Mike and Michelle of Lake Barrington knew they needed extra space. Their home was becoming too crowded for their family with blossoming teenagers, so a basement renovation offered the perfect solution for more space for the kids and more room to entertain for the adults. “Our project consisted of expanding our laundry room, putting in a first floor wet bar so we had adult space upstairs, while also renovating our basement for a family-friendly and teen-functional area as well,” Michelle says. They found Advance Design Studio through a neighbor who gave a glowing recommendation, giving Michelle and Mike the confidence they needed to move forward with a major home renovation. They felt like they knew Advance Design before they even worked together. When they met with the owner Todd Jurs and designer Nicole Ryan, Mike and Michelle knew they were getting a trustworthy, dependable team that could create the project they had been dreaming about for 7 years. Having virtually no natural light to work with, one of the biggest design challenges was creating a basement that did not feel dark and depressing. The Advance team got to work creating architectural archways and custom detailed dry-stack stone columns artfully designed into the space, adding a dramatic element that made the space feel less like a basement or more like a relaxing family room. Color 3D renderings were created to portray what the space would look like so Mike and Michelle could visualize the space in advance. Detailed trim and crown moldings grace the built in buffet and wet bar making for an amazingly functional space that lacks nothing in style and visual interest. Cherry wood cabinetry by Dura Supreme is featured in the space with a “Cocoa Brown” finish and includes beautiful mirrored glass doors embellished with unique elliptical mullion details. A built-in microwave, dishwasher and mini fridge add practicality to the ample entertainment mecca. An under mounted sink finishes the space joined with a intricate mosaic tile backsplash and “Ventisca Polished” quartz countertops. The basement is absolutely perfect for hosting friends and family with expertly designed key areas such as a game space for the kids, a movie area for the family, an ample workout room with luxurious full bath, and even built in wine storage. The family absolutely loves the new basement living space, and has already enjoyed numerous family movie nights and sleep-overs with friends. While custom cabinets made by Dura Supreme were used to create unique spaces that lived up to Mike and Michelle’s expectations., heated flooring under the 16”x16” “Mongolian Spring” tile was installed giving all tiled areas of the basement a much cozier feel, eliminating that cold hard surface most of us hate in our basements! The new basement must-have requirement list included a new bath space, which was incorporated adjacent to the work out room. The sleek shower door and cabinets in the new bathroom make guests and family feel like they are in an elegant hotel. The new guest bath features 4”x36” “Silver Screen” honed marble tile in a brick pattern on the shower walls and 2”x2” “Chenille” limestone tile in a hexagon mosaic pattern on the shower floor. “I came in with very specific requirements for our three project areas,” Michelle says. “There was not one time that I felt like I was asking for something that was not going to turn out how I anticipated.” Tying in multiple rooms during a renovation if you have can do it makes a lot of sense and saves money in the long run. A fully functional laundry room as well was a must on this family’s wish list. Michelle wanted to add space to the existing cramped and awkward laundry room, and Mike wanted to make sure they could still park a car in the garage. Reconfiguring interior walls required borrowing unused space cleverly from the garage in order to enlarge the laundry room space. Drawers under the stairs added beautiful hidden storage created almost magically out of dead space. White painted Dura Supreme cabinets bring additional light into the small space; while the 16”x16” cleft slate tile flooring provides excellent contrast and the naturally earthy feel Michelle wanted. Quartz countertops with a 3”x12” “Debut Dew” subway tile backsplash add elegance to the now upliftingly bright laundry room. The extra space makes doing laundry much more pleasurable and the added storage is a great for all those little things like winter hats and gloves, umbrellas and the like. “The Advance Design project team was phenomenal to work with,” Michelle says. “They came in, shared the plans with us and walked us through the expectations. We always knew what was coming next.” Converting an existing closet space, the wet bar upstairs was challenging because they wanted a functional area that didn’t look or feel like cabinets just sticking out of a closet. So the Advance team transformed this ordinary closet space into a stunning wet bar that architecturally appears as if it’s always been there. Traditional, elegant hand carved custom molding matching the adjacent fireplace ties the new entertainment bar area in nicely with the existing family room and kitchen area. Featuring a built in wine refrigerator, Dura Supreme cabinetry in deep cherry wood elegantly displays wine bottles and etched glass mullion doors that fill with soft light in the evening hours. Cambria “Windermere” quartz countertops with a sophisticated hammered copper sink and a glimmering backsplash round out the stunning wet bar. Hosting parties and family functions has become much more enjoyable now that they have a dedicated beverage serving area large enough to include hors devours. All three projects were designed and constructed together at the same time, making for a cohesive project that was administered smoothly and easily both for the design team and for the family. Disruption to the home was minimal as each phase was completed in each project conclusively, and design and meeting time for the homeowner was efficient and organized making for an enjoyable process. “Advance Design was great to work with,” Michelle says. “I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a home improvement project. They took the time at the beginning to understand our needs, our budget, and our vision for our home. The field team was great, attentive, on time, cleaned up each day and made the overall experience very positive. We couldn't be happier with the finished product.” With the help of our talented, award winning design team you can create the basement, laundry room, or any other home renovation that you have been dreaming of. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating you home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about that kitchen remodeling project. Joe Nowak

Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized transitional galley ceramic tile and brown floor dedicated laundry room idea in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, beige walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

White quartz countertop Recessed panel cabinetry
Utility room - small contemporary vinyl floor and multicolored floor utility room idea with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Catherine Nguyen
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped ceramic tile utility room design in Raleigh with a side-by-side washer/dryer, medium tone wood cabinets and white walls

A multi-purpose laundry room that keeps your house clean and you organized! To see more of the Lane floor plan visit: www.gomsh.com/the-lane Photo by: Bryan Chavez

Transitional laundry room with a mudroom included in it. The stackable washer and dryer allowed for there to be a large closet for cleaning supplies with an outlet in it for the electric broom. The clean white counters allow the tile and cabinet color to stand out and be the showpiece in the room!

Mid-sized country concrete floor and gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, wood countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

With appliances that look NASA designed, this modern laundry room has sliding barn doors to close off the area easily.
Small minimalist beige floor dedicated laundry room photo in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, beige walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and brown countertops

Laundry closet - contemporary medium tone wood floor laundry closet idea in San Diego with quartz countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer, white countertops and white cabinets

White laundry room took advantage of vertical space with a stacked washer and dryer to make room for plenty of storage, a folding area and sink.
Inspiration for a small timeless l-shaped porcelain tile dedicated laundry room remodel in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a stacked washer/dryer and solid surface countertops

Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized farmhouse galley marble floor and white floor dedicated laundry room idea in Sacramento with an utility sink, white walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

The patterned floor continues into the laundry room where double sets of appliances and plenty of countertops and storage helps the family manage household demands.

This long narrow laundry room was transformed into amazing storage for a family with 3 baseball playing boys. Lots of storage for sports equipment and shoes and a beautiful dedicated laundry area.

Andrea Pietrangeli, http://andrea.media/

Laundry may be a chore we all face, but it doesn't have to feel like one. Clean and serene is the theme for this laundry center. Located in a busy part of the house next to the back door and combined with coat and shoe storage into a mud room, it still offers a sense of peace and calm by providing a place for everything and preventing chaos from taking over. It's easier to keep the room looking tidy when you have a good organizational system like this one. Shelves and cabinets above the side-by-side front loading washer and dryer provide convenient storage for detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener and other laundry aids. A shelf with a basket is a great place to temporarily store all the little items that were left in pockets and shouldn't go in the wash. The small hanging rod in the corner takes care of the delicate drip dry items that can't go in the dryer, while the small sink with storage cabinets is large enough for hand wash and things you want to quickly rinse out like swim suits. It's also a great place to stop and wash dirty hands before continuing into the rest of the house. A garbage can is hidden in the cabinet beneath the sink. The lower shelves with baskets next to the sink can store either folded clothing that has yet to be put away, or a basket or dirty laundry waiting to go into the wash. The oil rubbed bronze finish on the cabinet handles and faucet ties in with blue, beige, dark brown and white color scheme present throughout the first floor of the home and is a strong accent against the white. It also ties in perfectly with the dark wood look ceramic tiles on the floor. Designer - Gerry Ayala Photo - Cathy Rabeler

Diane Wagner This client not only needed a new kitchen but they had no storage, no mudroom, and useless closet in the garage. We took over the closet made it part of the laundry room to recess the washer and dryer , add an indoor closet and allow space for a mudroom and extra storage. The kitchen was gutted and we added a large center island, custom cabinets, and eat in area . We added a slider with a transom so the table could be round. The Family room we added a sectional and added a ship lap wall. We lowered the mantle and added left over granite from kitchen for the surround. Both Island the wood mantle are painted the same gray tone.

Mid-sized mountain style galley porcelain tile dedicated laundry room photo in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige cabinets

Who wouldn't mind doing laundry in such a bright and colorful laundry room? Custom cabinetry allows for creating a space with the exact specifications of the homeowner and is the perfect backdrop for the floor to ceiling white subway tiles. From a hanging drying station, hidden litterbox storage, antimicrobial and durable white Krion countertops to beautiful walnut shelving, this laundry room is as beautiful as it is functional. Stephen Allen Photography

1919 Bungalow remodel. Design by Meriwether Felt, photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a small craftsman concrete floor laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with yellow walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer, white cabinets and wood countertops