A handleless wall of matte cabinetry and a professional gas cooktop converge in quiet symmetry, showcasing the uncompromising minimalism of a home that earns its place among Oakville's finest. Porcelain slab backsplash wall and concealed ventilation speak to a builder who resolves every detail. Prasada Custom Homes, Oakville, Ontario.

The design challenge was that they wanted a classic look, which typically has the pool lined up with existing structures. That was impossible with the odd angles of their small pie-shaped lot, so everything was lined up with the back lot line. To resolve the angles with the house, the planting beds and kitchen walkout stairs became trapezoid shaped.

The new owners were looking forward to living in their new home with an open floor plan, tall vaulted ceilings, and great views. It featured a large Great Room with two big French Doors separating the Dining Room from the Master Bedroom. But after only a few months they identified a major design flaw: Each of the French Doors had ten glass windows with two large windows above each door. (Check out our before and after designs, traffic flow diagrams and photos of this project.) Glass windows and doors allowed sound and light from guests or the TV in the great room to easily sneak into the bedroom. With unique work and sleep schedules (he’s a pilot, she’s a registered nurse) this design wasn’t working. Then there was a traffic flow design flaw: The Master Bedroom had a second entrance from a hallway. To get into the bedroom from the hallway you needed to walk down another claustrophobic hallway. To get from the Master Bedroom to the Master Bath begin at the most remote corner of the bedroom and down a hallway between two closets. Once inside the bath, a huge triangular Jacuzzi dominating the space. So, from a privacy and traffic flow perspective, this home had some major design issues. When Craig Weber first met with the owners, he listened to their ideas and concerns. The owners trusted Craig to come up with the most efficient and most effective solution to this design dilemma. He offered a solution that resolved the bed-bath traffic flow problem, offered some bedroom room privacy, and updated the bath. First, the two French Doors and windows were removed. A new wall was built with sound-absorbing materials, making the Great Room and Dining Room more comfortable spaces for entertaining while creating the bedroom privacy the owners craved. Solving the Bedroom/Bath traffic flow problem began with removing the two existing closets. The bath door was relocated next to the hall entrance, and then a new walk-in closet was added adjacent to the hallway entrance. The solution offered easy access to and from the bath, closet and hallway without a hint of claustrophobia. The Master Bath underwent a major transformation designed for convenience and comfort – especially during long, cold Minnesota winters. Most everything from the former bath was torn out, beginning with the giant Jacuzzi. A new bathtub that is wider and deeper than the standard size was installed with brushed Nickel fixtures. It’s the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine and candles. Warm floors are a Minnesota “must have.” The bath’s new ceramic floor features in-floor electric heat. Getting in and out of the tub is easy and comfortable. The new walk-in shower again features in-floor heating and a place to sit. The most interesting feature of this shower may the custom ceramic tile installed with unique patterns. A new vanity Cambria Bradshaw countertops features two under-hung ceramic sinks with matching brushed Nickel fixtures. Tall ceilings and three glass windows near the ceiling flood the room with natural light. A new energy-efficient window frames an ornamental stained glass window created by the owner’s father – a great personal touch. A quiet place to sleep. A private dining room for entertaining. A Master Bath to die for. And easy traffic flow. The owners couldn’t have been more delighted with the outcome. And Lilly, their cat, loves it too.

These homeowners faced a significant challenge when designing the patio of their dreams. The yard sloped into a forest backing onto their home. This was resolved by building several steps that lead to a beautiful sunken patio with a surrounding U-Cara retaining wall that showcases their lush gardens. They chose to also add a U-Cara firepit as the focal point, so their family can relax in a cozy setting.

Our client's former kitchen was quite cramped. The reconfigured layout resolved the congestion and the white perimeter cabinetry and backsplash reinforce the spacious feel of this kitchen.

Borrowing valuable inches from a redundant hallway and undersized pantry area the project kept a footprint to not infringe on the other living spaces. A wood ceiling of stained pine mirrors the original heart pine flooring and resolved repairs to an 100 year old plaster ceiling. A generous L shape work zone on one side is paired with a straight run with the refrigerator and stove area for a balanced space for multiple cooks.

Knoll Inc www.softsquare.com Saarinen Dining Table - 47" Round by Eero Saarinen 1957 With the Pedestal Collection, Eero Saarinen resolved the "ugly, confusing, unrestful world" underneath tables and chairs. The collection is a defining accomplishment of modern design and a timeless addition to your home—a true classic. 47" Table seats 4-5 people.

The pool’s infinity edge was not well designed and did not function properly. Betz was able to resolve this by improving the water recirculation and installing a properly functioning auto leveller to maintain a constant level along the spill wall. Infinity pools are beautiful but, require special knowledge and techniques to ensure they work properly.

-Drip irrigation system repair, resolving improper watering patterns that were causing plant stress -

Our clients came to us with specific remodeling goals: to create a more functional mid-century home with an updated and larger kitchen, to resolve the public circulation through their master bedroom, have a unified feel versus a house with multiple additions, and expanded views of the lovely Huron River, which is right outside their backyard. Our solutions focused on creating a new circulation system that reconnects the entire floor plan into a cohesive whole, and reinforces the connection to the outdoor courtyards.

Since this outdoor kitchen is at the point where the level drops two steps down, it features two sit-up bars, but at different levels. To resolve the change in heights, one has the counter dropped and uses higher stools. In addition to the nearby dining table for eight, these counters can accommodate another eight guests.

Knoll Inc www.softsquare.com Saarinen Dining Table - 42" Round by Eero Saarinen 1957 With the Pedestal Collection, Eero Saarinen resolved the "ugly, confusing, unrestful world" underneath tables and chairs. The collection is a defining accomplishment of modern design and a timeless addition to your home—a true classic.

Swimming Pool is on a slope with drainage issues from all sides, Crystal Pools LLC designed to incorporate and resolve all the drainage issues and transform the yard into a luxurious backyard experience. Crystal pools patented Cleaning system, glass tile, Ozone system make this pool enjoyed everyday! with use of very little chlorine/salt.

Due the kitchens orientation to apartments large exterior lighting and north facing light, there was originally a limited amount of lighting distributed throughout the space, even during the day. Resolving this issue and taking it as a design opportunity, the designer and client went with an intimate LED underlighting that radiates light down into some of the spaces more complex geometries and corners.

This glass wine cellar uses cable racking for a dramatic suspended design and holds up to 144 bottles. Its primary goal is to achieve a "wine as art" visual effect, with transparent shelves. The project had some challenges: dimensions were different in the physical space from the design, and there were lighting fixtures to navigate around. The installer and manufacturer worked together to resolve the issue.

Visitors arrive at a granite autocourt. The challenge of this site was to design functional living spaces while resolving a series of problems. Two entry courts offer suitable welcomes to the home: a formal granite court that is approached from above as one descends down a once blind driveway, and a more utilitarian play court off the garage. The rear yard, once disconnected from the house, is terraced and suitable for entertaining. A granite stair descends from the terrace to a new expanded lower lawn. A custom fire pit sits off the upper terrace and provides a more intimate gathering space.

This formal traditional dining room contains a curated collection of the family's treasured antiques. Pieces of the house's original first period rough wood framing are intentionally left visible, highlighting the home's long history. WKD’s experience in historic preservation and antique curation restored this gentleman’s farm into a casual, comfortable, livable home for the next chapter in this couple’s lives. The project included a new family entrance and mud room, new powder room, and opening up some of the rooms for better circulation. While WKD curated the client’s existing collection of art and antiques, refurbishing where necessary, new furnishings were also added to give the home a new lease on life. Working with older homes, and historic homes, is one of Wilson Kelsey Design’s specialties. This project was featured on the cover of Design New England's September/October 2013 issue. Read the full article at: http://wilsonkelseydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Heritage-Restored1.pdf It was also featured in the Sept. issue of Old House Journal, 2016 - article is at http://wilsonkelseydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016-09-OHJ.pdf Photo by Michael Lee

A young family with kids purchased their first home and contacted me with the task to design an upbeat and energetic space for them, which also will have all the functionality they needed. There were some restrains - a load-bearing beam ran across the space leaving very little wall space on the left available. We've chosen European size appliances and creatively resolved the corner to allow the sink placement. and added a ton of color and shine.

This two storey house was built 30 years ago with some very serious structural errors. The main issue was that the load bearing wall of the main floor was built about 5 feet away from the basement beam, as a result the floor is not even. The structural issue was resolved with installation of the heavy duty steel beam on the full length of the house. From the front foundation to the back one. This improvement let us level the subfloor, install the new floor, and build a beautiful new and modern kitchen and staircase.