5 Creative Ways to Think About a Project Challenge
See how pros came up with smart solutions to remodeling problems
It goes without saying that renovations aren’t always plain sailing, and many present issues that require some creative decisions. These five projects each offered a different challenge, but the professionals devised ways to solve them. Read on to find inspiration for your future projects.
2. Finding the Space for a Discreet Cooktop and Vent
The owners of this kitchen wanted to look out of the window while cooking, which meant an overhead range hood above the cooktop was off the table. A downdraft vent was the obvious choice, but there were a couple of issues. Firstly, it would require a large motor to be installed beneath the countertop. It also needed a lot of space around it, but a deep countertop would have made it harder to reach the back and been expensive.
The solution: Charlie Draper of Sustainable Kitchens sourced a cooktop that was slim but at the same time large enough for the owners’ needs. She also made use of the shallow area in front of the motor below by designing neat storage for kitchen cloths and spices.
The owners of this kitchen wanted to look out of the window while cooking, which meant an overhead range hood above the cooktop was off the table. A downdraft vent was the obvious choice, but there were a couple of issues. Firstly, it would require a large motor to be installed beneath the countertop. It also needed a lot of space around it, but a deep countertop would have made it harder to reach the back and been expensive.
The solution: Charlie Draper of Sustainable Kitchens sourced a cooktop that was slim but at the same time large enough for the owners’ needs. She also made use of the shallow area in front of the motor below by designing neat storage for kitchen cloths and spices.
3. Positioning a Bed in Front of a Chimney Projection
The location of the bed is usually limited to where there’s a clear wall surface behind the headboard. However, in this tiny bedroom, designed by Phil Thomas of Albert’s House, it made sense to use the flat wall for storage cupboards. This meant the bed had to be positioned in front of a chimney projection.
Solution: Thomas used clever woodwork to turn the voids on either side of the chimney into a feature. The team created false half walls to fill out the space. Hinged shelves on top open up to provide access to the storage within to maximize the space.
The location of the bed is usually limited to where there’s a clear wall surface behind the headboard. However, in this tiny bedroom, designed by Phil Thomas of Albert’s House, it made sense to use the flat wall for storage cupboards. This meant the bed had to be positioned in front of a chimney projection.
Solution: Thomas used clever woodwork to turn the voids on either side of the chimney into a feature. The team created false half walls to fill out the space. Hinged shelves on top open up to provide access to the storage within to maximize the space.
4. Maintaining Light in a Basement
Before: The original addition on this house, belonging to architect Angus Eitel of Fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors, protruded quite a ways into the garden. Eitel decided to reduce the footprint of the addition, which allowed him to add a full-width addition instead. A challenge was presented by the basement, which originally had a light well to the outside. “The big worry about a full-width extension was: ‘How do we still get light into the basement?’” Eitel says.
Before: The original addition on this house, belonging to architect Angus Eitel of Fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors, protruded quite a ways into the garden. Eitel decided to reduce the footprint of the addition, which allowed him to add a full-width addition instead. A challenge was presented by the basement, which originally had a light well to the outside. “The big worry about a full-width extension was: ‘How do we still get light into the basement?’” Eitel says.
The solution: The team resolved the issue by stacking a roof light and a glass panel. This allowed a vertical shaft of light to travel from the first-floor level down to the basement. “The quality of light is surprisingly good for a [basement] space with no windows,” Eitel says. “The glass also creates a nice divide between the old and new parts of the building and the transition between the two styles.”
You can help clients visualize their planned home with Houzz Pro Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans. You can also share photos, files, estimates, proposals and more with clients using Houzz Pro.
You can help clients visualize their planned home with Houzz Pro Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans. You can also share photos, files, estimates, proposals and more with clients using Houzz Pro.
5. Turning a Two-Bedroom Apartment Into a Family Home
The owners of this 915-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment needed more space for their family of four, but they really wanted to stay in their home. It made sense to extend the property, but Tim O’Callaghan of Nimtim Architects was presented with limited options.
A full-width addition wasn’t possible, largely because there were more restrictions around the boundaries on one side than the other. A basement conversion had also been given approval, but O’Callaghan found it wasn’t feasible due to costs and the position of a main sewer beneath the building.
The solution: “In the end, we didn’t really add that much floor space,” O’Callaghan says. “We just elongated it and completely reconfigured the internal layout.” He designed an L-shaped addition to accommodate two new bedrooms. He also relocated a bathroom at the back of the apartment to a windowless room that was being used as a second bedroom.
The doors to the children’s new rooms are located along a narrow corridor, which could have made the area feel slightly squashed. However, O’Callaghan installed generous glazing along the external wall and above, which makes the area appear much more spacious.
Tell us: What challenges have you solved for clients? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments.
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The owners of this 915-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment needed more space for their family of four, but they really wanted to stay in their home. It made sense to extend the property, but Tim O’Callaghan of Nimtim Architects was presented with limited options.
A full-width addition wasn’t possible, largely because there were more restrictions around the boundaries on one side than the other. A basement conversion had also been given approval, but O’Callaghan found it wasn’t feasible due to costs and the position of a main sewer beneath the building.
The solution: “In the end, we didn’t really add that much floor space,” O’Callaghan says. “We just elongated it and completely reconfigured the internal layout.” He designed an L-shaped addition to accommodate two new bedrooms. He also relocated a bathroom at the back of the apartment to a windowless room that was being used as a second bedroom.
The doors to the children’s new rooms are located along a narrow corridor, which could have made the area feel slightly squashed. However, O’Callaghan installed generous glazing along the external wall and above, which makes the area appear much more spacious.
Tell us: What challenges have you solved for clients? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
This elegant room used to be a bedroom, so when Stephen Nash of All & Nxthing decided to turn it into a bathroom, he needed to install plumbing. The catch? The home is a Grade II-listed 1790s townhouse, which prevented the team from running pipes through the underfloor joists. “We could run the pipes from the front to the back of the house, but we couldn’t cut through the joists to run them horizontally so we had to think of another plan,” Nash says.
The solution: Nash came up with the idea of running the pipes along the wall and covering them with paneling. These soft green panels, which align with the windowsill, were made by his carpenter and add a beautiful feature to the room, as well as hiding the pipework.
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