Decorating & Design
March 17, 2016
See How HGTV’s The Expandables Make The Most of Every Square Foot
Finding room for all of life’s essentials can be tough whether you’re living in 5,000 square feet, or 500. Careful planning and creative storage solutions certainly go hand-in-hand, but when all else fails, call in the professionals. Enter HGTV’s The Expandables. Together, contractor Rob Evans and designer Mia Parres find ways to maximize storage, fill awkward corners and discover hidden space. With Season 2 of their hit show premiering tonight, we decided to catch up with the decluttering dream team to see just how they do it.
Before: “This family basement had become a total dumping ground for sports equipment, which made it a bit of an eyesore. What these clients really needed was another entertainment space with ample storage.”
After:
- Wood‐look vinyl planks add warmth on top of concrete floors without losing much ceiling height
- Using a daybed as a sofa provides storage and an extra space for guests to sleep
- Creating an entertainment unit out of components with lots of toy storage is very practical
- Adding a wall of floor‐to‐ceiling drapery behind the daybed sofa creates the illusion of windows
- Thin LED pot lights provided ample overall lighting, while pendants and a floor lamp help set the mood
Before: “This kitchen was lacking in many ways, but counter space was one of its biggest deficiencies. We wanted to provide room for the cooks to really spread their culinary wings.”
After:
- The new stainless steel gas range and sleek vent hood are game changers for the cooks in this house
- Relocating heat ducts created a vertical bulkhead that was accented with custom wood spice shelves
- The paper mache moose and graphic patchwork backsplash add a sense of whimsy to the kitchen
- We maximized storage space by installing tall upper wall cabinets right up to the ceiling
- The blue accent wall pops with the otherwise light and airy palette in the space
Before: “To say the kids had taken over this living space is an understatement! Creating an area that was comfortable and casual enough for both kids and adults was the end goal.”
After:
- Removing the non‐functioning fireplace mantel clears a wall large enough for a sectional sofa
- A graphic printed roller shade is a fun and functional solution for privacy and light control
- The dark charcoal drapery panels make the ceilings appear even higher
- Adding one new ceiling fixture in the center of the living space was cheaper than many pot lights, and just as effective at lighting the space thanks to secondary table and floor lamps
- Removing the door frame to the entryway makes the living area larger and the home more inviting
Before: “It isn’t any wonder that nobody wanted to do laundry in this household. We tried to design a laundry area so inviting that you might even argue over who gets to do the next load!”
After:
- Replacing the old machines with new front loaders allowed for a functional folding counter
- Laminate counters with a realistic travertine marble finish are practical, but look high-end
- The blue glass subway tile backsplash adds interest and a clean spa‐like vibe
- The small sink is deep enough to be practical in the laundry area, but also acts as a bar sink
- Installing blinds at the back of a deep window well creates a functional storage & display shelf
Before: “Kitchen chaos was inevitable for this busy young family with so little storage space. Now, it’s easier for them to stay organized with lots of closed cabinets to hide the kitchen clutter.”
After:
- Coating the exposed brick wall with a clear matte water seal turns it into it a durable backsplash
- Stacked horizontal cabinets maximize the vertical height of the kitchen
- Matte black hardware placed on plain white cabinets are a high‐end, modern look
- Open metal shelves showcase more of the brick and are a great place for cookbooks
- Moving the fridge to the center of the kitchen creates easier and safer access to the basement door
Before: “The old staircase was dangerous and the inefficient storage underneath only added to the dungeon feeling in this basement. Now, the new staircase creates a much safer and more welcoming entrance to this space”
After:
- A compact home office area was tucked into the area under the stairs to utilize every nook can cranny
- Although it wasn’t wide, the extra deep desk was great for a printer and extra bookshelf below
- Painting the wall beside a staircase in an accent color adds drama and draws you into the space
- The white fridge seamlessly blends-in with the floor‐to‐ceiling cabinets for supplemental food storage
- Using light colored wood‐look flooring throughout the basement made it feel much larger and warmer
Before: “Talk about wasted space! While the kitchen was cramped into the back of the house, nearly half of the reasonably spacious dining area was acting as a wide empty hallway between the front and back of the house. By creating a banquette seat along the brick wall, the new dining area maximizes all available space since the table can now be pushed much closer to the wall.”
After:
- The modern transparent glass orb light adds a ton of visual interest, but still feels light and airy
- Store‐bought cabinets give you the look and storage benefits of a custom bench seat for much less
- Saving money on the bench allowed them to splurge on a custom upholstered seat and backrest
- Creating a gallery wall of family photos is a great way to fill a large area with affordable artwork
- The molded plastic dining chairs add a modern vibe to this space while remaining family friendly
Before: “While only half of the dining room was being utilized, anyone working in the kitchen felt completely isolated from the rest of the house because of the wall dividing the two spaces. The wall between the dining room and kitchen needed to be removed to give this family a highly functional open‐concept space that still had defined areas.”
After:
- Continuing the same new hardwood flooring throughout the space makes the house feel much larger
- Refinishing the existing dining table meant they could afford stylish new chairs
- Combining the kitchen and dining area allows the cook to feel connected to the rest of the home
- Space was created for a cozy reading corner beside the window
- The extra closed storage under the banquette bench seat is perfect for rarely used items
Before: “The front half of the house looked cluttered and confused about its function. We knew we wanted it to feel like a bright and cheery sun room with storage galore.”
After:
- The window seat is adjacent to the entryway, so it’s an equally great place to read or tie your shoes
- Baskets for outdoor toys, extra shoes and hats can all be stored in the cabinets under the window seat
- Adding a rod to the top half of the high cabinet made it an instant coat closet
- Two deep drawers in the high cabinet (typically for pots) are also the perfect size for toy storage
- Using translucent roller shades provides privacy and light control without enclosing the space
Before: “The old kitchen was so cramped that this family couldn’t cook if anyone was sitting at the kitchen table. Now, the new dining area is so spacious that it’s hard to believe it’s the same house.”
After:
- Hiding the white fridge around the corner from a full wall of storage cabinets made it almost invisible
- Using a bench instead of chairs on one side of the table allowed it to be placed closer to the window
- A DIY wine rack made of reclaimed lumber makes a big statement while also being functional
- The light stain on the new engineered hardwood flooring brightens up the space
- The functional wall of storage cabinets acts as a pantry, toy storage and even a coat closet
Before: “All of the prep and cooking had to take place in a claustrophobic corner of this tiny kitchen with almost no usable counter space. After some rejigging, the chef in this home is no longer boxed into a corner.”
After:
- Putting the microwave on an open shelf below the counter opens up valuable prep space
- Installing a deep corner base cabinet with pull‐out shelves amps up the storage
- White penny round tiles with contrasting grey grout adds visual interest and texture
- An open wine rack is a great solution for a hard-to-reach corner
- Continuing the cabinets below the window fully maximized the amount of usable counter space
All images courtesy of The Expandables