Search results for "Unusable" in Home Design Ideas

This home addition was intended to expand the home to provide the space needed for the growing new family. The existing kitchen was gutted, expanded and opened up to a family room and nook area. Custom inset cabinets were our preference; however cost was a significant concern. The owner researched multiple companies and standard product lines to save on her budget. After careful analysis, we discovered that it was just as cost effective to use the local custom cabinet maker we preferred. This allowed for more precise detailing and unique features. The goal of a classical farm house kitchen character updated with modern features was able to be obtained much to the home owner's delight.
A family room was added to this home, opening up to a screen porch that takes advantage of a previously unused side yard. The much needed new rear entry provides the family a space for their laundry room and is now the primary entry point from the detached garage. Great care was taken to ensure that the home’s new detailing could have been built this way originally. The space however needed to have a modern function for a modern family. The homes existing exterior had aluminum siding and trim which concealed original millwork and shingles. When the nondescript materials were removed, it was discovered that the original was in poor condition. Careful attention was taken to replace and/or repair original materials wherever possible around the entire home, in order to create a seamless exterior character.

camilleriparismode projects and design team were approached to rethink a previously unused double height room in a wonderful villa. the lower part of the room was planned as a sitting and dining area, the sub level above as a tv den and games room. as the occupants enjoy their time together as a family, as well as their shared love of books, a floor-to-ceiling library was an ideal way of using and linking the large volume. the large library covers one wall of the room spilling into the den area above. it is given a sense of movement by the differing sizes of the verticals and shelves, broken up by randomly placed closed cupboards. the floating marble fireplace at the base of the library unit helps achieve a feeling of lightness despite it being a complex structure, while offering a cosy atmosphere to the family area below. the split-level den is reached via a solid oak staircase, below which is a custom made wine room. the staircase is concealed from the dining area by a high wall, painted in a bold colour on which a collection of paintings is displayed.
photos by: brian grech

This homeowner wanted a place to play his records, so Magnolia turned this unused room outside the master bedroom into a listening space. California
Small arts and crafts loft-style carpeted bedroom photo in Minneapolis with beige walls
Small arts and crafts loft-style carpeted bedroom photo in Minneapolis with beige walls
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To maximize entertaining opportunities, we sourced an extendable, weathered Sungkai wood dining table with hand-wrapped natural fiber seating. The show-stopping, wood beaded chandelier, seagrass rug and rattan stick wall mirror use natural elements that exude modern coastal chic. In the unused stair nook, we added a handsome storage bench and through art and textiles incorporated punchy colors like aqua and coral. While we enhanced the space with several new items, we also repurposed many of our clients’ existing accessories and furnishings to create cohesion across all main level spaces as if they were all planned at once.

Eldersburg residence was transformed from an empty and unused space to a relaxed modern farmhouse setting. This rarely used front living room desperately needed warmth and completion. The art deco sconces were changed out to a warmer, modern rustic sconces. The beautiful view was accented by adding pops of color with geometric patterned curtains. The floor was layered with a beautiful sisal rug and additional seating was added with a soft geometric print chair in blues and greens.

Challenges of a Small Kitchen.
"How can we add a dishwasher and increase storage to our already small kitchen?"
A good question for sure. We tucked the refrigerator into what had been a hall closet, encorporated a neat rolling cabinet/cutting board 'under' the new (handmade by owner) oak table, replaced a window into a new place, removed an space wasting unused brick chimney, strategically added many storage cabinets and removed bearing walls.
The countertops are a combination of soapstone and Quartzite. We even squeezed in the "small but pretty" farm sink!
"Lance Kramer (project manager) kept us informed every step, kept the job clean, did great work" ...and with a twinkle in his eye
... " I'd recommend you do not fire him". Richard L." No danger there! Great job K Team.

This two story home in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, built in 1911 needed a full gut and restoration/remodel. Preservation of key pieces like the original wood floor, pocket doors, fire place, built in hutch, staircase and the re-coating and re-purpose of the claw foot tub were center to the design. Modern bathrooms and kitchen were next on the clients request list. We found quite a bit of hidden space within this room. We opened up the eaves for the bed to push back under and we found an enclosed unused space above the entry staircase that became quite a large closet.

Unused attic in a family home turned into 2 addition bedrooms and a much needed bathroom.
Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and single-sink bathroom remodel in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity
Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and single-sink bathroom remodel in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

This family was referred to me by another of my clients. They requested that I help them with their 2 daughter’s loft area. At the time, it was uninviting, didn’t get much use and there was unused space in the existing layout, which wasn’t conducive to gathering. They gave me a great canvas to start with: wood floors, dark moldings and clean white walls. I had a couple of things I had to incorporate into the design plan which were: a wall mounted TV with speakers and an elliptical machine. I came up with a floor plan that tied all the areas of the loft together and made the space more inviting. New furniture was purchased and I layered in decor and accessories that now make it feel like a youthful, but not too young, cool hang out space.

This contemporary rustic basement remodel transformed an unused part of the home into completely cozy, yet stylish, living, play, and work space for a young family. Starting with an elegant spiral staircase leading down to a multi-functional garden level basement. The living room set up serves as a gathering space for the family separate from the main level to allow for uninhibited entertainment and privacy. The floating shelves and gorgeous shiplap accent wall makes this room feel much more elegant than just a TV room. With plenty of storage for the entire family, adjacent from the TV room is an additional reading nook, including built-in custom shelving for optimal storage with contemporary design.
Photo by Mark Quentin / StudioQphoto.com

Kitchen is Center
In our design to combine the apartments, we centered the kitchen - making it a dividing line between private and public space; vastly expanding the storage and work surface area. We discovered an existing unused roof penetration to run a duct to vent out a powerful kitchen hood.
The original bathroom skylight now illuminates the central kitchen space. Without changing the standard skylight size, we gave it architectural scale by carving out the ceiling to maximize daylight.
Light now dances off the vaulted, sculptural angles of the ceiling to bathe the entire space in natural light.

camilleriparismode projects and design team were approached to rethink a previously unused double height room in a wonderful villa. the lower part of the room was planned as a sitting and dining area, the sub level above as a tv den and games room. as the occupants enjoy their time together as a family, as well as their shared love of books, a floor-to-ceiling library was an ideal way of using and linking the large volume. the large library covers one wall of the room spilling into the den area above. it is given a sense of movement by the differing sizes of the verticals and shelves, broken up by randomly placed closed cupboards. the floating marble fireplace at the base of the library unit helps achieve a feeling of lightness despite it being a complex structure, while offering a cosy atmosphere to the family area below. the split-level den is reached via a solid oak staircase, below which is a custom made wine room. the staircase is concealed from the dining area by a high wall, painted in a bold colour on which a collection of paintings is displayed.
photos by: brian grech

This beautiful, 1,600 SF duplex three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in the heart of the West Village was originally a diamond in the rough with great potential. The coop is located on a quiet, tree-lined street and, as a top floor unit, boasts lovely southern and eastern exposures with views of this charming neighborhood overlooking the Hudson. Our clients were making a big move from the West Coast and wanted the new home to be ready in time for the start of the new school year, so Studioteka’s architecture and interior design team rolled up our sleeves and got to work! Construction documents were prepared for the coop board and NYC Department of Buildings approval and our team coordinated the renovation. The entire unit had new hardwood flooring, moldings, and doors installed, the stairs were gently refinished, and we took down a wall separating the living room from a small den on the lower level, making the living space much more open, light-filled, and inviting. The hot water heater was tucked away in an unused space under the stair landing, allowing for the creation of a new kitchen pantry with additional storage. We gut-renovated the upstairs bathroom, creating a built-in shower niche as well as a brand new Duravit tub, Mirabelle high-efficiency toilet, American Standard matte black fixtures, and a white Strasser Woodenworks vanity with black hardware. Classic white subway tile lines the walls and shower enclosure, while black and white basketweave tile is used on the floor. The matte black towel hooks, toilet roll holder, and towel rod contrast with the white wall tile, and a shower curtain with a delicate black and white pattern completes the room. Finally, new mid-century modern furnishings were combined with existing pieces to create an apartment that is both a joy to come home to and a warm, inviting urban oasis for this family of four.

This client had an unusable back yard with a steep slope going down to the canal. They requested an outdoor entertaining area with a sleek, contemporary fire feature and a smart correction to better utilize the grade challenges. We also incorporated a lush privacy hedge barrier and dog run for their three rescue dogs.

There is nothing more timeless than a white transitional kitchen and this gleaming example is proof! Our clients started with a builder grade kitchen that was dark and dated for their taste. We installed new flooring throughout the main floor to reinforce the lighter colour palette they craved. The new cabinetry with double stacked uppers highlights their 9’ ceilings, and a grand island provides ample counter space. The previous layout included an unused “eat-in” area which we incorporated into the kitchen by extending the island and using the wall space to include a bar area and beautifully lit display cabinets. Brushed nickel hardware with touches of gold in the faucet and eye-catching lantern chandeliers bring warmth to the space. Our clients can’t wait to gather friends and family around the island in their new showstopping kitchen!

Although this Hinsdale home was only about a decade old, the floor plan and finishes already felt dated. The homeowners expressed that the layout wasn’t working—particularly the disconnect between spaces they used and those they didn’t. O’Brien Harris was originally brought in to renovate the kitchen, but it quickly became clear that a more holistic transformation was needed.
The formal dining room, located at the front of the house, had long gone unused. Along with design Brynn Olson, O’Brien Harris reimagined the space as a high-gloss wine lounge that now opens onto the front terrace. The adjacent covered porch was enclosed and converted into a light-filled new dining room, making entertaining and everyday meals more inviting and accessible. O’Brien Harris also fully paneled the great room, adding built-in bookcases and reshaping existing arches to bring depth, warmth, and architectural continuity.
The galley-style kitchen is now the heart of the home. Designed for a family that loves to cook and entertain, it features a central island and a secondary wall of storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to house refrigeration, freezer drawers, and extensive dish storage, outfitted with a library ladder. The cabinet finishes are a blend of painted surfaces and light oak, offering warmth without heaviness. Icebox-style strap hinges and latches bring refined vintage character to the space while emphasizing functionality with beauty.
In the primary bath, O’Brien Harris introduced painted cabinetry beneath a waterfall stone counter to coordinate with upholstered panels and full marble finishes. His-and-hers vanities and custom stone flooring complete the serene, tailored retreat.
This was a deeply transformative project, not only in terms of layout, but in the way the spaces now flow and function together—with O’Brien Harris cabinetry anchoring it all in timeless craftsmanship.

The attic was used as storage room before and had no function besides storing unused stuff.
The homeowner wanted to make use of this space by building a new living room in Scandinavian style.
We pushed down several dry walls, put in new sky lights, build new walls and painted everything in a gloss less white. Also the shelves were custom made
Photo provided by Google

Bar at West 9th, created from an unused WC. Victorian era wallpaper by Zak and Fox. Overhead porcelain and brass floral light fixture by Urban Electric Co. Steel shelving clad with bridle leather tops. Brass countertop with refrigerator drawers clad in bridle leather.

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out.
Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center.
The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets.
Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer.
A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style.
The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard.
The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Chicago with a fire pit
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