Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States. Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out. The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people. The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles. The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary. From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.

This jewel of a powder room started with our homeowner's obsession with William Morris "Strawberry Thief" wallpaper. After assessing the Feng Shui, we discovered that this bathroom was in her Wealth area. So, we really went to town! Glam, luxury, and extravagance were the watchwords. We added her grandmother's antique mirror, brass fixtures, a brick floor, and voila! A small but mighty powder room.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

Home Staging in Santa Cruz, California. We work with No. 1 Home Staging for all our stagings. We assess the Feng Shui, and they implement the fixes through design.

L-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo with raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Sunroom - traditional sunroom idea in Raleigh

The bedrooms got a fresh coat of paint, new window treatments, hung well above the window to add height to the room, and new carpet. {Featured Story} Spring, 2015 – This condo was purchased from the estate of the new owner’s parents and refurbished with trendy new touches. There were no close comparables in the Farmington neighborhood with within walking distance to the urban downtown area, so the approach for selling was to create an entirely new set of comparables when the new owner was found. On the market for just days, the renovation, marketing and finishing touches made this a highly sought after, and quick to sell property at top dollar, establishing a new trend in the neighborhood. {Our Process for this Featured Property}: Assessed the initial investment condo, offered suggestions for rehab and renovation. Assisted with Color Theory through color selection and process (no beige in this condo!). Helped select floor and counter materials, tile selection and features in the kitchen and bath. Final staging of the property was done with antiques and housewares, and created a cozy and lived in feel. As a final touch, a party was thrown when the property was completed to invite in friends and family, as well as an open house with freshly baking chocolate chip cookies to make the prospective buyers feel right at home! {Outcome} This property sold in days as a cash sale, at a higher price than anything in the neighborhood – and closed quickly. Both the seller and buyer were thrilled with this transaction!

Example of a bathroom design in Denver with flat-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Site assessment and preparing to demolish the existing structure.

At A.P.S. Ayala Painting & Services LLC we have professional painters that are AMAZING. They get the job done with quality and speed. We have 5 star ratings from each customer that has rated us. We also work closely with a network of other professionals that includes plumbers, electricians, gutter repair and roofing. We been in business for 12+ years. We offer free consultations and will come to your home or business to assess your needs. Please contact us for an appointment. Greensboro, North Carolina

The clients wanted to update their ranch house and make good use of their unusually large site next to downtown Mountain View. We sketched several options for design and scope of work to assess feasibility and value to the clients. The chosen design retains an existing bedroom wing, while the layout of the living spaces is re-worked to an open plan flooded with light, with vaulted ceilings and strong indoor-outdoor connection to a yard optimized for outdoor living. Awkward angles and inefficient spaces of the former house have been replaced with a clear, simple floor plan designed for ease of everyday living. One end of the site is used for a two-bedroom ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) with its own face to the street and its own back yard. Income from the ADU will go a long way toward financing the rebuild of the main house. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/open-ranch-adu/

Ensuring Home Health in San Diego's Coastal Luxury Our thorough Healthy Home inspection of this elegant San Diego coastal home examines key factors like EMF levels, mold presence, and air circulation. We leave no stone unturned to ensure homeowners can breathe easy and enjoy a safe, healthy living environment. Experience peace of mind with our expertise in creating healthier homes near the ocean. ? #HealthyLiving #HomeInspection #SanDiegoLuxury

For this new build, we designed a yard that's low-maintenance and on-trend. After weeding and assessing what the builders originally installed, we kept a handful of evergreens and introduced a more naturalistic structure. We refined the palette to velvety whites, rich browns, and mid-tone greens for a cohesive look. A quick addition of drip irrigation solved the dry-shade challenge, while low-maintenance seasonal planters keep the entryway fresh and welcoming year-round.

A good way to assess the condition of a log home finish is to wait for the building to dry after being washed. Once dry you must understand what type of log home stain is on your building. If you have an oil based log home stain you should be looking at the knots and checks on the walls. These areas will turn blonde when the finish is wearing off and this indicates that you should apply one to two maintenance coats of stain. Some oil based stains now offer a clear maintenance coat and this is the better route to take but it only works if the stain is not worn to bare wood.

Here is a list of some of the work we do. Foundation is a case by case situation that requires experts to analyze and assess what should be done to repair: Remedial repairs of cracked, settled, shifted, rotated and/or deteriorated sections of concrete perimeter foundation walls. Any type of post/pier issues (shifted, deteriorated, cracked, settled, “over shimmed,” undersized, etc. Repair of wood damaged framing/structural components in the foundation system area. Floor leveling performed on a case-by-case basis. In instances where a crawl space has debris in it that will limit our ability to perform any of the above tasks, we will also remove and haul away past debris that has been left in the space (we, of course, always remove all debris created during the course of our work). Creating additional support systems in key locations of the foundation area to accommodate existing structural deficiencies and further protect your home.

ShadeFX assessed an existing pergola and installed a custom 16′ x 16′ retractable roof in a neutral Sunbrella Linen. The motorized system is powder-coated Traffic black, completing the look and feel of the overall space.

ShadeFX carried out a site assessment and installation for a series of attached pergolas. Three 18’ x 16’ motorized retractable roofs provide sun and rain protection for an impressive Pennsylvania patio.

One frustrating thing about tree infections and diseases is that they are virtually completely unpredictable. It is essential to understand all the different types of risks and causes that can contribute to these issues in an attempt to understand how you can try and prevent and manage these things when they happen. Five Star Tree Services is going to go over the reasons as to how and why your trees can develop these certain issues. Since there are so many different causes behind why a tree’s development might be interrupted, first think of them as two different categories you can split them into; non-living factors or abiotic, and living factors or biotic. We also want to note that it is possible for more than one factor to affect a tree’s health and development at any given time. You can also make a distinction between primary pests and secondary pests. The primary pests exert a serious influence on the tree’s immediate survival. Whereas secondary pests have a less significant influence on the survival of the tree. The only time they will jeopardize a tree’s survival is if the tree has a previous debilitating issue from another risk factor. For an individual tree’s circumstances, this will distinct the chances of an infestation, especially if it has any past debilitating issues. Which can be seen from any compromising management practices or pre-existing issues which affect the tree’s development as well as lower its resistance to infections. Poor management in planting is a very common predisposed factor that compromises a tree’s infection defense. For instance, any saplings that are pot-bound will not get to develop solid root systems which doesn’t allow them to develop properly when they eventually get planted. Another example is when a tree gets stressed, along with other outer factors, will have significant effects on the overall wellbeing of the tree and its condition. Other factors to consider are bad soil quality as well as bad drainage. Abiotic Non-Living Influences The overall health of a tree can be linked to impacts such as bad growing conditions and bad soil quality. These things will put trees at a higher risk for catching a number of different biotic issues. Sickness, infections, and infestation can all be linked to ineffective nutrient absorption when a tree has insufficiently developed its natural resistances and defenses. One of the worst factors for this is fire damage. It is so debilitating that it makes trees hopeless at defending themselves against biotic attacks. To uncover what circumstantial predispositions your tree might have due to poor developmental conditions, arborists can use the growth rings as a means of assessment for the long-term effects, wellbeing, and growth of a tree. There are many outer and non-living variables that will influence the health of a tree and if it will be predisposed to biotic infestations. Such variables can include things like extensive cold winters and long dry spells. Abiotic Common Influences Include: -Water -Chemicals -Soil Conditions -Weather -Mechanical Agents Biotic Living Influences Sometimes, you are able to notice certain infestations easily, while others can be hard to tell. For instance, seeing an insect on a tree is no cause for alarm. A lot of them are harmless to the tree and do not cause harm while they regularly feed. However, some insects are actually harmful to a tree’s survival and knowing the difference between harmless and harmful ones is what you need to notice. You might also see fungi on rotting matter or a dead tree. Fungi are not usually the immediate influence of a negative manifestation found in a tree’s development. There are other growths that can be seen living on trees. These include saprobic and pathogenic organisms. Saprobic growths are mostly found on rotting or dead tissues and pathogenic growths are less common. Some other living infestations include lichens, epiphytes, and mosses. But these don’t usually have any effect on a tree’s wellbeing. They live symbiotically together. Biotic Common Influences Include: -Mites -Deer and Rodents -Fungi -Weeds -Viruses -Parasitic Plants -Bacteria -Phytoplasmas -Insects How Five Star Tree Service Can Help It is important to know the basics to look out for when trying to prevent developmental issues or help a tree that is developing. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when helping a tree grow, flourish, and live a healthy long life. If you have any questions or concerns about your trees, contact us at Five Star Tree Services today at (416) 990-3355. We will be able to help you with all your tree related needs. Check out our website for a full list of our Tree Services in Toronto!