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. Angled bay captures NE vista.

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.

Scott Exteriors - before and after photos of an award-winning project at a beautiful, historical home on Swiss Ave. in Dallas. It was severely damaged by hail. The project posed numerous, unique challenges related to logistics, storm clean up, dry-in, solar panels, historical designation requirements, safety and customization. The end result - beautiful! Photo credit: Scott Exteriors

The client of this project had a specific vision for the shape of his cabin. He desired a triangular aesthetic for the home and we saw much potential on the design of this lodging we jumped right into the challenge. Even though a few complications came along the way, we still managed to generate habitable and comfortable spaces that could accommodate not only the visitors but also fitting furniture that could work with its unique pointy roof.

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 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.

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.

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

A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

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.

We installed custom sun shades into a new restaurant in Lowertown, Saint Paul. The brick arches and high windows presented a unique design challenge. Our goal was to maintain the beautiful brick charm while diminishing the blinding sunlight. Roller sun shades on the lower windows with contoured sun fabric in the arches was the solution. Note the attention to detail along the brick edges with fabric install. The results were beautiful!

Philadelphia’s mix of historic buildings and new developments brings unique challenges. I’ve installed wallcoverings in cafes, workspaces, and medical practices, always focusing on prep, clean lines, and materials that complement both modern and classic architecture.

On this remodel project the homeowners asked us to give the interior a contemporary face-lift that would to beautifully compliment their impressive contemporary art collection AND also feature a very large salt water fish tank (2 ft deep, 3 ½ft high x 5ft long) in the middle of the kitchen, cleanly integrating it with the cabinets, appliances, and other kitchen features. We custom designed a LEICHT kitchen in neutral whites and grays which formed the perfect clean canvas for the tropical fish, as well as the bold and colorful contemporary paintings throughout the home. Including a large fish tank in the kitchen was a fun and unique assignment for us to handle. The biggest challenge was to create the actual space for the fish-tank. To do this we had to reconfigure walls and go into the adjacent dining room. The sheer weight of such a large volume of water was another challenge. Photo by Studio Europa Inc.

A wine room developed from a wall opening where 3 wine fridges were. Racking in lacquered metal, with cables and acrylic and bottom open wood cabinet with embedded LED strips to create an awesome ambiance in dining area. Over 650 bottle capacity and challenging space preparation resulted in a unique wine room display to the complete owner's satisfaction.

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.

Preliminary architecture renderings were given to Obelisk Home with a challenge. The homeowners needed us to create an unusual but family friendly home, but also a home-based business functioning environment. Working with the architect, modifications were made to incorporate the desired functions for the family. Starting with the exterior, including landscape design, stone, brick and window selections a one-of-a-kind home was created. Every detail of the interior was created with the homeowner and the Obelisk Home design team. Furnishings, art, accessories, and lighting were provided through Obelisk Home. We were challenged to incorporate existing furniture. So the team repurposed, re-finished and worked these items into the new plan. Custom paint colors and upholstery were purposely blended to add cohesion. Custom light fixtures were designed and manufactured for the main living areas giving the entire home a unique and personal feel. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw

Challenge: design a modern master bedroom that both the husband and the wife would enjoy. A place to retreat to, to recharge in. Hand selected all finishes and furnishings. Designed custom built-in. Managed outside sub-contractors and project managed lighting schedule, wallpaper installation, custom built-in.

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.

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.