Front door - traditional front door idea in Houston with a blue front door

Large transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Houston with an island, a farmhouse sink, marble countertops, brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beaded inset cabinets, black cabinets and multicolored backsplash

This project was purposefully neutralized in ocean grays and blues with accents that mirror a drama filled sunset. This achieves a calming effect as the sun rises in the early morning. At high noon we strived for balance of the senses with rich textures that both soothe and excite. Under foot is a plush midnight ocean blue rug that emulates walking on water. Tactile fabrics and velvet pillows provide interest and comfort. As the sun crescendos, the oranges and deep blues in both art and accents invite you and the night to dance inside your home. Lighting was an intriguing challenge and was solved by creating a delicate balance between natural light and creative interior lighting solutions.

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in New York with beige walls

David Burroughs
Mountain style galley kitchen photo in Baltimore with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stone tile backsplash and an island

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

New sliding window we installed in this enjoyable playroom and family room. This amazing room with sectional sofa, built-in cabinets and shelving and gorgeous wood laminate flooring looks marvelous with a large new black window providing lots of light and style. Our design consultants will help you find just the right windows at Renewal by Andersen Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn. . . . . . . . . . . Find out more about replacing your home windows -- Contact us today: (844) 245-2799

Custom cedar and cypress azumaya inspired by a tea-house design. Our client enjoys relax ing in the shade by the koi pond and stream. © 2012 Ben Case, Down to Earth Designs, Inc.

Photo by Firewater Photography. Designed during previous position as Residential Studio Director and Project Architect at LS3P Associates Ltd.
Example of a large mountain style brown two-story mixed siding gable roof design

Photo Credit: David Cannon; Design: Michelle Mentzer Instagram: @newriverbuildingco
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This Magnificent Spanish Colonial Estate Is An Exclusive 6,755 sq.ft. Custom Home in Thousand Oaks, CA. Mountain And Valley Vistas Unfold Along Entry Drive, Which Is Lined With A Charming Vineyard. This Sprawling 7.47 Acre Estate Boasts A Main House, A Guest Casita, Elegant Pool And Large Motor Courtyard With A Four-Bay Garage. This Custom Home's Architecture And Amenities Blend Exquisite Centuries-Old Detail And Craftsmanship With The Best of Today's Easy Living Style. The Spacious Interior Home Has Five Bedrooms With Suite Baths, Library Or Office, Game Room, Garden/Craft Room, Breakfast Room, Spacious Gourmet Kitchen And Large Family Room. The Master Suite With Private Retreat Or Gym Is Conveniently Located On The Entry Level. The Home Is Infused With Authentic Old World Charm Throughout. A Generous Use of Outdoor Covered Areas Create Delightful Living Spaces and Contribute To The Estate's Total 10,839 Square Feet of Covered Living Area.

Example of a trendy courtyard patio design in Austin with no cover

Photo of an eclectic girl outdoor playset in Dallas.

Christopher Davison, AIA
Utility room - mid-sized traditional single-wall porcelain tile utility room idea in Austin with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Studio McGee
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