At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design

Design Solutions – using design to solve undesirable conditions

Think how much more ordinary this home would appear without the deep taupe color in the foyer. When you arrive you enter a compressed area — an area of calm and containment that marks a landmark in your travel from the street up the walk to the home.

I’ve moved to a neighborhood built at the turn of the 20th Century where many of these homes, including mine, have windows that look into a neighbor’s house. The quickest and cheapest solution is often drapery and curtains which help ensure privacy but also often block light and a sense of space. Below are some strategies I’ve used to block a view. I would love to hear about ways you’ve successfully blocked a view while retaining daylight and airiness.

Yesterday’s article covered the major elements that make color palettes work in architecture using a home with a bold, bright color palette. This home uses the same conceptual elements with a more somber palette of grayed-greens, deep wine, and a touch of creamy yellow. This home also features two elements that weren’t as apparent in the other home: The effectivness of Darker Transitions and moving from Dark to Light as daylight increases.

This article explores what makes a color palette work. In this home, I’ve used several bold colors but none overwhelm. Read about the 6 elements I use in color design.

This home uses a bright, energetic palette without being overwhelming. Let’s look at how the use of color sets the stage and creates visual boundaries. The only place red is used is on the column dividing the kitchen from the breakfast area. The column is necessary to hide a structural support, a waste stack and ductwork. The deep red marks the transition between the working Kitchen and the sitting area of the breakfast room.

Window Treatments don’t need to cost a lot — even eye-catching ones that bring rave reviews! See 5 rooms with easy, inexpensive treatments that create a WOW factor.

Our client had been struggling for 2 years with their open design house — they just couldn’t make it cozy for family meals. …This article is about using floor plans to diagnose & fix problems and using mock-ups to review or confirm your solutions.

We had recently modernized the kitchen, dining room, and master suite and hall bath. With just a few cosmetic changes, we modernized the living room to fit in.

This 1930’s home off Sligo Creek in Silver Spring, MD didn’t have an easy way to take advantage of it’s sylvan setting. The nicest views were from the front but zoning set-back requirements prohibited adding on in that direction.

Probably the best bang for the buck is finishing an unfinished basement. This playroom is right down the stairs from the kitchen making it a great place for kids to play while Mom is preparing dinner.