This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

The Pros and Cons of Fix and Flip Real Estate Investment Last week, we covered The Pros and Cons of Buy and Hold Real Estate Investment for rental property investors. This week, we want to talk about the other most common type of real estate investment: “fix and flip.” The Appeal of House Flipping We all love the house flipping shows on HGTV and other reality channels. They’re great and they make the prospect of buying, renovating and flipping homes for big profits seem super sexy and fun. However, any experienced real estate investor will tell you it’s not quite as easy as they make it look. There’s a lot of work that goes into a successful fix and flip investment. The basic premise of a fix and flip investment is pretty simple. You buy a property, usually one that needs some work and is available at a great price. You renovate the property, making the necessary repairs and upgrades to maximize its resale value. Then, you sell the property on the open market for the highest possible price. You get in and out as quickly as possible. Full-time flippers will move from property to property or will have multiple properties being worked on at the same time. Rather than the “buy and hold” strategy where you keep the house while earning rental income and equity over time, you are looking for the quick sale to earn your profits. If you are going to explore house flipping—whether as a full-time career or just a side hustle—you will want to know exactly what you are getting into. That is why we are going to cover the pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment in this article. The Pros of Fix and Flip Here are some of the pros of fix and flip investing: Faster Return on Investment—The biggest appeal of fix and flip investing is that it gives you a quicker return on investment. Buy and hold will take you longer to see your ROI. House flipping allows you to see your full profit (hopefully) as soon as the house sells. The average house flip for an experienced investor is around six months. It may take longer for a first-timer who is just learning how to do certain things. Fairly Safe Investment—As long as you do all your projections and calculations carefully and avoid any major problems along the way, house flipping is a relatively safe investment strategy compared to something as turbulent as the stock market. Real estate markets are generally predictable and the short time frame of a flip helps you avoid losses if the property happens to depreciate over a longer period of time. Exciting—There is a reason why there are so many reality shows based around flipping and none based on buy and hold investing. It’s an exciting process to buy a home, gut it and completely renovate it. Then, you get the ultimate reward of selling it and collecting the profits—as long as you do things right. The Cons of Fix and Flip Here are some of the cons of fix and flip investing: Upfront Expenses—A house flip will require a lot of upfront expenses. We’re not only talking about financing the house itself, but all the renovation costs and other expenses involved in the flip. You are laying out all that money at the beginning and only seeing your returns when the property sells. This can create cash flow issues and stress if you fall being schedule or go above your initial budget. Taxes—House flips will usually create dramatic swings in income year over year, and that can increase your tax bill. You have to pace things correctly to take advantage of specific capital gains tax rules. Capital gains taxes are higher on any property owned less than a year, so you have to find that balance of how long you own any specific investment properties and how long it takes to complete the renovation and sale. Before you get too deep into fix and flip investing, you will want to talk with your tax advisor to make sure you have the right plan in place. Surprises—All real estate investment is susceptible to surprises. You don’t always know what lies behind the walls until you start the renovation process. You cannot plan for everything as a real estate investor, but you have to be prepared for anything. It is a good idea to add some wiggle room in your budget and overestimate your renovation expenses/timeline to cover any surprises that may come up. These are some of the biggest pros and cons of fix and flip real estate investment. Of course, there are other things you need to know as an investor, so be sure and do your homework in order to get the most out of your investment portfolio. Both fix and flip and buy and hold strategies can be highly lucrative if you do things right. There are no wrong answers, but there are wrong ways of doing things if you truly want to be successful in this field. If you are looking for great investment properties to fix and flip, join the exclusive PropertyLark home buyers’ network. If you qualify, you’ll have access to our exclusive off-market deals and analytics tools that will help you identify the best investments and get the highest possible ROI. Fill out the contact form and questionnaire on the PropertyLark buyer’s site to apply!

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

Classic White Kitchen With Gray Accents. Spring White Granite and Stormy Sky Quartz. Wine Bottle Rack, Wicker Baskets, Multiple Levels, Spun Glass Pendants from West Elm, Island Seating, Island Table, Under counter Microwave,

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

Suad Bejtovic The DeVance Team has collaborated with various synergistic partners in order to create a one-of-a-kind ‘Experience Center’ in the North Dallas corridor. This Electronic Lifestyle facility has quickly become a savvy social and entertaining environment; set up to demonstrate just a few things one can do in their home or office to enhance their quality of life through the use of technology. Guests are dazzled by a plethora of custom electronic selections, incorporated into the latest technology in a cozy, yet high-end residential-style environment. The entire space is home to dozens of custom paintings by local artists and master-crafted wood works and built in cabinetry. The reception area is complimented with a 55” custom designed Art Screen TV with retractable art that rolls up into a motorized casing to reveal a 4K TV screen. The additional spaces show beautifully, with a modern family room, a sophisticated entertainment lounge, and fully functional, stocked wet bar. An acoustically treated 2-Channel listening room houses the finest in McIntosh audio equipment complete with a turntable. This room was designed for vinyl record or streaming music for ‘audiophile enthusiasts.’ The DeVance 18 seat movie theater boasts a state-of-the-art perforated ten foot screen, JBL Synthesis 7.1 surround sound system and crystal clear Runco projection system. Guests enjoy luxurious motorized leather theater seating complete with warm throws and leather ottomans for comfortable movie viewing. The DeVance restrooms continue the Electronic Lifestyle theme on a more personal level, as they are equipped with the top of the line sensor faucets and sinks by TOTO USA, Electric Mirror TVs and the ‘cleaner and greener’ electronic TOTO USA Washlets! The ultimate vision for the DeVance Experience was to create an environment unlike any retail storefront or big box shop, where a unique and exciting experience awaits existing and prospective clients, guests, trade partners and business associates. Collaborating partners are encouraged to utilize the space as a mini-custom showroom of their own; accessing a relaxing environment to lay out clients’ space plans and select samples for custom countertops, specialized cabinet designs, fabrics, paint, carpets, etc. Essentially, The DeVance Experience Center is the hottest design/build/electronic lifestyle showroom around, lending a whole new meaning to “industry partnerships!” Based on current knowledge, there is no other showroom that is comparable. The layout of the new Experience Center was designed specifically for event marketing. To name a few, continuing education classes and training seminars for builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers, professional meet up groups and local business functions. Private client tours, relationship appreciation functions, sports and movie watching parties are just a smattering of the promotional campaign lineup. The center provides a professional, yet relaxing and entertaining venue for professional industry trade gatherings and events. The Experience Center offers a showcase for user-friendly automation and control and variety of electronic lifestyle systems throughout the space via the use of an iPhone, iPad or smart tablet. With ease and elegance, guests may choose to control the lighting, shades and draperies, thermostats, whole house music, multiple televisions and video displays (many of which are concealed behind beautifully framed artwork). Mimicking many of the latest possibilities for the high-end homeowner, all of this in a comfortable and luxurious environment that makes them feel right at home! Showroom Exchange Partners include woodworking cabinetry Concepts Realized by Walt Ring, custom artwork by Mark Whitmarsh, Ric Falster, Dawn Cleaves, and Jenny Williamson. Theater millwork interiors by Mancave DFW, custom theater seating, leather furnishings, and wood tables by Touch of France, Silestone surfaces by Cosentino USA, stone fabrication services by A-A Marble also contributing exotic granite vanity tops, faucets, sinks and toilets by TOTO USA, and Kane theater carpeting by Natural Selections.

The Quarry Mill's Astoria real thin stone veneer creates a beautiful chimney and exterior siding on this stunning residential home. Astoria thin stone veneer is a blend of beautiful natural granites. The veneer showcases granites from two different quarries which create the unique color combination. In addition to the different color granites, the veneer shows multiple faces of the natural stone. The larger rectangular blue and grey pieces show the bedfaces (outer parts of the quarried slabs), whereas, the smaller more linear blue and grey pieces show the interior or split face of the stone. The pink tones round out the blend which creates Astoria. Astoria is a top-of-the-line stone as the granites are some of the hardest we work with. Due to the hardness of the stone, the pieces take almost twice as long to saw compared to some of our other veneers.

• Made from 100% Premium Cotton Voile; Filling: 100% Fine Polyester • 100% Handmade Luxury Quilt. Whole-cloth construction • Machine wash friendly • Ultra soft and light. Versatile for all season use. • Luxury quilts featured with buoyant bubble design, 100% handmade. Quilts and shams made of 100% cotton voile. Compared to regular cotton fabric, it is softer and lighter. Perfect for all-season use. The quilts come in multiple astonishing colors. One among these will blend seamlessly into your well appointed bedroom.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

The homes in Heritage Hills in Chapel Hill, NC are representative of the popularity and explosive growth of American Home Ownership that occurred during the economic expansion that followed the end of WW II. They were designed and built to foster the benefits and sense of “community”, where families could come together and share theirs and their children’s lives. They are typically in very desirable locations within their larger communities, and remodeling them with modern amenities, increasing the performance and efficiency of them, and having them Green Certified (independent third-party verified) makes them extremely attractive to buyers, and helps to raise other property values within the neighborhood. Green Certified Remodeled Homes offer significant value and advantage in the marketplace over similar homes in their area, which is especially important as a new, younger era of home buyers enter the market. Current trends suggest that younger (as well as many “seasoned”) homeowners are interested in smaller, more efficient (and thus affordable) homes situated closer to shopping, their work, entertainment opportunities, and access to the economic and environmental benefits of mass transit. These older homes also offer an additional value that is continuing to gain visibility and appreciation in the market place. They were built from lumber from slower-growth trees (denser and harder wood), and as such offer superior structural support compared to the same home built using lumber from today’s faster-growing (softer and less-dense wood) trees. Robin and Kent had lived in their 2-story Gambrel Roof home in Heritage Hills since 1994. The house was structurally sound, due in large part to the old-growth (and denser) yellow pine that was used in its framing. They loved the quiet neighborhood, its sense of community and amenities, and their home. It suited their life-style and needs; and they had decided that they would remain in the home. It was showing its age, and was in need of general repairs and maintenance, and its energy, water, and indoor air quality performance was continuing to increase their ongoing cost of ownership. Robin loved the screen porch that looked out on their private and nicely landscaped back yard, but she wanted to be able to use it in the colder months of the year. She was unsatisfied with the kitchen and the mud room / laundry room, and the darkness of other living spaces. A previous water leak in the laundry room had resulted in a large patch of mold that had compromised flooring, wall board, and insulation and contributed to the homes reduced indoor air quality. The home lacked insulation in the crawl, and inadequate insulation in the attic. The single HVAC unit had been replaced a few years earlier with a more efficient unit, but with a single programmable thermostat control on the first floor and aging and un-insulated ducting, the second floor was often over-heated in the summer months. The original wood windows had begun to deteriorate and were drafty and inefficient, and the original wood-burning fireplace was an open conduit for escaping conditioned air as well as an inlet for wood-smoke smelling air being pulled into the home. The siding had been replaced a few years earlier with a cement-fiber product, but the exterior wood trim was compromised and beginning to look unsightly. Its original architecture had been altered over the years in ways that presented ongoing maintenance and durability issues, as well as disrupting the elegance of the original design. Kent has worked for over 30 years in the Environmental Sciences field, and is considered to be a national expert in understanding the sources of, and human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments. He had always been very conscious and cautious about the effects on indoor air quality that the construction, furnishings, and products used in home had on him and his family. Project Goals Increase the performance of their home by improving energy efficiency by at least 40% and lowering their natural gas and electric utility costs. Increase the performance of their home by reducing water usage by at least 40% and lowering the water utility costs. Increase the comfort of their home that was being compromised by an inadequate HVAC design, inadequate insulation, inefficient and compromised wood windows, and copious air intrusions and drafts. Improve the healthiness of the homes indoor air quality that was being compromised by an open wood-burning fireplace, and prior water intrusion that had allowed colonies of mold to thrive. Create a new Kitchen, Family Room, Home Office, Mudroom, and Laundry Room that featured some of the latest designs and trends and harmonized with the rest of the homes charm. Increase the usefulness and aesthetics of the screened porch by creating a warm and inviting semi-conditioned 3-Season Room that extended the times during the year that it was comfortable. Introduce day-lighting into areas of the home that were dark and uninviting. Brighten and harmonize all of the interior finishes. Protect and restore the exterior of the home with superior-performing products and finishes. Achieve Gold Level Green Home Certification in conformance with the ICC 700-2012 National Green Building Standards (NGBS).

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

The Quarry Mill's Astoria natural thin stone veneer creates a beautiful chimney on this residential home. Astoria thin stone veneer is a blend of beautiful natural granites. The veneer showcases granites from two different quarries which create the unique color combination. In addition to the different color granites, the veneer shows multiple faces of the natural stone. The larger rectangular blue and grey pieces show the bedfaces (outer parts of the quarried slabs), whereas, the smaller more linear blue and grey pieces show the interior or split face of the stone. The pink tones round out the blend which creates Astoria. Astoria is a top-of-the-line stone as the granites are some of the hardest we work with. Due to the hardness of the stone, the pieces take almost twice as long to saw compared to some of our other veneers.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

Jen Denham of Reico Kitchen and Bath in White Plains, MD collaborated with Personal Touch Installation to design a transitional style inspired primary bathroom featuring Merillat Classic Cabinetry. The vanity cabinets are the Fox Harbor door style in Maple with a Cotton finish with MSI Q Galant Gray vanity countertops. The bathroom includes Nashville Bianco Coveland gloss shower wall tile, Nashville Moss Greige shower floor tile and Ceracasa Filita White floor tile. “Jennifer was absolutely fantastic; we couldn’t ask for anyone better. She made suggestions, listened to concerns, answered questions, and was exceptionally patient through multiple color changes. We never felt rushed to make a decision. Having previously worked with Jen on a complete remodel, it was an easy decision to return for our bath project," said the client. “The master bath was original to the house and was chopped up into two rooms, a huge wasted area for a giant soaker tub that was never used and small cramped spot for their shower toilet and vanity,” said Jen. "We all agreed that the design didn't quite fit their needs. After exploring several options, we settled on a spacious shower with aging-in-place features like a bench and handheld. We added more storage with the large vanity and bench off the back end of the shower. We also created a huge custom shower that is easier to get in and out of, with plenty of space compared to their tiny shower from before." “The clients were extremely kind, patient and understanding through the entire project. It was a huge undertaking and we were essentially creating a whole new room. It's hard to picture what it looked like before!” Photos courtesy of BTW Images.

Photos by Suad Bejtovic The DeVance Team has collaborated with various synergistic partners in order to create a one-of-a-kind ‘Experience Center’ in the North Dallas corridor. This Electronic Lifestyle facility has quickly become a savvy social and entertaining environment; set up to demonstrate just a few things one can do in their home or office to enhance their quality of life through the use of technology. Guests are dazzled by a plethora of custom electronic selections, incorporated into the latest technology in a cozy, yet high-end residential-style environment. The entire space is home to dozens of custom paintings by local artists and master-crafted wood works and built in cabinetry. The reception area is complimented with a 55” custom designed Art Screen TV with retractable art that rolls up into a motorized casing to reveal a 4K TV screen. The additional spaces show beautifully, with a modern family room, a sophisticated entertainment lounge, and fully functional, stocked wet bar. An acoustically treated 2-Channel listening room houses the finest in McIntosh audio equipment complete with a turntable. This room was designed for vinyl record or streaming music for ‘audiophile enthusiasts.’ The DeVance 18 seat movie theater boasts a state-of-the-art perforated ten foot screen, JBL Synthesis 7.1 surround sound system and crystal clear Runco projection system. Guests enjoy luxurious motorized leather theater seating complete with warm throws and leather ottomans for comfortable movie viewing. The DeVance restrooms continue the Electronic Lifestyle theme on a more personal level, as they are equipped with the top of the line sensor faucets and sinks by TOTO USA, Electric Mirror TVs and the ‘cleaner and greener’ electronic TOTO USA Washlets! The ultimate vision for the DeVance Experience was to create an environment unlike any retail storefront or big box shop, where a unique and exciting experience awaits existing and prospective clients, guests, trade partners and business associates. Collaborating partners are encouraged to utilize the space as a mini-custom showroom of their own; accessing a relaxing environment to lay out clients’ space plans and select samples for custom countertops, specialized cabinet designs, fabrics, paint, carpets, etc. Essentially, The DeVance Experience Center is the hottest design/build/electronic lifestyle showroom around, lending a whole new meaning to “industry partnerships!” Based on current knowledge, there is no other showroom that is comparable. The layout of the new Experience Center was designed specifically for event marketing. To name a few, continuing education classes and training seminars for builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers, professional meet up groups and local business functions. Private client tours, relationship appreciation functions, sports and movie watching parties are just a smattering of the promotional campaign lineup. The center provides a professional, yet relaxing and entertaining venue for professional industry trade gatherings and events. The Experience Center offers a showcase for user-friendly automation and control and variety of electronic lifestyle systems throughout the space via the use of an iPhone, iPad or smart tablet. With ease and elegance, guests may choose to control the lighting, shades and draperies, thermostats, whole house music, multiple televisions and video displays (many of which are concealed behind beautifully framed artwork). Mimicking many of the latest possibilities for the high-end homeowner, all of this in a comfortable and luxurious environment that makes them feel right at home! Showroom Exchange Partners include woodworking cabinetry Concepts Realized by Walt Ring, custom artwork by Mark Whitmarsh, Ric Falster, Dawn Cleaves, and Jenny Williamson. Theater millwork interiors by Mancave DFW, custom theater seating, leather furnishings, and wood tables by Touch of France, Silestone surfaces by Cosentino USA, stone fabrication services by A-A Marble also contributing exotic granite vanity tops, faucets, sinks and toilets by TOTO USA, and Kane theater carpeting by Natural Selections.

Photos by Suad Bejtovic The DeVance Team has collaborated with various synergistic partners in order to create a one-of-a-kind ‘Experience Center’ in the North Dallas corridor. This Electronic Lifestyle facility has quickly become a savvy social and entertaining environment; set up to demonstrate just a few things one can do in their home or office to enhance their quality of life through the use of technology. Guests are dazzled by a plethora of custom electronic selections, incorporated into the latest technology in a cozy, yet high-end residential-style environment. The entire space is home to dozens of custom paintings by local artists and master-crafted wood works and built in cabinetry. The reception area is complimented with a 55” custom designed Art Screen TV with retractable art that rolls up into a motorized casing to reveal a 4K TV screen. The additional spaces show beautifully, with a modern family room, a sophisticated entertainment lounge, and fully functional, stocked wet bar. An acoustically treated 2-Channel listening room houses the finest in McIntosh audio equipment complete with a turntable. This room was designed for vinyl record or streaming music for ‘audiophile enthusiasts.’ The DeVance 18 seat movie theater boasts a state-of-the-art perforated ten foot screen, JBL Synthesis 7.1 surround sound system and crystal clear Runco projection system. Guests enjoy luxurious motorized leather theater seating complete with warm throws and leather ottomans for comfortable movie viewing. The DeVance restrooms continue the Electronic Lifestyle theme on a more personal level, as they are equipped with the top of the line sensor faucets and sinks by TOTO USA, Electric Mirror TVs and the ‘cleaner and greener’ electronic TOTO USA Washlets! The ultimate vision for the DeVance Experience was to create an environment unlike any retail storefront or big box shop, where a unique and exciting experience awaits existing and prospective clients, guests, trade partners and business associates. Collaborating partners are encouraged to utilize the space as a mini-custom showroom of their own; accessing a relaxing environment to lay out clients’ space plans and select samples for custom countertops, specialized cabinet designs, fabrics, paint, carpets, etc. Essentially, The DeVance Experience Center is the hottest design/build/electronic lifestyle showroom around, lending a whole new meaning to “industry partnerships!” Based on current knowledge, there is no other showroom that is comparable. The layout of the new Experience Center was designed specifically for event marketing. To name a few, continuing education classes and training seminars for builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers, professional meet up groups and local business functions. Private client tours, relationship appreciation functions, sports and movie watching parties are just a smattering of the promotional campaign lineup. The center provides a professional, yet relaxing and entertaining venue for professional industry trade gatherings and events. The Experience Center offers a showcase for user-friendly automation and control and variety of electronic lifestyle systems throughout the space via the use of an iPhone, iPad or smart tablet. With ease and elegance, guests may choose to control the lighting, shades and draperies, thermostats, whole house music, multiple televisions and video displays (many of which are concealed behind beautifully framed artwork). Mimicking many of the latest possibilities for the high-end homeowner, all of this in a comfortable and luxurious environment that makes them feel right at home! Showroom Exchange Partners include woodworking cabinetry Concepts Realized by Walt Ring, custom artwork by Mark Whitmarsh, Ric Falster, Dawn Cleaves, and Jenny Williamson. Theater millwork interiors by Mancave DFW, custom theater seating, leather furnishings, and wood tables by Touch of France, Silestone surfaces by Cosentino USA, stone fabrication services by A-A Marble also contributing exotic granite vanity tops, faucets, sinks and toilets by TOTO USA, and Kane theater carpeting by Natural Selections.

Photos by Suad Bejtovic The DeVance Team has collaborated with various synergistic partners in order to create a one-of-a-kind ‘Experience Center’ in the North Dallas corridor. This Electronic Lifestyle facility has quickly become a savvy social and entertaining environment; set up to demonstrate just a few things one can do in their home or office to enhance their quality of life through the use of technology. Guests are dazzled by a plethora of custom electronic selections, incorporated into the latest technology in a cozy, yet high-end residential-style environment. The entire space is home to dozens of custom paintings by local artists and master-crafted wood works and built in cabinetry. The reception area is complimented with a 55” custom designed Art Screen TV with retractable art that rolls up into a motorized casing to reveal a 4K TV screen. The additional spaces show beautifully, with a modern family room, a sophisticated entertainment lounge, and fully functional, stocked wet bar. An acoustically treated 2-Channel listening room houses the finest in McIntosh audio equipment complete with a turntable. This room was designed for vinyl record or streaming music for ‘audiophile enthusiasts.’ The DeVance 18 seat movie theater boasts a state-of-the-art perforated ten foot screen, JBL Synthesis 7.1 surround sound system and crystal clear Runco projection system. Guests enjoy luxurious motorized leather theater seating complete with warm throws and leather ottomans for comfortable movie viewing. The DeVance restrooms continue the Electronic Lifestyle theme on a more personal level, as they are equipped with the top of the line sensor faucets and sinks by TOTO USA, Electric Mirror TVs and the ‘cleaner and greener’ electronic TOTO USA Washlets! The ultimate vision for the DeVance Experience was to create an environment unlike any retail storefront or big box shop, where a unique and exciting experience awaits existing and prospective clients, guests, trade partners and business associates. Collaborating partners are encouraged to utilize the space as a mini-custom showroom of their own; accessing a relaxing environment to lay out clients’ space plans and select samples for custom countertops, specialized cabinet designs, fabrics, paint, carpets, etc. Essentially, The DeVance Experience Center is the hottest design/build/electronic lifestyle showroom around, lending a whole new meaning to “industry partnerships!” Based on current knowledge, there is no other showroom that is comparable. The layout of the new Experience Center was designed specifically for event marketing. To name a few, continuing education classes and training seminars for builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers, professional meet up groups and local business functions. Private client tours, relationship appreciation functions, sports and movie watching parties are just a smattering of the promotional campaign lineup. The center provides a professional, yet relaxing and entertaining venue for professional industry trade gatherings and events. The Experience Center offers a showcase for user-friendly automation and control and variety of electronic lifestyle systems throughout the space via the use of an iPhone, iPad or smart tablet. With ease and elegance, guests may choose to control the lighting, shades and draperies, thermostats, whole house music, multiple televisions and video displays (many of which are concealed behind beautifully framed artwork). Mimicking many of the latest possibilities for the high-end homeowner, all of this in a comfortable and luxurious environment that makes them feel right at home! Showroom Exchange Partners include woodworking cabinetry Concepts Realized by Walt Ring, custom artwork by Mark Whitmarsh, Ric Falster, Dawn Cleaves, and Jenny Williamson. Theater millwork interiors by Mancave DFW, custom theater seating, leather furnishings, and wood tables by Touch of France, Silestone surfaces by Cosentino USA, stone fabrication services by A-A Marble also contributing exotic granite vanity tops, faucets, sinks and toilets by TOTO USA, and Kane theater carpeting by Natural Selections.

Suad Bejtovic The DeVance Team has collaborated with various synergistic partners in order to create a one-of-a-kind ‘Experience Center’ in the North Dallas corridor. This Electronic Lifestyle facility has quickly become a savvy social and entertaining environment; set up to demonstrate just a few things one can do in their home or office to enhance their quality of life through the use of technology. Guests are dazzled by a plethora of custom electronic selections, incorporated into the latest technology in a cozy, yet high-end residential-style environment. The entire space is home to dozens of custom paintings by local artists and master-crafted wood works and built in cabinetry. The reception area is complimented with a 55” custom designed Art Screen TV with retractable art that rolls up into a motorized casing to reveal a 4K TV screen. The additional spaces show beautifully, with a modern family room, a sophisticated entertainment lounge, and fully functional, stocked wet bar. An acoustically treated 2-Channel listening room houses the finest in McIntosh audio equipment complete with a turntable. This room was designed for vinyl record or streaming music for ‘audiophile enthusiasts.’ The DeVance 18 seat movie theater boasts a state-of-the-art perforated ten foot screen, JBL Synthesis 7.1 surround sound system and crystal clear Runco projection system. Guests enjoy luxurious motorized leather theater seating complete with warm throws and leather ottomans for comfortable movie viewing. The DeVance restrooms continue the Electronic Lifestyle theme on a more personal level, as they are equipped with the top of the line sensor faucets and sinks by TOTO USA, Electric Mirror TVs and the ‘cleaner and greener’ electronic TOTO USA Washlets! The ultimate vision for the DeVance Experience was to create an environment unlike any retail storefront or big box shop, where a unique and exciting experience awaits existing and prospective clients, guests, trade partners and business associates. Collaborating partners are encouraged to utilize the space as a mini-custom showroom of their own; accessing a relaxing environment to lay out clients’ space plans and select samples for custom countertops, specialized cabinet designs, fabrics, paint, carpets, etc. Essentially, The DeVance Experience Center is the hottest design/build/electronic lifestyle showroom around, lending a whole new meaning to “industry partnerships!” Based on current knowledge, there is no other showroom that is comparable. The layout of the new Experience Center was designed specifically for event marketing. To name a few, continuing education classes and training seminars for builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers, professional meet up groups and local business functions. Private client tours, relationship appreciation functions, sports and movie watching parties are just a smattering of the promotional campaign lineup. The center provides a professional, yet relaxing and entertaining venue for professional industry trade gatherings and events. The Experience Center offers a showcase for user-friendly automation and control and variety of electronic lifestyle systems throughout the space via the use of an iPhone, iPad or smart tablet. With ease and elegance, guests may choose to control the lighting, shades and draperies, thermostats, whole house music, multiple televisions and video displays (many of which are concealed behind beautifully framed artwork). Mimicking many of the latest possibilities for the high-end homeowner, all of this in a comfortable and luxurious environment that makes them feel right at home! Showroom Exchange Partners include woodworking cabinetry Concepts Realized by Walt Ring, custom artwork by Mark Whitmarsh, Ric Falster, Dawn Cleaves, and Jenny Williamson. Theater millwork interiors by Mancave DFW, custom theater seating, leather furnishings, and wood tables by Touch of France, Silestone surfaces by Cosentino USA, stone fabrication services by A-A Marble also contributing exotic granite vanity tops, faucets, sinks and toilets by TOTO USA, and Kane theater carpeting by Natural Selections.

The key is to find products that come in multiple shades to allow for cohesion through repeating the items, but the personality reference through color variation.