Galvanized steel entry stair with view to Saratoga Passage. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Small minimalist concrete straight metal railing staircase photo in Seattle with concrete risers

This single-family home remodel was driven by the homeowner’s desire to “do the right thing” in the context of a neighborhood which is witnessing a change of character as the small houses of its quiet past are getting replaced by large luxury homes. One of the biggest initial challenges was to resist the temptation to increase the size and height of the house in order to gain even better views – to resist keeping up with the Joneses. The house already had an expansive view of Puget Sound. The owner also did not want the house to compete with the land for attention or resources – the house should be humble and respect nature, a metaphor for walking lightly on the earth. The site also had its physical challenges – it is classified as an Environmentally Critical Area due to its steep slope, and there is also an eagle’s nest nearby. Given these site challenges, minimizing the house’s impact on the site was established as an underlying guiding principle early in the design process. The footprint of the house was kept intact and the exterior changes were kept to a minimum. Even the deck and landscaping walls (both of which needed replacement due to failures in the materials) were rebuilt within the same size and footprints. The landscaping plan includes removing invasives and returning the site to native vegetation. The original house was built in the 1940’s and had endured various additions over the years. Another objective was to blend the division between the new remodel, the former remodels, and the original house – to make the house feel whole again and not a collection of random pieces. The use of salvaged materials and the reuse of existing materials were high priorities among many sustainable goals that included the conservation of energy, water, and materials. Photo by Grace Huang 1 of 3

As a 23 year professional in wildlife control, I see hundreds of situations every month with nuisance animals going into places that they don't belong. Some of those places are more common than others. I recently addressed a skunk infestation for a residence in Glen Ellyn, IL. The challenge involved a family of skunks that had taken residence under the front concrete stoop. Concrete and skunks are never a good mix because concrete is porous, when a skunk sprays the odors penetrate and will permeate for months and months as the weather gets warm or humidity rises. My approach was methodical and focused on humane Glen Ellyn skunk removal. The process began with the strategic placement of live traps near the stoop, ensuring minimal distress to the animals. These traps are industry standard, designed to safely contain the skunks without harm. Regular monitoring of these traps was a critical part of the process, ensuring the skunks were not confined for an extended period. Upon successful capture, the skunks were removed and the animal proofing work was next on the list. Skunk exclusion work, is a critical component in preventing future infestations of skunks, raccoons or opossums. This involved a thorough inspection and sealing of potential entry points with steel mesh buried underground at a specific depth and angle. Skunk-proofing is a vital step in ensuring long-term resolution to wildlife intrusions. Once the skunks were gone and the area was sealed, we performed an ozone treatment to the basement with a special filter to sub the air, destroying the skunk spray's odor molecules from the air. Typically the reason people discover skunks under the stoop to begin with is because the odor from spraying. For residents in and around Glen Ellyn experiencing similar issues, we offer humane, effective, and affordable wildlife control solutions. Expertise in skunk removal and exclusion is just a call away!

They always loved their house – its shape and size, and the piece of land it sits on; but the interior left a lot to be desired. In fact, they hated it. They wanted it to be aesthetically more pleasing and to have much more function and flow. These homeowners challenged Lagois to make it the home of their dreams, and that’s exactly what happened. One of the homeowners loves to cook, but the kitchen was dark. The space was difficult and frustrating. The new kitchen is bigger, brighter, and more functional. It now has all the prep space he needs and the task lighting he always wanted. They also love their new spa bathroom, which is beautiful and warm and exactly what they had in mind. One of the homeowners describes himself as fussy and impatient, and at first he had been anxious about the whole prospect of renovation. He said afterwards that the team made him feel comfortable, listened to, and unconcerned. One factor that made them so at ease with choosing Lagois was the “in house” aspect of their services. The person who designed their home, the one who did the drawings, and the person who managed the construction are all Lagois employees. The homeowners liked knowing those critical functions weren’t outsourced. Another thing they love about their home is the finishes that are exactly to their taste. The homeowners are delighted with the new interior of their home. It is now something they love – both outside and inside.

Staircase - modern staircase idea in Edmonton

The comfortable elegance of this French-Country inspired home belies the challenges faced during its conception. The beautiful, wooded site was steeply sloped requiring study of the location, grading, approach, yard and views from and to the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. The client desired an old world look and feel, requiring a sensitive approach to the extensive program. Large, modern spaces could not add bulk to the interior or exterior. Furthermore, it was critical to balance voluminous spaces designed for entertainment with more intimate settings for daily living while maintaining harmonic flow throughout. The result home is wide, approached by a winding drive terminating at a prominent facade embracing the motor court. Stone walls feather grade to the front façade, beginning the masonry theme dressing the structure. A second theme of true Pennsylvania timber-framing is also introduced on the exterior and is subsequently revealed in the formal Great and Dining rooms. Timber-framing adds drama, scales down volume, and adds the warmth of natural hand-wrought materials. The Great Room is literal and figurative center of this master down home, separating casual living areas from the elaborate master suite. The lower level accommodates casual entertaining and an office suite with compelling views. The rear yard, cut from the hillside, is a composition of natural and architectural elements with timber framed porches and terraces accessed from nearly every interior space flowing to a hillside of boulders and waterfalls. The result is a naturally set, livable, truly harmonious, new home radiating old world elegance. This home is powered by a geothermal heating and cooling system and state of the art electronic controls and monitoring systems.

The challenges for this kitchen remodel are also what makes this home so unique. One of the problems was finding an appropriate new flooring to coordinate perfectly with the adjacent flooring finishes. The original dark clay tile flooring in the kitchen was also used throughout the main living area of the entire home, only separated by a terrazzo hallway floor. Updating the kitchen flooring was critical to the new aesthetics, but the homeowners were wary of the idea of three hard flooring finishes. The over-sized 24x24 cement style porcelain tiles were the perfect complement not only to the terrazzo hallway, but also the large outdoor porch directly off the eating area.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We recently renovated our kitchen. It is so challenging for an interior designer to design their own home. I am so critical of myself and I would hate to have me as a client. I get stuck. So, I decided to keep it simple and focus on the elements, influences and colors I love and never get tired of. All my “loves” are in this space - contrasting black and white, Art Deco era, chinoiserie, porcelain and color green, the perfect color of nature. Of course I did not forget about all the important functional things like good flow, functionality, plenty of storage and a large peninsula for entertainment. I love this eclectic space and. all the elements in it.

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography