Search results for "Continuing process" in Home Design Ideas

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family.
The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space.
The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm.
Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace.
Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family.
Photo by Eric Roth

Stunning, functional and future-focused!
This superb kitchen done in Snaidero's Way collection. Appliances by Gaggenau, Meile and Liebherr. Hood by Maxfire, sink and accessories by Steeltime.

A KitchenAid 36” dual fuel range and Zephyr 36” “Essential Europa” wall mount hood turn this Kitchen into a chef’s delight - and everything needed for a busy family!
Find the right local pro for your project

BPLAN panels can be applied anywhere in the world and in different contexts, in the same project, given the properties of the materials you use, the quality of production processes and finishes.
In the United Arab Emirates, BPLAN panels were applied in the same project, from the outside, giving elegance, dynamism and versatility to the elevations, to the interior, with panels that divide the spaces with formal wealth grid.
Outside, BPLAN panels mark the main entry points, in large spans, in a formal and calculation exercise that confers the continuity of the pattern, without structural elements that could disturb the reading of the same. This exercise of commitment between elegance and resistance was incorporated in aluminum with 8mm thickness, combined with a peripheral structure in stainless steel.
The other elements that punctuate the elevations consist of self-supporting panels that give formal versatility and the use of the elevation, because they are associated with sliding rails.
In all applications abroad, it is evident the interrelationship with the interior of the building, in a gesture of continuity and coherence.
The separation of spaces is punctuated by panels obtained through the same processes and materials, particularly at the level of finishing, in a gold of extreme elegance in a building of great conceptual robustness.

BPLAN panels can be applied anywhere in the world and in different contexts, in the same project, given the properties of the materials you use, the quality of production processes and finishes.
In the United Arab Emirates, BPLAN panels were applied in the same project, from the outside, giving elegance, dynamism and versatility to the elevations, to the interior, with panels that divide the spaces with formal wealth grid.
Outside, BPLAN panels mark the main entry points, in large spans, in a formal and calculation exercise that confers the continuity of the pattern, without structural elements that could disturb the reading of the same. This exercise of commitment between elegance and resistance was incorporated in aluminum with 8mm thickness, combined with a peripheral structure in stainless steel.
The other elements that punctuate the elevations consist of self-supporting panels that give formal versatility and the use of the elevation, because they are associated with sliding rails.
In all applications abroad, it is evident the interrelationship with the interior of the building, in a gesture of continuity and coherence.
The separation of spaces is punctuated by panels obtained through the same processes and materials, particularly at the level of finishing, in a gold of extreme elegance in a building of great conceptual robustness.

Artsaics offers the concept of intricate curved lines for graceful mosaic designs. This is achieved by using a computerized jet that creates precisely cut edges, which are placed together accordingly by our artisans. The process uses the most up to date technology to support our continuous loyalty in creating fresh design concepts.

In the process of renovating this house for a multi-generational family, we restored the original Shingle Style façade with a flared lower edge that covers window bays and added a brick cladding to the lower story. On the interior, we introduced a continuous stairway that runs from the first to the fourth floors. The stairs surround a steel and glass elevator that is centered below a skylight and invites natural light down to each level. The home’s traditionally proportioned formal rooms flow naturally into more contemporary adjacent spaces that are unified through consistency of materials and trim details.

This is a shaped handrail which serpentines around an elliptical landing and down and elliptical stairway. My head still spins when I recall the math involved getting this just right. The long runs were shaped with machines and routers, but the turnout at the bottom was all done by hand and a keen eye. To further complicate the process, the finish on it is a multi-stepped process which needed to be done in place after all the joinery was completed and faired. We did all that on temporary spindles and then enlisted the help of all the carpenters on site to lift it up in one piece and set it back down on over 150 spindles. The contractor on this project was Birdseye Building Company of Richmond, Vermont.

Designed by Growsgreen Landscape Design: growsgreen.com.
Inspiration for a modern patio remodel in San Francisco
Inspiration for a modern patio remodel in San Francisco

Custom Home Built for Real Life
Our clients came to us with a clear vision: a home that could adapt to their lifestyle and growing family. They needed a home built with intention, designed with the future in mind, and built around the routines they loved and the people they loved more.
Open-Concept Living With Hosting in Mind
Our clients hosted often and lived actively, so the main level had to be flexible for all of life’s moments. The goal was a space that felt grand without losing its warmth.
Cooking together as a family mattered to our clients – the Wolf range, farmhouse sink, integrated appliances, and large island gave them a kitchen that flowed effortlessly while looking beautiful. This space also served as the bridge between other parts of the main level so that they would stay in view of the next. This created the perfect environment for gathering where everyone had their own spot without ever feeling apart from the whole group.
For the living room, our clients wanted space that felt open without losing its warmth. Soaring ceilings created that sense of scale, while warm tones and materials, like the wood coffered ceiling and fireplace wall, kept it grounded. That same warmth carried outside, where an outdoor lounge with a fireplace and dining area made sure guests felt welcomed the moment they stepped out.
A Backyard Built for Real Rest
Every corner of the backyard was designed with one goal: to be the ultimate outdoor retreat. The elevated, white-brick-framed pool and integrated spa hot tub gave them a place to truly exhale. As the sun set, the fire pit lounge next to the pool became the hangout spot when they hosted their youth groups and family gatherings.
Room to Grow
With kids in the house, “custom” had to also mean flexible. Our clients had 2 young sons and needed their rooms to grow with them through the years. The two bedrooms and a full bath sat beside a loft that served as both their hangout-and-homework spot. The guest suite sat on the same level where a four-poster bed, floor-to-ceiling wood-look tile, and a frameless glass shower welcomed their guests from day one.
A Retreat That’s Actually Theirs
Between hosting and raising kids, this couple needed a suite that felt like a true escape. The wood-planked tray ceiling and French doors grounded the room in warmth the moment you walked in, while the ensuite bathroom carried a spa-like feeling with a freestanding soaking tub, custom double vanity, and a glass-enclosed shower.
This Is What Approachable Luxury Looks Like
The approachable luxury experience meant starting with conversations about how they wanted their space to live with them – how they hosted, how their kids played, how they wanted to feel walking through their own front door, and how we took their goals and experience and used it as the foundation of every decision that was made from start to finish. We wanted our clients to feel taken care of through the process and, most importantly, feel heard.

Located at the Toll Brothers Model Homes the Enclave at Yorba Linda. Toll Brothers envisioned a raised overflow pool with glass walls, allowing guests to see underwater from the outside. Extensive care was taken during the difficult design and build process to ensure that excellence was achieved and Toll Brothers was completely enamored with the results.
This pool features a very modern look with straight, clean lines, square columns and LED lights accenting the acrylic pool walls. The bar area touts an acrylic wall and in-pool bar stools, while the tile inside the pool matches the house, bringing continuity to the entire space.
An extreme amount of coordination was required for the 2.5 inch thick pieces of acrylic to fit perfectly within the slots on the columns while still maintaining the structural integrity of the pool. We were in continual communication with the structural engineer and acrylic manufacturer, ensuring that each piece fit perfectly. The completed acrylic walls were then craned over the house due to their weight.
With a vanishing edge on the front three sections and a negative edge along the back, it was absolutely imperative that the pool was perfectly level and that the water filtration system operated perfectly so that the flow was even over each wall. The water cascading over the front walls collects in a trough that ties into to the rear negative edge basin, where it recirculates back into the pool.
The rear negative edge was designed so as not to distract from the breathtaking view of the valley below, while the lounging deck overhangs the pool with a freestanding cover ensuring that the view is completely unobstructed.
An elegant piece of artwork frames the back of the pool, completing the look for this intriguing swimming pool.

This is a shaped handrail which serpentines around an elliptical landing and down and elliptical stairway. My head still spins when I recall the math involved getting this just right. The long runs were shaped with machines and routers, but the turnout at the bottom was all done by hand and a keen eye. To further complicate the process, the finish on it is a multi-stepped process which needed to be done in place after all the joinery was completed and faired. We did all that on temporary spindles and then enlisted the help of all the carpenters on site to lift it up in one piece and set it back down on over 150 spindles. The contractor on this project was Birdseye Building Company of Richmond, Vermont.

Our client contacted us regarding their outdated bathroom. They could not handle
taking a shower in their “TOMB” shower anymore. They wanted to update their
bathroom giving it a streamlined look with a traditional touch.
Our client’s desires were:
• Wanted a large open shower
• Wanted a larger master closet
• Wanted a better way of excising the wall cabinet by the vanity
• They wanted to remove their Jacuzzi tub
After coming up with a design that satisfied the customer’s needs, we started the demo
process and ran into the first obstacle. Because of the construction of the original
closed shower, there was no moisture barrier used which caused the existing framing
and exterior sheathing to decay. We were also startled by what look like an expanding
black cloud of carpenter ants, when we opened up the wall.
After making the necessary repairs, we continued with the remodel which consisted of a
dramatic large shower, the large subway design, granite shelving along with the bronze
accent tile that enhances the over all look of the show er. It also gave it a larger
appearance with the custom glass enclose. Another concern we had after relocating the
shower to its new location, was that it was under an existing skylight. We felt that there
maybe a moisture concern especially during the winter months. To over come this
obstacle we installed an exhaust fan near the ceiling in the w all above the shower. We
painted the exhaust fan grill the same color of the walls, so the fan would not stand out.
To make sure that there would not be any problem with condensation around the
skylight , we trimmed the skylight with azek material.
We installed custom cabinets that reflected the look the client was trying to achieve.
During this process we over came our last obstacle by installing bi-fold style doors on
the wall cabinet next to the vanity, which would swing completely out of the way so the
customer could have full access to the slide drawers. The handles were placed on the
doors to make it look like a regular two door wall cabinet. The bi-fold action also
allowanced it to clear a wall sconce.

This is a shaped handrail which serpentines around an elliptical landing and down and elliptical stairway. My head still spins when I recall the math involved getting this just right. The long runs were shaped with machines and routers, but the turnout at the bottom was all done by hand and a keen eye. To further complicate the process, the finish on it is a multi-stepped process which needed to be done in place after all the joinery was completed and faired. We did all that on temporary spindles and then enlisted the help of all the carpenters on site to lift it up in one piece and set it back down on over 150 spindles. The contractor on this project was Birdseye Building Company of Richmond, Vermont.

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family.
The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space.
The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm.
Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace.
Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family.
Photo by Eric Roth

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family.
The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space.
The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm.
Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace.
Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family.
Photo by Eric Roth

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.”

TUDOR HOUSE
The most memorable aspect of this project is the owners. They have an appreciation of all things European and a love of thoughtful design. Once they found the perfect house to renovate in the ideal location, they completely threw themselves into the process. Because of the high visibility of the historic home, neighbors and others who passed by were able to watch the entire project unfold. The end result is a home that seamlessly blends the existing Tudor house with the new adaptations, edits, and additions. This project was the first of many with these clients, and our friendship continues to this day.

In the process of renovating this house for a multi-generational family, we restored the original Shingle Style façade with a flared lower edge that covers window bays and added a brick cladding to the lower story. On the interior, we introduced a continuous stairway that runs from the first to the fourth floors. The stairs surround a steel and glass elevator that is centered below a skylight and invites natural light down to each level. The home’s traditionally proportioned formal rooms flow naturally into more contemporary adjacent spaces that are unified through consistency of materials and trim details.

The kitchen exudes the warmth and love of a home, conveying a unique and beautiful taste memory. Modern kitchen design has continuously deepened the family's emotions, making the kitchen not only a place for food processing, but also a sign of a happy and beautiful life. Owning a high-value kitchen can make you more passionate about life.
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