Photo by Lucy Call
Open concept kitchen - craftsman l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Chris Veith
Inspiration for a large transitional eat-in kitchen remodel in New York

Jennifer and Dan have lived in their Deer Park Illinois home for 15 years, slowly making minor fixes like painting and decorating; but they had a new plan for their kitchen the entire time. An awkwardly placed garage door, and an island cooktop with a terrible downdraft made a full-scale kitchen remodel an absolute must. Jennifer had many ideas in mind and wanted to work with a company that could provide high-end work, while partnering with a designer that would tailor the kitchen to her ideas. She was intrigued by the phrase “Common Sense Remodeling” in Advance Design’s feature she discovered while perusing an issue of the community’s Quintessential Barrington Magazine. Doing further research on the company’s website, as she looked through project profiles and read about Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy, she promptly scheduled an appointment to see if the people and ideas she read about were truly who they said they were. The more she read, the more she knew that the “Common Sense” approach to remodeling they described was exactly the type of company she was looking for. The partnership was sealed after an initial consultation with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Michelle Lecinski. They displayed a combination of friendliness, professionalism and respect that was unmatched by any of the other companies Jennifer talked to. She knew that with Advance Design, she would be able to retain the vision that she had in mind with high-quality craftsmanship. “I reached out to Advance Design because of the ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ tagline,” Jennifer said. “That’s what lingered for me”. “Advance Design was the most respectful- of the house and of my design ideas, and the most professional of the handful of companies that looked at my project”. Soon after the meeting Jennifer began working with Michelle on the project design. They quickly developed chemistry. Jennifer loved how Michelle researched and located every detail that Jennifer wanted for the kitchen. Between the two of them, every concept and idea was worked through and perfected. “Jennifer had definite ideas about what she wanted the new kitchen to look like, she just didn’t know how to bring it all together. We worked together really well to make her ideas into the practical reality necessary for a well-functioning kitchen, with the look and feel that she had envisioned”, says Michelle. “Michelle was wonderful in using the CAD system she would show me new drawings every time we changed the layout while working through the design,” Jennifer said. “She was a really wonderful partner in execution, she made sure everything happened quickly and easily.” The finished design drew out elements of Jennifer’s style and personality. The pair call the look “sophisticated farmhouse” to describe the kitchen renovation to family and friends. The result was a beautifully crafted, authentic-feeling space that satisfied Jennifer’s dreams 15 years in the making. The whole project consisted of a kitchen remodel, mudroom upgrade with powder room, and garage entry relocation. “The projects I personally like the best, are the ones that put the client’s dreams on display,” Project Designer Michelle said. “And this is one of those projects.” The main focal point of the kitchen is custom zinc and brass ventilation hood with a vintage sheen, which was hand made to order by a small company in Indiana named Vogler Metalworking. “It’s like sculpture, a true work of art”, says Jennifer. Your eye is immediately drawn towards this elegant yet practical hood that eliminated the home’s downdraft problem and added a striking conversation piece at the same time. The carpenters had to use special gloves when transporting and installing it, so they didn’t smudge it with fingerprints. The beautiful hood centers proudly over the stunning black enamel and brass LaCornue Range. “I had a friend who had a LaCornue range and after learning how easy it was to cook perfect meals, I was convinced I wanted to have one”, says Jennifer. This unique, breathtaking combination anchors the entire kitchen and is apparent immediately as you walk into the great room the surrounds the space. DuraSupreme Crestwood cabinets with a Kendall Panel add function and sophistication. A custom gray paint color paired with a storm blue was developed so that the new kitchen looked like it belonged to the existing space. Unlacquered brass faucets and hardware were important to Jennifer because she wanted the living finishes to age over time. Remarkable brass diamond mesh cabinet door inserts imported from the UK continue to add this one-of-a-kind kitchen renovation; giving it a “you won’t see this everywhere” quality. The use of old railcar flooring for the coffee bar countertop and reclaimed oak for the open shelving gives an authenticity to the space uncommon in kitchens today. Jennifer and Michelle fell in love with the Limestone Grey Stone while they were investigating unique island countertop ideas. They liked the fact that the limestone as a living finish will age and change over time. Calcutta Miel Quartz countertops made for an excellent pairing around the perimeter, as it’s durable and perfect for cooking preparations. A textured white subway tile backsplash that runs to the ceiling keeps your eye moving towards the open shelving, and to the main focal point of the stunning range hood combination. “The kitchen functions beautifully, and it’s gorgeous,” beams Jennifer as she gestures with both hands while smiling ear to ear. “The most important thing was I wanted a kitchen that had a wonderful flow, cooked beautiful meals and was a great gathering place for family and friends, and this space does that perfectly! Beauty wise, it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. I felt the function part was the hardest part, and that was nailed”! Relocating the garage entry to the new mudroom was a huge priority and has finally separated the family’s arriving home functions from their kitchen. Now coats and shoes and bags have their own area for dropping once members arrive home. Matching gray DuraSupreme cabinetry helped create gorgeous, purposeful lockers for the family. A reclaimed vintage sink and custom wall paper were added to the tiny powder room to beautify the once previously only functional space. Advance Design was even able to create a custom space for their dog to sleep while the family is away. “It was unbelievable that a project of this size was completed in such a short time, and I think that’s because of the large amount of planning and preparation that went into it,” Jennifer marveled, “When we started, we were ready, and everything was prepared”. When it came to execution, Project Manager Justin Davis and his crew were quick, accessible, and organized. Projects like this kitchen are typically completed in as little as 8-10 weeks. Jennifer’s kitchen however despite the relocation of some challenging HVAC in a soffit and moving of an exterior door was completed remarkably fast in part because the team was working with an existing tile floor that ran throughout the first floor that the client really loved. “You get to know these people really well because they’re living in your house while you’re living in your house. They were so fast and really good, it didn’t take as long as even planned” reported Jennifer. “I would text Justin and he always responded almost immediately. I got to know all the guys who were working in our house and they were all wonderful people”. Details in a customized kitchen like this one require skill and care from the people who install it. “All the guys on the job were skilled at what the did. I wanted small details like little feet to look like furniture, that is where their carpentry skill came in to make these all perfect”, said Jennifer. “The tile guys were wonderful. They even let me determine how I wanted the texture with the grout to appear for a salt and pepper look; now that is a very skilled trade person making it custom”. In Jennifer’s interview, she continued to reference Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling”, so I took a minute to ask her exactly what that phrase meant to her and how it played out in her experience with her project and the Advance Design team. Here is what she said: “I was intrigued about Common Sense Remodeling and in my head that there would be clear costs and prices, great communication between the design team, the execution team and me”, said Jennifer. They did deliver on that, it was so clear about the cost breakdown, what I could expect from everyone who came to my house, and everything that we had ordered. That to me is the Common Sense”! It’s great to see a client take literally our assertion that a well-planned remodeling project is simply “Common Sense”! She anticipated each step of the way would be clear, concise, and predictable, all the while protecting the outcome due to the careful upfront planning. “Advance Design delivered on their ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ promise,” Jennifer said. “From the design team, to the execution team - everything was straight forward like I imagined. The project turned out exactly how I envisioned, I enjoyed this process and absolutely would recommend Advance Design Studio to anyone.”

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea

Keeping electronics and charger cords out of the way this shallow cabinet makes use of unused space to create a charging station. Classic white kitchen designed and built by Jewett Farms + Co. Functional for family life with a design that will stand the test of time. White cabinetry, soapstone perimeter counters and marble island top. Hand scraped walnut floors. Walnut drawer interiors and walnut trim on the range hood. Many interior details, check out the rest of the project photos to see them all.

Example of a mid-sized classic l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Photo Credit: www.angleeyephotography.com
Inspiration for a farmhouse kitchen remodel in Philadelphia

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry remodel in New York with dark wood cabinets and solid surface countertops

Kitchen - transitional beige floor kitchen idea in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash and two islands

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Austin with medium tone wood cabinets

A young family moving from NYC to their first home in Westchester County found this delightful colonial in Larchmont New York. Studio Dearborn teamed up with Classic Construction Group to redesign space. They stole four feet from the adjacent family room to accommodate a new, classic white kitchen open to the family room. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. The inset cabinetry in Benjamin Moore White Heron is crafted from solid maple. The island is crafted from Rift sawn oak in a custom charcoal stain. White Macauba countertops give a soft earthy ambiance to the room. Cherner style stools are walnut veneer. Contractor, Classic Construction Group. White Macauba countertops by Rye Marble and Stone. Appliances by Thermador; Cabinetry color: Benjamin Moore White Heron. Hardware by Hickory Hardware Studio collection. Backsplash tile by Adex Liso in Surf Gray. Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

Kitchen - large transitional u-shaped gray floor kitchen idea in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern u-shaped terrazzo floor and white floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Austin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, green backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and black countertops

Inspiration for a small industrial single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Columbus with an undermount sink, open cabinets, black cabinets, concrete countertops, black appliances, an island and gray countertops

This 1970's home had a complete makeover! The goal of the project was to 1) open up the main floor living and gathering spaces and 2) create a more beautiful and functional kitchen. We took out the dividing wall between the front living room and the kitchen and dining room to create one large gathering space, perfect for a young family and for entertaining friends! Onto the exciting part - the kitchen! The existing kitchen was U-Shaped with not much room to have more than 1 person working at a time. We kept the appliances in the same locations, but really expanded the amount of workspace and cabinet storage by taking out the peninsula and adding a large island. The cabinetry, from Holiday Kitchens, is a blue-gray color on the lowers and classic white on the uppers. The countertops are walnut butcherblock on the perimeter and a marble looking quartz on the island. The backsplash, one of our favorites, is a diamond shaped mosaic in a rhombus pattern, which adds just the right amount of texture without overpowering all the gorgeous details of the cabinets and countertops. The hardware is a champagne bronze - one thing we love to do is mix and match our metals! The faucet is from Kohler and is in Matte Black, the sink is from Blanco and is white. The flooring is a luxury vinyl plank with a warm wood tone - which helps bring all the elements of the kitchen together we think! Overall - this is one of our favorite kitchens to date - so many beautiful details on their own, but put together create this gorgeous kitchen!

Coastal contemporary finishes and furniture designed by Interior Designer and Realtor Jessica Koltun in Dallas, TX. #designingdreams
Example of a mid-sized beach style l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Dallas with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Trendy u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized coastal l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, quartzite countertops, cement tile backsplash, white countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Austin