Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) complement each other in cool hues.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in New York.

Surface Saver Sealer is a water-based Silane-Siloxane water repellent and impregnating sealer for porous concrete and masonry surfaces. Surface Saver penetrates up to 1/4 to form a chemical bond deep within the substrate to provide long lasting protection against deterioration or staining due to water absorption. Surface Saver will not impair the natural breathing characteristics of treated substrates, nor will it produce a film or coating. Surface Saver will help concrete and masonry surfaces to resist common issues such as cracking, efflorescence, spalling, staining, and other damages caused by intrusion of water. Surface Saver will also help to reduce the formation of efflorescence and the growth of mold and mildew. Uses: Unsealed concrete, broom finished concrete, trowel finished concrete, stamped colored concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, concrete pavers, brick pavers, pavers, clay tile, unglazed tile, cement, brick, stone, and other masonry. Common Applications: driveway sealer, walkway and sidewalk sealer, patio and pool deck sealer, brick house and chimney sealer, clay tile roof sealer, garage floor sealer, warehouse floor sealer, basement wall and floor sealer, and other concrete and masonry applications. Surface Saver maintain the natural, unsealed look and feel of the substrate. Will never peel, flake or fade. UV resistant, non-yellowing. No surface film or coating to maintain. Resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing salts. Provides excellent resistance to mold, mildew, and fungus. Can be applied to interior & exterior, vertical & horizontal, above & below grade surfaces. Surface Saver Sealer will cause water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Breathable, low VOC. 5 gallon covers up to 750-1000 Square Feet in one coat, or up to 500 Square feet in 2 coats. Surface Saver Sealer can be purchased in 5 gallon pails shipped UPS Ground to all 48 U.S. States except Alaska & Hawaii at: www.surfacerestoration.com/shop

Luxurious bedroom in Northbrook Illinois with multilayered ornately decorated windows with custom made drapes form high end fabrics. Drapery rod from Africa and fabrics from Italy. Custom bedspreads and decorative pillows. Beautiful home with an elegant style.

The goal of the Bridle Path Residence was to create a modern take on the original 1950’s split level and leverage multi-functional spaces to minimize the required square footage and maximize daily use of each space. The result is a 2800 SF 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence with a detached 400 SF ADU. Both structures are the result of strategic additional square footage and a bold yet edited material palette. Conservative sleeping quarters are juxtaposed by spacious common living and entertaining areas. Thoughtfully placed windows allow light without sacrificing privacy. The homeowners wanted to maintain the outdoor space but add some breathing room to the interiors. The existing carport was used to add the bulk of the additional space while the footprint on the main house and ADU were extended as minimally as possible to reduce impervious impacts and maintain existing topography. Interior spaces are designed to encourage family time and push activity outside. The process was collaboration in its purest form between architect, client and contractor.

Curtis and Peggy had been thinking of a kitchen remodel for quite some time, but they knew their house would have a unique set of challenges. Their older Victorian house was built in 1891. The kitchen cabinetry was original, and they wanted to keep the authenticity of their period home while adding modern comforts that would improve their quality of life. A friend recommended Advance Design Studio for their exceptional experience and quality of work. After meeting with designer Michelle Lecinski at Advance Design, they were confident they could partner with Advance to accomplish the unique kitchen renovation they’d been talking about for years. “We wanted to do the kitchen for a long, long time,” Curtis said. “(We asked ourselves) what are we actually going to do? How are we going to do this? And who are we going to find to do exactly what we want?” The goal for the project was to keep the home renovation and new kitchen feeling authentic to the time in which it was built. They desperately wanted the modern comforts that come with a larger refrigerator and the dishwasher that they never had! The old home was also a bit drafty so adding a fireplace, wall insulation and new windows became a priority. They very much wanted to create a comfortable hearth room adjacent to the kitchen, complete with old world brick. The original cabinetry had to go to make way for beautiful new kitchen cabinetry that appears as if it was a hundred years old, but with all the benefits of cutting-edge storage, self-closing drawers, and a brand-new look. “We just wanted to keep it old looking, but with some modern updates,” Peggy said. Dura Supreme Highland Cabinets with a Heritage Old World Painted Finish replaced the original 1891 cabinets. The hand-applied careful rubbed-off detailing makes these exquisite cabinets look as if they came from a far-gone era. Despite the small size of the kitchen, Peggy, Curtis and Michelle utilized every inch with custom cabinet sizes to increase storage capacity. The custom cabinets allowed for the addition of a 24” Fisher Paykel dishwasher with a concealing Dura Supreme door panel. Michelle was also able to work into the new design a larger 30” Fisher Paykel French refrigerator. “We made every ¼ inch count in this small space,” designer Michelle said. “Having the ability to custom size the cabinetry was the only way to achieve this.” “The kitchen essentially was designed around the Heartland Vintage range and oven,” says Michelle. A classic appliance that combines nostalgic beauty and craftsmanship for modern cooking, with nickel plated trim and elegantly shaped handles and legs; the not to miss range is a striking focal point of the entire room and an engaging conversation piece. Granite countertops in Kodiak Satin with subtle veining kept with the old-world style. The delicate porcelain La Vie Crackle Sonoma tile kitchen backsplash compliments the home’s style perfectly. A handcrafted passthrough designed to show off Peggy’s fine china was custom built by project carpenters Justin Davis and Jeff Dallain to physically and visually open the space. Additional storage was created in the custom panty room with Latte Edinburg cabinets, hand-made weathered wood shelving with authentic black iron brackets, and an intricate tin copper ceiling. Peggy and Curtis loved the idea of adding a Vermont stove to make the hearth-room not only functional, but a truly beckoning place to be. A stunning Bordeaux red Vermont Castings Stove with crisp black ventilation was chosen and combined with the authentic reclaimed Chicago brick wall. Advance’s talented carpenters custom-built elegant weathered shelves to house family memorabilia, installed carefully chosen barn sconces, and made the hearth room an inviting place to relax with a cup of coffee and a good book. “Peggy and Curtis’ project was so much fun to work on. Creating a space that looks and feels like it always belonged in this beautiful old Victorian home is a designer’s dream. To see the delight in their faces when they saw the design details coming together truly made it worth the time and effort that went into making the very compact kitchen space work”, said Michelle. “The result is an amazing custom kitchen, packed with functionality in every inch, nook and cranny!” exclaims Michelle. The renovation didn’t end with the kitchen. New Pella windows were added to help lessen the drafts. The removal of the original windows and trim necessitated the re-creation of hand-made corbels and trim details no longer available today. The talented carpenter team came to the rescue, crafting new pieces and masterfully finishing them as if they were always there. New custom gutters were formed and installed with a front entry rework necessary to accommodate the changes. The whole house functions better, but it still feels like the original 1891 home. “From start to finish it’s just a much better space than we used to have,” Peggy said. “Jeff and Justin were amazing.” Curtis added; “We were lucky to find Advance Design, because they really came through for us. I loved that they had everything in house, anything you needed to have done, they could do it”.

Trachelospermum jasminoides Species Trachelospermum jasminoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia. Common names include confederate jasmine, star jasmine, confederate jessamine, and Chinese star jessamine.

New flowers of native composite Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica, Asteraceae)

Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine). Tulinda's Garden, LLC

Site: On a busy stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square, we designed a multi-use building with art gallery on the first floor and live work artist residences/studios above. In the rear yard, next to a gritty alley, the owner desired an outdoor garden to extend the gallery and inspire resident artists. Problem: A quiet garden oasis adjacent to a gritty urban alley. Detail Solution: We used rainwater. Rather than diverting roof rainwater to the sewer, we designed a series of roofs, overhangs, and copper clad walls or ‘rain drops’ to bring rainwater into a reflection pool within the garden. Upon entrance to the garden you are in different world: you see sun sparkle off water onto a green glazed brick wall, you’re invited to sit on a limestone bench next to the pool where you hear the sound of recirculating water gurgling away alley noise. Staggered Chicago Common brick walls form the east edge and screen view of the alley. Rainwater overflows the pool at the east edge to the foot of a Gingko tree. This ‘tree of life’ stands between garden and alley, at the end of our rainwater journey, demonstrating hope for man and earth. Photo: Nathan Kirkman

Builder: Boone Construction Photographer: M-Buck Studio This lakefront farmhouse skillfully fits four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms in this carefully planned open plan. The symmetrical front façade sets the tone by contrasting the earthy textures of shake and stone with a collection of crisp white trim that run throughout the home. Wrapping around the rear of this cottage is an expansive covered porch designed for entertaining and enjoying shaded Summer breezes. A pair of sliding doors allow the interior entertaining spaces to open up on the covered porch for a seamless indoor to outdoor transition. The openness of this compact plan still manages to provide plenty of storage in the form of a separate butlers pantry off from the kitchen, and a lakeside mudroom. The living room is centrally located and connects the master quite to the home’s common spaces. The master suite is given spectacular vistas on three sides with direct access to the rear patio and features two separate closets and a private spa style bath to create a luxurious master suite. Upstairs, you will find three additional bedrooms, one of which a private bath. The other two bedrooms share a bath that thoughtfully provides privacy between the shower and vanity.

Surface Saver penetrates up to 1/4 to form a chemical bond deep within the substrate to provide long lasting protection against deterioration or staining due to water absorption. Surface Saver will not impair the natural breathing characteristics of treated substrates, nor will it produce a film or coating. Surface Saver will help concrete and masonry surfaces to resist common issues such as cracking, efflorescence, spalling, staining, and other damages caused by intrusion of water. Surface Saver will also help to reduce the formation of efflorescence and the growth of mold and mildew. Uses: Unsealed concrete, broom finished concrete, trowel finished concrete, stamped colored concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, concrete pavers, brick pavers, pavers, clay tile, unglazed tile, cement, brick, stone, and other masonry. Common Applications: driveway sealer, walkway and sidewalk sealer, patio and pool deck sealer, brick house and chimney sealer, clay tile roof sealer, garage floor sealer, warehouse floor sealer, basement wall and floor sealer, and other concrete and masonry applications. Surface Saver maintain the natural, unsealed look and feel of the substrate. Will never peel, flake or fade. UV resistant, non-yellowing. No surface film or coating to maintain. Resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing salts. Provides excellent resistance to mold, mildew, and fungus. Can be applied to interior & exterior, vertical & horizontal, above & below grade surfaces. Surface Saver Sealer will cause water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Breathable, low VOC. 5 gallon covers up to 750-1000 Square Feet in one coat, or up to 500 Square feet in 2 coats. Surface Saver Sealer can be purchased in 5 gallon pails shipped UPS Ground to all 48 U.S. States except Alaska & Hawaii at: www.surfacerestoration.com/shop

AFTER with the patio surround. North Carolina Flagstone with swivel rocker gliders, teak and outdoor wicker.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard stone landscaping with a fire pit for fall.

Owner, architect, and site merged a design from their mutual association with the river. Located on the edge of Goose Creek, the owner was drawn to the site, reminiscent of a river from his youth that he used to tube down with friends and a 6-pack of beer. The architect, although growing up a country way, had similar memories along the water. Design gains momentum from conversations of built forms they recall floating along: mills and industrial compounds lining waterways that once acted as their lifeline. The common memories of floating past stone abutments and looking up at timber trussed bridges from below inform the interior. The concept extends into the hardscape in piers, and terraces that recall those partial elements remaining in and around the river. ©️Maxwell MacKenzie

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

Attractive yellow-gold leaf margins and silvery new growth highlight Olive Martini when used as a hedge or as a specimen plant. Similar to ‘Gilt Edge’ but more stable, Olive Martini is the perfect hedge and/or barrier plant in mild climates. FEATURES Bloom/Feature Green leaves lined with gold Plant Type Shrubs Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen USDA Zones 6, 7, 8, 9 Zone Detail Hardy to -10° F Key Features Silvery new growth Use Hedge, specimen or barrier plant Exposure Full sun Bloom Season N/A Dimension 10-15' H x 10-15' W Growth Rate Spreading habit CARE Water Regular water once established Soil Type Well-drained garden soil Fertilizer Pruning Prune as desired PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS • water before planting • plant in full sun to part shade • dig hole 2X the width of pot, • backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level • water and add more soil if needed • mulch around plants