Search results for "Sharpening problem solving" in Home Design Ideas

Removing the kitchen walls required a structural alternative to the existing load-bearing ridge beam. Installation of eight 4x8 Douglas Fir rafter ties solved the problem and provided an aesthetic windfall.
The new rafter ties also provided mounting surface for the extensive LED Up and Down lighting.
We designed a large floating soffit to anchor the kitchen without walls.
Suspended from the rafter ties above the island, the soffit also provides a surface to mount unique LED task lighting in this otherwise high-ceilinged space.

Jacob Lilley Architects
Location: Lexington, MA, USA
A new garage, kids play room above and a mudroom met the need for more space. A renovated kitchen, bedroom and other living spaces created a refreshed sense of home.
The strategic location of the mudroom as an intermediary connector solved problems with this 19th-century home siting seven feet above the ground with limited access to the rear yard.
The connector between the garage and existing house is a stair that unifies the various levels and develops a strong connection to the yard.
Photographed by: Eric Roth
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Designed by Akram Aljahmi of Reico Kitchen & Bath in King of Prussia, PA in collaboration with Property Remodeling Group, this transitional inspired kitchen design features white and grey finishes complemented by a bold splash of blue tile.
The kitchen design features Merillat Classic kitchen cabinets in Portrait door style with 5 piece drawer head in 2 finishes. The wall cabinets features a painted white Cotton finish and the base cabinets feature a painted grey Graphite finish. Kitchen countertops are engineered quartz in the color Carrera Marmi from Q by MSI. The kitchen also features a stunning blue herringbone tile back splash with 3x10 tiles.
According to the client, "Akram solved a fundamental function problem that I could not see a solution for. His re-imagining of how the main floor of our home could function was a dramatic shift that I can't wait to experience as part of day-to-day life. Really appreciate his space plan and layout, as well as his support selecting finishes. Akram and team were great to work with!".
Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

This homeowner was tired of Texas heat and thunderstorms pushing them indoors. They solved the problem by adding a Polygal covered pergola.
Large backyard patio photo in Austin with a pergola
Large backyard patio photo in Austin with a pergola

Some rooms never quite find their purpose. That was the case with this space, which had gradually become a combination home office, pantry overflow area, pet zone, and general catch-all for daily life. While it offered plenty of square footage, it wasn’t helping the homeowners stay organized, and valuable storage was scattered between an overcrowded pantry closet and various pieces of furniture throughout the room.
Having previously partnered with Drury Design on a kitchen remodel, these homeowners once again turned to Senior Designer Samantha Schoell to help them rethink how their home could better support the way they actually live. What began as a conversation about adding some cabinetry quickly evolved into a comprehensive storage solution — one designed to accommodate everything from groceries and sports equipment to pet supplies and everyday household essentials.
Design Objectives:
Create Organization: Consolidate pantry overflow, household supplies, and everyday essentials into a single, highly functional space.
Support Family Life: Provide dedicated storage for coats, bags, sports equipment, and the routines of an active household.
Accommodate Pets: Incorporate thoughtful features for the family’s dogs while maintaining a clean, organized appearance.
Maximize Existing Space: Transform an underutilized room without expanding the home’s footprint.
Maintain Flexibility: Preserve the room’s long-term versatility and appeal for future homeowners.
Design Challenges:
Multiple Functions: The room was being used simultaneously as a home office, pantry, storage area, and pet space without a cohesive organizational strategy.
Insufficient Pantry Storage: The nearby pantry closet had become overcrowded and difficult to navigate.
Visual Clutter: Everyday items, pet supplies, and household necessities lacked dedicated storage locations.
Unused Potential: Despite its generous size, the room was not contributing meaningfully to the home’s overall functionality.
Balancing Practicality and Style: The homeowners wanted substantial storage without creating a space that felt overly utilitarian.
Design Solutions:
Purpose-Built Storage Plan: Custom cabinetry was designed to support multiple functions within a unified storage system, allowing the room to serve as a mudroom, pantry extension, household hub, and pet station.
Expanded Pantry Capacity: Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a secondary refrigerator, and extensive drawer storage dramatically increased food storage and organization capabilities.
Hidden Organization: Closed cabinetry conceals household items, sports gear, pet supplies, and everyday clutter, creating a calm and orderly appearance.
Full-Room Transformation: Rather than simply adding cabinets to one wall, the design reimagined the entire room, utilizing its footprint to create a true family command center.
Furniture-Inspired Cabinetry: Warm wood finishes, decorative hardware, open display shelving, and thoughtful detailing elevate the room beyond pure utility, helping it feel like a natural extension of the home’s design.
The most successful remodeling projects often solve problems homeowners have simply learned to live with. In this case, a room that once served several purposes — but excelled at none — was transformed into one of the hardest-working spaces in the home.
Today, groceries, pet supplies, seasonal gear, household essentials, and daily routines all have a designated place. Even the family’s dogs were thoughtfully considered, with a built-in resting area integrated into the cabinetry. The result is a room that feels remarkably organized despite supporting countless everyday activities — a reflection of how thoughtful design can bring clarity, efficiency, and calm to the busiest parts of family life.

Running out of space in your home? Having a multipurpose room solves the problem! This room allows you to have an organized work space and a large walk in-closet. The key thing is to know what you need to satify both so you plan it out. So here is a "Cloffice"

These floating white oak shelves solved a unique problem for our clients! Since the front door opens directly into the kitchen, bringing the upper cabinets all the way to the edge would have created a crowded headspace when entering/leaving the home. The solution was clear: floating shelves! Though, even with floating shelves we were concerned about a 90 degree corner and an unsuspecting guests' forehead one day colliding! Our fix was a custom curve, perfectly suited to maximize the depth & functionality of the shelves while eliminating any risk of a collision. We love how these additions turned out!

The client wanted a television in this room but didn't want it to be visible. We solved that problem by installing a cabinet with a remote tv lift.
We proudly displayed a piece of her original art work and hung two gold sconces.
Lisa Konz Photography

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

【High Quality Material】The door is made of MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and covered with PVC film. This finished surface improves the durability of the door and extends its service life.
【Upgraded Glass】 This door is made of 4mm tempered frosted glass, which is safe (SGCC certified) and can protect your privacy. The glass is designed to filter light and brighten your home.
【Durable Hardware】Our barn door hardware has passed 100,000 open & close tests, ensuring lifelong usage. We have strong confidence in our hardware quality and provide a 5-year full warranty on all hardware.
【Easy to Assemble】All door panels are pre-drilled/curved to ensure a tight fit. The package includes detailed installation instructions and tools, so you can easily install the panels yourself and enjoy a fun DIY project with your family.
【Widely Applicable】This barn door is perfect for classic American home decor. It's suitable for use in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and more. The stylish design will blend in seamlessly with your home's aesthetic.
【Dedicated Service】We are dedicated to providing you with quality door products and services. If you have any questions regarding your purchase, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to help you solve the problem.

Sutter Photographers
The Hardware Studio - hardware
Martinwood Cabinetry - millwork
Studio GlassWorks - glass countertop
Window Design Center - awning window
Nonn's Showplace - quartz, granite countertops
• By taking the cabinets up to the ceiling and adding the decorative moldings above, it makes the ceiling appear taller.
• How do we solve the problem of the painted crown molding of the integrated refrigerator? It needed to return onto a flat surface because it was meeting a different color wood. The leftover space was enough for a custom wine cubby.
• More custom crown molding, this time a basket weave was introduced to highlight the glazing.
• A combination of a darker cherry and some painted cabinets with a cherry glaze look nice with their Oak trim throughout the home.
• The kitchen was designed so everything has a home: spices, oils, knives, cookie sheets, awkward utensils, silverware, tupperware, trash receptacles, and a “stash spot” for when guests come over. Large pull-out drawers are great for pans and lids particularly on the back side (bottom of picture) of the island.

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 is a simple addition to the back deck to create an outdoor kitchen and outdoor dining area. A fire pit by the water creates another seating area out in the lawn and gives a perfect place to watch the sun set. The steps and walls improve the access to the boat dock and solve an erosion problem.
Photographed by: Emerald Coast Real Estate Photography

This house needed a total make-over. My clients wanted a solution between living room and serre which added more light and storing space. Mood Interieur was hired to suggest a new floor plan and to act as a sparring partner.
The wall with ceiling high sliding doors and a cupboard over the whole lenght of the wall in the serre solved the light and storing problem.
Mood Interieur also designed the tv cupboard and wardrobe closet.
All the dark colours were replaced by fresh, white colours combined with greige. A colour which beautifully interacts with the shabby-chic Flexform sofa en the greige blue Bomat carpet. The white and wood Arco tablet tables go perfectly with the white tv-cupboard and new doors.
Furniture and curtains are suggested and delivered by Mood Interieur.

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.

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JUMA architects were contacted for the interior design of a shell-state apartment on the coast. The structural construction, the plastering, the floor screed and the technical fittings (heating ducts, plumbing, electricity and ventilation) of the apartment had already been realised.
It soon became apparent, however, that the assignment could not be limited to the interior decoration only, as the placement of kitchen, bathroom and dressing room in the existing plan turned out to be entirely impractical. More extensive renovation work was needed to meet the needs of the customer. The structure of the unit was therefore slightly adjusted to make the bathroom and dressing larger and more functional.
Also, the living room was dominated by a huge radiator that drew all the attention. To solve this problem, new pipes were laid to accommodate an integrated heating element in the sideboard. Gas pipes were fitted in the kitchen for the gas cooker which JUMA included in the design as a real eye-catcher. The sinks, in contrast, were given a more discreet placement.
Light oak parquet was selected for the floors throughout the apartment. The natural appearance of the wood gives all the rooms a warm feel. The built-in furniture was custom made and is finished in black satin lacquer to contrast the light-coloured wood. The dominant colour palette is deliberately kept very simple and neutral and is complemented with light grey tones and colour accents. The colour choice was in fact inspired by a beautiful picture of the coast.
The freestanding furniture and overall decorations were also selected or designed by JUMA architects. The arrangement of the seating area is very playful and atypical. JUMA did not want to put in a couch that would divide the space in two. The composition is meant to create a very open ambiance. A round table was chosen for the same reason. The round shape does not divide the space but allows fluid circulation.
Pictures © Liesbet Goetschalckx

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.

Some rooms never quite find their purpose. That was the case with this space, which had gradually become a combination home office, pantry overflow area, pet zone, and general catch-all for daily life. While it offered plenty of square footage, it wasn’t helping the homeowners stay organized, and valuable storage was scattered between an overcrowded pantry closet and various pieces of furniture throughout the room.
Having previously partnered with Drury Design on a kitchen remodel, these homeowners once again turned to Senior Designer Samantha Schoell to help them rethink how their home could better support the way they actually live. What began as a conversation about adding some cabinetry quickly evolved into a comprehensive storage solution — one designed to accommodate everything from groceries and sports equipment to pet supplies and everyday household essentials.
Design Objectives:
Create Organization: Consolidate pantry overflow, household supplies, and everyday essentials into a single, highly functional space.
Support Family Life: Provide dedicated storage for coats, bags, sports equipment, and the routines of an active household.
Accommodate Pets: Incorporate thoughtful features for the family’s dogs while maintaining a clean, organized appearance.
Maximize Existing Space: Transform an underutilized room without expanding the home’s footprint.
Maintain Flexibility: Preserve the room’s long-term versatility and appeal for future homeowners.
Design Challenges:
Multiple Functions: The room was being used simultaneously as a home office, pantry, storage area, and pet space without a cohesive organizational strategy.
Insufficient Pantry Storage: The nearby pantry closet had become overcrowded and difficult to navigate.
Visual Clutter: Everyday items, pet supplies, and household necessities lacked dedicated storage locations.
Unused Potential: Despite its generous size, the room was not contributing meaningfully to the home’s overall functionality.
Balancing Practicality and Style: The homeowners wanted substantial storage without creating a space that felt overly utilitarian.
Design Solutions:
Purpose-Built Storage Plan: Custom cabinetry was designed to support multiple functions within a unified storage system, allowing the room to serve as a mudroom, pantry extension, household hub, and pet station.
Expanded Pantry Capacity: Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a secondary refrigerator, and extensive drawer storage dramatically increased food storage and organization capabilities.
Hidden Organization: Closed cabinetry conceals household items, sports gear, pet supplies, and everyday clutter, creating a calm and orderly appearance.
Full-Room Transformation: Rather than simply adding cabinets to one wall, the design reimagined the entire room, utilizing its footprint to create a true family command center.
Furniture-Inspired Cabinetry: Warm wood finishes, decorative hardware, open display shelving, and thoughtful detailing elevate the room beyond pure utility, helping it feel like a natural extension of the home’s design.
The most successful remodeling projects often solve problems homeowners have simply learned to live with. In this case, a room that once served several purposes — but excelled at none — was transformed into one of the hardest-working spaces in the home.
Today, groceries, pet supplies, seasonal gear, household essentials, and daily routines all have a designated place. Even the family’s dogs were thoughtfully considered, with a built-in resting area integrated into the cabinetry. The result is a room that feels remarkably organized despite supporting countless everyday activities — a reflection of how thoughtful design can bring clarity, efficiency, and calm to the busiest parts of family life.
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