When a Historic District home was renovated in Fort Myers, a dream kitchen was created: open plan enough for gathering, with clearly delineated areas for cooking, reading and entertaining. Challenge Bill and Alison’s existing kitchen was small and dysfunctional. Each room seemed independent, and there was no flow through the house. The house felt small, with one entry and exit point. As a planning consultant, Bill was no stranger to construction. He was a general contractor himself and had built several custom homes in years past. As a gardening enthusiast and professional educator, Alison also had an eye for design. They started with design, layout and planning on their own, but soon realized they needed help. After interviewing several contractors who seemed overwhelmed and unenthused by their project, they reached out to Progressive Design Build. Solution Mike was not only enthused about the project, but he established trust with Bill and Alison. Within a few short weeks he was hired to begin the planning phase, conducting thorough research on the project, meeting key subcontractors and establishing a realistic budget. When the project began, internal walls were removed to open up the kitchen/dining areas and an island was built, giving the space an open and modern functionality. The eating area was enlarged, and a visual connection to the outside was established using Marvin insulated glass windows with Low E coatings—which rejects solar heat gain without reducing visible light passing through the glass. In order to allow for the open concept layout that Bill and Alison desired, we built new structural beams to transfer the live load. The sliding patio doors opened onto a small terrace with a wrought iron handrail creating access to the private courtyard and garden area. Finishing details included custom cherry cabinets and wood trimming, 16” x 32” natural stone flooring, granite countertops and historically correct plaster finishes. Result The project was completed within budget and two weeks ahead of schedule. “That planning phase was the best money we spent on the project,” exclaimed Bill. “It was incredibly gratifying being able to watch the subcontractors and suppliers come and go with shared leadership and attention to details.”

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Lopez Outdoor Living Williamsburg, VA Mid Atlantic Enterprise, Inc. The main objective for this project was to turn this Disabled American Veteran’s useless, hilly backyard into a complete outdoor living destination. This meant created a functional place for the client’s needs while being an exciting place for his young family to play and entertain. A major challenge in this project was altering the terrain to suit the design plan. We had to clear-cut the entire backyard and remove over 3,000 cubic yards of earth. Severe drainage issues also had to be corrected before installing the hardscape. To accommodate the elevation changes of the property and to support the necessary ADA compliant ramp, we had to construct two walls. One wall serves as a freestanding and retaining wall specially constructed on a large concrete footer and reinforced with rebar and concrete. We built everything custom; a new deck and pergola to blend the home and hardscape. This included a fully functional outdoor kitchen to meet the entertaining requirements of the clients, a gunite pool & spa large enough to accommodate the client’s ever-growing family, two fire bowls and a fire pit to add the “wow” factor the clients sought. In addition, a shed was built to complement the home while providing much needed storage space. We installed a full landscape; which included five 25 ft Magnolia trees to provide instant privacy in place of the overgrown woody area that was removed. To provide safety at night, we completed the project with strategically placed landscape lighting.

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Mid-sized modern gray two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Austin

This is the front of a home that combines modern lake house design with a number of sustainable best practices to create a stunning and amazingly comfortable low carbon home. The solar photovoltaic panels are set on the curved roof (not the equal gaps between the tops of the panels). The 9.8 kW PV 35 Panel array provides 32% of the homes energy usage, with the remaining electricity coming from 100% renewable energy credits from the grid. The energy concept for the home was to be all electric to reduce fracked natural gas usage. Natural gas is only used as a starter for the high efficiency, sealed combustion, outside combustion air fireplace and for a back up generator. The mechanical system is provided by a series of all electric, ultra high efficiency mini-splits, controlled by an integrated smart home system. An induction cooktop, hybrid electric water heater and hybrid electric dryer complete the items that typically use natural gas. Lighting is all high efficiency correctly colored LED’s. A home office is included on the second floor complete with a balcony, facing towards the lake. Their zero carbon work commute consists of walking across the 2nd floor hallway.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zelmar-Kitchen-Designs-More/136528272620?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

This is the front of a home that combines modern lake house design with a number of sustainable best practices to create a stunning and amazingly comfortable low carbon home. The solar photovoltaic panels are set on the curved roof (not the equal gaps between the tops of the panels). The 9.8 kW PV 35 Panel array provides 32% of the homes energy usage, with the remaining electricity coming from 100% renewable energy credits from the grid. The energy concept for the home was to be all electric to reduce fracked natural gas usage. Natural gas is only used as a starter for the high efficiency, sealed combustion, outside combustion air fireplace and for a back up generator. The mechanical system is provided by a series of all electric, ultra high efficiency mini-splits, controlled by an integrated smart home system. An induction cooktop, hybrid electric water heater and hybrid electric dryer complete the items that typically use natural gas. Lighting is all high efficiency correctly colored LED’s. A home office is included on the second floor complete with a balcony, facing towards the lake. Their zero carbon work commute consists of walking across the 2nd floor hallway.

Mid-sized kitchen photo in Los Angeles

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Lopez Outdoor Living Williamsburg, VA Mid Atlantic Enterprise, Inc. The main objective for this project was to turn this Disabled American Veteran’s useless, hilly backyard into a complete outdoor living destination. This meant created a functional place for the client’s needs while being an exciting place for his young family to play and entertain. A major challenge in this project was altering the terrain to suit the design plan. We had to clear-cut the entire backyard and remove over 3,000 cubic yards of earth. Severe drainage issues also had to be corrected before installing the hardscape. To accommodate the elevation changes of the property and to support the necessary ADA compliant ramp, we had to construct two walls. One wall serves as a freestanding and retaining wall specially constructed on a large concrete footer and reinforced with rebar and concrete. We built everything custom; a new deck and pergola to blend the home and hardscape. This included a fully functional outdoor kitchen to meet the entertaining requirements of the clients, a gunite pool & spa large enough to accommodate the client’s ever-growing family, two fire bowls and a fire pit to add the “wow” factor the clients sought. In addition, a shed was built to complement the home while providing much needed storage space. We installed a full landscape; which included five 25 ft Magnolia trees to provide instant privacy in place of the overgrown woody area that was removed. To provide safety at night, we completed the project with strategically placed landscape lighting.

Running your own restaurant is not an easy job. Apart from all the marketing, sales and payroll for your employees there is also one other detail most of us miss. Beautifying a space is every important no matter whether it is in interior form or even an exterior. Whether you are planning to this to your home or commercial space. Be the chance everyone is looking forward to experience. It is important that you look into the different ways you can do so. But if you are thinking that the total package is expensive, then you are quite wrong. This is why we brought you some budget friendly ideas to try. What are the colors you can choose? Colors are what make the different moods in people and it is essential to know which type of colors creates the different moods. For an example, bright and jarring colors can create the dramatic and energetic feeling when soft colors can be relaxing and soothing. Once you can recognize which type of mood you want to set, choosing colors will not be that hard and you don’t have to be a pro in it. Painting is one of the most easiest and cost effective thing we can do to make an old place look new and elegant. Have outdoor space? If you are running a restaurant with outdoor space, then you are really lucky. Because it gives you room to have outdoor functions, events, more space to place your tables for customers and let them enjoy the outdoor dining style. So, make the most out of this space. If you can do a bit of landscaping and beautifying of the exterior most probably the curb appeal of the surrounding will increase and your customers would love the style you have developed. Make sure the environment outdoors is safe of falling trees and other features. Check for the correct commercial outdoor furniture you need to buy according to the available space and how much seats you want. Cleanliness should be preserved Make sure that every day you clean and organize the whole space. Also before you open doors of your restaurant, check for all the dusty nooks and counters that needs cleaning. You can check for some cleaning services in your city or even have a separate cleaning staff for your restaurant. Not only that but also your bathrooms need to be perfectly clean. This can indicate how good the rest of your space is. Choose the correct lighting Again like colors, lights too help you to set the mood of your restaurants. If your restaurant is for romantic dining then, using candlelight and chandeliers would be ideal. For a place where you want to fun and playfulness, then different color lights would be great. Also, don’t forget to make the most out of the natural light.

Patricia Lee, Tailorly Home LLC Fireplace Removal by https://www.theoneoffshop.net

Potting mixes for container gardens need to drain freely, but still retain moisture. My base potting soil mix contains (clockwise from upper left) coarse builder's sand, high-quality organic compost or worm castings, coconut coir, and small lava rock. I supplement this with additional compost, fresh worm castings, and organic soil amendments, with the amounts varying depending on what I'm planting. Photo by Steve Masley

A person’s home is the place where their personality can flourish. In this client’s case, it was their love for their native homeland of Kenya, Africa. One of the main challenges with these space was to remain within the client’s budget. It was important to give this home lots of character, so hiring a faux finish artist to hand-paint the walls in an African inspired pattern for powder room to emphasizing their existing pieces was the perfect solution to staying within their budget needs. Each room was carefully planned to showcase their African heritage in each aspect of the home. The main features included deep wood tones paired with light walls, and dark finishes. A hint of gold was used throughout the house, to complement the spaces and giving the space a bit of a softer feel.

Deck - contemporary ground level deck idea in Austin with a pergola

"Our backyard is truly a work of art! ... it is a beautifully lit and landscaped outdoor entertaining area which we will enjoy for years to come." — Kristen Mazzotta Brewster, New York EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPE PROJECT Fireplaces, Landscaping - Hardscaping & Pavers, Landscaping - Lighting, Patios, Outdoor Kitchens and Living Work Completed: 05/05/2017 Would You Hire This Company Again? Yes Approximate Cost: $90,000.00 Description Of Work: We had two separate projects done. A retaining wall and new staircase which was done this past fall, and an outdoor living space including a patio, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, and a fire pit area that was completed this spring. Customer Comments: "We could not be any happier! My husband is an owner of an Italian restaurant and has always dreamed of having his own backyard kitchen and pizza oven. We weren't sure how everything was going to work in our backyard given that our land is very hilly and sloped. Rhett's design far exceeded our expectations! Because of our sloped yard, we needed to make a few changes to the project once they began working. It ended up adding some additional cost to the original quote, but with the new design we were able to combine a future project of a fire pit area into this one. Rhett also corrected drainage issues we were having with the land. Rhett was onsite overseeing most of the process and was in constant communication with us throughout the project. We were hoping to have the entire project done in time to host our son's birthday party and Rhett assured us the work would be complete, and it was. Our backyard is truly a work of art! Before it was a dark, uninviting space and now it is a beautifully lit and landscaped outdoor entertaining area which we will enjoy for years to come. We are planning on adding a hot tub area, a smaller side patio, and an inground pool in the next few years. We are definitely hiring these guys again to do the work and look forward to completing the backyard we've always wanted! " Level of Satisfaction: Overall: A Price: A Quality: A Responsiveness: A Punctuality: A Professionalism: A

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Lopez Outdoor Living Williamsburg, VA Mid Atlantic Enterprise, Inc. The main objective for this project was to turn this Disabled American Veteran’s useless, hilly backyard into a complete outdoor living destination. This meant created a functional place for the client’s needs while being an exciting place for his young family to play and entertain. A major challenge in this project was altering the terrain to suit the design plan. We had to clear-cut the entire backyard and remove over 3,000 cubic yards of earth. Severe drainage issues also had to be corrected before installing the hardscape. To accommodate the elevation changes of the property and to support the necessary ADA compliant ramp, we had to construct two walls. One wall serves as a freestanding and retaining wall specially constructed on a large concrete footer and reinforced with rebar and concrete. We built everything custom; a new deck and pergola to blend the home and hardscape. This included a fully functional outdoor kitchen to meet the entertaining requirements of the clients, a gunite pool & spa large enough to accommodate the client’s ever-growing family, two fire bowls and a fire pit to add the “wow” factor the clients sought. In addition, a shed was built to complement the home while providing much needed storage space. We installed a full landscape; which included five 25 ft Magnolia trees to provide instant privacy in place of the overgrown woody area that was removed. To provide safety at night, we completed the project with strategically placed landscape lighting.

This curbless walk-in shower was completed in 7 working days and built with long-term reliability in mind. The subfloor was recessed to achieve a true barrier-free entry, and the plumbing system was reworked so the shower head, valve, and faucet align perfectly on a single vertical axis. Large-Format Tile Installation The walls are finished with 24x48 porcelain tiles. Before installation, all surfaces were flattened and corrected for plumb to ensure accurate geometry and clean lines across the entire shower. Mitered Niche & Window The shampoo niche and window detail feature 45° mitered edges with continuous pattern flow, creating a seamless, built-in look without metal trims. Full Waterproofing System A combined Schluter + GoBoard waterproofing system was applied across all wet zones, including corners, penetrations, and transitions. Every layer was documented to guarantee code-level protection. Additional Work The remodel also included new glass installation, vanity, mirror, updated lighting, and full electrical improvements with new switches for safer and more convenient operation. This project demonstrates what careful planning, proper preparation, and precision tile work can achieve — a clean, durable, and cohesive shower space built to last.

This curbless walk-in shower was completed in 7 working days and built with long-term reliability in mind. The subfloor was recessed to achieve a true barrier-free entry, and the plumbing system was reworked so the shower head, valve, and faucet align perfectly on a single vertical axis. Large-Format Tile Installation The walls are finished with 24x48 porcelain tiles. Before installation, all surfaces were flattened and corrected for plumb to ensure accurate geometry and clean lines across the entire shower. Mitered Niche & Window The shampoo niche and window detail feature 45° mitered edges with continuous pattern flow, creating a seamless, built-in look without metal trims. Full Waterproofing System A combined Schluter + GoBoard waterproofing system was applied across all wet zones, including corners, penetrations, and transitions. Every layer was documented to guarantee code-level protection. Additional Work The remodel also included new glass installation, vanity, mirror, updated lighting, and full electrical improvements with new switches for safer and more convenient operation. This project demonstrates what careful planning, proper preparation, and precision tile work can achieve — a clean, durable, and cohesive shower space built to last.

Dated, closed and dark is transformed into a light and open space where our client could entertain large family gatherings. Half of the house was reconfigured in order to create this open space and take it from the 60's to today. Design by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging