Unique Design Challenges

We are often asked to come up with a solution to a unique problem during the design phase.  As a designer forward group, we love the challenge and brainstorm together to make sure the client can walk away with a great solution.  It is a good team building exercise and helps keep our creative juices flowing!  Below are a couple of fun requests and the end result.

During an entertainment remodel in Dover, one of the requests was to add a “cabana” area for a newly installed pool.   It was important that the cabana bar was open in the summer months and a fun space to enjoy off the game room in the winter.  After some initial concepts, we altered the layout to include bar seating both indoors and outdoors with a folding glass window between the two.  This allows for the cabana to be completely open to the outdoors without compromising the use during winter months.

Always think outside the box! One of Ray’s pet peeves is sitting on a deck and not being able to see past the railing, which is installed at the eye blocking height of 36 inches when you sit down. We have come used to different solutions for this, from glass, cable, and even received samples of Tiger Mesh- though we only need a 200lb. lateral force to meet code :), but for this new home with a style we like to call “vacation contemporary” we wanted a more unique feel. We enlisted a commercial fabricator in Ohio to use their safety guard/grid and fabricate these galvanized panels to use as rails. Powder coating would have been possible- but we think the zinc coating pushes the casual nature of the residence. The mix of exotic and North American wood with the industrial metal also offers an interesting fusion- even if it isn’t your taste.

While remodeling a bathroom in Wellesley, the client mentioned that she was going to paint the dinette where it was a tight for space, especially when the door to the basement door is opened, to allow the cats to come and go from the kitty powder room in the basement.  By switching the out-swinging door into a gliding door we solved the space issue… and after contemplating adding a typical opening or cat door, we all chimed in… “How about a mouse hole like in a cartoon!”, “how about a hobbit hole?” then someone said- “how about a cat”?  We re-used the original door with some structural modifications, added the sliding door kit, and used a custom cutout template to create the cat access.  As you can see from the image below, Max is a big fan!