Photo Credit: Erin Weaver / Desired Photo
Patio - large traditional backyard patio idea in Houston with a roof extension and a bbq area

Lindsay Salazar
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, paneled appliances and an island

Tricia Shay
Transitional eat-in kitchen photo in Milwaukee with blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, gray walls and an island

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Example of a small cottage chic medium tone wood floor bedroom design in New York with blue walls

Jaime Alvarez jaimephoto.com
Family room - industrial open concept medium tone wood floor family room idea in Philadelphia with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Coconut Grove is Southwest of Miami beach near coral gables and south of downtown. It’s a very lush and charming neighborhood. It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods and is protected historically. It hugs the shoreline of Biscayne Bay. The 10,000sft project was originally built 17 years ago and was purchased as a vacation home. Prior to the renovation the owners could not get past all the brown. He sails and they have a big extended family with 6 kids in between them. The clients wanted a comfortable and causal vibe where nothing is too precious. They wanted to be able to sit on anything in a bathing suit. KitchenLab interiors used lots of linen and indoor/outdoor fabrics to ensure durability. Much of the house is outside with a covered logia. The design doctor ordered the 1st prescription for the house- retooling but not gutting. The clients wanted to be living and functioning in the home by November 1st with permits the construction began in August. The KitchenLab Interiors (KLI) team began design in May so it was a tight timeline! KLI phased the project and did a partial renovation on all guest baths. They waited to do the master bath until May. The home includes 7 bathrooms + the master. All existing plumbing fixtures were Waterworks so KLI kept those along with some tile but brought in Tabarka tile. The designers wanted to bring in vintage hacienda Spanish with a small European influence- the opposite of Miami modern. One of the ways they were able to accomplish this was with terracotta flooring that has patina. KLI set out to create a boutique hotel where each bath is similar but different. Every detail was designed with the guest in mind- they even designed a place for suitcases.

The beach entry sun shelf design allows for easy access and lounging in the swimming pool. The water fall was installed to create a cool grotto effect for the pool in Bergen County NJ

Jennifer and Dan have lived in their Deer Park Illinois home for 15 years, slowly making minor fixes like painting and decorating; but they had a new plan for their kitchen the entire time. An awkwardly placed garage door, and an island cooktop with a terrible downdraft made a full-scale kitchen remodel an absolute must. Jennifer had many ideas in mind and wanted to work with a company that could provide high-end work, while partnering with a designer that would tailor the kitchen to her ideas. She was intrigued by the phrase “Common Sense Remodeling” in Advance Design’s feature she discovered while perusing an issue of the community’s Quintessential Barrington Magazine. Doing further research on the company’s website, as she looked through project profiles and read about Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy, she promptly scheduled an appointment to see if the people and ideas she read about were truly who they said they were. The more she read, the more she knew that the “Common Sense” approach to remodeling they described was exactly the type of company she was looking for. The partnership was sealed after an initial consultation with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Michelle Lecinski. They displayed a combination of friendliness, professionalism and respect that was unmatched by any of the other companies Jennifer talked to. She knew that with Advance Design, she would be able to retain the vision that she had in mind with high-quality craftsmanship. “I reached out to Advance Design because of the ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ tagline,” Jennifer said. “That’s what lingered for me”. “Advance Design was the most respectful- of the house and of my design ideas, and the most professional of the handful of companies that looked at my project”. Soon after the meeting Jennifer began working with Michelle on the project design. They quickly developed chemistry. Jennifer loved how Michelle researched and located every detail that Jennifer wanted for the kitchen. Between the two of them, every concept and idea was worked through and perfected. “Jennifer had definite ideas about what she wanted the new kitchen to look like, she just didn’t know how to bring it all together. We worked together really well to make her ideas into the practical reality necessary for a well-functioning kitchen, with the look and feel that she had envisioned”, says Michelle. “Michelle was wonderful in using the CAD system she would show me new drawings every time we changed the layout while working through the design,” Jennifer said. “She was a really wonderful partner in execution, she made sure everything happened quickly and easily.” The finished design drew out elements of Jennifer’s style and personality. The pair call the look “sophisticated farmhouse” to describe the kitchen renovation to family and friends. The result was a beautifully crafted, authentic-feeling space that satisfied Jennifer’s dreams 15 years in the making. The whole project consisted of a kitchen remodel, mudroom upgrade with powder room, and garage entry relocation. “The projects I personally like the best, are the ones that put the client’s dreams on display,” Project Designer Michelle said. “And this is one of those projects.” The main focal point of the kitchen is custom zinc and brass ventilation hood with a vintage sheen, which was hand made to order by a small company in Indiana named Vogler Metalworking. “It’s like sculpture, a true work of art”, says Jennifer. Your eye is immediately drawn towards this elegant yet practical hood that eliminated the home’s downdraft problem and added a striking conversation piece at the same time. The carpenters had to use special gloves when transporting and installing it, so they didn’t smudge it with fingerprints. The beautiful hood centers proudly over the stunning black enamel and brass LaCornue Range. “I had a friend who had a LaCornue range and after learning how easy it was to cook perfect meals, I was convinced I wanted to have one”, says Jennifer. This unique, breathtaking combination anchors the entire kitchen and is apparent immediately as you walk into the great room the surrounds the space. DuraSupreme Crestwood cabinets with a Kendall Panel add function and sophistication. A custom gray paint color paired with a storm blue was developed so that the new kitchen looked like it belonged to the existing space. Unlacquered brass faucets and hardware were important to Jennifer because she wanted the living finishes to age over time. Remarkable brass diamond mesh cabinet door inserts imported from the UK continue to add this one-of-a-kind kitchen renovation; giving it a “you won’t see this everywhere” quality. The use of old railcar flooring for the coffee bar countertop and reclaimed oak for the open shelving gives an authenticity to the space uncommon in kitchens today. Jennifer and Michelle fell in love with the Limestone Grey Stone while they were investigating unique island countertop ideas. They liked the fact that the limestone as a living finish will age and change over time. Calcutta Miel Quartz countertops made for an excellent pairing around the perimeter, as it’s durable and perfect for cooking preparations. A textured white subway tile backsplash that runs to the ceiling keeps your eye moving towards the open shelving, and to the main focal point of the stunning range hood combination. “The kitchen functions beautifully, and it’s gorgeous,” beams Jennifer as she gestures with both hands while smiling ear to ear. “The most important thing was I wanted a kitchen that had a wonderful flow, cooked beautiful meals and was a great gathering place for family and friends, and this space does that perfectly! Beauty wise, it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. I felt the function part was the hardest part, and that was nailed”! Relocating the garage entry to the new mudroom was a huge priority and has finally separated the family’s arriving home functions from their kitchen. Now coats and shoes and bags have their own area for dropping once members arrive home. Matching gray DuraSupreme cabinetry helped create gorgeous, purposeful lockers for the family. A reclaimed vintage sink and custom wall paper were added to the tiny powder room to beautify the once previously only functional space. Advance Design was even able to create a custom space for their dog to sleep while the family is away. “It was unbelievable that a project of this size was completed in such a short time, and I think that’s because of the large amount of planning and preparation that went into it,” Jennifer marveled, “When we started, we were ready, and everything was prepared”. When it came to execution, Project Manager Justin Davis and his crew were quick, accessible, and organized. Projects like this kitchen are typically completed in as little as 8-10 weeks. Jennifer’s kitchen however despite the relocation of some challenging HVAC in a soffit and moving of an exterior door was completed remarkably fast in part because the team was working with an existing tile floor that ran throughout the first floor that the client really loved. “You get to know these people really well because they’re living in your house while you’re living in your house. They were so fast and really good, it didn’t take as long as even planned” reported Jennifer. “I would text Justin and he always responded almost immediately. I got to know all the guys who were working in our house and they were all wonderful people”. Details in a customized kitchen like this one require skill and care from the people who install it. “All the guys on the job were skilled at what the did. I wanted small details like little feet to look like furniture, that is where their carpentry skill came in to make these all perfect”, said Jennifer. “The tile guys were wonderful. They even let me determine how I wanted the texture with the grout to appear for a salt and pepper look; now that is a very skilled trade person making it custom”. In Jennifer’s interview, she continued to reference Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling”, so I took a minute to ask her exactly what that phrase meant to her and how it played out in her experience with her project and the Advance Design team. Here is what she said: “I was intrigued about Common Sense Remodeling and in my head that there would be clear costs and prices, great communication between the design team, the execution team and me”, said Jennifer. They did deliver on that, it was so clear about the cost breakdown, what I could expect from everyone who came to my house, and everything that we had ordered. That to me is the Common Sense”! It’s great to see a client take literally our assertion that a well-planned remodeling project is simply “Common Sense”! She anticipated each step of the way would be clear, concise, and predictable, all the while protecting the outcome due to the careful upfront planning. “Advance Design delivered on their ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ promise,” Jennifer said. “From the design team, to the execution team - everything was straight forward like I imagined. The project turned out exactly how I envisioned, I enjoyed this process and absolutely would recommend Advance Design Studio to anyone.”

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Toronto with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, an island, an undermount sink, stone slab backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photography: Jay Wilde
Example of a classic bathroom design in Chicago with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and gray walls

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost

Video game loft with three televisions.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country loft-style linoleum floor family room remodel in Atlanta with beige walls, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace

Our clients for this project are a professional couple with a young family. They approached us to help with extending and improving their home in London SW2 to create an enhanced space both aesthetically and functionally for their growing family. We were appointed to provide a full architectural and interior design service, including the design of some bespoke furniture too. A core element of the brief was to design a kitchen living and dining space that opened into the garden and created clear links from inside to out. This new space would provide a large family area they could enjoy all year around. We were also asked to retain the good bits of the current period living spaces while creating a more modern day area in an extension to the rear. It was also a key requirement to refurbish the upstairs bathrooms while the extension and refurbishment works were underway. The solution was a 21m2 extension to the rear of the property that mirrored the neighbouring property in shape and size. However, we added some additional features, such as the projecting glass box window seat. The new kitchen features a large island unit to create a workspace with storage, but also room for seating that is perfect for entertaining friends, or homework when the family gets to that age. The sliding folding doors, paired with floor tiling that ran from inside to out, created a clear link from the garden to the indoor living space. Exposed brick blended with clean white walls creates a very contemporary finish throughout the extension, while the period features have been retained in the original parts of the house.

This kitchen space was perfectly remodeled for a family of five. Marbled waterfall countertops, open shelving, and subtle pops of color add a modern feel to this open floor plan.

Nestled in its own private and gated 10 acre hidden canyon this spectacular home offers serenity and tranquility with million dollar views of the valley beyond. Walls of glass bring the beautiful desert surroundings into every room of this 7500 SF luxurious retreat. Thompson photographic

James Kruger, LandMark Photography, Peter Eskuche, AIA, Eskuche Design, Sharon Seitz, HISTORIC studio, Interior Design
Inspiration for a huge rustic beige two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Minneapolis

'Sweet 100' cherry tomatoes growing in a 15-gallon terra-cotta pot. Container-grown tomatoes are more susceptible to blossom end rot, but cherry tomatoes like 'Sweet 100', 'Sungold', and 'Black Cherry' rarely have this problem. Photo by Steve Masley

Finalist—NY Cottages & Gardens 2018 Kitchen Design. Finalist—Westchester Home Design Awards Modern Kitchen 2018. Kitchen Design – Studio Dearborn with ND Interiors. Photography: Tim Lenz. This chic high rise apartment is the home to empty nesters who were ready for a dose of clean contemporary glam. The kitchen was renovated to open it up to light and panoramic views of lower Westchester. Pale gray high gloss handle-less cabinetry is punctuated with touches of polished chrome. Automated Aventos lifters operate every door, and a polished chrome tall cabinet holds the homeowner’s treasured glass and porcelain collection. Wallpapers by Phillip Jeffries clad the walls and back of the tall china cabinet, adding textural contrast to the slick finishes. A built in banquette was added to the breakfast area for a clean but luxurious feel.

"Brandon Stengel - www.farmkidstudios.com”
Open concept kitchen - large industrial l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, marble countertops and subway tile backsplash