Photos are of one of our customers' finished project. We did over 90 beams for use throughout their home :) When choosing beams for your project, there are many things to think about. One important consideration is the weight of the beam, especially if you want to affix it to your ceiling. Choosing a solid beam may not be the best choice since some of them can weigh upwards of 1000 lbs. Our craftsmen have several solutions for this common problem. One such solution is to fabricate a ceiling beam using veneer that is "sliced" from the outside of an existing beam. Our craftsmen then carefully miter the edges and create a lighter weight, 3 sided solution. Another common method is "hogging out" the beam. We hollow out the beam leaving the original outer character of three sides intact. (Hogging out is a good method to use when one side of the beam is less than attractive.) Our 3-sided and Hogged out beams are available in Reclaimed or Old Growth woods.

Charlie Cho Designed by Gabriela Eisenhart and Holly Conlan
Family room - mid-sized scandinavian open concept carpeted family room idea in Los Angeles with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a wood fireplace surround

As the kitchen is in the center of the house, we finished it with wish bone chairs they perfectly complement industrial wooden table they have. We kept the old chandelier and vase.

Example of a trendy white two-story stucco flat roof design in Miami

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in DC Metro

Todd Wright
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic guest bedroom remodel with blue walls and no fireplace

Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in Atlanta

Photography by Tommy Kile This project features face frame cabinets from Amazonia Cabinetry, Kolbe windows, hardware selected by Push Pull Open Close, and honed Carrera marble countertops.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in San Francisco

Brian McWeeney
Single front door - transitional concrete floor and beige floor single front door idea in Dallas with an orange front door and beige walls

WINNER OF THE 2015 NARI CHARLOTTE CHAPTER CotY AWARD for Best Residential Bathroom $25k-50k | © Deborah Scannell Photography.
Mid-sized transitional master stone tile and white tile marble floor drop-in bathtub photo in Charlotte with quartz countertops and gray walls

The main organizing principal is that the common spaces flow around a central core of demised function like a donut. These common spaces include the kitchen, eating, living, and dining areas, lounge, and media room. Photographer: Paul Dyer

Elegant bedroom photo in Houston

Breakfast nook - coastal dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling breakfast nook idea with gray walls

Michael Jacobs
Elegant dining room photo in St Louis

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.”

Home additions in Florida Home Additions are a great way to enjoy the benefits of additional living space and add value to your home. While design and remodeling projects are great ways to improve the functionality of living space, the only way to add additional living space is with a home addition. When you contact us, we can help you consider the best options available for your home. Six basic design options for additions Exterior structure additions, include sunrooms, florida rooms, porches, verandas, lanais, decks or a balcony and give you living spaces that allow you to experience the outdoors and enjoy both relaxing and entertaining. Bump-out additions are small additions which extend a wall a few feet to create areas like an eat-in kitchen. They can expand a small room or add a more favorable appeal to your home overall. Single-room additions add one room to your home. Homeowners often add single room additions that are home offices, home theaters, master bedrooms, family rooms, laundry or mud rooms, master suites, guest rooms, etc. Wing additions expand your home horizontally and are good choices when you need more than a single room. Examples of additions would include au-pair, in-law, or guest suites and can contain a bedroom, living area and small kitchen. Wings sometimes have separate entrances and even parking. This is great option if your lot has the appropriate space. Second-story additions are a great way to cost effectively maximize your living space by adding a second level which share the same roof and foundation. In many cases this is a favorable way to avoid zoning restrictions and allow you to avoid a lot survey. A second-story addition can increase the functionality, value and comfort of your home, without causing you to give up lawn and garden area. Two-story additions are another way to resolve space issues. Common examples would include adding a garage and an additional bedroom as a second story. They can be adjoined or accessed by a passageways to connect on each level. A spiral staircase can give additional aesthetic appeal.

Vaulted ceilings allow for a two-story great room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer plenty of natural light and a 50-inch fireplace keeps the space cozy.

Michelle Peek Photography
Dining room - mid-sized coastal light wood floor and beige floor dining room idea in Miami with white walls and no fireplace