Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Building Architecture: Charlie & Co. Design | Interiors: Martha O'Hara Interiors | Photography: Landmark Photography
Mid-sized transitional open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Minneapolis with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Master Bathroom Addition with custom double vanity. White herringbone tile with white wall subway tile. white pebble shower floor tile. Walnut rounded vanity mirrors. Brizo Fixtures. Cabinet hardware by School House Electric. Photo Credit: Amy Bartlam

Jessica Delaney
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The most notable design component is the exceptional use of reclaimed wood throughout nearly every application. Sourced from not only one, but two different Indiana barns, this hand hewn and rough sawn wood is used in a variety of applications including custom cabinetry with a white glaze finish, dark stained window casing, butcher block island countertop and handsome woodwork on the fireplace mantel, range hood, and ceiling. Underfoot, Oak wood flooring is salvaged from a tobacco barn, giving it its unique tone and rich shine that comes only from the unique process of drying and curing tobacco. Photo Credit: Ashley Avila

Mid-sized trendy 3/4 gray tile and subway tile single-sink bathroom photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, an undermount sink, gray countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

Example of a mid-sized trendy dark wood floor entryway design in San Francisco with beige walls and a glass front door

This bathroom reflects a current feel that can be classified as transitional living or soft modern. Once again an example of white contrasting beautifully with dark cherry wood. The large bathroom vanity mirror makes the bathroom feel larger than it is.

John Gruen
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless medium tone wood floor powder room remodel in New York with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, limestone countertops and blue walls

The powder room has a beautiful sculptural mirror that complements the mercury glass hanging pendant lights. The chevron tiled backsplash adds visual interest while creating a focal wall.

Laura Hayes
Example of a mid-sized classic master beige tile and stone slab porcelain tile bathroom design in Other with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Study room - mid-sized transitional built-in desk dark wood floor study room idea in Minneapolis with multicolored walls and no fireplace

Living room library - mid-sized transitional enclosed gray floor and porcelain tile living room library idea in San Diego with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

A complete and eclectic rear garden renovation with a creative blend of formal and natural elements. Formal lawn panel and rose garden, craftsman style wood deck and trellis, homages to Goldsworthy and Stonehenge with large boulders and a large stone cairn, several water features, a Japanese Torii gate, rock walls and steps, vegetables and herbs in containers and a new parking area paved with permeable pavers that feed an underground storage area that in turns irrigates the garden. All this blends into a diverse but cohesive garden. Designed by Charles W Bowers, Built by Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc. © Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc./Charles W. Bowers

Interior Design: Muratore Corp Designer, Cindy Bayon | Construction + Millwork: Muratore Corp | Photography: Scott Hargis
Mid-sized urban concrete floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in San Francisco with multicolored walls and no fireplace

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

This new home was designed to nestle quietly into the rich landscape of rolling pastures and striking mountain views. A wrap around front porch forms a facade that welcomes visitors and hearkens to a time when front porch living was all the entertainment a family needed. White lap siding coupled with a galvanized metal roof and contrasting pops of warmth from the stained door and earthen brick, give this home a timeless feel and classic farmhouse style. The story and a half home has 3 bedrooms and two and half baths. The master suite is located on the main level with two bedrooms and a loft office on the upper level. A beautiful open concept with traditional scale and detailing gives the home historic character and charm. Transom lites, perfectly sized windows, a central foyer with open stair and wide plank heart pine flooring all help to add to the nostalgic feel of this young home. White walls, shiplap details, quartz counters, shaker cabinets, simple trim designs, an abundance of natural light and carefully designed artificial lighting make modest spaces feel large and lend to the homeowner's delight in their new custom home. Kimberly Kerl

Mid-sized beach style gender-neutral medium tone wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall kids' room photo in Jacksonville with white walls

Example of a mid-sized country light wood floor and beige floor entryway design in Atlanta with white walls and a dark wood front door

Mid-sized beach style 3/4 porcelain tile, black floor, double-sink and shiplap wall walk-in shower photo in Milwaukee with a two-piece toilet, white walls, a wall-mount sink, a hinged shower door, a niche and a floating vanity