Design Solutions

HOW DO I PATCH HARDWOOD FLOORS?
We have removed a wall in our living room.  Now we need to patch the oak wood floor.  A floor installer told us he would have to rip up the existing floor about 15 feet on both sides of the missing flooring so he can install the flooring staggered in each direction.  Plus, he said the new floor will be darker than the old floor due to sun bleaching.
  • Yes, this is normally what wood floor installers suggest and because of the slight sun bleaching, you will have a zebra look for about a year  while waiting for the new floor boards to bleach out.  However, I have another solution.  Talk to your floor installer about installing an inlaid design with oak flooring similar to your existing oak floor.  Then frame the new inlaid floor with a darker wood such as walnut. He may not be comfortable with inlaid floors.  In that case, search for another wood installer who is willing and able to produce a lovely inlaid design.  Plus he can stain and finish your new inlaid design to match the slightly lighter finish on your existing floor due to sun bleaching.  Your inlaid floor will look like it has always been there and be less expensive with less mess in lieu of tearing up your existing wood floors.
HOW DO I ENLARGE MY SHOWER?
We want to remodel our Master Bathroom.  Our shower has two shower heads and is wide but only about 2 ½ feet deep.  How can we enlarge the shower?  It is already as wide as it can be. 
  • After viewing your home, I noted that you have a closet in the hall on the other side of the shower.  If you can live without that closet, I would suggest you remove the closet, wall off the opening, and use this space for enlarging the shower.
A NUMBER OF INTERIOR DOORS WON'T STAY OPEN
We have two doors that will not stay open.  We have to use a door stop on both of them.  Is it due to settling and is there a solution?
  • The doors may have been hung slightly off or it could be due to some settling.  However, the easiest remedy is to remove the top pin in your door hinge.  Either place it in a vice or on a concrete step and hammer it gently until you have a slight bend in the pin.  Hammer the pin back into the hinge.  The friction from the slightly bent pen should stop the door from closing.  If it still closes slightly,then do the same with the second pen.  It is possible that these doors are closing on their own due to a slight settling or the doors may have been slightly tweaked when they were installed.
HOW DO I MAKE A PRETTY SMALL PRINT STAND OUT?
I received a beautiful but very small framed print.  If I had a matching print, it would be easy to find a place to hang the pair.  But since the print is so small, the lone print looks lost on the wall.
  • Consider taking the print to a good Framing store.  Select a mat that is color coordinated to your print as well as a frame that is two to four times larger than your print.  When the print is mounted with the large mat and over sized frame, your print will stand out nicely plus you will have a larger framed print that can be hung on any wall.
HOW DO I MAKE MY POOL MORE ATTRACTIVE?
I have an half above ground and half below ground pool.  It is not a very attractive part of our landscaping and the fiberglass is visible on the south side. 
  • I have encountered other homeowners with the same problem.  A good solution is to add an interesting yet simple Gazebo on one end of he pool for shade.  Then we added lattice around the actual pool to not only cover up the exposed fiberglass but to also keep rodents from nesting under the deck.  The pool now looks elegant and the shade is much appreciated.  
MY COMFORTER AND DUST RUFFLE LEAVE THE MATTRESS EXPOSED
I have purchased an expensive comforter for my King bed.  The comforter is too short for my double pillow-top mattress. I can see the mattress between the comforter and dust ruffle.   I have compared my comforter to others and they appear to all be the same length so purchasing a replacement is not going to help.  
  • With the new mattresses, I have found this problem to be widespread.  My suggestion is to either find a dust ruffle that contrasts nicely with your comforter and existing dust ruffle or look for material that can be made into a second dust ruffle.  The second dust ruffle should be sewed onto the underside of the comforter so you have a layered affect. 
  • Another solution would be to purchase a bedspread rather than a comforter.  They are designed to hang down to the floor.  Therefore, your thick mattress will raise slightly it but should still cover your mattress.  
ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO HEAVY DRAPES?
I need shades in my bedrooms for privacy but I do not like the look of heavy drapes hanging on both sides of the shades. I know the shades will look bare by themselves.
  • Consider adding color coordinated valances above the shades.  Valances look especially stylish if the material matches chairs or the bedspread in the bedroom.  Plus the window shades no longer look lonely.
WHAT IS A SOLUTION FOR AN ELEGANT WET BAR?
Our kitchen is too small to store our wine and bar glasses, wine bottles and liquor for entertaining.  We would love to have a wet bar located close to our living room that might even accommodate a wine cooler.  We are afraid that the cost will be prohibitive if a contractor builds us one.
  • I have found that the most economical and elegant wet bar is one that is built into an old armoire.  Armoires can be on the small size or gigantic.  You need to determine where the wet bar can be placed to determine the size.  You can easily add a sink in the Armoire and an AC plug can also be installed in the Armoire.  However, the cost of your wet bar will be less If you can locate a wall where a sink and electricity are already on the other side of the wall.  This one has a sink, outlet, lighting, bar refrigerator['; wine cooler, drawers, and shelves for storing everything.  Purchase and remodel of this Armoire was $3200.
HOW DO I GET MORE CUPBOARD SPACE?
My kitchen simply does not have enough cupboards.  I have no place to store my extra small appliances and over-sized soup stock pan.
  • Do you have a small wall where a tall, slim cabinet can be placed?  It is amazing how much storage space is in these tall, slim cupboards.  You can find numerous sizes at unfinished furniture stores.  If you are not into finishing furniture, most unfurnished furniture stores will apply the finish you select.   You also may be lucky and find the perfect cupboard already finished.
HOW DO I GET MORE PRIVACY FROM MY FRONT DOOR?
I don’t like people looking into the house when they are at the front door.  Should I remove this window?
  • I would suggest replacing the clear window with either a stained glass window or a crystal window, whichever goes best with the style of your house.  There are great stained glass vendors who can even custom design your window if you desire.  These windows are also a very attractive addition to our front entrance.  In this photo, the front door is at the top of the stairs to the right.
HOW DO I HIDE EYE SORES LIKE DOWNSPOUTS?
My foyer is an impressive 12 feet high.  As you walk into the foyer, your eyes are drawn to a high window.  But what you see through the window is a big, ugly downspout. 
  • Consider replacing the glass window with a stained glass window.  There are stained glass vendors who can show you an array of designs.  You can also design what you want and they will make it for you to the correct size.  If the overall view outside of that window is that of a mountain or trees, you could have the vendor use that view for the stained glass window.  The stained glass window will totally block out the downspout.
IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE WINDOWS ATTRACTIVE WITHOUT CURTAINS OR BLINDS?
I don’t like to use curtains or blinds on windows where I do not need the privacy.  But without some window covering, the windows tend to look boring. 
  • How about color coordinated valances on your windows?  They look particularly sharp when using material coordinated with your kitchen table chair cushions or an area rug placed in front of the sink.
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How can I convert this outside space into a Small Room?
This small outdoor alcove just outside the back door was ideal to close off with a wall and door in order to make a Mud Room, complete with cloak closet .  We used a French door on the new wall and a replaced the typical back door with a french door in order to keep the new room full of light.  



















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