Norwood House is a 55 year old center hall Georgian Revival style house that sits on an expansive piece of property across from the main campus at Kent Place School. The house and grounds are owned and maintained by the School, and serve as the primary residence for the Head of School and her family. The property is also used on occasion for school functions. Since there have been no significant improvements to the property since the 1980’s, we worked with the School to improve the entire house and surrounding grounds. Specifics included creating a mudroom between the garage and the kitchen, relocating the dining room and family room to improve the flow of the first floor layout, adding three pairs of French doors in the sunroom leading out to a new bluestone patio, gutting and redoing the kitchen, renovating all of the bathrooms, and refinishing the basement. The scope also encompassed various infrastructure improvements, including a new roof, new windows, new high efficiency HVAC and lighting, etc. For the project, we also worked closely with Frances Chester, a local Landscape Architect, on improving the property with new plantings, walkways, patios, driveway, lighting, etc. The school required that the project be complete by the beginning of the 2014 school year. We worked the Contractor, Owner’s Rep, and members of the Board of Trustees to have construction completed within 5 months, which was a very aggressive schedule for a project of this size.

Don't let the aggressive front door fool you. There is nothing but a soothing interior to this home.
Front door - mid-sized craftsman front door idea in Chicago with blue walls and a red front door

This 2,000 square foot vacation home is located in the rocky mountains. The home was designed for thermal efficiency and to maximize flexibility of space. Sliding panels convert the two bedroom home into 5 separate sleeping areas at night, and back into larger living spaces during the day. The structure is constructed of SIPs (structurally insulated panels). The glass walls, window placement, large overhangs, sunshade and concrete floors are designed to take advantage of passive solar heating and cooling, while the masonry thermal mass heats and cools the home at night.

Modern galley kitchen featuring this gray countertop paired with full overlay white and black high gloss cabinetry and appliances to complete this modern design. and compliment the large porcelain tile flooring. The pops of color are great accent pieces to add flare to the space. For more on Normandy Designer Chris Ebert, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/christopher-ebert/

A modern renovation at Thermi Thessaloniki. I used strong contrasts like wallpaper cement on wall with gold details and aggressive lines on storage units, as a result making it unique, luxury, and cozy. A modern fireplace designed to make the mood warm.

A modern renovation at Thermi Thessaloniki. I used strong contrasts like wallpaper cement on wall with gold details and aggressive lines on storage units, as a result making it unique, luxury, and cozy.The upper level leading to the kitchen is the main theme in the house.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional gray and partial sun one-story and front yard wood and mulch retaining wall landscape in Boston with a shingle roof.

We designed this custom fountain with the requests of our client in mind. The view into the yard was important, so as not to block out the yard as well as subtle sound from the fountain versus an aggressive splashing. The delicate sound and adjustable fountain heads make the customization endless.

Photo: Stan Shebs, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Cercis occidentalis in the south fork of Pine Creek Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada

Prior to stone wall treatment running from refrigerator, under cabinets, past oven, to the edge of the raised countertop area. (out of picture)
Trendy kitchen photo in Boston

Walkway to the boat dock. Our clients have a very aggressive slope in their backyard which made it dangerous for them and their guests as they carried things to their boat. To fix this, we created a beautiful natural walkway!

The Challenge This beautiful waterfront home was begging for an update. Our clients wanted a contemporary design with modern finishes. They craved improved functionality in the kitchen, hardwood flooring in the living areas, and a spacious walk-in closet in the master bathroom. With two children in school, our clients also needed the project completed during their summer vacation – leaving a slim 90 days for the entire remodel. Could we do it? …Challenge accepted! Our Solution With their active summer travel schedule, our clients elected to vacate their home for the duration of the project. This was ideal for the intrusive nature of the scope of work. In preparation, our design team created a project plan to suit our client’s needs. With such a clear timeline, we were able to select and order long-lead items in plenty of time for the project start date. In the kitchen, we rearranged the layout to provide superior ventilation for the cooktop on the exterior wall. We added two large storage cabinets with glass doors, accented by a sleek mosaic backsplash of glass tile. We also incorporated a large contemporary waterfall island into the room. With seating at one end, the island provides both increased functionality and an eye-catching focal point for the center of the room. On the interior wall of the kitchen, we maximized storage with a wall of built-in cabinetry – complete with pullout pantry cabinets, a double oven, and a large stainless refrigerator. Our clients wisely chose rich, dark-colored wood flooring to add warmth to the contemporary design. After installing the flooring in the kitchen, we brought it into the main living areas as well. In the great room, we wrapped the existing gas fireplace in a neutral stack stone. The effect of the stone on the media and window wall is breathtaking. In the master bathroom, we expanded the closet by pushing the wall back into the adjacent pass-through hallway. The new walk-in closet now includes an impressive closet organization system. Returning to the master bathroom, we removed the single vanity and repositioned the toilet, allowing for a new, curb-less glass shower and a his-and-hers vanity. The entire vanity and shower wall is finished in white 12×24 porcelain tile. The vertical glass mosaic accent band and backlit floating mirrors add to the clean, modern style. To the left of the master bathroom entry, we even added a matching make-up area. Finally, we installed a number of elegant enhancements in the remaining rooms. The clients chose a bronze metal relief accent wall as well as some colorful finishes and artwork for the entry and hallway. Exceptional Results Our clients were simply thrilled with the final product! Not only did they return from their summer vacation to a gorgeous home remodel, but we concluded the project a full week ahead of schedule. As a result, the family was able to move in sooner than planned, giving them plenty of time to acclimate to the renovated space before their kids returned to school. Ultimately, we provided the outstanding results and customer experience that our clients had been searching for. “We met with many other contractors leading up to signing with Progressive Design Build. When we met Mike, we finally felt safe. We had heard so many horror stories about contractors! Progressive was the best move we could have made. They made our dream house become a reality. Vernon was in charge of our project and everything went better than we expected. Our project was completed earlier than expected, too. Our questions and concerns were dealt with quickly and professionally, the job site was always clean, and all subs were friendly and professional. We had a wonderful experience with Progressive Design Build. We’re so grateful we found them.” – The Mader Family

The soil in this part of the garden had been invaded by the aggressive pest Equisetum hyemale (horsetail or scouring rush). Apparently small pieces of the plant were contained in the soil that was brought in to create better drainage for our raised beds. this was our solution to the problem. photo by Caitlin Atkinson

Mila Ktichen is the new Cesar model of kitchens has a pleasantly aggressive, contemporary style, designed to create a cozy yet eye-catching setting. It appears as an unconventional and trendy furnishing solution that meets modern tastes and is perfect to recreate rooms with a dynamic, urban-chic appeal.

Photography: Steve Henke
Example of a classic mosaic tile floor and black floor powder room design in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

This playful kids’ room is full of color, pattern, and imagination. A hand-drawn cityscape and trolley wallpaper mural sets a whimsical backdrop, complemented by a window with a beige Roman shade. A lime green bean bag adds a cozy seating spot, while a bright triangular-patterned rug in pink, yellow, orange, blue, white, and gray energizes the floor. A white pedestal table with three bright orange chairs encourages creative play, paired with toy storage bins and an artsy ceiling light to complete this lively, functional, and fun-filled space. Photo by Suzanna Scott.

Inspiration for a rustic brown one-story wood gable roof remodel in Seattle

This unique project was one home designed for two families. The goal was to make the space functional for both families while preserving the integrity of the design. The result is a clean yet aggressive design emphasizing comfortable living for parents and kids. Multiple owner suites are situated on the main level with access to gorgeous views and outdoor living spaces. The cottage also offers plenty of bedrooms for the children - on a separate level - along with a variety of areas to gather, relax, and recreate.

Sisyrinchium angustifolium / blue-eyed grass Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder