Search results for "Underutilized" in Home Design Ideas

This family’s basement had become a catch-all space and was sorely underutilized. Although it was spacious, the current layout wasn’t working. The homeowners wanted to transform this space from closed and dreary to open and inviting.
Specific requirements of the design included:
- Opening up the area to create an awesome family hang out space game room for kids and adults
- A bar and eating area
- A theater room that the parents could enjoy without disturbing the kids at night
- An industrial design aesthetic
The transformation of this basement is amazing. Walls were opened to create flow between the game room, eating space and theater rooms. One end of a staircase was closed off, enabling the soundproofing of the theater.
A light neutral palette and gorgeous lighting fixtures make you forget that you are in the basement. Unique materials such as galvanized piping, corrugated metal and cool light fixtures give the space an industrial feel.
Now, this basement functions as the great family hang out space the homeowners envisioned.

This spacious, multi-level backyard in San Luis Obispo, CA, once completely underutilized and overtaken by weeds, was converted into the ultimate outdoor entertainment space with a custom pool and spa as the centerpiece. A cabana with a built-in storage bench, outdoor TV and wet bar provide a protected place to chill during hot pool days, and a screened outdoor shower nearby is perfect for rinsing off after a dip. A hammock attached to the master deck and the adjacent pool deck are ideal for relaxing and soaking up some rays. The stone veneer-faced water feature wall acts as a backdrop for the pool area, and transitions into a retaining wall dividing the upper and lower levels. An outdoor sectional surrounds a gas fire bowl to create a cozy spot to entertain in the evenings, with string lights overhead for ambiance. A Belgard paver patio connects the lounge area to the outdoor kitchen with a Bull gas grill and cabinetry, polished concrete counter tops, and a wood bar top with seating. The outdoor kitchen is tucked in next to the main deck, one of the only existing elements that remain from the previous space, which now functions as an outdoor dining area overlooking the entire yard. Finishing touches included low-voltage LED landscape lighting, pea gravel mulch, and lush planting areas and outdoor decor.

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers
This kitchen remodel combined an under-utilized formal dining room and a small, poorly laid-out, kitchen into one large cohesive and functional space. The two furniture-inspired custom islands are great for entertaining; one can be used for socializing, while the other can be utilized for cleaning and prep work. A custom thin brick surround encompasses the professional-grade gas range with additional spice and oil storage while other interesting materials including, honed quartz countertops, glazed thin brick backsplash, and oversized statement lighting complete this gourmet kitchen.
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In New York City every bit of space counts. The rear hall of this Upper West Side apartment was generous, but underutilized. Custom built-ins transformed a hallway into an office that can be shut out of site when work is done or company comes. The cabinetry contains a drop down desk, filing cabinets, storage for office and computer equipment, thin shelves for paperback books, and deep shelves for the display of art and objects brought back from the client’s trips abroad.
Photography - Ken Hild

Goals
While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house.
Our Design Solution
We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests.
A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

The detailed plans for this bathroom can be purchased here: https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/felicitous-flora-bathroom-plans/
The original layout of this bathroom underutilized the spacious floor plan and had an entryway out into the living room as well as a poorly placed entry between the toilet and the shower into the master suite. The new floor plan offered more privacy for the water closet and cozier area for the round tub. A more spacious shower was created by shrinking the floor plan - by bringing the wall of the former living room entry into the bathroom it created a deeper shower space and the additional depth behind the wall offered deep towel storage. A living plant wall thrives and enjoys the humidity each time the shower is used. An oak wood wall gives a natural ambiance for a relaxing, nature inspired bathroom experience.

This modern farmhouse kitchen is in a former 1820s stable converted into a home. Natural cherry and soft green painted cabinet finishes paired with Zellige tile accents and beamed ceilings reflect the vintage character of the old barn and compliment the open plan of the space. The Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden in plain sight while the 48” Wolf range and steam oven are positioned perfectly, allowing this family to stay together while cooking, socializing and eating.
By moving the cramped kitchen to the opposite side of the home, this Morris County New Jersey kitchen and bath remodeler was able to take advantage of a much larger and underutilized space while also improving the overall flow in the remainder of the home.

Heath Aster / Symphyotrichum ericoides
Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) receiving pollination form a couple of Goldenrod Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus), Washington County, Minnesota
Photo: Ben Lowe, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Maximizing space, modifications to windows and moving a doorway gave our clients a baker’s dream kitchen without adding an addition to the home
The underutilized sunroom became the designated expansive space with its own pantry for baking. The second island in this space was designed with a 30” tall baking island rather than a standard height counter allowing for perfect leverage and pressure on dough while kneading.
Our client wanted the induction cooktop, with a retractable hood, on the island so she could look out to the family room while she cooks.
This expansive and beautiful kitchen, newly vaulted ceilings with hemlock beams, and a seating area with a built-in desk created a warm and wonderful space for the family to enjoy.

Hammer & Hand and architect Kevin Fischer (of Alice Design) and Charlotte Cooney (of Domestic Arts) transformed an exposed and underutilized yard area into a space for entertaining, relaxing, and guest quarters. The team turned an underused detached garage into a stylish and comfortable 480 SF accessory dwelling unit with it’s own patio area. H&H also built a new bike shed, sauna, and fence surrounding the property. Photos by Jeff Amram Photography.

The Mercer Island Garden transforms a client’s underutilized lawn space into an urban farm and a native habitat garden per their goals of creating both a productive and ecological space. To unite these two distinct schemes, consistent materials and edible perennials plantings are used throughout the garden.
The southern edible garden is defined by a basalt retaining wall which creates a large, level production space divided by pathways into four beds. Edible and beneficial perennials are placed at the outer edges of the raised garden, allowing regular crop rotation of edible annuals within the 4’ x 12’ beds. Functionally, this design enables peak productivity for the edible garden by maximizing the square footage of garden beds within the area of prime sun exposure. Aesthetically, the layout uses large gestures to create a consistent flow through the garden, linking it to the Northwest native plantings above.
The northern perennial garden showcases native plants with a variety of fruits, flowers, textures, and colors to create a dynamic environment year round. The outer loop of the garden incorporates beneficial flowers near fruiting shrubs, and small pockets provide this homeowner with the opportunity for a floral cutting garden.
Hilary Dahl

For this project the house itself and the garage are the only original features on the property. In the front yard we created massive curb appeal by adding a new brick driveway, framed by lighted brick columns, with an offset parking space. A brick retaining wall and walkway lead visitors to the front door, while a low brick wall and crisp white pergola enhance a previous underutilized patio. Landscaping, sod, and lighting frame the house without distracting from its character.
In the back yard the driveway leads to an updated garage which received a new brick floor and air conditioning. The back of the house changed drastically with the seamless addition of a covered patio framed on one side by a trellis with inset stained glass opposite a brick fireplace. The live-edge cypress mantel provides the perfect place for decor. The travertine patio steps down to a rectangular pool, which features a swim jet and linear glass waterline tile. Again, the space includes all new landscaping, sod, and lighting to extend enjoyment of the space after dusk.
Photo by Craig O'Neal

This client’s vision for their kitchen/hearth room remodel was to create a harmonious space for gathering and socializing with family and friends. Without the before and after photos, you would scarcely believe this was the same home.
This huge home renovation perfectly illustrates that Dimensions In Wood’s expert team can handle every aspect of your remodeling project. Plumbing, flooring, electrical wiring, custom cabinets, structural engineering, appliances, windows, interior and exterior doors, entertainment and more. Contact us today to discuss Translating Your Visions into Reality
The client was interested in new appliance technology, cabinetry to the ceiling, and an Island large enough to seat 3. They also wanted a built-in breakfast nook, improved pantry space, more functional storage on either side of their fireplace, and a built-in appearance for the TV above the mantel. The original built-in desk was not used, and they preferred for that space to serve as a small bar area with refrigeration and a place to store their printer. We designed several plans for the space before selecting the final layout.
The new design required the removal of the soffit over the old sink, as well as a small wall beside the old refrigerator. The wall beside the stairwell had to be shortened 13 inches and a new beam installed to carry the load of the home’s 2nd story to gain enough space for the large central island. The existing closet pantry walls were also reconfigured as per the new plan.
This serves as a great reminder that Dimensions In Wood is much more than just custom cabinets.
Central to the entire custom kitchen is an 8-foot Walnut island. The huge island, which comfortably seats three, is topped with Essenza Blue quartzite. The stone’s natural striations are beautiful. Quartzite is harder than granite, and less likely to stain than other stones because of its density. The couple had to look through multiple slabs to find a piece they LOVED. The island’s custom Walnut cabinetry, built to resemble a piece of custom furniture, was stained Bronzed Walnut by Sherwin Williams.
The 4-foot Galley Workstation in the island, handles all the kitchen’s prep, serving, and cleanup needs. The Galley’s culinary tools include an upper tier cutting board, upper tier drying rack, 2 lower tier platforms, 11″ colander with non-slip handles, and 11” mixing bowl with lid and non-slip bottom. Learn more about the amazing Galley Workstation here. A Waterstone gantry faucet in a pewter finish combines a pull-down sprayer for maximum mobility and a articulated swivel spout. A water tap with reverse osmosis filter provides the highest quality drinking water. To keep a clean and sleek counter we installed a raised air switch for the garbage disposal and integrated soap dispenser. The island also houses the Thermador Sapphire 7-Program Dishwasher with a hidden touch control panel and a custom Walnut wood front. The cabinetry under the Galley Workstation features a trash roll out, as well as storage for the culinary tools.
Shortening the stairwell wall, and reframing around the stairs, which included shortening the handrail, also made room for a bi-fold door walk-in pantry with extra roll out storage and space for a small microwave. Above the panty doors is a remote controlled, electric motor powered, lift up cabinet door which hides a flat screen TV, used while the family is cooking.
To the right of the walk-in pantry is cold food storage. The Thermador, 30-inch Freedom Collection refrigerator and 24-inch built-in freezer column with internal ice maker are covered with matching cabinetry fronts. An open display space was designed above the units, creating an aesthetically beautiful wall. To the right of the refrigerator & freezer columns is a tall cabinet designed for the built-in Thermador steam and convection oven. The convention steam oven is a relatively new technology for homes, but its versatility and food quality is amazing. To the right of this is a pull-out appliance pantry which provides easy access and storage for a stand mixer, blender, and any other appliance you do not want to clutter the counter.
The most visible wall of the kitchen features the 36-inch Thermador Professional Series Harmony Gas Range with Griddle. Between the range and custom designed wood hood, a framed mosaic tile accent in the backsplash, creates a focal point. To clear the air, the Professional Series Thermador 42-inch ventilation insert provides excellent exhaust capabilities, as well as providing multi-level, vivid LED lights for beautiful illumination.
The wall cabinetry symmetrically flanks the custom hood, utilizing deeper wall cabinetry on each end, allowing for storage of oversized dishware. The base cabinetry on this wall is made up of drawers, except for the corner, which is a Kesseböhmer LeMans II. This specially designed shelf system allows ease of access in underutilized blind corners. The dual action articulation system with soft close mechanism ensures a smooth open and close.
Rounding the corner to the outside wall, the base cabinetry was built to a narrower depth, providing additional space for the island, as well as easier access to the new larger pass-thru window which serves the screen porch. The client selected Black Vermont granite countertops with an ogee edge to contrast the Linen White painted cabinetry.
The door to the screen porch was replaced with a Marvin Exterior Door with a raised panel at the bottom of the 3⁄4 glass door.
Marvin Windows replaced the other windows in the space increasing the energy efficiency and value of the home. To establish the breakfast nook, a bench with drawers and an upholstered seat was built into the bay area of the room.
Custom bookshelves were built with open shelves, cabinet doors, and drawers on either side of the fireplace. A new stone hearth and fireplace surround were installed. Above the existing mantel we built a recessed space for the flat screen television hiding all wiring inside the walls for a completely clean look.
The space that was once a desk was transformed into a bar area. The glass shelves and glass cabinet front liquor cabinet stand out. But this bar area has hidden secrets. Tucked beneath the black granite is a Thermador under-counter double drawer refrigerator with matching wood front panels. They blend in perfectly with the cabinets. A wireless printer is easily accessed on a slide out drawer. Plus, what looks like merely wooden panels on the wall are concealing recessed storage for more bottles and glasses!
Overhead recessed lighting and speaker system provide illumination and entertainment through the entire space.
This luxury home had original, solid oak flooring through most of the first floor which the homeowner obviously wanted to keep but were in desperate need of repair and refinishing. Our master craftsmen wove in new wood flooring to match the old where needed, particularly where walls had been changed and where the floor was damaged. We sanded the floors, smoothing away years of wear and tear. The entire wood floor was then uniformly stained, making it impossible to differentiate where any repairs were made.
If this renovation has inspired you, then contact us today! There is no limit to our Dimensions.

Situated along Manhattan’s prestigious “Gold Coast,” the building at 17 East 12th Street was developed by Rigby Asset Management, a New York-based real estate investment and development firm that specializes in rehabilitating underutilized commercial properties into high-end residential buildings. For the building’s model apartment, Rigby enlisted Nicole Fuller Interiors to create a bold and luxurious environment that complemented the grand vision of project architect, Bromley Caldari. Fuller specified products from her not-so-little black book of design resources to stage the space with museum-quality artworks, precious antiques, statement light fixtures, and contemporary furnishings, rugs, and window treatments.

This family’s basement had become a catch-all space and was sorely underutilized. Although it was spacious, the current layout wasn’t working. The homeowners wanted to transform this space from closed and dreary to open and inviting.
Specific requirements of the design included:
- Opening up the area to create an awesome family hang out space game room for kids and adults
- A bar and eating area
- A theater room that the parents could enjoy without disturbing the kids at night
- An industrial design aesthetic
The transformation of this basement is amazing. Walls were opened to create flow between the game room, eating space and theater rooms. One end of a staircase was closed off, enabling the soundproofing of the theater.
A light neutral palette and gorgeous lighting fixtures make you forget that you are in the basement. Unique materials such as galvanized piping, corrugated metal and cool light fixtures give the space an industrial feel.
Now, this basement functions as the great family hang out space the homeowners envisioned.

This modern farmhouse kitchen is in a former 1820s stable converted into a home. Natural cherry and soft green painted cabinet finishes paired with Zellige tile accents and beamed ceilings reflect the vintage character of the old barn and compliment the open plan of the space. The Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden in plain sight while the 48” Wolf range and steam oven are positioned perfectly, allowing this family to stay together while cooking, socializing and eating.
By moving the cramped kitchen to the opposite side of the home, this Morris County New Jersey kitchen and bath remodeler was able to take advantage of a much larger and underutilized space while also improving the overall flow in the remainder of the home.

Once a sad little patch of grass and an underutilized flower bed dominated this small backyard. Now the homeowners have a very usable courtyard without the hassle of mowing turf. Color was introduced to complement the sage green exterior through containers, furnishings, and stone.

This newly constructed home in Jackson's Grant is stunning, but this client wanted to change an under-utilized space to create what we are calling "home central". We designed and added a much larger laundry room / mudroom combo room with storage galore, sewing and ironing stations, a stunning library, and an adjacent pocket office with the perfect space for keeping this family in order with style! Don't let our name fool you, we design and sell cabinetry for every room! Featuring Bertch cabinetry.

Maximizing space, modifications to windows and moving a doorway gave our client a baker’s dream kitchen without adding an addition to the home.
The underutilized sunroom became the designated expansive space with its own pantry for baking. The second island in this space was designed with a 30” tall baking island rather than a standard height counter allowing for perfect leverage and pressure on dough while kneading.
Our client wanted the induction cooktop, with a retractable hood, on the island so she could look out to the family room while she cooks.
This expansive and beautiful kitchen, newly vaulted ceilings with hemlock beams, and a seating area with a built-in desk created a warm and wonderful space for the family to enjoy.

This spacious, multi-level backyard in San Luis Obispo, CA, once completely underutilized and overtaken by weeds, was converted into the ultimate outdoor entertainment space with a custom pool and spa as the centerpiece. A cabana with a built-in storage bench, outdoor TV and wet bar provide a protected place to chill during hot pool days, and a screened outdoor shower nearby is perfect for rinsing off after a dip. A hammock attached to the master deck and the adjacent pool deck are ideal for relaxing and soaking up some rays. The stone veneer-faced water feature wall acts as a backdrop for the pool area, and transitions into a retaining wall dividing the upper and lower levels. An outdoor sectional surrounds a gas fire bowl to create a cozy spot to entertain in the evenings, with string lights overhead for ambiance. A Belgard paver patio connects the lounge area to the outdoor kitchen with a Bull gas grill and cabinetry, polished concrete counter tops, and a wood bar top with seating. The outdoor kitchen is tucked in next to the main deck, one of the only existing elements that remain from the previous space, which now functions as an outdoor dining area overlooking the entire yard. Finishing touches included low-voltage LED landscape lighting, pea gravel mulch, and lush planting areas and outdoor decor.
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