordinating teak cabinetry and dark hardwood flooring. The kitchen’s porcelain floor tile doubles as cladding for the half-wall beneath the island bar. Simple window treatments and coordinated lighting brighten the space in day and night.
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Recycled materials create a facade on the front of a greenhouse converted into a screenhouse -- where vegetables can be grown unmolested. Photo by Jane Gates

Inspiration for a huge timeless beige two-story stone exterior home remodel in Other with a clipped gable roof

Regina Karpan - designer
Elegant u-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances
Elegant u-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Discover the heart of this stunning mid-century modern home – a meticulously designed kitchen that seamlessly blends style and functionality. This mid-century modern kitchen features two expansive islands, zellige-tiled support beams, brass accents, and luxurious marble countertops. The exquisite marble veining extends up the wall, creating a floating shelf for practical storage and décor. Warm wood tones in architectural details and a sleek metal hood beautifully complement the design. The second island offers casual dining with elegant black metal stools, uniting the kitchen and living areas. This kitchen is a testament to creative problem-solving and the seamless fusion of style and function.

Discover the heart of this stunning mid-century modern home – a meticulously designed kitchen that seamlessly blends style and functionality. This mid-century modern kitchen features two expansive islands, zellige-tiled support beams, brass accents, and luxurious marble countertops. The exquisite marble veining extends up the wall, creating a floating shelf for practical storage and décor. Warm wood tones in architectural details and a sleek metal hood beautifully complement the design. The second island offers casual dining with elegant black metal stools, uniting the kitchen and living areas. This kitchen is a testament to creative problem-solving and the seamless fusion of style and function.

The ornamental grasses at the front door accent the Mission style architecture of this home. The owner enjoys how they dance with the slightest breeze so we don't prune them back until early spring when they are ready to resprout again. All plants here are drought tolerant and very low maintenance. Why plant drought tolerant plants in a landscape that has drainage problems? Well, Atlanta always seems to be too rainy or too dry. We've solved both problems on this site.
Photographer: Danna Cain, Home & Garden Design, Inc.

Regina Karpan - designer
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Aaron Dougherty Photography
Mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Dallas with gray walls and no fireplace
Mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Dallas with gray walls and no fireplace

The owners of this true mid-century ranch in Wheaton were ready for a kitchen update. The home’s main living room area is decorated in a very cool, sparse way with plenty of nods to mid-century design. A new kitchen would need to bridge classic and modern notions of Mid-Century expression through the style’s characteristic clean lines and artistic notions of simplicity and straightforward functionality.
The idea was to keep a hint of mid-century influence in a modern design that could somehow be more open while accommodating more storage
The objectives were:
• Stay within the existing space while creating an open feel and winning more storage room
• Make the space brighter while using a darker cabinet finish
• Create proper ventilation for the range
Design challenges we solved for:
• Open the kitchen to the adjacent dining room without sacrificing storage
• Remove multiple layers of flooring to make the kitchen floor level with the rest of the house
• Match the new kitchen flooring to the flooring in nearby dining and living spaces
Problems solved. Here’s what we did:
• Took out soffits around the kitchen to allow for taller cabinets with more storage
• Added cabinet pull-outs that maximize under-cabinet storage space
• Used large cabinets in standard sizes
• Skipped cabinets on the window wall, opting for space- and light-friendly floating shelves
• Enhanced overall brightness with bright, white counters and textured white tile that offered a connecting contrast to the darker woodgrain cabinets
• Took out a post between the kitchen and dining room to make the space feel more open
• Added under-cabinet lights – unobtrusive and handy for task lighting
The owners love the look, feel and functionality of their new kitchen. Its sleek, modern character and notions of mid-century spirit add new excitement to the home’s original 1958 personality.

The goal of this master suite remodel was to design a luxurious yet simple environment that was not only beautiful but also comfortable, and designer Lori Wiles brought the transformation to life.
The remodel was a transformation of the unused storage area in the bottom level of the clients’ home. Wiles' creative problem solving did more than just hide basement remodel problems like low ductwork and poorly located pipes. Instead, these obstacles served as a source of inspiration for some of the most interesting aspects of her design, such as the angular wood-paneled headboard wall with built-in nightstands.
Following a stone, fire, water, and wood theme, the materials used in this master suite strongly relate to nature. Water flows to the tub from the stone accent wall in the bathroom, and an opposing stone wall in the bedroom creates a dramatic backdrop for a seating area. Both walls contain candle-filled niches and Cherry wood is employed throughout, creating warmth and continuity.
To further achieve the natural look and feel of the bathroom, Wiles incorporated a variety of stones. The shower and immediate area around the freestanding tub feature pebble accent flooring that complement the surrounding large, rectangular tile floors. Eldorado Stone’s Black River Stacked Stone was chosen because it offered different textures and dimensions of the black, rugged, stacked stone, resulting in an organic environment that provides relief from the flat surfaces.
By using quality materials such as Eldorado Stone, designer Lori Wiles was able to create a zen-like space that exceeded her client’s expectations.
Eldorado Stone Profile Featured: Black River Stacked Stone installed with a Dry-Stack grout technique
Designer: Lori Wiles Design
Website: www.loriwilesdesign.com
Phone: (319) 310-6214
Contact Lori Wiles Design
Houzz: www.houzz.com/pro/loriwiles/lori-wiles-design
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-Wiles-Design
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/loriwilesdesign/
Photography: Lori Wiles Design
Mason: Iowa Stone Supply
Website: www.iowastonesupply.com
Phone: (319) 533-4299
Contact Iowa Stone Supply
Eastern Iowa Showroom (Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00 or by appointment)
1530 Stamy Road
Hiawatha, IA 52233
Central Iowa Showroom (by appointment)
2913 99th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Iowa-Stone-Supply

CONTACT
These home owners initially contacted their Designer to identify the reason that the floor in their upstairs bedroom suffered from a noticeable slant. The floor problem actually impacted a small bathroom and adjoining study also.
Early on, the decision was made to re-design the footprint for the 3 rooms in conjunction with repairing the uneven floor. The approach was to gut all three spaces of walls and floors and start from scratch. The new spaces were designed with the clients needs for accessibility in mind.
DESIGN
The design effort included identifying the products to be used throughout the spaces. This included everything from the flooring to the wall paint. Kohler plumbing fixtures and Adelphi cabinetry were decided on first. A radiant heat grid was included for the bathroom floor. Lighting, paint and tile soon followed. Wood flooring was installed throughout the adjoining spaces.
The master bedroom was redesigned to allow for entry from the study or the master bath via pocket doors. The study was given an access to the master bath also. The hardwood flooring ties the bedroom and study together and gives each room a very spacious feel. The original master bedroom was changed to incorporate a large walk-in closet that features custom storage throughout. The study that also doubles as the IT center for the home was updated with custom book cases and cabinetry from Adelphi Cabinets.
When discussing the reapportioning of the entire space for the individual rooms the bathroom was given priority. The previous small bathroom did not include a window for natural light. The new design corrected that in a big way by incorporating an existing bedroom window into the new space. The decision was made early on to allow for the inclusion of a large shower with full granite walls and custom plate glass surround. The shower system includes both fixed and hand held shower heads. A thermostatic control system was included to eliminate scalding. A large bench seat of matching granite allows for relaxing while getting squeaky clean. A separate air massage tub from Kohler centered under the new windows allows for a relaxed moment while being caressed by all those tiny bubbles. His and her side by side vanity sinks allows for efficient use of the space. The Caxton sinks and coordinated toilet were selected to match the color of the tub and do so beautifully!
CONSTRUCTION
We started the project not knowing what we were going to find. The slanting floor upstairs was not evident in the ceiling of the first floor
Once the demolition had been completed it was evident that the floor joists were at the heart of the problem. The home had been framed with floor joists that had been strung together to increase their length. Over time and with the house settling, the strung together joists started to droop from their connection point. This was concealed on the first floor by a large HVAC duct running through the garage. This was corrected by the addition of two laminated beams in the ceiling of the first floor (luckily in the garage) that re-supported the offending joists.
THE END
The project was a huge success in terms of problem solving and designing with budget and time frame in mind. The overall impact of the new space is impressive both visually and from a practicality point of view. The new master suite with upscale bathroom and study adds significant value to the home and the home owners quality of life!

The owners of this true mid-century ranch in Wheaton were ready for a kitchen update. The home’s main living room area is decorated in a very cool, sparse way with plenty of nods to mid-century design. A new kitchen would need to bridge classic and modern notions of Mid-Century expression through the style’s characteristic clean lines and artistic notions of simplicity and straightforward functionality.
The idea was to keep a hint of mid-century influence in a modern design that could somehow be more open while accommodating more storage
The objectives were:
• Stay within the existing space while creating an open feel and winning more storage room
• Make the space brighter while using a darker cabinet finish
• Create proper ventilation for the range
Design challenges we solved for:
• Open the kitchen to the adjacent dining room without sacrificing storage
• Remove multiple layers of flooring to make the kitchen floor level with the rest of the house
• Match the new kitchen flooring to the flooring in nearby dining and living spaces
Problems solved. Here’s what we did:
• Took out soffits around the kitchen to allow for taller cabinets with more storage
• Added cabinet pull-outs that maximize under-cabinet storage space
• Used large cabinets in standard sizes
• Skipped cabinets on the window wall, opting for space- and light-friendly floating shelves
• Enhanced overall brightness with bright, white counters and textured white tile that offered a connecting contrast to the darker woodgrain cabinets
• Took out a post between the kitchen and dining room to make the space feel more open
• Added under-cabinet lights – unobtrusive and handy for task lighting
The owners love the look, feel and functionality of their new kitchen. Its sleek, modern character and notions of mid-century spirit add new excitement to the home’s original 1958 personality.

Problem: Homeowners had a leak in their smelly, damp basement
Solution: Problem solved... and fresh, beautiful living spaces were created!
"The homeowners called us to fix a leak in their basement... which turned out to be a backed up drain, caused by a crack in an obsolete drain tile, and two leaks in their foundation... it sort of snowballed," says Bryan Ogle, owner of Ogle Construction and Maintenance Services.
With small children in the home, the couple decided to invest in solving the problem with a long-
term solution. They wanted to make the basement safe and comfortable for their young family.
After the drain tile was fixed, the entire area was reinsulated, and finished with new sheetrock, trim, carpet and lighting. The electrical system was updated and a new laundry room (with loads of storage), bedroom and family room were created in the space. What was once a damp, smelly basement (with a dehumidifier running constantly) is now a fresh, clean living space for the family to enjoy.

The client's favorite colors of light blue, red and pink were used to created a lovely fresh and traditional living room. The colors were carefully selected to complement her existing oriental rugs and quilts.

The furniture was timeless and of high quality so we chose to reupholster everything in fresh yet traditional fabrics to complement her collection of oriental carpets and Americana quilts.

Custom Home theater, accoustic panels with indirect LED lighting on walls. Photo by :Francois Desaulniers
Trendy enclosed carpeted home theater photo in Los Angeles with a projector screen
Trendy enclosed carpeted home theater photo in Los Angeles with a projector screen
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