This 7500 sf single-family, 5 bedroom home designed, built, and engineered by BGD&C Custom Homes is located in Lincoln Park. The home features classic architecture and timeless detailing with a brick and limestone façade and prominent copper-clad bay windows; and boasts lavish exterior entertaining space, including a side yard, rear yard, balconies, and roof deck. The clients moving from the Chicago suburbs are empty nesters and have two children. Amongst the owner’s must haves- an urban home that could comfortably accommodate their visiting children, and spaces throughout designed specifically for entertaining. The house was already partially built when the client acquired a second lot, allowing for two additions – a conservatory-style game room and a music room – also designed and built by BGD&C Custom Homes.

This quaint home, located in Plano’s prestigious Willow Bend Polo Club, underwent some super fun updates during our renovation and refurnishing project! The clients’ love for bright colors, mid-century modern elements, and bold looks led us to designing a black and white bathroom with black paned glass, colorful hues in the game room and bedrooms, and a sleek new “work from home” space for working in style. The clients love using their new spaces and have decided to let us continue designing these looks throughout additional areas in the home!

Cedar shakes mix with siding and stone to create a richly textural Craftsman exterior. This floor plan is ideal for large or growing families with open living spaces making it easy to be together. The master suite and a bedroom/study are downstairs while three large bedrooms with walk-in closets are upstairs. A second-floor pocket office is a great space for children to complete homework or projects and a bonus room provides additional square footage for recreation or storage.

Middlefork was retained to update and revitalize this North Shore home to a family of six. The primary goal of this project was to update and expand the home's small, eat-in kitchen. The existing space was gutted and a 1,500-square-foot addition was built to house a gourmet kitchen, connected breakfast room, fireside seating, butler's pantry, and a small office. The family desired nice, timeless spaces that were also durable and family-friendly. As such, great consideration was given to the interior finishes. The 10' kitchen island, for instance, is a solid slab of white velvet quartzite, selected for its ability to withstand mustard, ketchup and finger-paint. There are shorter, walnut extensions off either end of the island that support the children's involvement in meal preparation and crafts. Low-maintenance Atlantic Blue Stone was selected for the perimeter counters. The scope of this phase grew to include re-trimming the front façade and entry to emphasize the Georgian detailing of the home. In addition, the balance of the first floor was gutted; existing plumbing and electrical systems were updated; all windows were replaced; two powder rooms were updated; a low-voltage distribution system for HDTV and audio was added; and, the interior of the home was re-trimmed. Two new patios were also added, providing outdoor areas for entertaining, dining and cooking. Tom Harris, Hedrich Blessing

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. Joe Nowak

Playrooms are all about FUN! When we started this room was a family theatre room. With baby number three on the way, and two twins already on board, it was important for this family to have a space for the children to do what children do best…. PLAY! Children prefer bright colors from an early age because their eyes are not fully developed yet. They perceive these colors better than fainter shades. Brighter colors and high contrasting colors stand out more in their field of vision; this is why we see so many primary brightly colored children’s toys. I wanted to set a stage where we didn’t feel like we constantly needed to clean up. We wanted to design a room that allowed you to live a realistic life over the design layer. I love how the children’s toys don’t clash with our playful rug. We customized large built ins underneath the windows seats to provide ample storage for large toys, and a space to sit and read. We framed out an existing book case, and wired two adjustable one arm wall lamps above. The added shiplap to the back of the bookcase provided texture, dimension and interest to an ordinary bookcase. The Adjustable one arm wall lamps are available at www.AlexandraLauren.com and the Sputnick Ceiling fixture is from Wayfair.com. We framed the window with two natural woven sideboards in black for additional toy storage. The Root Coffee table was one of my favorite features of this room. I loved bringing in a natural elements through woven doors on cabinets, a natural root coffee table, shiplap and floating natural wood shelving. I chose to do Benjamin Moore Simply White on the shiplap. It's a modern, bright, yet warm white, that absorbs and reflects beautifully on both wood and walls.

Repeat clients of Mountainwood Homes traded their rural property for a downtown Camas, Washington charmer to enjoy a walkable lifestyle while their children finish high school. They bought an original, 1954 midcentury modern home intending to remodel it as a transitional family space before college. The whole house renovation balances modern living with respect for the original architectural character, blending contemporary finishes and functional upgrades to preserve its midcentury charm.

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

Avengers Murals, hand painted throughout a kids bedroom by Tom Taylor of Mural Art LLC. Superhero art has become very popular the last ten years and I've been asked to create superhero themed wall murals in rooms for kids and people of all ages. Whether it be Spiderman, Captain America, Batman or Avengers; the addition of large hand painted superheros will add amazing character to any room. I like to include shadowing with my characters to create a realistic 3D quality to the artwork and image. Superhero art is perfect for any game room, media room or your children's bedroom.

Do you enjoy wildlife, love bird watching or simply love good old mother nature at work? A pond is not just an addition to your garden, a pond is a lifestyle! Children and adults of all ages can experience so many thrills with a backyard pond. From the shimmering sparkle of glimmering fish to turtles and dragon flies, an array of birds and creatures will make your pond home!

This beautiful kitchen area was created with family in mind. Our clients have young children so it was important that this design incorporate beauty and comfort as well as durability for years to come. The sleek and clean white cabinets and counters plus the pop of navy in the island and bar area are accented beautifully with brass hardware and fixtures. Additionally, we integrated a showstopping quartz sink. Completed during the covid pandemic, we were sure to go above and beyond to make everyone comfortable while perfecting every aspect of this kitchen, dining space and powder bath.

This busy family has small children, but wanted to add finish to their existing leather furniture. The addition of a reclaimed wood and iron coffee table, and the mid century marble topped console table, along with accessories and lighting really gave the room pizzazz. Photo credit: Matt Ross

Cedar shakes mix with siding and stone to create a richly textural Craftsman exterior. This floor plan is ideal for large or growing families with open living spaces making it easy to be together. The master suite and a bedroom/study are downstairs while three large bedrooms with walk-in closets are upstairs. A second-floor pocket office is a great space for children to complete homework or projects and a bonus room provides additional square footage for recreation or storage.

Glamorous. Refined. Luxurious. Kid-friendly? Indeed! In fact, this Michigan Avenue weekend retreat is home-away-from-home for a family of six, including four young children. Still, serenity and sophistication reign, thanks to a rich array of shimmering, shining, glossy, glassy surfaces, from subtly patterned fabrics that disguise peanut butter and jelly fingerprints to luminous accents that cast an urbane glow as the sunsets over the Lake Michigan sky. Mostly-neutral interiors are energized by strategic pops of color; custom architectural embellishments infuse additional character. Floor plan modifications ensure expansive sightlines throughout, and accentuate skyline views.

This beautiful kitchen stands where the original dining room was located. While older homes tended to have the kitchen hidden away, modern living brings the kitchen into the heart of the home. From here, the homeowners can watch their children play outside, have direct access to their outdoor living and dining as well as their lovely dining room, and all while entertaining guests or serving up their young children at this expansive island.

The handheld shower with 60" (1500mm) hose allows for rinsing off after a bath, targeted cleaning, and bathing children. And the spout with an aerator can fill the tub rapidly with no-splash water for a comfortable soak. Finished in glistening polished chrome, it will be an eye-catching addition to update your home. Constructed from solid brass for durability and reliability. Finished in a high quality, corrosion resistant polished chrome. Dual function brass hand shower with 60" (1500mm) stainless steel hose included. Not suitable for low pressure. Recommended water pressure is 0.3~0.6 MPa (3~6 bar). All mounting hardware is included.

Cedar shakes mix with siding and stone to create a richly textural Craftsman exterior. This floor plan is ideal for large or growing families with open living spaces making it easy to be together. The master suite and a bedroom/study are downstairs while three large bedrooms with walk-in closets are upstairs. A second-floor pocket office is a great space for children to complete homework or projects and a bonus room provides additional square footage for recreation or storage.

This colorful Contemporary design / build project started as an Addition but included new cork flooring and painting throughout the home. The Kitchen also included the creation of a new pantry closet with wire shelving and the Family Room was converted into a beautiful Library with space for the whole family. The homeowner has a passion for picking paint colors and enjoyed selecting the colors for each room. The home is now a bright mix of modern trends such as the barn doors and chalkboard surfaces contrasted by classic LA touches such as the detail surrounding the Living Room fireplace. The Master Bedroom is now a Master Suite complete with high-ceilings making the room feel larger and airy. Perfect for warm Southern California weather! Speaking of the outdoors, the sliding doors to the green backyard ensure that this white room still feels as colorful as the rest of the home. The Master Bathroom features bamboo cabinetry with his and hers sinks. The light blue walls make the blue and white floor really pop. The shower offers the homeowners a bench and niche for comfort and sliding glass doors and subway tile for style. The Library / Family Room features custom built-in bookcases, barn door and a window seat; a readers dream! The Children’s Room and Dining Room both received new paint and flooring as part of their makeover. However the Children’s Bedroom also received a new closet and reading nook. The fireplace in the Living Room was made more stylish by painting it to match the walls – one of the only white spaces in the home! However the deep blue accent wall with floating shelves ensure that guests are prepared to see serious pops of color throughout the rest of the home. The home features art by Drica Lobo ( https://www.dricalobo.com/home)

This beautiful kitchen stands where the original dining room was located. While older homes tended to have the kitchen hidden away, modern living brings the kitchen into the heart of the home. From here, the homeowners can watch their children play outside, have direct access to their outdoor living and dining as well as their lovely dining room, and all while entertaining guests or serving up their young children at this expansive island.