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.

Living Room in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

Party Palace - Custom Ranch on Acreage in Ridgefield Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. This family is very involved with their church and hosts community events weekly; so the need to access the kitchen, seating areas, dining and entryways with 100+ guests present was imperative. This prompted us and the homeowner to create extra square footage around these amenities. The kitchen also received the double island treatment. Allowing guests to be hosted at one of the larger islands (capable of seating 5-6) while hors d'oeuvres and refreshments can be prepared on the smaller more centrally located island, helped these happy hosts to staff and plan events accordingly. Placement of these rooms relative to each other in the floor plan was also key to keeping all of the excitement happening in one place, making regular events easy to monitor, easy to maintain and relatively easy to clean-up. Some other important features that made this house a party-palace were a hidden butler's pantry, multiple wetbars and prep spaces, sectional seating inside and out, and double dining nooks (formal and informal). Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

Kitchen in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

Living Room in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

Living Room in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

Living Room in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

Kitchen in Alyssa Lane | Key Feature: A complete kitchen + living room transformation designed for a young, growing family who loved their home, but needed it to work harder and reflect their personality. The updated kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a hidden smoothie station to keep daily essentials out of sight, plus a dedicated cocktail bar setup for entertaining. In the living room, the fireplace wall was fully reimagined by centering the previously cornered fireplace and creating a multifunctional media wall with custom furnishings and a statement chandelier. To top it off, the former formal dining room was transformed into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a black grasscloth backdrop, and a bold, elevated vibe perfect for hosting friends and family. Challenge: This home belonged to a young couple with two small kids and a growing business, and while they loved the house itself, the spaces didn’t support the way they actually lived. The kitchen lacked function and storage, everyday routines (like smoothie-making) created visual clutter, and cocktail entertaining essentials were being shoved into the pantry with no dedicated space. The living room also felt awkward and unfinished due to the cornered fireplace, which made it difficult to create a centered, functional media wall. On top of that, the formal dining room wasn’t being used, leaving valuable square footage underutilized and disconnected from their lifestyle and personality. Solution: We redesigned the home around how the family truly uses it day-to-day, focusing on function, personality, and elevated livability. In the kitchen, we created a modern, highly organized layout complete with a hidden smoothie station so daily supplies stay accessible but out of sight. For entertaining, we designed a dedicated bar area for Ryan, giving him a more inspired space to make cocktails without relying on pantry storage. In the living room, we centered the fireplace and fully revamped the feature wall into a multifunctional entertainment/media wall, then layered in custom furniture pieces and a statement chandelier to bring warmth and style. Finally, we converted the unused formal dining room into a bar lounge with custom brass shelving, a striking black grasscloth wall, and a sophisticated hangout space perfect for entertaining family and friends. Budget: $100k-$150k | Timeline: 4 months

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.

This finished basement renovation in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was designed to transform an underutilized lower level into a spacious and highly functional living area for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday family use. Completed by Craftsworth Construction, this Delaware County basement remodel creates a bright, open layout that adds significant livable square footage while maintaining a clean and timeless design. The newly finished basement features a large open entertainment space anchored by custom built-in cabinetry and shelving surrounding a wall-mounted media center. This built-in storage solution keeps the space organized while creating a natural focal point for movie nights, sports viewing, and family gatherings. Throughout the basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring was selected for its durability, warmth, and moisture resistance—an ideal flooring solution for finished basement spaces. The neutral wood tones help brighten the lower level while complementing the clean white trim, columns, and millwork used throughout the design. A custom basement wet bar with blue cabinetry adds both style and function to the entertainment area. The bar includes quartz countertops, glass-front beverage refrigerators, a bar sink, and floating wood shelves that provide additional storage and display space. This feature makes the basement perfect for hosting guests, game days, or casual family gatherings. Recessed LED lighting was installed across the entire ceiling to ensure the basement feels bright and inviting despite being below grade. Multiple zones were created within the open floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses, including a lounge area, entertainment space, and additional flexible living areas. The finished result is a modern, fully finished basement that feels like a natural extension of the home’s main living areas, providing a comfortable space for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday living. This project was completed by Craftsworth Construction, a basement finishing and remodeling contractor serving Newtown Square, Delaware County, West Chester, and homeowners throughout Chester County and the greater Philadelphia Main Line area.