The client is an avid collector of books. Her modest cape cod home provided little room for the collection and she realized that her home did not take advantage of the depth of her property. The rear yard was unlandscaped and sloped toward the rear of the house. The goal was to create a library that oriented to a rear garden and to create an exterior terrace which would address the slope of the property and form a sheltered outdoor space for dining and relaxation. The solution was to create a library addition with a large bow window with built-in desk facing the newly formed upper garden. In collaboration with a landscape architect, we terraced the sloping site and created a courtyard between the garage and new library, sheltered by a pergola. The French doors added to the modest garage provide the other side of the courtyard.

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Example of a huge transitional look-out medium tone wood floor basement design in Milwaukee with beige walls

Photography: Brittany Ambridge
Home design - coastal home design idea in Boston

The Book Club uses a variety of materials and creatively utilizes space to transform a small backyard into an urban oasis. A low concrete wall forms a lounge space with a cantilevered IPE bench and fire pit. Large-format concrete pavers connect the lounge area to a dining and BBQ space, protected from the elements by an overhead louvered roof. The use of synthetic turf, along with native and adapted plant materials, makes this space the low-maintenance, private getaway our client was seeking.

Client's recently purchased their home and wanted to make some updates without having to do a full gut job. We used the original cabinets but opted for new glass doors, a little woodwork to modernize them and got rid of the old medium oak cabinets and did a light grey color. Topped with a white quartz counter, accompanied by a limestone backsplash. To finish it off we gave the cabinets new hardware and pendant lights. The pot rack also was a new addition and fits perfectly over the new large peninsula. Throughout the rest of the home we blended their existing furniture with a few new pieces and added some color to spruce up their new home.

Entryway - transitional entryway idea in San Francisco

This narrow master closet was designed to maximize every square foot of this space. His and Hers areas were duplicated using a drawer tower and a shelf tower. We also added a bench with a drawer and some double/ long hang.

Inspiration for a patio remodel in San Diego

Photo: Anna Addison Photography © 2013 Houzz
Mountain style porch idea in New Orleans

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.”

As an ode to National Bubble Bath Day, we've rounded up our top 5 ways to update your bath area in 2021. From space-savvy tubs to geometric tile patterns, here's how we're envisioning our next soak: 1. Stand alone soaking tubs 2. Floating vanities 3. Backlit mirrors 4. Large tiled flooring - geometric patterns and wood grain 5. Smart toilets Who‘s adding “take more baths” to their New Year’s resolutions?? ??‍♀️? #nationalbubblebathday #soakingtub #floatingvanity #luxurybathroom #bathroomideas #luxurybathrooms

The clients wanted a spa-like master bathroom for their Traditional Bernardsville home with a modern interior. The bathroom is extremely large, so in order to give them the bathroom of their dreams we created a large, two-person shower with a stone bench, tile feature wall and double niches. Across from the shower sits two walls which house his and hers vanity. The floating vanities were custom crafted from White Oak with a custom veneer finish. The fixtures all all simple, sleek and chrome in order to not take away from the textures and organic feel of the bathroom. In the left back corner we added the water closet behind a mirrored pocket door. The crystal infinity chandelier adds a final feminine touch to the beautiful space.

The clients wanted a spa-like master bathroom for their Traditional Bernardsville home with a modern interior. The bathroom is extremely large, so in order to give them the bathroom of their dreams we created a large, two-person shower with a stone bench, tile feature wall and double niches. Across from the shower sits two walls which house his and hers vanity. The floating vanities were custom crafted from White Oak with a custom veneer finish. The fixtures all all simple, sleek and chrome in order to not take away from the textures and organic feel of the bathroom. In the left back corner we added the water closet behind a mirrored pocket door. The crystal infinity chandelier adds a final feminine touch to the beautiful space.

His Bathroom. Outfitted with a rain shower and bench, the light gray tiled shower feels very zen. We added the darker stone tile above the vanity for contrast and a beautiful statement.

In dining room we recovered the Greenes' strong horizontal emphasis and warm ambiance. Paneling and trim are Honduran mahogany. Alcove was added in 1931. To better integrate it with the room we added posts, benchs and paneling. Art glass sconces and lantern are reproductions made on-site by craftsman Glen Stewart. Cameron Carothers photo

Custom Home Built for Real Life Our clients came to us with a clear vision: a home that could adapt to their lifestyle and growing family. They needed a home built with intention, designed with the future in mind, and built around the routines they loved and the people they loved more. Open-Concept Living With Hosting in Mind Our clients hosted often and lived actively, so the main level had to be flexible for all of life’s moments. The goal was a space that felt grand without losing its warmth. Cooking together as a family mattered to our clients – the Wolf range, farmhouse sink, integrated appliances, and large island gave them a kitchen that flowed effortlessly while looking beautiful. This space also served as the bridge between other parts of the main level so that they would stay in view of the next. This created the perfect environment for gathering where everyone had their own spot without ever feeling apart from the whole group. For the living room, our clients wanted space that felt open without losing its warmth. Soaring ceilings created that sense of scale, while warm tones and materials, like the wood coffered ceiling and fireplace wall, kept it grounded. That same warmth carried outside, where an outdoor lounge with a fireplace and dining area made sure guests felt welcomed the moment they stepped out. A Backyard Built for Real Rest Every corner of the backyard was designed with one goal: to be the ultimate outdoor retreat. The elevated, white-brick-framed pool and integrated spa hot tub gave them a place to truly exhale. As the sun set, the fire pit lounge next to the pool became the hangout spot when they hosted their youth groups and family gatherings. Room to Grow With kids in the house, “custom” had to also mean flexible. Our clients had 2 young sons and needed their rooms to grow with them through the years. The two bedrooms and a full bath sat beside a loft that served as both their hangout-and-homework spot. The guest suite sat on the same level where a four-poster bed, floor-to-ceiling wood-look tile, and a frameless glass shower welcomed their guests from day one. A Retreat That’s Actually Theirs Between hosting and raising kids, this couple needed a suite that felt like a true escape. The wood-planked tray ceiling and French doors grounded the room in warmth the moment you walked in, while the ensuite bathroom carried a spa-like feeling with a freestanding soaking tub, custom double vanity, and a glass-enclosed shower. This Is What Approachable Luxury Looks Like The approachable luxury experience meant starting with conversations about how they wanted their space to live with them – how they hosted, how their kids played, how they wanted to feel walking through their own front door, and how we took their goals and experience and used it as the foundation of every decision that was made from start to finish. We wanted our clients to feel taken care of through the process and, most importantly, feel heard.

Photo Credit to Alex Lukey
Mid-sized minimalist light wood floor and white floor entryway photo in Toronto with white walls and a black front door

Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and porcelain tile ceramic tile, gray floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

In this combined mud room and laundry room we built custom cubbies with a reclaimed pine bench. The shelf above the washer and dryer is also reclaimed pine and the upper cabinets, that match the cubbies, provide ample storage. The floor is porcelain gray/beige tile. This farmhouse style home in West Chester is the epitome of warmth and welcoming. We transformed this house’s original dark interior into a light, bright sanctuary. From installing brand new red oak flooring throughout the first floor to adding horizontal shiplap to the ceiling in the family room, we really enjoyed working with the homeowners on every aspect of each room. A special feature is the coffered ceiling in the dining room. We recessed the chandelier directly into the beams, for a clean, seamless look. We maximized the space in the white and chrome galley kitchen by installing a lot of custom storage. The pops of blue throughout the first floor give these room a modern touch. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images