Let a large and dramatic water feature such as this be a focal point in your backyard! Not only are they beautiful, but they can alleviate outside noise to help create a tranquil and relaxing environment.

New side yard path to backyard garden gate is a straight off the driveway. A creative combination of the materials used both in the front and back yard form a path made of brick, pavers and flagstone. The trash cans are screened from the street with an easier access. The gutter drain was buried to alleviate frequent floods in garage.

A small and elegant condominium rises out of a 90’s era building. Turning a dated studio apartment into a luxury short-term rental property alleviates the stress that tourists experience when booking accommodations in Vancouver. Rivaling any 5-star downtown hotel this gem, across from the Seabreeze Walkway, was renovated to attract tourists from all over the world. The floor plan was kept intact and given a much-needed facelift. The dated flooring was removed and durable vinyl-plank flooring was put in its place. The custom cabinetry in the kitchen has a fresh feel with ivory flush doors juxtaposed with walnut cubbies and accents. Quartz, Stratuarietto counters with an elegant waterfall peninsula partition the kitchen from the living room. The peninsula island was deepened to accommodate seating. “It’s important to use the same materials throughout a small space, notes the designer, as you don’t want to overstimulate the senses”. The same walnut millwork and quartz are seen again in the bathroom. The tub was removed to make way for a walk-in shower, tiled in a floral and herringbone pattern. Plumbing fixtures and accessories are in brass or flat black finishes giving this space the perfect balance of femininity and masculinity. Complete with a washer and dryer and storage room, a small space designed right, can feel grandiose.

"Please help us! No one knows how to make our kitchen functional with all these angles!" Well the designers at Sycamore Kitchens & More took this as a personal challenge and the clients couldn't be happier with their new kitchen. Plenty of storage was created with the new design featuring 48" tall wall cabinets allowing for an extra shelf throughout the kitchen, angled cabinets in the corners instead of fillers, and a separate wine/ coffee bar area alleviating countertop clutter. Functional elements in the base cabinets such as roll out trays, spice racks, tray cabinets and deep pot and pan drawers replaced plain shelves. Lastly, the countertop was relocated from the island creating a more comfortable island for everyday use and entertaining. Architectural elements were incorporated to soften the sharp angles of the space including a majestic sweeping chimney hood, arched toe kicks, and custom stacked crown molding to the ceiling. "We couldn't be happier- you checked all the boxes and we absolutely LOVE our new kitchen"

A small and elegant condominium rises out of a 90’s era building. Turning a dated studio apartment into a luxury short-term rental property alleviates the stress that tourists experience when booking accommodations in Vancouver. Rivaling any 5-star downtown hotel this gem, across from the Seabreeze Walkway, was renovated to attract tourists from all over the world. The floor plan was kept intact and given a much-needed facelift. The dated flooring was removed and durable vinyl-plank flooring was put in its place. The custom cabinetry in the kitchen has a fresh feel with ivory flush doors juxtaposed with walnut cubbies and accents. Quartz, Stratuarietto counters with an elegant waterfall peninsula partition the kitchen from the living room. The peninsula island was deepened to accommodate seating. “It’s important to use the same materials throughout a small space, notes the designer, as you don’t want to overstimulate the senses”. The same walnut millwork and quartz are seen again in the bathroom. The tub was removed to make way for a walk-in shower, tiled in a floral and herringbone pattern. Plumbing fixtures and accessories are in brass or flat black finishes giving this space the perfect balance of femininity and masculinity. Complete with a washer and dryer and storage room, a small space designed right, can feel grandiose.

Full gut and remodel of existing main floor bathroom. Demolition of bathroom down to studs with update to existing subfloor to alleviate subfloor problems. Install of new vanity with undermount sink and quartz countertop. New sink faucet with new mirror and vanity lighting. Install new wall mounted medicine cabinet. Install new cultured stone shower with semi-frameless glass door. New linen cabinet and new toilet. New Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring with new drywall and paint. Install new pocket door with frosted glass to replace bathroom door.

Situated on a large, picturesque lot surrounded by lush, mature trees, this project in Ann Arbor, MI, aimed to create a multi-generational home designed for family members of all ages to live harmoniously under one roof. Primary and secondary spaces were carefully planned and added to support the evolving needs of the household, creating separate wings in response to the different ages and lifestyles; Aging in place on the 1st floor, children and private office spaces on the 2nd floor to respond to the clients working from home. Key modifications to the first-floor layout were made to alleviate congestion, support the concept of “aging in place” and improve circulation in high-traffic areas, ensuring comfort and ease of movement throughout the home. The project included enlarging the existing garage, adding a new family room on the first floor, adding a new formal entry and mudroom, enlarging the living room, renovating the current 1st-floor en-suite for Aging in place, and adding a modern stair tower to the newly added 2nd-floor. The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms, a home office and a fully new en-suite that accentuates the views from the backyard. An abundance of expansive windows helps to blur the line between the natural and built environments, pulling in lots of natural light through the house. To help with the transformation from a traditional ranch to a modern 2-story, the roof line was designed as an abstraction of the original roof elements/slopes. The clients’ “new” home embodies both function and beauty, offering flexibility for future growth while creating a visually stunning composition of spaces.

Opening up 2 walls gave this 1920's home an open floor plan plus more cabinetry and working space. Blue base cabinets come completer with a low dog bowl drawer to alleviate the trip hazard and mess of bowls on the floor. Adding double sets of french doors brings light and air to the kitchen.

Opening up 2 walls gave this 1920's home an open floor plan plus more cabinetry and working space. Blue base cabinets come completer with a low dog bowl drawer to alleviate the trip hazard and mess of bowls on the floor. Adding double sets of french doors brings light and air to the kitchen.

To help alleviate California’s housing shortage, the state has encouraged homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). There are certain restrictions on the size of these structures, and fitting everything needed into a smaller package has its challenges.

Raza and Baneen purchased their home in Schaumburg IL. knowing it needed work, but they saw the incredible potential it had with its expanse of beautiful kitchen windows and spacious floor plan. The kitchen technically functioned fine, but was desperately outdated with its honey oak cabinets and plain countertops. This family loved to cook and host parties so it was an easy decision that the kitchen remodel was the first project they needed to tackle to make their home come to life. Baneen had very specific ideas for her new dream kitchen and had been thinking about it for over 10 years! When they met Advance Design’s Project Designer Claudia Pop, Baneen felt an instant connection. “From the first meeting, I knew that Claudia would guide us without putting down our ideas,” Baneen said. The couple had two fears common among remodeling home owners: Would the project be done on time? And, would the project stay on budget? Advance Design was able to alleviate their fears early on, as Claudia shared the “Common Sense Remodeling” process. Raza and Baneen absolutely loved the custom project analysis that helped them understand how a budget could be accurately predicted and then safeguarded during the design process. “Advance Design was spot on with both the budget and the project timeframe,” Baneen said. “Overall there were no surprises, and the budget was exactly what we were quoted. The experience was phenomenal, everybody was professional, everybody was courteous, everyone was nice, everyone was friendly. It wasn't stressful for us, they still left the house in a presentable state. It wasn't like we would come home and we were bring the kids in and it was going to be hazardous." After the relationship was cemented, Raza, Baneen and Claudia began to finalize the kitchen design. The main objective was to create a functional space for preparing meals and to create an inviting space for their family and friends to enjoy, while incorporating interesting design elements such as the iconic blue island and reclaimed Chicago brick walls. Sufficient storage space was really important to Baneen, and high quality appliances were a priority. As the overall layout was being completed, together they reviewed each cabinet to determine exactly what would be stored there. Because cooking was a high priority for this family, Claudia incorporated spice racks close to the range and included two mixer lift shelves for their larger countertop appliances. The focal point of the kitchen is the striking blue island constructed from custom colored Dura Supreme cabinets. Designed with decorative shelving and a highly functional prep sink. The couple loves the “galley” prep sink, it adds even more functionality and significantly shortens preparation and cleaning time. This island also includes a 24" Bosch Dishwasher with matching panel to blend in. "Aesthetically, and in terms of functionality, the island everything I imagined," Baneen said. "I love how beautiful it looks and how functional it is. It just brings everybody together." The Praa Sands Quartz countertop with an ogee edge profile provides excellent contrast by blending it's subtle tones with the outer cabinetry. It ties the island together with the rest of the space. Overlooking the beautiful backyard through spacious windows, the crisp white farmhouse sink is something that Baneen envisioned in her kitchen for years. Two tones of Dura Supreme Cabinetry were used throughout the rest of the kitchen. Chestnut Cherry cabinets grace the range and decorative range hood and as panels over the Wolf refrigerator and freezer. Antique White cabinets surround the perimeter, creating a warm balance that beckons guests into the softly rounded space. Drawing the eye immediately to the custom wood hood hiding a powerful 1,500 CFM ventilation system and spectacular 60” Duel Fuel Wolf range, a creatively patterned Tessen in Café & Brine backsplash detail stands out from the white subway tile backsplash spanning the outer walls. The vibrant space reflects the lively personality of the family who now loves spending time both cooking and enjoying this kitchen as a family. “The end result is a beautiful and extremely functional kitchen that is able to handle a growing family, lots of parties and lots of cooking,” Claudia said. “Advance Design was wonderfully professional and a pleasure to work with. They catered to what my needs and ideas were, while skillfully guiding us to make the right choices where we seemed lost,” Baneen said.

"Please help us! No one knows how to make our kitchen functional with all these angles!" Well the designers at Sycamore Kitchens & More took this as a personal challenge and the clients couldn't be happier with their new kitchen. Plenty of storage was created with the new design featuring 48" tall wall cabinets allowing for an extra shelf throughout the kitchen, angled cabinets in the corners instead of fillers, and a separate wine/ coffee bar area alleviating countertop clutter. Functional elements in the base cabinets such as roll out trays, spice racks, tray cabinets and deep pot and pan drawers replaced plain shelves. Lastly, the countertop was relocated from the island creating a more comfortable island for everyday use and entertaining. Architectural elements were incorporated to soften the sharp angles of the space including a majestic sweeping chimney hood, arched toe kicks, and custom stacked crown molding to the ceiling. "We couldn't be happier- you checked all the boxes and we absolutely LOVE our new kitchen"

Kitchen remodeled to accommodate a wheelchair - Island moved to provide access, and double oven used in lieu of conventional to alleviate pull out drawer Photo by: Chiemi Photography

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This Bent Creek renovation and addition gave the existing 1920s home a spacious interior and modern design while still maintaining its original character. The homeowners enjoy hosting large gatherings, but the narrow footprint and small spaces created a lot of congestion inside. To alleviate this problem, the homeowners wanted to expand the cramped kitchen and living spaces, but a huge oak tree sat only 5 feet from the kitchen window. The tree holds great sentimental value to the owners, so sacrificing the tree was out of the question, and locating the kitchen expansion elsewhere was not financially feasible. As a compromise, a large portion of the house adjacent to the kitchen was demolished, and most of the kitchen function was expanded in this direction. The end result is a beautiful and spacious home that we are very proud of. Photography by Kevin Meechan

Stop and smell the roses. Spring is upon us and simply getting outside and communing with nature may alleviate stress and anxiety during these trying times. Contact us today for fresh ideas and inspiration! Serving Central New Jersey for 33 years. 908.904.9446 #caliperfarms #calipercare #spring #roses #landscapedesign #landscaping #hardscaping #montgomerynj #bellemeadnj #princetonnj #hopewellnj #penningtonnj #skillmannj #lawrencevillenj

The drapery panels on these windows actually help to draw your eye to the beautiful cut glass on the French doors. We also chose to use two short rods on either end instead of one long rod with no drapery on it across the middle. It also alleviates the need for brackets that would show, one of our pet peeves! Call us for a free in-home consultation (440) 498-9119. Eileen Zimmerman

By installing a four feet high E.P. Henry Coventry Block retaining wall, we were able to level a large area of lawn in the backyard and create a small swale to alleviate the drainage issues the homeowners were facing. The wall arced where it was closest to the patio to create a greater feeling of open space. To either side, we terraced the wall so as not to make it so dominating in the landscape.

After Photo: This new area is stunning. A vent was installed over the Verona stove/oven. It was covered by a wood hood to match the Medallion cabinetry. A Luxart pot filler faucet was then installed above the oven. It is a great appliance as it alleviates the trouble of carrying and possibly spilling water from the sink over to the stove.