Search results for "Useable" in Home Design Ideas

Another design that creates a useable front yard that includes a fire pit, a large rock retaining wall, and easy low maintenance plants creating amazing curb appeal. The side yard has beautiful large steps and a false creek. The back yard is a simple sodded area for kids and grandkids to play.

Stone Stairs and Decomposed Granite Patio. Ashley Farrell Landscape Design
Example of a tuscan patio design in Santa Barbara
Example of a tuscan patio design in Santa Barbara

This client wanted to take their unused dining room and turn it into a useable and functional space. Consequently, GOODESIGN turned the space in to a moody lounge area.
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The original layout of the tub/shower had the shower head installed on the awkward angled ceiling area, at a really low height, making it virtually unusable. By swapping the plumbing wall location, we were able to install a standard height shower head and tub combination, making this shower useable. The lighting was also not adequate in this bath. Without a window and only a small light in the ceiling, the space was dimly lit. By adding in some cleverly placed sconces and keeping the finishes light, we were able to brighten up the space.

This kitchen renovation involved increasing the useability of the space by opening the support wall between the kitchen and the dining room, which the customer thought was a great idea. The result is nothing short of amazing, with much more light able to get into the dining area, and the increased convenience of the kitchen and dining areas being more closely connected. wow!!!

Located on a steep hill above downtown Ventura, this modern Spanish house features panoramic views of town with the ocean and Channel Islands beyond. While the views are amazing from a large front deck, the steep slope presented some constraints on the landscape design.
Although the property is about a third-of-an-acre, the only useable and open garden space is a small (about 500 square feet) area to the West of the house. The house sits at the back of the property, and another steep hill on the neighboring property behind is held back by a tall retaining wall, leaving just enough room for a narrow, hardscaped patio in the back yard.
Bright plantings along the back of the property delineate the home from the neighboring property, and we chose plantings to help stabilize the soil and further develop the Spanish garden look while creating a lush, inviting feel. Additionally, we added 52 pieces of pottery to soften and add interest to the back garden and patio areas. Succulents, herbs, and California natives fill the pottery along with bright, sweet-smelling, tropical-looking, and climate-appropriate plants.
Slope stabilization was paramount for the front hill. Beyond that, finding plants that would thrive on the steep slope was the next obstacle. Finally, the aesthetics could be addressed, and we worked to find plants that meshed with the architecture—blending plants with white and orange to play off the red-tiled roofs and white-plastered walls that are emblematic of the Spanish style of this house as well as the predominate style of the neighborhood.
The flattish area to the West was designed with the idea of creating a contemporary take on the parterre garden. Reminiscent of Mediterranean gardens, this vegetable and herb garden substitutes formal hedges with formal Corten steel planters to honor the modern Spanish architecture of the house. The citrus, herbs, and vegetables serve the foodie clients well.

Garden Art and Aeoneomes. Ashley Farrell Landscape Design
Example of a tuscan home design design in Santa Barbara
Example of a tuscan home design design in Santa Barbara

This beautiful 1950's craftsman needed a redo, inside and out. After gutting it down to it's studs, the main floor and basement were redesigned for much more useable space. Three tiny bedrooms upstairs became a large master with a double sink on suite and a guest bedroom with a beautiful new bathroom. The stairway that was in the kitchen was relocated so the kitchen became larger and much more usable. The basement went from a red and orange monstrosity to a soothing family room, bedroom and new bathroom as well as an updated laundry room and storage closet. New windows and doors, as well as an egress window was added to make it code compliant. A new roof and fireplace finished off the remodel of this cozy, colorful craftsman cottage. Photos were taken by Moore House Photos by Jett (Jett Moore Photographer).

The award-winning Urbane Accent Tables feature a simple design that draws from deconstructivism yet still presents a refined, and highly functional piece of furniture.
The unique design element of these uncomplex tables is the legs. They jut far above the tabletop itself, creating a dramatic look that’s the first thing you notice. Although the legs are proportionally large, they don’t detract from the table’s functionality or take up too much of the useable space.
Made from solid American Ash, the legs are dimensionally stout but have a substantial taper that lightens their look and adds elegance to the otherwise blocky design. To produce the desired look, the legs were torch burned leaving a deeply charred surface, like the ancient Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban. The surface of the legs was then aggressively scrubbed with metal brushes to remove the softer wood and accentuate the open grain patterns that Ash is known for.
All six legs were built from a single slab of Ash, and they are attached to the tabletops using a large dado joint that’s very strong, requiring only glue and no mechanical fasteners.
The solid tabletops were crafted from a single slab of Argentine Mesquite that provide a beautiful contrast to the dark, chunky legs.
The tables were designed and built in 2023 but the Mesquite slab was responsibly sourced in mid-Arizona in 2016.

This client wanted to take their unused dining room and turn it into a useable and functional space. Consequently, GOODESIGN turned the space in to a moody lounge area.

We love this rustic look for a finished basement. That stunning arch between the bar and the game/living room is all reclaimed barnwood! Finished basement is complete with a bar, island, wine cellar, half bath, kids room, seating area and fireplace, and a laundry room. By Majestic Home Solutions, LLC.
Project Year: 2016
Country: United States

Award winning hillside renovation with concrete walls and informal 'bocce court'
Design constraints: Full sun and steep hillside
Planting design: This yard started as a blank hillside that had a steep slope. BKLD provided consultation and design work to develop the hillside with a series of terraced walls to create a bocce court. The bocce court was done in an informal fashion with artificial turf so the client could entertain with the space and have the 'look' of green. This turned out to be a great low maintenance and drought tolerant way to add useable space as well as a softer view from the upper deck. Existing Oaks were all kept and designed around carefully with composite decking. The Oaks make for some great shadow play and is quite the dynamic space as the sun angles move thru out the day.

A Beautiful Outdoor Kitchen with a Beautiful Wood Arbor and Stone Pillars. Ashley Farrell Landscape Design
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Designed by Reico Kitchen & Bath in Springfield, VA in collaboration with contractor Kevin Murnane of Sugar Oak Corporation, this classically elegant transitional kitchen design features cabinets in multiple door styles and finishes along with 2 different countertop types.
The kitchen perimeter and bar features the Woodharbor Madison flush inset door style in Maple with a Designer White finish with granite countertops in the color Honed Virginia Mist. The kitchen island also features the Woodharbor Madison flush inset door style in Maple with a custom enamel finish and Honed Calcutta marble countertops. The second sink and TV areas features the Woodharbor Oxford full overlay door style in Cherry with a Tumbleweed Matte finish. Kitchen appliances are from Wolf and Sub-Zero.
Photos courtesy of Felicia Evans Photography.

The homeowners of this Mukilteo residence partnered with H2D Architecture + Design to transform their underutilized rear deck into a highly functional outdoor living environment. The existing deck was refinished and reconfigured to create a more useable area for gathering, seamlessly extending the interior living space to the outdoors. A Struxure pergola was introduced to provide adjustable shade and light filtration, allowing the space to adapt to changing weather and seasons. Beyond the deck, the design steps down to a thoughtfully composed concrete paver patio anchored by a custom round wood hot tub, creating a warm and tactile focal point. Surrounding this feature, a built-in bench establishes a zone for relaxation and socializing, while a fire pit adds both ambiance and year-round usability. A custom screen wall was integrated to provide privacy and subtle enclosure without sacrificing openness, helping to define the space while maintaining visual connections to the landscape. The combination of multi-level seating, integrated elements, and carefully considered materials results in a cohesive outdoor retreat that supports a variety of uses.
+ Architecture + Design: H2D Architecture + Design
+ Builder: Bradley J. Rodgers Remodelling
+ Photography: Thomas Vincent

A transformation inspired by the owner’s love of modern architecture, art and color (and the adjacent sand, rock, water, and the northwest landscape), the Indianola House sought to bring the soul of a home to a colorless muted box. The original house was a drab 1990’s-era box with no personality or presence sited on a beautiful secluded bay, facing water and island views, northwest of the City of Seattle. The existing mono-colored stucco-clad exterior and pyramidal glass-block openings had led the neighborhood to dub the structure, unflatteringly, “The Miami Vice House”.
Rhodes Architecture’s Residential Architects careful use of natural light, rich, collaged finishes and ability to open the house to gardens, beach, and outdoor gathering was critical to the design. The house soon became “The Gallery”.
The original home’s grey stucco exterior made the house seem both large and featureless; the introduction of no-maintenance exterior materials that collage and complement each other was a goal of the homeowner and the Seattle Architects who teamed up for this residential design. The bloated scale of the house cried out for the establishment and definition of the parts of the structure, a breaking down of the home’s form and its apparent bland size.
Living, sleeping, and bathing areas that started as staid spaces were in need of opening to the natural environment with additions of large doors, folding glass walls and useable balconies were crucial to each space having a dialogue with the outdoors.
The owner’s extensive art collection was highlighted and became the focus of interior places, well-lit naturally and through a new lighting system. Energy use and sustainable systems were a key component of the design which used high-efficacy lighting, better cladding on a rain-screen system, high-efficiency doors and windows, new insulation and weather barriers, and which added a photovoltaic-generated electrical system. The contemporary design sought to integrate all of these systems, materials, and finishes into a seamless whole that lent interest and drama to a residence which was previously lusterless.
How radically this house was transformed is evident in the exteriors, gardens and the natural spaces the house now opens to, as well as the gallery-like interiors. This home is a stunning testament to what is possible “before-and-after” when remade by Rhodes Architecture + Light.
The clients are an older couple with long professional and political careers, a love of art and a clear desire to connect with the Northwest environment and enliven their daily lives with spaces full of color and natural light.
Rhodes Architecture + Light was hired in 2019 to add new exteriors and interiors, natural light, larger openings to beach and bay, seismic and foundation upgrades to the home, and to infuse life into the house through the re-use of existing space and varied materials, color, textures, and lighting. The only actual change to the exterior “shell” of the house was the introduction of a low “gull-wing” roof with wood soffits above the central atrium space, to add drama and bring natural light into the entry gallery space. Interior spaces, including bedrooms and bathrooms, were re-planned and opened to each other, to greater natural light, to roof decks, and to the incredible views and sea-side environment.
The Builder, Fairbank Construction Company of Bainbridge Island, Washington, met the challenge of the design, first completely deconstructing the finishes inside and out, then precisely interlocking new claddings, windows and doors, cabinetry, finishes and a new gull-wing central roof in a beautiful transformation. The construction was total, thorough, and very detailed, resulting a house that, far from seeming a “remodeling”, is far more present and fitting to the owner’s lives and the natural environment than the house we started with.

This fresh patio was updated with a new patio with pavers, creating a useable outdoor living space. Plantings, lighting and a grean teal pathway all help circle the patio in tranquility. High five coated fencing creates a backdrop against the fencing, as well as providing a trellis in front of the spa, providing privacy as the new landscaping grows.
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