This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath.

Subway tiled walls and penny tile with a centerline drain. Photos by Chris Veith
Inspiration for a large timeless gray tile and subway tile medium tone wood floor and brown floor alcove shower remodel in New York with a two-piece toilet, beige walls, a pedestal sink and a hinged shower door

Edina Master bathroom renovation
Example of a large farmhouse master white tile and subway tile ceramic tile, white floor, double-sink and shiplap wall bathroom design in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

His and her shower niches perfect for personal items. This niche is surround by a matte white 3x6 subway tile and features a black hexagon tile pattern on the inset.

Double sink vanity perfect for a kid's shared bathroom. White subway wainscotting and penny tile with light grey grout frame the room and a fun herringbone pattern in the tub surround add whimsy.

A closer look at the bathroom cabinetry, Carrera countertop, and rehabbed door with restored door hardware.
Inspiration for a small timeless 3/4 white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and white floor alcove shower remodel in San Francisco with white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door and recessed-panel cabinets

Photography: Philip Ennis Productions.
Walk-in shower - large modern master gray tile and subway tile marble floor walk-in shower idea in New York with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet and a vessel sink

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master subway tile and white tile pebble tile floor bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, a two-piece toilet, brown walls and marble countertops

A soft and serene primary bathroom.
Mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor and double-sink bathroom photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a wall-mount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and a freestanding vanity

The traditional stand alone bath tub creates an elegant and inviting entrance as you step into this master ensuite. Photos by Chris Veith
Freestanding bathtub - large traditional master gray tile and subway tile marble floor and gray floor freestanding bathtub idea in New York with gray walls

Modern, updated guest bath with industrial accents. Linear bronze penny tile pairs beautifully will antiqued taupe subway tile for a contemporary look, while the brown, black and white encaustic floor tile adds an eclectic flair. A classic black marble topped vanity and industrial shelving complete this one-of-a-kind space, ready to welcome any guest.

This bathroom is part of a new Master suite construction for a traditional house in the city of Burbank. The space of this lovely bath is only 7.5' by 7.5' Going for the minimalistic look and a linear pattern for the concept. The floor tiles are 8"x8" concrete tiles with repetitive pattern imbedded in the, this pattern allows you to play with the placement of the tile and thus creating your own "Labyrinth" pattern. The two main bathroom walls are covered with 2"x8" white subway tile layout in a Traditional herringbone pattern. The toilet is wall mounted and has a hidden tank, the hidden tank required a small frame work that created a nice shelve to place decorative items above the toilet. You can see a nice dark strip of quartz material running on top of the shelve and the pony wall then it continues to run down all the way to the floor, this is the same quartz material as the counter top that is sitting on top of the vanity thus connecting the two elements together. For the final touch for this style we have used brushed brass plumbing fixtures and accessories.

Small transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile vinyl floor and gray floor bathroom photo in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink, marble countertops, gray countertops and white walls

Ensuite bathroom with freestanding tub, medium-light wood cabinetry with black matte hardware and appliances, white counter tops, black matte metal twin mirrors and twin pendants.

Just like a fading movie star, this master bathroom had lost its glamorous luster and was in dire need of new look. Gone are the old "Hollywood style make up lights and black vanity" replaced with freestanding vanity furniture and mirrors framed by crystal tipped sconces. A soft and serene gray and white color scheme creates Thymeless elegance with subtle colors and materials. Urban gray vanities with Carrara marble tops float against a tiled wall of large format subway tile with a darker gray porcelain “marble” tile accent. Recessed medicine cabinets provide extra storage for this “his and hers” design. A lowered dressing table and adjustable mirror provides seating for “hair and makeup” matters. A fun and furry poof brings a funky edge to the space designed for a young couple looking for design flair. The angular design of the Brizo faucet collection continues the transitional feel of the space. The freestanding tub by Oceania features a slim design detail which compliments the design theme of elegance. The tub filler was placed in a raised platform perfect for accessories or the occasional bottle of champagne. The tub space is defined by a mosaic tile which is the companion tile to the main floor tile. The detail is repeated on the shower floor. The oversized shower features a large bench seat, rain head shower, handheld multifunction shower head, temperature and pressure balanced shower controls and recessed niche to tuck bottles out of sight. The 2-sided glass enclosure enlarges the feel of both the shower and the entire bathroom.

Snowberry Lane Photography
Large beach style master green tile and subway tile porcelain tile and gray floor bathroom photo in Seattle with gray cabinets, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, shaker cabinets and green walls

Camden Grace LLC
Bathroom - mid-sized modern 3/4 white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and black floor bathroom idea in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, black walls, an integrated sink, solid surface countertops and white countertops

Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized victorian master white tile and subway tile gray floor and marble floor bathroom remodel in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, quartz countertops and gray countertops

This project was a complete home design plan for a large new construction luxury home on the south-end of Mercer Island. The contrasting colors utilized throughout emit a chic modern vibe while the complementing darker tones invites a sense of warmth to this modern farmhouse style.