Agastache 'Blue Fortune' & Hibiscus 'Luna Pink Swirl' incorporated into a mixed perennial border. Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC

The site for this waterfront residence is located on the Great Neck Peninsula, facing west to views of NYC and the borough bridges. When purchased, there existed a 50-year-old house and pool structurally condemned which required immediate removal. Once the site was cleared, a year was devoted to stabilizing the seawall and hill to accommodate the newly proposed home. The lot size, shape and relationship to an easement access road, overlaid with strict zoning regulations was a key factor in the organization of the client’s program elements. The arc contour of the easement road and required setback informed the front facade shape, which was designed as a privacy screen, as adjacent homes are in close proximity. Due to strict height requirements the house from the street appears to be one story and then steps down the hill allowing for three fully occupiable floors. The local jurisdiction also granted special approval accepting the design of the garage, within the front set back, as its roof is level with the roadbed and fully landscaped. A path accesses a hidden door to the bedroom level of the house. The garage is accessed through a semicircular driveway that leads to a depressed entry courtyard, offering privacy to the main entrance. The configuration of the home is a U-shape surrounding a rear courtyard. This shape, along with suspended pods assures water views to all occupants while not compromising privacy from the adjacent homes. The house is constructed on a steel frame, clad with fiber cement, resin panels and an aluminum curtain wall system. All roofs are accessible as either decks or landscaped garden areas. The lower level accesses decks, an outdoor kitchen, and pool area which are perched on the edge of the upper retaining wall.

We took this very sad and depressing master bedroom and turned it into a retreat. The owner wanted something to that reflected his love of the outdoors and would be relaxing. The existing old carpeting was removed and replace with new carpet. The textured walls were repaired and then finished in a smooth finish. Lastly the popcorn ceiling was removed and replaced with a perfectly done smooth ceiling. This room is now a beautiful retreat the owner can enjoy his view over his 40 acres of farmland and wilderness.

A classic pre-depression residence in the heart of Montreal is updated by removing the servants quarters and a redundant service stair to create a stunning contemporary interior to showcase the clients artwork and focus on family. David Giral Photography

The Grasslands home was born out of and celebrates the beautiful but fragile grassland ecology of the Carmel Valley. Our client’s desire to actively simplify his lifestyle to the most essential elements inclusive of space clearly drove sensibilities in the design. In addition the home features a precision, derived from the client’s love of flight, a grounded-ness from his love of books and the love of his horse. To meet the simplistic beauty of the scope, the home consists of three interconnected glass pavilions and a detached barn which wrap to the bowl shape of the land. The pavilions are comprised of a master suite, a library/living room, kitchen, and a meditation sanctuary; the barn, his horse and car. The design focuses on preserving the delicate ecosystem of the surrounding grasslands, while concurrently incorporate views and maximize solar orientation. In support, the pavilions sit on the perimeter of an existing bowl shaped depression in the hillside. Three primary landscape walls run parallel to the topography, emphasizing the shape and spatial definition of the land as well as providing locations to anchor the structures. Pulled up and out of the landscape, the buildings jut over the anchor walls, hovering above the native grasses. In section, the land appears to flow through the pavilions, undisturbed and collaborative to the architecture.

The Best Home Guys
Bathroom - large contemporary master brown tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom idea in Wichita with a drop-in sink, a one-piece toilet and white walls

One of seven magnificent sculpted fireplaces throughout the first and second floors of this circa ‘30s house built during the Depression allowed the builder to employ dozens of craftsmen to create irreplaceable sculpted ceilings and moldings such as this white wood fireplace. Oil painting by Evert Pieter’s.

Example of a large classic l-shaped ceramic tile enclosed kitchen design in New York with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Jessy Jepson, Holly Selly
Living room - mid-sized eclectic open concept carpeted living room idea in Other with beige walls, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace and a tv stand

This remodel took a dated and cramped bathroom and transformed it into a classy oasis for our Lowry clients. The clients had a limited budget and wanted to leave the space as in-place as possible. However, the large drop in tub ate valuable floor space and a half wall between the shower and tub had become a holding place for random items without a home. The thick frame on the shower glass made the shower feel extremely small, and the dated lighting and fixtures further depressed the space. We proposed a traditional and elegant design that consider the client's budgetary and spatial constraints. We removed the existing drop-in tub and replaced it with a lovely free-standing soaker. The length of this tub is short, but the depth is exaggerated, making it an ideal replacement in this tiny footprint. The shower glass was swapped for framless glass that boldly expands space. We tore out the existing carpet and installed gorgeous wood-look tile that adds depth and warmth to the room. The clients opted to keep their existing vanity to save cost, so a new top was added to bring the aesthetic up to the level of the new additions. The wall paint was taken from a buttery yellow to a soft gray-green, accented by a darker version of this same color on the siding barn door and toilet room door. New vanity lights, faucets, and storage shelves were installed to help our clients organize and keep things off the counter tops. Finally, new custom up-down window shades were curated for the bathroom to add to the final touch. This space is a simple scope with a dramatic transformation that introduces a timeless look for years to come.

A depressing dark wooden kitchen gets a major face lift! As you can see from the before pictures, the kitchen was quite dark. Even during the daytime the lady of the house had to turn on the lights to work there. An exterior pergola on a much lower level prevented light from coming in the house and though the pergola was a favourite spot to seat in the summer the humidity in the air made it unbearable and the access to it was not very practical. So in essence the family had no real seating room either. My goal... to create a functional kitchen filled with light and an adjacent seating area. My challenges...the pergola was very low and, not enough space for a seating room...... So.....I came up with something I have never done before nor did I think possible. Using specialised equipment I lifted the existing pergola up all in one piece, without breaking it apart, then I raised the floor covered by the pergola to the level of the house and made an opening from the house to the pergola...Mission accomplished! Lots of light now coming in and more than enough space for the family seating area

The Grasslands home was born out of and celebrates the beautiful but fragile grassland ecology of the Carmel Valley. Our client’s desire to actively simplify his lifestyle to the most essential elements inclusive of space clearly drove sensibilities in the design. In addition the home features a precision, derived from the client’s love of flight, a grounded-ness from his love of books and the love of his horse. To meet the simplistic beauty of the scope, the home consists of three interconnected glass pavilions and a detached barn which wrap to the bowl shape of the land. The pavilions are comprised of a master suite, a library/living room, kitchen, and a meditation sanctuary; the barn, his horse and car. The design focuses on preserving the delicate ecosystem of the surrounding grasslands, while concurrently incorporate views and maximize solar orientation. In support, the pavilions sit on the perimeter of an existing bowl shaped depression in the hillside. Three primary landscape walls run parallel to the topography, emphasizing the shape and spatial definition of the land as well as providing locations to anchor the structures. Pulled up and out of the landscape, the buildings jut over the anchor walls, hovering above the native grasses. In section, the land appears to flow through the pavilions, undisturbed and collaborative to the architecture.

Rustic Farmhouse
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

This newly purchased home was the perfect size for our client's growing family. The house, having been expanded on and renovated by the previous owners was the right size but not quite the right style. The house was full of design elements that may have been "cool" in the early 2000s but just didn't feel right for a young family. The master bathroom was in the most serious need of redo with many, many square feet of dingy and somewhat depressing deep red granite tile with diamond accents in black granite. The bathroom felt dark and dingy. Together with our clients, we set out on our mission to efficiently turn this room into an inviting and happy place for our clients. Thankfully the layout of the space was very functional, so we focused on an aesthetic overhall. At the top of the client’s list was to have a beautiful and comfortable freestanding soaker tub. Behind the Kohler tub and throughout the bathroom walls is polished Calacatta Gold marble tile. The new brushed nickel plumbing fixtures are timeless and unfussy, an important thing for busy young parents! The new bathroom is sleek but not stark. A welcoming space for our clients to feel at home.

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

This basement renovation/playroom is a part of a whole house renovation we tackled starting in 2016, slowly and intentionally recreating each space in the house so it could be an updated, lovely space that FELT LIKE HOME to my clients. Do you have a basement that feels dark and foreboding? Do you long for a bright, airy, fun space to hang out in and entertain? A place for the kids to go play when it is cold and SNOWY or hotter than heck outside? While this space previously had been quite dark and a little depressing, with fresh paint, new flooring and all the right colorful furnishings and accessories, we were able to create a fun, comfortable space for entertaining and for kids to romp & play. A bright, happy place for this wonderful family to enjoy for years to come!

This newly purchased home was the perfect size for our client's growing family. The house, having been expanded on and renovated by the previous owners was the right size but not quite the right style. The house was full of design elements that may have been "cool" in the early 2000s but just didn't feel right for a young family. The master bathroom was in the most serious need of redo with many, many square feet of dingy and somewhat depressing deep red granite tile with diamond accents in black granite. The bathroom felt dark and dingy. Together with our clients, we set out on our mission to efficiently turn this room into an inviting and happy place for our clients. Thankfully the layout of the space was very functional, so we focused on an aesthetic overhall. At the top of the client’s list was to have a beautiful and comfortable freestanding soaker tub. Behind the Kohler tub and throughout the bathroom walls is polished Calacatta Gold marble tile. The new brushed nickel plumbing fixtures are timeless and unfussy, an important thing for busy young parents! The new bathroom is sleek but not stark. A welcoming space for our clients to feel at home.

San Diego Landscape Solutions
This is an example of a modern landscaping in San Diego.

The large "L" shaped island is often used as a buffet table for large family gatherings. The white rectangular plates at the bottom of the column each conceal 3 electrical receptacles which pop out when depressed. More than enough for hot plates and slow cookers.