Search results for "Proper functioning" in Home Design Ideas

Graybox is a 950 sq. ft. studio environment designed and built by NILES to redefine what a home-based creative space can be. The client wanted a light-filled, timeless studio that balanced aesthetic warmth with the precision and durability of a commercial facility. Our team handled the full scope—from architectural acoustics and mechanical planning to framing, treatments, electrical distribution, and final integration.
The Control Room is a compact, golden-ratio mix suite engineered for accuracy, featuring a finely tuned treatment plan and a Barefoot monitor system. The Live Room gains surprising scale from its 16’ ceiling, delivering sonic depth and natural ambience ideal for full-band tracking, ensemble sessions, or detailed acoustic work. Expansive glass and natural light shape the visual character of the studio while maintaining controlled isolation and proper acoustic performance.
This space was built to function as a dual-purpose creative hub for music recording and video production. The open layout supports multi-camera film shoots, quick-turn content capture, and flexible session flow. Engineers, producers, and artists can walk in, sit down, and work immediately thanks to intuitive wiring paths, plug-and-play audio infrastructure, and a layout designed for seamless movement between rooms.
Graybox has become a go-to destination for both recording and visual content, hosting sessions and video work for Capitol Records, Meinl Cymbals, The Dove Awards, Gibson, and many others. The result is a studio that feels as inspiring as it sounds—purpose-built, timeless, and engineered for long-term creative use.

Perfect Pools designed an outdoor space that worked well for this Vienna, VA home. We wanted to keep the proper amount of green space still while making the space functional. This pool is in the town of Vienna, so extra steps were needed for the permitting process.
We used a Flagstone Patio with additional Bluestone Steppers to Landscape the area. This Pool has an Auto Cover to help not only with safety, but to also help retain heat for the cooler evenings. The interior finish is a SGM Riverrock Pebble.

Kitchen and bath designer, Amy Eisenberg, recommended a glass collection with 6’ x 12’ glossy pale aqua glass tile for the shower walls and banded it with a gorgeous glass floral mosaic. The glass pencil works to transition the very thin glass mosaic and the thicker glass field tile. So much detail goes into the plan with tile design than the just selection of materials. A great installer is key. Places where materials transition, corner and change thicknesses create challenging puzzles and require experts. Challenging and intricate mosaic patterns are well worth the extra planning. They offer unparalleled impact. Amy embellished the floor with diagonally set glass pieces inserted into the larger Thassos stone tile on the main floor and used the same small square mosaic on the entire shower floor. The small matching 1” x 1” glass mosaic for the shower floor is perfect choice for friction and functions well to create the necessary floor pitch for proper drainage.
Kitchen and bath design by Amy Eisenberg
Photography by David Sloane Photography
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Part of the bungalow renovation is the the main floor bathroom this was actually 2 feet longer and a little large for a kids bathroom, and since the cheater ensuite was so small we eliminated some of the space to enlarge the master. We closed off the door to the kitchen/back door area, to enlarge the master, with the additonal space from the kids bath and using 1 foot from the master bedroom we were able to create a proper ensuite. Making a custom vanity with drawers (middle drawer is a U shaped), there is still alot of storage, add the medicine cabinet and fully glass corner shower, this space with a window is fully functioning and beautiful to boot!

Built in 1938, this home has some beautiful architectural features. The former kitchen was charming, but it was not functional. Cabinet drawers were not opening properly, there was no hot water at the sink and there was no electric on the island. With the new kitchen design, we added several modern amenities, several of which are concealed behind cabinet doors and drawers.
Credits:
Designer: Erin Hurst, CKD-French's Cabinet Gallery, LLC
Contractor: Benjamin Breeding- Breeding Homes, LLC
Countertops: Smokey Mountain Tops
Cabinetry: Crestwood Inc.
Crown Molding: Stephens Millwork & Lumber Company
Tile: Dal Tile-Beth Taylor
Appliances: A1 Appliance-Tom Burns
Plumbing Fixtures: Kenny & Company-Jessica Smith
Paint: Jo Ella McClellan
Photographer: Dylan Reyes-Dylan Reyes Photos

This Bothell, Washington patio cover project was designed to seamlessly integrate with the home’s existing architecture while creating a comfortable outdoor living space for year-round enjoyment. The structure features 2x6 wall studs, a centered rafter layout, and a 4/12 roof pitch to match the existing roofline, ensuring a cohesive look and proper drainage.
An exposed GLB beam adds structural strength and a clean architectural detail, while the tight-knot cedar soffit brings warmth and natural character to the finished space.
To enhance functionality, the cover includes four recessed can lights, wiring for a future ceiling fan, and ceiling outlets for future Sonos or Bose speakers. Gutters and downspouts were tied into the existing system to maintain consistent water management and a polished exterior appearance.
The space was also prepared for future motorized screens, which will be measured and installed later. The homeowners selected SunTex 97 Dark Bronze screen fabric with a Bronze housing, providing shade, privacy, and a sleek finish that complements the home’s exterior. The completed patio cover now provides a durable, stylish extension of the home’s outdoor living area.

Home automation is an area of exponential technological growth and evolution. Properly executed lighting brings continuity, function and beauty to a living or working space. Whether it’s a small loft or a large business, light can completely change the ambiance of your home or office. Ambiance in Bozeman, MT offers residential and commercial customized lighting solutions and home automation that fits not only your lifestyle but offers decoration, safety and security. Whether you’re adding a room or looking to upgrade the current lighting in your home, we have the expertise necessary to exceed your lighting expectations.

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Columbus, OH
Structural Remodeling
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My concept for this kitchen was to collaborate with my client for this complete home renovation and ensure that the kitchen was the focal point of the open concept home. We strategically worked together to ensure proper wall dimensions, island placement and function, and symmetry to meet the wants and needs of my clients. White perimeter cabinetry helped to achieve a traditional feel for the space, while the gray stained island cabinetry allowed for a lovely transition to make the cozy kitchen work seamlessly with the distressed wide plank farmhouse style floating floor. In order to relieve the stark whiteness of the perimeter, I had suggested using contrast grout for the subway tile and the ultimate choice of cement tiles for the accent backsplash behind the range created a cathartic scene in this modestly stated design. Throw in some owls, books, and some fun pendant lighting and we were smiling through the finish line, together!!! My goal is to ensure that my client's needs are met and that their lives are improved through my designs. I hope you like the images of the new space!

This backyard renovation project in Coquitlam included the installation of a large concrete patio designed to create a clean and durable outdoor living space for everyday use and entertaining. The patio surface was constructed following proper excavation, grading, and compacted road base preparation to ensure long-term stability and performance.
A pergola-covered seating area provides shade and a comfortable gathering space while maintaining an open connection to the surrounding backyard. The new patio layout integrates with the Allen Block retaining wall and landscape stairs that lead to the elevated garden area, creating a functional multi-level outdoor environment.
This exterior upgrade improved drainage, accessibility, and overall usability of the backyard while enhancing the visual structure of the outdoor space.

Coming up with new ideas is always challenging, but the challenge seems even more difficult to overcome when the starting point is quite limiting. In the case of this residential project, the starting point was an existing foundation, that needed to be used for the future building. Therefore, the footprint of the house needed to remain the same, however, the functions needed adjustments since the requirements and priorities of the owners changed in the previous years.
Another aspect that involved limitations but in a totally different sense was the setting - a beautiful place near a lake, surrounded by wild vegetation - and our challenge was to integrate the house while emphasizing the view.
We managed to do so by using large glass areas towards the lake, by laying the house properly on the sloped ground and by the use of materials. Because we didn't want to interfere with the all-natural vibe of the surroundings, we preferred using all-natural materials: wood as a structural material as well as an interior and exterior wall finishing, natural stone on both façades and pavements, ceramic roofing.
The result now peacefully lays near the lake, a discrete presence, while hosting the life of a family and all the peace of mind one can get.

Builder-grade, tired and outdated fixtures paired with peeling wallpaper and missing tiles served as the impetus behind this homeowners desire to remodel. Careful thought and consideration went into the selection of each bath product as the client wanted a clean design with a contemporary flair. The homeowners enlisted Renovisions to take on the task and transform their bathroom into the beautiful, zen-like bathing space they envisioned. Each step of the remodeling process was completed carefully to ensure a proper facelift.
Beautiful, natural pebble tiles accented by a border of 12”x12” tan colored marble tiles set the overall feel of this new space. The vanity, a medium stained cherry wood contemporary styled wall-hung cabinet, and the ice stone countertop compliment the gorgeous blue-green hues of the mosaic wall tile. The chrome finished wall-hung faucet has the perfect design choice for the narrow yet sleek vanity.
The tub/shower side walls boast stylish 6”x12” marble tiles installed in a horizontal pattern while the blue/green mosaic tiles on the back wall create a dramatic focal point in the otherwise neutral color palate. Desired amenities such as a deeper soaking tub, a custom tiled shampoo cubby, a hand-held shower head and slide bar and a decorative safety grab bar provided both the functionality and style the homeowners sought after.
Upon completion, this full bath exudes a sophisticated and heavenly atmosphere to provide a truly “do-it-yourself” spa experience.

Numerous homes across Rancho Cucamonga, CA have pools on their property. The spaces around pools, be they on the ground or on decks have to be paved well and maintained properly too. Since there is a lot of water in this area, the materials that are used here have to be chosen with care. The factors that have to be taken into consideration are functionality, durability and aesthetics.

For this kitchen remodeling project, we showed this out of state couple proper southern hospitality with a coastal open kitchen floor plan. We tore out the old cabinets and installed all new cabinets done in Birch in a two-tone color. They went with our Catalina door and the upper cabinets were done in Polar White, while the lowers were done in Aquaduct. Next, we installed a new quartz Calacatta Royal countertop with a waterfall edge and a new night sky 2x6 subway tile backsplash. To finish the new look, we installed under-cabinet lighting that was the perfect balance of form and function. Now these homeowners have the kitchen of their dreams.

A complete kitchen and powder room remodel in Herndon, Virginia, designed around two clear priorities: open up the kitchen to the rest of the main level, and create an experience that felt warm and timeless rather than trendy.
The original layout had a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and an awkward fridge wall that limited both storage and traffic flow. Our solution involved removing the dividing wall (confirmed non-load-bearing), tightening the new dining room opening to 66 inches, and extending the fridge wall 25 inches into the kitchen to create a proper full-height pantry run. The result is a kitchen that breathes — open to the dining and living areas, with clear sight lines from the island to the bay windows at the far end.
Design Approach
The clients came in knowing they didn't want white. They didn't want navy. They wanted something with real wood character — the kind of finish that ages well and looks more like furniture than stock kitchen cabinetry. Cherry was the answer to that question.
We anchored the room around contrast: warm cherry cabinetry against clean white walls and white quartz, black hardware grounding the cherry's warmth, and a single waterfall island acting as the architectural focal point. Stainless appliances, brushed gold pendant accents, and the herringbone hardwood floor pull the room together without any one element shouting for attention.
The Cabinetry
Medallion Gold Line Sonoma Cappuccino — a stained cherry finish that catches light differently throughout the day. All-plywood box construction, solid wood doors and drawer fronts, soft close everywhere, US-made with a lifetime warranty. Four pull-out drawers built into the pantry bottoms keep the deep storage actually usable rather than a black hole.
Cabinet hardware is Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in flat black — 40 pulls across drawers and doors, plus three longer pulls on the 36-inch base drawers. The black was a deliberate decision: with cherry and stainless already providing warm and cool tones, brass or gold would have been one warm tone too many. Black grounds the cabinetry and gives the kitchen its architectural definition.
The Island and Countertops
MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold quartz throughout — perimeter counters, island, waterfall ends, and the powder room. The Gold variant has subtle warm veining that pairs with cherry where cooler whites would have fought the wood tone.
The island gets a full waterfall edge — slabs book-matched, miters precise, the finished edge essentially seamless. Treating the island as architectural sculpture rather than just functional storage. The black undermount farmhouse-style sink ties back to the hardware throughout the rest of the kitchen.
The Backsplash
MSI Metro Gold tile — small format white and gold tiles in a herringbone-adjacent pattern with intermittent gold accents. Full height, continuous behind the floating shelves and behind the hood.
Four custom floating shelves are spaced above a 3-inch countertop ledge: first shelf 18 inches above the ledge, second shelf 9 inches above that, third 18 inches above the second. The shelves are stained to match the cabinetry. The backsplash continues behind the shelves and behind the hood, so the wall reads as a continuous textured surface that the shelves and hood float in front of.
The Appliances
This is a serious cooking kitchen. The clients chose a 48-inch Wolf gas range, a Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator integrated into the cherry cabinet wall, a Wolf microwave drawer in the island base, and a Bosch dishwasher. For ventilation, we installed a 1200 CFM hood paired with a make-up air system to balance the negative pressure that hood pulls. New ducting was routed through the exterior siding on the side of the house.
The Flooring
MSI engineered hardwood throughout the entire main level — approximately 800 square feet — installed in a Bramlett herringbone pattern. Herringbone adds roughly 15-20 percent to material and labor costs because of the angled cuts and waste factor, but the result is a floor that reads as more considered and luxurious than standard plank flooring. Finished with 4.5-inch white wood baseboards throughout.
The Powder Room
A small room with a big personality. The clients chose a deep blue and teal scallop pattern wallpaper (client-supplied, we installed) and paired it with the same Sonoma Cappuccino cherry vanity used in the kitchen — material continuity between the spaces.
Powder room countertop is the same MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold quartz from the kitchen with a rectangular white undermount sink. Hardware on the powder room vanity is Top Knobs Riverside in honey bronze rather than the kitchen's flat black — the warm bronze pulls the brass tones from the faucet into the millwork and complements the wallpaper. New sconce, kept the existing toilet (refinishing or replacing a working toilet is wasted money in a powder room remodel), and a Panasonic Whisper Green exhaust fan.
Project Specs
Location: Herndon, Virginia
Project type: Combined kitchen and powder room remodel
Project duration: Approximately 4 to 6 weeks
Style: Transitional, Modern Farmhouse, Warm Wood Contemporary
Color palette: Cherry, white, black, brushed gold, deep blue (powder room)
Materials
Cabinetry (kitchen and powder room): Medallion Gold Line Sonoma Cappuccino cherry, Shaker-style, all-plywood box construction, lifetime warranty
Kitchen hardware: Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in flat black (TK1014BLK and TK1017BLK)
Powder room hardware: Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in honey bronze (TK1012HB)
Counter tops: MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold Quartz, pencil edge, waterfall island
Backsplash: MSI Metro Gold tile, full height
Floating shelves: 4 custom shelves at 48" by 9", stained to match cabinets
Range: 48-inch Wolf gas range
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero built-in
Microwave: Wolf microwave drawer (island base)
Hood: 1200 CFM with make-up air system
Kitchen sink: Kohler farmhouse-style, 36-inch base, black
Kitchen faucet: Brizo (homeowner-supplied)
Flooring: MSI engineered hardwood in Bramlett herringbone pattern, approximately 800 sq ft
Baseboards: 4.5-inch white wood throughout
Powder room wallpaper: Client-supplied scallop pattern in blues and teals
Powder room exhaust fan: Panasonic Whisper Green
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Designed and built by My Kitchen and Bath out of our Herndon showroom at 285 Sunset Park Drive. We've been designing and building kitchens, bathrooms, and full home renovations across Northern Virginia and the DMV since 1994.

OMG blue, gray and orange is for me! Vibrant color scheme, New Orleans charm and improved functionality was the perfect recipe for George and Linda’s colorful character kitchen remodel. Overall the kitchen had a good layout and only needed a few tweaks. What it didn’t have was clear sight lines, good lighting, adequate food storage and AJM style! For months we worked together to devise the perfect plan to bring the couple’s vision to reality. The brick bookcase and ceiling pot rack was removed to provide more counter space and improve visibility; an under-utilized bedroom closet was converted to a Jack and Jill pantry giving them food storage galore; properly spaced recess and pendant lighting provide much needed ambiance for cooking and gatherings; the use of reclaimed wood and iron shelf brackets mixes the old with the new; and to top it all off perfectly planned blue cabinetry paired with light gray and orange walls, solid white quartz counter tops, handmade blue cross and fire tiles and copper hardware set the tone for a kitchen that that is colorful, full of character, timeless and has a place for everything…even George’s guitars!

"TaylorPro completely remodeled our master bathroom. We had our outdated shower transformed into a modern walk-in shower, new custom cabinets installed with a beautiful quartz counter top, a giant framed vanity mirror which makes the bathroom look so much bigger and brighter, and a wood ceramic tile floor including under floor heating. Kerry Taylor also solved a hot water problem we had by installing a recirculating hot water system which allows us to have instant hot water in the shower rather than waiting forever for the water to heat up.
From start to finish TaylorPro did a professional, quality job. Kerry Taylor was always quick to respond to any question or problem and made sure all work was done properly. Bonnie, the resident designer, did a great job of creating a beautiful, functional bathroom design combining our ideas with her own. Every member of the TaylorPro team was professional, hard-working, considerate, and competent. Any remodeling project is going to be somewhat disruptive, but the TaylorPro crew made the process as painless as possible by being respectful of our home environment and always cleaning up their mess at the end of the day. I would recommend TaylorPro Design to anyone who wants a quality project done by a great team of professionals. You won't be disappointed!"
~ Judy and Stuart C, Clients
Carlsbad home with Caribbean Blue mosaic glass tile, NuHeat radiant floor heating, grey weathered plank floor tile, pebble shower pan and custom "Whale Tail" towel hooks. Classic white painted vanity with quartz counter tops.
Bathroom Design - Bonnie Bagley Catlin, Signature Designs Kitchen Bath.
Contractor - TaylorPro Design and Remodeling
Photos by: Kerry W. Taylor

This project showcases a beautifully executed outdoor patio and landscaping design using Kota Brown Limestone, supplied and designed by Parash Stones. Known for its warm brown earthy tones and natural rustic finish, Kota Brown limestone creates a welcoming and timeless outdoor space.
The project features calibrated paving tiles installed in a structured layout, ensuring precision, durability, and a visually balanced appearance. The natural color variations of the stone enhance the overall design, making the patio blend seamlessly with garden surroundings.
Kota Brown limestone is highly suitable for UK and European climates, offering excellent resistance to rain, frost, and temperature changes. Its anti-slip surface and strong composition make it ideal for high-traffic outdoor areas such as patios, pathways, and courtyards.
Parash Stones ensured the use of premium quality materials, accurate cut-to-size tiles, and proper installation techniques, resulting in a long-lasting and low-maintenance surface. This project reflects a perfect combination of functionality, durability, and aesthetic appeal.

Nestled in the heart of Dallas, our clients enjoy a 4-acre estate where they have developed the property for a "park" and "garden" like feel with lots of privacy and sound barrier from the neighbors and busy street along the front. They travel a lot for work and want to be able to come home and enjoy their own backyard oasis that is properly maintained and cared for. They also have 4 grandchildren who live on part of the property and roam around everywhere, so having lots of manicured lawn space to drive their toys around on, explore, etc. is important too.
We service the property one day per week, since they retain a full-time porter. However, he is stretched thin as doesn't tend to much of the landscaping as needed as he's typically working on other side projects for the client. In order to complete our maintenance work within 5 hours on our service day, we work diligently with the client and the client’ assistant to constantly communicate issues we see and/or need to have resolved. Thankfully our client is very quick to respond and allows us an abundance of freedom to make necessary improvements when deemed necessary.
Additionally, last minute work functions and/or parties are often hosted at their house. We often times have to respond quickly with an extra service visit, service date change, seasonal color change, bed mulching, etc. to help get it ready for their company.
We value the trust and communication we have with this client and look forward to working with them for years to come!

The client had a finished basement space that was not functioning for the entire family. He spent a lot of time in his gym, which was not large enough to accommodate all his equipment and did not offer adequate space for aerobic activities. To appeal to the client's entertaining habits, a bar, gaming area, and proper theater screen needed to be added. There were some ceiling and lolly column restraints that would play a significant role in the layout of our new design, but the Gramophone Team was able to create a space in which every detail appeared to be there from the beginning. Rustic wood columns and rafters, weathered brick, and an exposed metal support beam all add to this design effect becoming real.
Maryland Photography Inc.

Dramatic and boldly contemporary, the high polish of the Phillipe dining table takes center stage with the all black Louis Chairs taking proper position for an all-out design punch. The black on black on black color scheme begs for attention and the Baroque details and sensuously delightful velvet covered chairs adds that touch of heaven that brings dining to a whole new level. Paired with the Donatella Buffet, that boasts neo-baroque touches, the set is complete, offering style that follows the most basic of great modern design, form and function fitting together perfectly
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