Story: The kitchen is the core of this home, belonging to a family who loves to cook. The house is adorned with characteristics of the early 1940’s including a flagstone foyer, original woodwork and trim as well as leaded windows. Finding the right mix of classic and current was important, especially in maintaining an open concept plan. The end result was kitchen that seamlessly joined a family room ultimately creating a space for everyday family life. Style: a modern take on a classic style. The space is home to warm tones, clean, linear elements and professional appliances. Materials: The kitchen features painted white Kemper cabinets, high end appliances including Miele and Sub Zero, Cambria quartz countertops and Daltile product backsplash. Challenges: This project had its own set of unique challenges. There were vast differences in ceiling heights, large HVAC ducts and pipes to be hidden and entrances to the garage to be observed and maintained. The large central column housing the refrigerator, bookshelves and pantries is actually constructed to hide a chase and other various pipes. It was the unique mix of aesthetics and practical install that made the kitchen such a great space.

Rustic exterior home idea in Philadelphia

The built-ins and floating shelves were a unique challenge since the wall was rounded. We created custom shelves that fit perfectly and made for a visually stunning effect.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

The movement in my doors is what makes each truly unique. Mahogany is the most stable wood of all. Most durable. I have also used other hardwoods (cherry, walnut, teak). With my favorite tool, the bandsaw, I am able to literally turn my sculptures inside out exposing the true middle of the tree, usually the most hidden and protected. Finding the soft, sensual nature inside a rough material is an exciting challenge. For me, warm wood sculptures and doors are a welcome relief from the frantic qualities of today’s world.

This studio apartment is 380 square feet. Basically one room for the living room, dining room and bedroom. It was challenging as walkways needed to be created and the colours within each living area needed to match to obtain a peaceful feeling as you walked into the unit. If you are trying to sell or rent out units in your building, give us a call. We can provide furniture within your budget or you can rent it from us. Call Joanne Vroom 514-222-5553. Unique Home Solutions Inc. has been in business since 2006.

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

We choose to highlight this project because even though it is a more traditional design style its light neutral color palette represents the beach lifestyle of the south bay. Our relationship with this family started when they attended one of our complimentary educational seminars to learn more about the design / build approach to remodeling. They had been working with an architect and were having trouble getting their vision to translate to the plans. They were looking to add on to their south Redondo home in a manner that would allow for seamless transition between their indoor and outdoor space. Design / Build ended up to be the perfect solution to their remodeling need. Like many in the South Bay, the kitchen is the heart of the home to this family. The homeowners wanted a space that was elegant, warm and clean – an accurate representation of their tastes and style; a place to host Sunday barbecues. The island countertop is natural quartz called Corteccia Leather Slab. A lively cream and blue green quartzite with striking linear striation, Corteccia slabs from Brazil have a special leather finish. Similar to honing, leathering a stone closes the pores, making it much less susceptible to staining and allowing for better performance. The leathered finish presents a unique texture while retaining the stone’s natural color. Since the island was such a rock star we were challenged to find its perfect understated compliment for the perimeter countertops. We selected a polished slab of Madre Perla; a classic natural quartzite. Not only are the colors complimentary but the leather and polished textures play off each other nicely. The rest of the kitchen design fell into place from there.

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

Modern living with ocean breezes __ This is another development project EdenLA assisted the client to finish quickly and for top dollar. The fun challenge of more contemporary spaces is how to make them warm and inviting while still maintaining the overall masculine appeal of their architecture. Water features, playful custom abstract art, unique furniture layouts, and warm stone and cabinetry decisions all helped to achieve that in this space. Beach Life Construction implemented the architect's indoor-outdoor flow on the top floor beautifully as well. __ Kim Pritchard Photography

An open floor plan can be challenging to design without professional assistance. We designed this client’s shore home from top to bottom in a beautiful and inviting timeless style. Area rugs define the spaces and simple unique accessories, along with coordinating throw pillows, make all who are invited feel welcome.

The built-ins and floating shelves were a unique challenge since the wall was rounded. We created custom shelves that fit perfectly and made for a visually stunning effect.

Lakeside home rendered in a simple Catawba Coastal style, takes advantage of challenging site while focusing interior views on long range lake views to west and northeast. Sited on a craggy geological outcropping of (2) different limestone types, this site was dismissed as unbuildable for years. Creating this classic from studying J.H. Bellows , a turn-of-the-century developer and architect on Catawba Island, meant use of simple elements with a touch of panache. This unique site, required out-of-the-box thinking to meld casual living with the marvelous views. Open spaces; 1st floor Owner Suite; ease of access; unique guest suites highlight the design features. Tuscan columns create area definition.

This unique deck house was a fun project and challenging at the same time. We removed walls and opened up the space between the kitchen and dining room. Check out the cool track lights on the ceiling. No option for recessed lights in this project. We used the following materials.. Bishop cabinets, Cambria Counters, GE Monogram Appliances, filled in the hardwood as needed and refinished.

This unique deck house was a fun project and challenging at the same time. We removed walls and opened up the space between the kitchen and dining room. Check out the cool track lights on the ceiling. No option for recessed lights in this project. We used the following materials.. Bishop cabinets, Cambria Counters, GE Monogram Appliances, filled in the hardwood as needed and refinished.

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

The homeowners wanted to better use their outdoor space to feel like an extension of their home with several separate lounge and entertaining spaces. While they desired to keep the lawn for their kids, they also wanted to ensure there were enough private areas for adults. While these factors are typical for an Alderwood project, the challenges of this landscape made the final design incredibly unique. Rather quickly, our design team learned that a large septic system ran right underneath most of the backyard. Coordinating with city workers, the building architect, and the clients, our landscape architect crafted a unique design that worked around the drain constraints and accomplished each desire on the clients' list.

Modern living with ocean breezes __ This is another development project EdenLA assisted the client to finish quickly and for top dollar. The fun challenge of more contemporary spaces is how to make them warm and inviting while still maintaining the overall masculine appeal of their architecture. Water features, playful custom abstract art, unique furniture layouts, and warm stone and cabinetry decisions all helped to achieve that in this space. Beach Life Construction implemented the architect's indoor-outdoor flow on the top floor beautifully as well. __ Kim Pritchard Photography