West Des Moines two story homes create challenges for homeowners with layouts including small rooms that don’t seem to flow together. The family that lives in this home found that entertaining and gathering in the kitchen was almost impossible with the current layout and asked for an addition to solve the problem. After listening to the challenges of that they faced and working with the homeowners, a new solution emerged without an addition, reducing the overall budget and allowing the whole main floor to be updated. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dinning room, the team was able to design an island for family and friends to congregate around. Then by flanking the island with a large commercial range surrounded by a custom backsplash and custom hood a picture perfect kitchen was born. Lastly by repeating elements within the range hood, island and fireplace, the team was able to create unity throughout the space. This visually makes the space feel larger and feels like the addition was built

Another critical (or crittercal) space saving feature solved another problem - where to put the dog food bowls! Without this, there is no place for them. The drawer on the right has a bin that holds 50# of dog food in an airtight container, the drawer with the bowls has storage underneath for dog bones, towels, etc. I built all this but had some help from Mark Edmundson of Edmundson Fine Woodworking and James Cherry Wood Repurposing. Mark glued up the tabletop and created the joinery for the breadboard end, James sanded the table and bench parts with his timesaver. The bench on the right is engaged into the end of the pantry cabinet, this allowed both benches to be the same length

Large West Chester PA Master bath remodel. The clients wanted more storage, his and hers vanities, and no tub. A linen closet, plenty of drawers, and additional cabinetry storage were designed to solve that problem. Fieldstone cabinetry in the Moss Green painted finish really looks sharp. The floor was tiled in large 4’x4’ tiles for a clean look with minimal grout lines. The wainscoting and shower tile were also simple large tiles in a natural tone that tie in nicely with the beautiful granite countertops and shower wall caps. New trims, louvered toilet room and pocket entry door were added and stained to match the original trim throughout the home. ( Perfect match by our finisher ) Frameless glass shower surround, new lighted vanity mirrors, and additional recessed ceiling lights finish out the new look. Another awesome bathroom with happy clients.

MELA is available in the WHITE, LIGHT OAK, LIGHT WALNUT, BROWN, EGGPLANT, GREY OAK, RED, LARIX, BUTTER, COFFEE and CREAM versions. A young kitchen in performing, suitable even for the most demanding clientele for it was created to solve any problems in use and composition. There are various functional wall hung Accessories and internal equipment. A wide range of tables and chairs is also available to personalised your own kitchen.

The curves of the original garden have been emphasized by the creekbed and flower beds. The drainage problem has been solved with not just ingenuity but additional beauty. The statue of a faun--a minor woodland deity--caps off our project.

This hillside home in Piedmont, CA was remodeled to change the style from a 1940's rancher with eight foot ceilings and dark interiors, into a modern geometric composition with vast white interiors for casual living and generous daylighting for displaying the artist-owner's works. In a city known for rigorous and difficult design review, an addition, two variances, and a full stylistic change were unanimously approved on the first round. All sloped roofs and attics were eliminated and replaced by a series of stacked and overlapping flat roofs. This made the house taller on the inside and shorter on the outside, which helped earn design review cooperation in the community. Windows were concentrated toward the rear yard views or moved up high on the side walls for daylight and privacy, benefitting the owners as well as the neighbors. At the start, the owner husband was so enthusiastic and engaged in transforming his house into something modern that he presented the architect with a scaled foamcore model, rather than the usual magazine clippings and wish list. He participated in the design decisions throughout the process. The owner wife is the artist who did all the artwork in the house. She had been craving a display space with large walls and good natural light. Both of them loved the location and great views. The project was an opportunity to transform the style of an older traditional home into a modern one, while solving numerous problems. By rebuilding the 1800 ft2 top of the 3-story home it was possible to change the style of the whole building, since the lower floors were a neutral base, and also to change the lifestyle of the owners, who wanted to move their master suite upstairs and live primarily on the top floor as empty nesters. Going into the project, the architect knew there were multiple encroachments into the setbacks and potential privacy issues with close by neighbors. He approached this as a complex puzzle made up of architectural and political pieces which all had to fit together elegantly. It took many careful moves, small and large, to arrive at a serene and cohesive result that tied old and new together seamlessly. The design-build contractor worked closely with the owners and handled all of the construction phase documents and design adjustments, adding ideas of their own to make the project really sing. The project was a collaboration in three acts. The owner had a strong design concept from the start. The architect developed it into a realistic project and garnered the design approvals. Then the contractor executed brilliantly

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the building was erected on a shallow commercial lot between two 120 year old masonry buildings and a new residential rental building. 330 Grand Street is a mix of 725 SF 1BRs and 1050 SF 2BR apartments. It also contains a 1100 SF two story duplex as well as private and public rooftop space, large private balconies for most units and two large private terraces for the ground floor units. 330 Grand Street was originally designed and approved at the NYC DOB as a prefabricated modular building. During the pandemic, as shipping costs skyrocketed putting the project at risk, we suggested redesigning the building as a reinforced cast-in-place concrete structure. Concrete was readily available and prices had not been affected by the demand increase that many other materials suffered in the pandemic. We took this opportunity to raise floor to ceiling heights, enlarge high performance windows and redistribute the buildings MEPFS and Structural Systems to create very open floor plans. The challenge was to create a luxurious sensorial living experience with very limited means. In a city with very high construction costs, low cost residential buildings in the area are usually devoid of good quality, design and character. Our approach was to aim high for the end user, prioritizing natural light, open space with long visual perspectives, high ceilings and as always, rejecting the use of predefined building templates. Our biggest challenge was to ensure that the small spaces feel as clean cut, large and bright as possible. Several unique design decisions were made to ensure low cost and high quality; Floor plans were laid out so that spaces were wide open and free of clutter from mechanical or structural interruptions. Therefore all infrastructure was placed in lateral demising walls, which in turn act as the unit’s storage and kitchen. The apartments feel wide open, are super quiet and have more storage space than any other comparable apartment in the city. To solve the problem of the site’s shallow commercial lot which is typically prone to dark interior spaces we focused our attention on the building’s envelope. Instead of the usual small punched window openings, oversized high performance windows were designed to ensure that light penetrated as far as possible into the units. In the smaller 1BR units, the full 50’ depth of the lot is perceived by partitioning spaces with sliding pocket doors that can be retracted to allow deep visual perspectives, making the sight lines in the space feel longer, larger, more ample than normal. In addition to the full height glazing, each unit above the 2nd floor receives a 7 foot covered balcony, adding 120 to 240 sf to each apartment, something unusual in New York City buildings. The space is large enough for a full size dining table, when the weather permits being outside. We also worked hard to ensure modularity. For example, all kitchen units are all identical throughout the building. The idea of modularity and the economy of the repetitive unit is exercised to the maximum through the building. Hardware, appliances, flooring, wall coverings and material finishes are all carefully selected to feel bespoke, high quality and unique. It was important to KURV that the result of this work manifest into something that would deeply connect with the end user and sustain relationships with the consumers of this space. All images by KURV Architecture ©

As code begins to require tighter and tighter houses we are locked in with chemicals that are used to build, decorate, furnish and clean our homes. This project was a stab at solving this significant health problem. Here are some key features that helped us create this self-purifying master bathroom: - Air Purifying Paint - Air Filtering Plants as per NASA research (pots cut into stone countertops) - Low Energy indirect LED light strips - Low VOC materials used throughout including underlayment, glues & grout - Water-blown spray foam insulation Photography: Gil Jacobs

This hillside home in Piedmont, CA was remodeled to change the style from a 1940's rancher with eight foot ceilings and dark interiors, into a modern geometric composition with vast white interiors for casual living and generous daylighting for displaying the artist-owner's works. In a city known for rigorous and difficult design review, an addition, two variances, and a full stylistic change were unanimously approved on the first round. All sloped roofs and attics were eliminated and replaced by a series of stacked and overlapping flat roofs. This made the house taller on the inside and shorter on the outside, which helped earn design review cooperation in the community. Windows were concentrated toward the rear yard views or moved up high on the side walls for daylight and privacy, benefitting the owners as well as the neighbors. At the start, the owner husband was so enthusiastic and engaged in transforming his house into something modern that he presented the architect with a scaled foamcore model, rather than the usual magazine clippings and wish list. He participated in the design decisions throughout the process. The owner wife is the artist who did all the artwork in the house. She had been craving a display space with large walls and good natural light. Both of them loved the location and great views. The project was an opportunity to transform the style of an older traditional home into a modern one, while solving numerous problems. By rebuilding the 1800 ft2 top of the 3-story home it was possible to change the style of the whole building, since the lower floors were a neutral base, and also to change the lifestyle of the owners, who wanted to move their master suite upstairs and live primarily on the top floor as empty nesters. Going into the project, the architect knew there were multiple encroachments into the setbacks and potential privacy issues with close by neighbors. He approached this as a complex puzzle made up of architectural and political pieces which all had to fit together elegantly. It took many careful moves, small and large, to arrive at a serene and cohesive result that tied old and new together seamlessly. The design-build contractor worked closely with the owners and handled all of the construction phase documents and design adjustments, adding ideas of their own to make the project really sing. The project was a collaboration in three acts. The owner had a strong design concept from the start. The architect developed it into a realistic project and garnered the design approvals. Then the contractor executed brilliantly

This gorgeous lower level master bath includes a larger 40"x72" glass shower with seat. We solved the problem of having low ceilings by elevating the ceiling where possible and added lights to make the space feel like it has a skylight.

As code begins to require tighter and tighter houses we are locked in with chemicals that are used to build, decorate, furnish and clean our homes. This project was a stab at solving this significant health problem. Here are some key features that helped us create this self-purifying master bathroom: - Air Purifying Paint - Air Filtering Plants as per NASA research (pots cut into stone countertops) - Low Energy indirect LED light strips - Low VOC materials used throughout including underlayment, glues & grout - Water-blown spray foam insulation Photography: Gil Jacobs

Craft Room
Inspiration for a modern u-shaped porcelain tile and brown floor utility room remodel in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

PROJECT | Duplicate-Duplex TYPE | private residence / home-studio LOCATION | Phayathai Rd., Bangkok, Thailand OWNER | Ms. Najaree Ratanajiajaroen / Chanon Treenet ARCHITECT | TOUCH Architect Co.,Ltd. FLOOR AREA | 64 sq.m. FLOOR AREA (by proposing) | 75 sq.m. COMPLETION | 2018 PHOTOGRAPHER | Chalermwat Wongchompoo CONTRACTOR | Legend Construction Group A major pain point of staying in 64 sq.m. of duplex condominium unit, which is used for a home-studio for an animator and an artist, is that there is not enough space for dwelling. Moreover, a double-volume space of living area with a huge glass curtain wall, faces West. High temperature occurs all day long, since it allows direct sunlight to come inside. In order to solve both mentioned problems, three addition items are proposed which are, GRID PARTITION, EXTENSION DECK, and STEPPING SPACE. A glass partition not only dividing space between kitchen and living, but also helps reduce electricity charge from air-condition. Grid-like of double glass frame is for stuff and stationery hanging, as to serve the owners’ activities. Extension deck would help filtrating heat from direct sunlight, since an existing high glass facade facing West. An existing staircase for going up to the second-floor bedroom, is added by a proposed space above, since this condominium unit has no enough space for dwelling or storage. In order to utilize the space in a small condominium, creating another staircase above the existing one helps increase the space. The grid partition and the extension deck help ‘decrease’ the electricity charge, while the extension deck and the stepping space help ‘increase’ the space for 11 sq.m.

This corner lot was taking on a lot of water from the street, as well as headlights from passing cars. To solve both problems, we created a berm and densely planted it with evergreen screening plants. The berm redirects water around the house, as well as elevating the plant material.

Lighting is one of the main advantages of this great kitchen. Of course, the large windows in the kitchen allow daylight to easily enter the room, but in the evening, the owners of this apartment cannot do without effective artificial lighting. Unlike most prestigious kitchens with contemporary design styles, you can't see many different types of lighting here. Our interior designers solved the lighting problem with the help of original beautiful large pendant lamps. Make your kitchen as beautiful, stylish, and functional as this one together with our outstanding interior designers!

This amazing renovation focused on solving a series of problems that a previous kitchen expansion had created. By rearranging the appliance placement, updating the cabinetry, designing all new storage solutions and maximizing the amazing outdoor views; we cured the spit personality disorder plaguing the existing kitchen. The home now has a beautifully redesigned kitchen and living space perfect for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outside views. Vaulted ceilings with bright skylights, reflective glass wall tiles, sleek sophisticated Cambria quartz counter tops, fingerprint-free faucet, multi-functional Prolific kitchen sink by Kohler, stainless steel appliances, creative storage solutions, all new lighting and timeless shaker cabinets by Wellborn lend to the now bright, open, vivacious and flawless function of this newly renovated galley style kitchen. White base cabinets along the outside walls contrast perfectly with the dark grey island cabinets. Linear satin nickel door and drawer pulls coordinate with the stainless steel appliances and sink. An eclectic blend of vintage and modern furnishings, artwork and rugs create a comfortable balance that feels and looks timeless. Breathtaking backyard views are artfully framed by new Pella windows and doors with integral blinds between the glass. Calm, inviting neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for this refined design. Photos by: Kimberly Kerl

The kitchen, while spacious, was completely enclosed from the living and dining room spaces and did not utilize the space efficiently. Traffic flow between the indoors and outdoors was disjointed, and the new kitchen layout solves those problems. The new design eliminates the walls in the kitchen to create an open space for entertaining, and an exterior door was added off the kitchen to facilitate a better traffic flow to the outdoor entertaining space. New cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, light fixtures, and finishes help to brighten and modernize the space.

As You Like It Interior Decorating I designed these stationary Roman Shades to solve a problem. The French doors (not seen) were much taller than the top of the windows. The cornices were installed as high as the door and now look in proportion.

This small kitchen was updated by refacing the cabinets with two tone colors that gave enough contrast to bring the kitchen from an outdated space to a beautiful inviting space. To solve the storage problem, we installed a new pantry. The bead-board backing on the peninsula gave an added interest to the space. The upper cabinets were done in a mist color, while the lower cabinets were done in a midnight color. To finish the new look, we installed an Aria quartz countertop and an igloo ceramic subway tile backsplash. Now this kitchen is ready to be shared with their family and friends.