This sleek and contemporary landscape really completes the look of this modern home. Straight lines and modern grasses are used throughout this landscape, with linear concrete blocks leading to-and-from features and entrances. These white, polished concrete rectangles really stand out between the lush green grass and the black lava rocks, and makes for a wonderful stroll to the main feature of the backyard: the custom firepit and seating area. This propane-powered firepit gives off fantastic heat to anyone relaxing on the wooden seats, and the tall Karl Foerster grasses surrounding provides an intimate and secretive experience. As well, a custom wooden hot tub deck provides privacy, shade, and easy access to the waters. The main planting outside of the sunroom provides a view from the inside, while still providing privacy to the sunbathers on the outside. In the front, the layered look of grasses provide a ascending experience for visitors and homeowners alike. It was a pleasure doing the landscape for this homeowner! Designed by Zac Marks

Not only can the homeowner quickly access their paper towels, but this custom paper towel holder is designed to have paper towel storage in the back! Photography by: William Manning

This 1960’s ranch in Fitchburg, MA had a kitchen with suspended cabinets and a very tiny work area. The suspended cabinets blocked the view of the large window looking at the backyard and made it difficult to visit with friends and family while working in the kitchen. The homeowners were interested in having a kitchen where their extended family and friends could come and enjoy “hanging out” in the kitchen. We removed the suspended cabinets and installed an island where 4 to 5 people could “hang out” and talk to the cooks while they prepare the meal. We also added seating under the window by putting a very practical window seat. The window seat has drawers below for easy access seasonal storage. We also made the cased opening to the dining room larger so when there is a very large gathering a couple of people can sit on stools looking into the kitchen. So now this once “small” kitchen with very limited seating can have several people visiting and yet not be bumping into those preparing the meals.

The three-bedroom, three-bath Anguilla is just blocks from shopping and dining at the picturesque Village of Venetian Bay and the Gulf of Mexico beaches at Clam Pass Park. With 3,584 square feet of air-conditioned living space, this luxury single-family home offers wood flooring throughout the study, separate dining room, and kitchen with café. The café, great room and study open up into the outdoor living area and covered lanai via 10-foot sliding glass doors. Outdoors, you’ll enjoy unique luxury features that include an outdoor linear fire pit and seating, raised wood deck at the pool, a water feature at the pool focal point and a garden wall. The master suite occupies an entire wing and boasts an expansive bedroom and bathroom, and his-and-her walk-in closets. An additional two-car garage located on the other wing of the home is accessible through an in-and-out driveway for added convenience, and camera surveillance and security provide peace of mind. Image ©Advanced Photography Specialists

View of Kitchen pot rack shelving & paneled refrigerator , ceiling features LED mud in linear light . Architecture & Interior Design by : Princeton Design Collaborative 360pdc.com photo by Jeffery Edward Tryon

A recessed compartment along the outside wall conceals a knife block, hanging dish towel and paper towel roll. At the head of the island open shelving was added for cook books and recipes and a recessed nook hiding the paper towel roll is readily accessible for quick clean up. A small pull out was the perfect solution for large bottles of oils and vinegars. The addition of a small open cabinet on the back side of the island creates storage for additional trays and cutting boards keeping the zones and traffic patterns separate. By Design Studio West

Victoria McHugh Photography Lakeside Custom Cabinetry,LLC Chris Hummel Construction Vogler Metalwork & Design A huge amount of functional storage space was designed into an otherwise small kitchen through the use of purpose built, custom cabinetry. The homeowner knew exactly how she wanted to organize her kitchen tools. A knife drawer was specially made to fit her collection of knives. The open shelving on the range side serves as easy access to her cookware as well as a garbage pullout. We were able to relocate and center the range and copper range hood made by Vogler Metalworks by removing a center island and replacing it with a honed black granite countertop peninsula. The subway tile backsplash on the sink wall is taken up to the soffit with the exception of dark bull nose used to frame the wall sconce made by Vaughn. The kitchen also serves as an informal entryway from the lake and exterior brick patio so the homeowners were desperate to have a way to keep shoes from being scattered on the floor. We took an awkward corner and fitted it with custom built cabinetry that housed not only the family's shoes but kitty litter, dog leashes, car keys, sun hats, and lotions.

Jennifer and Dan have lived in their Deer Park Illinois home for 15 years, slowly making minor fixes like painting and decorating; but they had a new plan for their kitchen the entire time. An awkwardly placed garage door, and an island cooktop with a terrible downdraft made a full-scale kitchen remodel an absolute must. Jennifer had many ideas in mind and wanted to work with a company that could provide high-end work, while partnering with a designer that would tailor the kitchen to her ideas. She was intrigued by the phrase “Common Sense Remodeling” in Advance Design’s feature she discovered while perusing an issue of the community’s Quintessential Barrington Magazine. Doing further research on the company’s website, as she looked through project profiles and read about Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy, she promptly scheduled an appointment to see if the people and ideas she read about were truly who they said they were. The more she read, the more she knew that the “Common Sense” approach to remodeling they described was exactly the type of company she was looking for. The partnership was sealed after an initial consultation with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Michelle Lecinski. They displayed a combination of friendliness, professionalism and respect that was unmatched by any of the other companies Jennifer talked to. She knew that with Advance Design, she would be able to retain the vision that she had in mind with high-quality craftsmanship. “I reached out to Advance Design because of the ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ tagline,” Jennifer said. “That’s what lingered for me”. “Advance Design was the most respectful- of the house and of my design ideas, and the most professional of the handful of companies that looked at my project”. Soon after the meeting Jennifer began working with Michelle on the project design. They quickly developed chemistry. Jennifer loved how Michelle researched and located every detail that Jennifer wanted for the kitchen. Between the two of them, every concept and idea was worked through and perfected. “Jennifer had definite ideas about what she wanted the new kitchen to look like, she just didn’t know how to bring it all together. We worked together really well to make her ideas into the practical reality necessary for a well-functioning kitchen, with the look and feel that she had envisioned”, says Michelle. “Michelle was wonderful in using the CAD system she would show me new drawings every time we changed the layout while working through the design,” Jennifer said. “She was a really wonderful partner in execution, she made sure everything happened quickly and easily.” The finished design drew out elements of Jennifer’s style and personality. The pair call the look “sophisticated farmhouse” to describe the kitchen renovation to family and friends. The result was a beautifully crafted, authentic-feeling space that satisfied Jennifer’s dreams 15 years in the making. The whole project consisted of a kitchen remodel, mudroom upgrade with powder room, and garage entry relocation. “The projects I personally like the best, are the ones that put the client’s dreams on display,” Project Designer Michelle said. “And this is one of those projects.” The main focal point of the kitchen is custom zinc and brass ventilation hood with a vintage sheen, which was hand made to order by a small company in Indiana named Vogler Metalworking. “It’s like sculpture, a true work of art”, says Jennifer. Your eye is immediately drawn towards this elegant yet practical hood that eliminated the home’s downdraft problem and added a striking conversation piece at the same time. The carpenters had to use special gloves when transporting and installing it, so they didn’t smudge it with fingerprints. The beautiful hood centers proudly over the stunning black enamel and brass LaCornue Range. “I had a friend who had a LaCornue range and after learning how easy it was to cook perfect meals, I was convinced I wanted to have one”, says Jennifer. This unique, breathtaking combination anchors the entire kitchen and is apparent immediately as you walk into the great room the surrounds the space. DuraSupreme Crestwood cabinets with a Kendall Panel add function and sophistication. A custom gray paint color paired with a storm blue was developed so that the new kitchen looked like it belonged to the existing space. Unlacquered brass faucets and hardware were important to Jennifer because she wanted the living finishes to age over time. Remarkable brass diamond mesh cabinet door inserts imported from the UK continue to add this one-of-a-kind kitchen renovation; giving it a “you won’t see this everywhere” quality. The use of old railcar flooring for the coffee bar countertop and reclaimed oak for the open shelving gives an authenticity to the space uncommon in kitchens today. Jennifer and Michelle fell in love with the Limestone Grey Stone while they were investigating unique island countertop ideas. They liked the fact that the limestone as a living finish will age and change over time. Calcutta Miel Quartz countertops made for an excellent pairing around the perimeter, as it’s durable and perfect for cooking preparations. A textured white subway tile backsplash that runs to the ceiling keeps your eye moving towards the open shelving, and to the main focal point of the stunning range hood combination. “The kitchen functions beautifully, and it’s gorgeous,” beams Jennifer as she gestures with both hands while smiling ear to ear. “The most important thing was I wanted a kitchen that had a wonderful flow, cooked beautiful meals and was a great gathering place for family and friends, and this space does that perfectly! Beauty wise, it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. I felt the function part was the hardest part, and that was nailed”! Relocating the garage entry to the new mudroom was a huge priority and has finally separated the family’s arriving home functions from their kitchen. Now coats and shoes and bags have their own area for dropping once members arrive home. Matching gray DuraSupreme cabinetry helped create gorgeous, purposeful lockers for the family. A reclaimed vintage sink and custom wall paper were added to the tiny powder room to beautify the once previously only functional space. Advance Design was even able to create a custom space for their dog to sleep while the family is away. “It was unbelievable that a project of this size was completed in such a short time, and I think that’s because of the large amount of planning and preparation that went into it,” Jennifer marveled, “When we started, we were ready, and everything was prepared”. When it came to execution, Project Manager Justin Davis and his crew were quick, accessible, and organized. Projects like this kitchen are typically completed in as little as 8-10 weeks. Jennifer’s kitchen however despite the relocation of some challenging HVAC in a soffit and moving of an exterior door was completed remarkably fast in part because the team was working with an existing tile floor that ran throughout the first floor that the client really loved. “You get to know these people really well because they’re living in your house while you’re living in your house. They were so fast and really good, it didn’t take as long as even planned” reported Jennifer. “I would text Justin and he always responded almost immediately. I got to know all the guys who were working in our house and they were all wonderful people”. Details in a customized kitchen like this one require skill and care from the people who install it. “All the guys on the job were skilled at what the did. I wanted small details like little feet to look like furniture, that is where their carpentry skill came in to make these all perfect”, said Jennifer. “The tile guys were wonderful. They even let me determine how I wanted the texture with the grout to appear for a salt and pepper look; now that is a very skilled trade person making it custom”. In Jennifer’s interview, she continued to reference Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling”, so I took a minute to ask her exactly what that phrase meant to her and how it played out in her experience with her project and the Advance Design team. Here is what she said: “I was intrigued about Common Sense Remodeling and in my head that there would be clear costs and prices, great communication between the design team, the execution team and me”, said Jennifer. They did deliver on that, it was so clear about the cost breakdown, what I could expect from everyone who came to my house, and everything that we had ordered. That to me is the Common Sense”! It’s great to see a client take literally our assertion that a well-planned remodeling project is simply “Common Sense”! She anticipated each step of the way would be clear, concise, and predictable, all the while protecting the outcome due to the careful upfront planning. “Advance Design delivered on their ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ promise,” Jennifer said. “From the design team, to the execution team - everything was straight forward like I imagined. The project turned out exactly how I envisioned, I enjoyed this process and absolutely would recommend Advance Design Studio to anyone.”

After photo - The formal dining room was eliminated, expanding the kitchen, open to the family room. The patio door was moved from the family room into the kitchen for better furniture placement in family room and patio access.

Dirk Heydemann of HA Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary side yard deck remodel in Vancouver with a roof extension

Inspiration for a kitchen remodel in DC Metro

Color: Unfinished-Bamboo-Panels-Solid-Stock-Caramelized-Vertical
Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped bamboo floor kitchen pantry design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and an island

Shown are clear-vue roll down shades that can block the wind and rain, allowing more days of use in the screen porch. This screen porch has convenient access to the kitchen, deck and lower level patio too.

Arturo Valdez
Inspiration for a huge contemporary master brown tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile walk-in shower remodel in Austin with brown walls

Creating Comfort in Outdoor Spaces Porches, patios, and decks allow you to connect with the natural beauty of the outdoors and extend the living space of your home. With the addition of Graber LightWeaves® Exterior Solar Shades, these areas can also be comfortably protected from intense sun and excessive heat. Since these shades tend to be larger and installed in higher, harder-to-access areas, they pair perfectly with a motorized lift: the light streaming in to your patio can be controlled with the touch of a button. Hung outside porch windows, exterior solar shades block the sun before its rays reach the glass panes and impact the interior.

Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Drakakis Architecture, LLC Susie Soleimani Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized shabby-chic style u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The three-bedroom, three-bath Anguilla is just blocks from shopping and dining at the picturesque Village of Venetian Bay and the Gulf of Mexico beaches at Clam Pass Park. With 3,584 square feet of air-conditioned living space, this luxury single-family home offers wood flooring throughout the study, separate dining room, and kitchen with café. The café, great room and study open up into the outdoor living area and covered lanai via 10-foot sliding glass doors. Outdoors, you’ll enjoy unique luxury features that include an outdoor linear fire pit and seating, raised wood deck at the pool, a water feature at the pool focal point and a garden wall. The master suite occupies an entire wing and boasts an expansive bedroom and bathroom, and his-and-her walk-in closets. An additional two-car garage located on the other wing of the home is accessible through an in-and-out driveway for added convenience, and camera surveillance and security provide peace of mind. Image ©Advanced Photography Specialists

NARI CAPITAL COTY, HONORABLE MENTION AWARD WINNER, RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $50,000 TO $100,000 The owners of this Mount Vernon home purchased it with plans to remodel the kitchen. The original space was tired, dark and disorganized. A peninsula separated the kitchen from the breakfast area and the adjacent sunroom was only accessed via a single door. The back pantry was poorly designed and there was no logic to the kitchen’s work space. The first step in this stunning transformation involved replacing the original peninsula with a large central island. Built using espresso stained furniture-quality cabinets with icon legs, open bottoms and exotic dark granite countertops, all kitchen traffic now flows around the island. The outside wall of the kitchen, featuring a 48” Thermador range, stainless steel range hood and glass tile backsplash, is the focal point of the new space. A stainless steel farm-style sink sits beneath one of two large windows that provide lots of natural light into the room. To the right, sits a 48” Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer. The wall adjacent to the family room was never used properly. Now it is home to two tall pantries, double ovens and a microwave. Creative pass through arches let the homeowner attend to guests while preparing food in the kitchen. The butler area adjacent to the dining room is filled with glass front cabinetry and additional cabinetry for extra storage. The kitchen is now part of an open concept design flowing from kitchen to dining room to sun room. By replacing a bearing wall with a structural header, traffic can flow from one room to the next making it brighter and more conducive to entertaining. More spacious than ever, this new kitchen is the hub of the home for this couple who love to cook and entertain.

The bathroom was redesigned to improve flow and add functional storage with a modern aesthetic. Natural walnut cabinetry brings warmth balanced by the subtle movement in the warm gray floor and wall tiles and the white quartz counters and shower surround. We created half walls framing the shower topped with quartz and glass treated for easy maintenance. The angled wall and extra square footage in the water closet were eliminated for a larger vanity. Floating vanities make the space feel larger and fit the modern aesthetic. The tall pullout storage at her vanity is one-sided to prevent items falling out the back and features shelves with acrylic sides for full product visibility. We removed the tub deck and bump-out walls with inset shelves for improved flow and wall space for towels. Now the freestanding tub anchors the middle of the room while allowing easy access to the windows that were blocked by the previous built-in.