Budget analysis and project development by: May Construction, Inc.
Inspiration for a huge contemporary master gray tile linoleum floor and gray floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with a one-piece toilet, purple walls and a hinged shower door

This was a contemporary 350 square foot addition to and complete renovation of an existing mid 20's beach cottage located on a double lot in the Harbor area of Santa Cruz. After a complete redesign and demolition 'down to the studs', this iconic seaside home was rebuilt from the inside out with top of the line materials and expert attention to every detail. The Design and Remodeling work was preceded by our land use analysis with the Santa Cruz County Planning and Building Departments. Although this large lot could have accommodated two separate new homes, our client was intent upon preserving the charming early century look and lot positioning of the existing ninety year old home. In addition, she was in favor of preserving the large old Monterey Cypress tree located at the front corner of the lot. A consulting Arborist was brought in to support and judiciously trim the major branches in a successful effort to improve the health and stability of the heritage tree.

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Raza and Baneen purchased their home in Schaumburg IL. knowing it needed work, but they saw the incredible potential it had with its expanse of beautiful kitchen windows and spacious floor plan. The kitchen technically functioned fine, but was desperately outdated with its honey oak cabinets and plain countertops. This family loved to cook and host parties so it was an easy decision that the kitchen remodel was the first project they needed to tackle to make their home come to life. Baneen had very specific ideas for her new dream kitchen and had been thinking about it for over 10 years! When they met Advance Design’s Project Designer Claudia Pop, Baneen felt an instant connection. “From the first meeting, I knew that Claudia would guide us without putting down our ideas,” Baneen said. The couple had two fears common among remodeling home owners: Would the project be done on time? And, would the project stay on budget? Advance Design was able to alleviate their fears early on, as Claudia shared the “Common Sense Remodeling” process. Raza and Baneen absolutely loved the custom project analysis that helped them understand how a budget could be accurately predicted and then safeguarded during the design process. “Advance Design was spot on with both the budget and the project timeframe,” Baneen said. “Overall there were no surprises, and the budget was exactly what we were quoted. The experience was phenomenal, everybody was professional, everybody was courteous, everyone was nice, everyone was friendly. It wasn't stressful for us, they still left the house in a presentable state. It wasn't like we would come home and we were bring the kids in and it was going to be hazardous." After the relationship was cemented, Raza, Baneen and Claudia began to finalize the kitchen design. The main objective was to create a functional space for preparing meals and to create an inviting space for their family and friends to enjoy, while incorporating interesting design elements such as the iconic blue island and reclaimed Chicago brick walls. Sufficient storage space was really important to Baneen, and high quality appliances were a priority. As the overall layout was being completed, together they reviewed each cabinet to determine exactly what would be stored there. Because cooking was a high priority for this family, Claudia incorporated spice racks close to the range and included two mixer lift shelves for their larger countertop appliances. The focal point of the kitchen is the striking blue island constructed from custom colored Dura Supreme cabinets. Designed with decorative shelving and a highly functional prep sink. The couple loves the “galley” prep sink, it adds even more functionality and significantly shortens preparation and cleaning time. This island also includes a 24" Bosch Dishwasher with matching panel to blend in. "Aesthetically, and in terms of functionality, the island everything I imagined," Baneen said. "I love how beautiful it looks and how functional it is. It just brings everybody together." The Praa Sands Quartz countertop with an ogee edge profile provides excellent contrast by blending it's subtle tones with the outer cabinetry. It ties the island together with the rest of the space. Overlooking the beautiful backyard through spacious windows, the crisp white farmhouse sink is something that Baneen envisioned in her kitchen for years. Two tones of Dura Supreme Cabinetry were used throughout the rest of the kitchen. Chestnut Cherry cabinets grace the range and decorative range hood and as panels over the Wolf refrigerator and freezer. Antique White cabinets surround the perimeter, creating a warm balance that beckons guests into the softly rounded space. Drawing the eye immediately to the custom wood hood hiding a powerful 1,500 CFM ventilation system and spectacular 60” Duel Fuel Wolf range, a creatively patterned Tessen in Café & Brine backsplash detail stands out from the white subway tile backsplash spanning the outer walls. The vibrant space reflects the lively personality of the family who now loves spending time both cooking and enjoying this kitchen as a family. “The end result is a beautiful and extremely functional kitchen that is able to handle a growing family, lots of parties and lots of cooking,” Claudia said. “Advance Design was wonderfully professional and a pleasure to work with. They catered to what my needs and ideas were, while skillfully guiding us to make the right choices where we seemed lost,” Baneen said.

This was a contemporary 350 square foot addition to and complete renovation of an existing mid 20's beach cottage located on a double lot in the Harbor area of Santa Cruz. After a complete redesign and demolition 'down to the studs', this iconic seaside home was rebuilt from the inside out with top of the line materials and expert attention to every detail. The Design and Remodeling work was preceded by our land use analysis with the Santa Cruz County Planning and Building Departments. Although this large lot could have accommodated two separate new homes, our client was intent upon preserving the charming early century look and lot positioning of the existing ninety year old home. In addition, she was in favor of preserving the large old Monterey Cypress tree located at the front corner of the lot. A consulting Arborist was brought in to support and judiciously trim the major branches in a successful effort to improve the health and stability of the heritage tree.

Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

Hidden detail of storage on either side of doors. and built in cook book shelves
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped cork floor enclosed kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops and white appliances

Budget analysis and project development by: May Construction, Inc.
Example of a large trendy open concept vinyl floor and brown floor family room design in San Francisco with gray walls, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

Transform Your Space with "A Field of Memories": High-Impact Photorealistic Poppy Art [Explore the Artwork Now] https://pipafineart.com/pages/arts-and-flowers-a-field-of-memories-photorealistic-digital-artwork Elevate your design vision (or your favorite room) with the breathtaking drama and serene beauty of "Arts and Flowers: A Field of Memories." This extraordinary photorealistic digital artwork offers more than just a beautiful image; it’s an immersive emotional experience, perfect for interior designers creating tranquil sanctuaries and homeowners seeking a captivating, mood-defining focal point. Visual Analysis & Emotional Impact: Step into a vast field where vibrant, deep-red poppies sway gently under the glow of a spectacular sunset. The artistry lies in the meticulous detail—the delicate texture of each petal and the realistic depiction of light. The primary color palette features rich, intense reds (often symbolizing passion and remembrance) beautifully offset by the warm, dynamic sky, which transitions seamlessly through hues of orange, pink, purple, and gold. This composition masterfully uses light and shadow to create a sense of depth that is almost photographic, yet carries a soft, dreamlike quality. The low horizon line emphasizes the grandeur of the sky, drawing the viewer's eye across the expansive landscape and instantly instilling a sense of peace and openness. Design Versatility for Professionals and Homeowners: For the discerning Interior Designer, this piece is an excellent solution for injecting both color and emotional depth into transitional or contemporary spaces. Its rich, warm tones are a natural complement to dark wood finishes, gold accents, or neutral linen textures, allowing it to serve as a grounding element. Living Room: A dramatic conversational piece positioned above a sofa or fireplace. Dining Room: Enhances the atmosphere of joy and celebration for gatherings. Bedrooms/Master Suites: For Homeowners, the soothing colors and tranquil scene promote restful sleep and rejuvenation, creating a true sanctuary. Home Office/Studio: Provides a powerful connection to nature, reducing stress and boosting creativity. The artwork's photorealistic style, combined with its calming mood, makes it incredibly versatile for virtually any room that requires a touch of warmth and grandeur. This is not just decoration; it's an investment in the mood and feeling of a space. Ready to transform a room? View more in-situ examples, explore available sizing, and bring the captivating beauty of "A Field of Memories" into your next project or home today. [Explore the Artwork Now] https://pipafineart.com/pages/arts-and-flowers-a-field-of-memories-photorealistic-digital-artwork

Budget analysis and project development by: May Construction, Inc.
Example of a huge trendy master gray tile linoleum floor and gray floor bathroom design in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, purple walls, a drop-in sink, granite countertops and a hinged shower door

DESIGN + INNOVATION: Award of Excellence and GREEN DESIGN CITATION PROJECT: RE_VIEW CLIENT: CMU School of Architecture, CMU BxA Staff, Bloomfield Garfield Corporation ARCHITECTURE FIRM: Urban Design Build Studio DESCRIPTION: Due to three major factors – vacancy, view, and affordability – Pittsburgh’s housing situation is ripe with the opportunity to leverage privileged views and increase thermal performance. The RE_VIEW wall system was designed to create expansive views, improve energy efficiency, and bring aesthetic features that all add to the market value of a home while being easily replicable. Features such as prefabricated modules, high density insulation, and an in-depth understanding of construction and installation methods were all considered to evaluate the effectiveness of the RE_VIEW system. JURY COMMENTS: The jury appreciated how the project encompasses urban analysis, architectural detail, sustainability, and also, ideas about fabrication while tying them together in a convincing way. This purposeful innovation to makes existing houses more useable and livable. The jury also awarded the Green Design Citation to the project because it can repurpose and bring new value to existing housing, offering an alternative to demolition and replacement.

This was a contemporary 350 square foot addition to and complete renovation of an existing mid 20's beach cottage located on a double lot in the Harbor area of Santa Cruz. After a complete redesign and demolition 'down to the studs', this iconic seaside home was rebuilt from the inside out with top of the line materials and expert attention to every detail. The Design and Remodeling work was preceded by our land use analysis with the Santa Cruz County Planning and Building Departments. Although this large lot could have accommodated two separate new homes, our client was intent upon preserving the charming early century look and lot positioning of the existing ninety year old home. In addition, she was in favor of preserving the large old Monterey Cypress tree located at the front corner of the lot. A consulting Arborist was brought in to support and judiciously trim the major branches in a successful effort to improve the health and stability of the heritage tree.

Photo: Le Michelle Nguyen © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic living room remodel in Montreal with white walls

pantry storage and on the other side of the refrigerator is
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen remodel in New York

Designed for the lifestyle and budget of a young married couple and growing family, this home offers a viable alternative to the generic speculative home. Occupying a small leftover developer site, just under four tenths of an acre at the end of a suburban cul-de-sac, the Lanning Residence site is anchored by a one hundred year old oak tree. The parcel, once undesirable to developers and their speculative plans, became the inspiration for the project form. Acting as both designers and builders, the decision was made early to utilize a strategy typical to most suburban construction; maximizing square footage while minimizing the building perimeter. An analysis of the surrounding suburban fabric revealed that the adjoining property lines were heavily planted. Views and window placement were organized to take advantage of the adjacent landscape while maximizing natural light. The house program is distributed within two main volumes that are connected by a translucent circulation volume. The spacious interior volumes, large windows, plywood shear walls, sheetrock, and simple details allowed for a light construction budget. Spray foam insulation and well designed mechanical systems allowed the family to reduce their monthly utility bills by over half, creating a far more energy efficient lifestyle.