The Challenge This beautiful waterfront home was begging for an update. Our clients wanted a contemporary design with modern finishes. They craved improved functionality in the kitchen, hardwood flooring in the living areas, and a spacious walk-in closet in the master bathroom. With two children in school, our clients also needed the project completed during their summer vacation – leaving a slim 90 days for the entire remodel. Could we do it? …Challenge accepted! Our Solution With their active summer travel schedule, our clients elected to vacate their home for the duration of the project. This was ideal for the intrusive nature of the scope of work. In preparation, our design team created a project plan to suit our client’s needs. With such a clear timeline, we were able to select and order long-lead items in plenty of time for the project start date. In the kitchen, we rearranged the layout to provide superior ventilation for the cooktop on the exterior wall. We added two large storage cabinets with glass doors, accented by a sleek mosaic backsplash of glass tile. We also incorporated a large contemporary waterfall island into the room. With seating at one end, the island provides both increased functionality and an eye-catching focal point for the center of the room. On the interior wall of the kitchen, we maximized storage with a wall of built-in cabinetry – complete with pullout pantry cabinets, a double oven, and a large stainless refrigerator. Our clients wisely chose rich, dark-colored wood flooring to add warmth to the contemporary design. After installing the flooring in the kitchen, we brought it into the main living areas as well. In the great room, we wrapped the existing gas fireplace in a neutral stack stone. The effect of the stone on the media and window wall is breathtaking. In the master bathroom, we expanded the closet by pushing the wall back into the adjacent pass-through hallway. The new walk-in closet now includes an impressive closet organization system. Returning to the master bathroom, we removed the single vanity and repositioned the toilet, allowing for a new, curb-less glass shower and a his-and-hers vanity. The entire vanity and shower wall is finished in white 12×24 porcelain tile. The vertical glass mosaic accent band and backlit floating mirrors add to the clean, modern style. To the left of the master bathroom entry, we even added a matching make-up area. Finally, we installed a number of elegant enhancements in the remaining rooms. The clients chose a bronze metal relief accent wall as well as some colorful finishes and artwork for the entry and hallway. Exceptional Results Our clients were simply thrilled with the final product! Not only did they return from their summer vacation to a gorgeous home remodel, but we concluded the project a full week ahead of schedule. As a result, the family was able to move in sooner than planned, giving them plenty of time to acclimate to the renovated space before their kids returned to school. Ultimately, we provided the outstanding results and customer experience that our clients had been searching for. “We met with many other contractors leading up to signing with Progressive Design Build. When we met Mike, we finally felt safe. We had heard so many horror stories about contractors! Progressive was the best move we could have made. They made our dream house become a reality. Vernon was in charge of our project and everything went better than we expected. Our project was completed earlier than expected, too. Our questions and concerns were dealt with quickly and professionally, the job site was always clean, and all subs were friendly and professional. We had a wonderful experience with Progressive Design Build. We’re so grateful we found them.” – The Mader Family

Large elegant single-wall concrete floor kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, black cabinets, quartz countertops, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets and metal backsplash

Living room - contemporary living room idea in London

Cost : Withheld at Owner’s Request 6880 Square Feet New and Renovated The renovation of an extensive linear residence and site facing Port Orchard waterway embraces water, greenspace and forested hillside. The home, completed this fall, serves as an artist’s studio, galleries, family space, game room, outdoor living areas and peaceful retreat. New interiors and exterior spaces and finishes, cabinetry, lighting, paving, landscape and courtyards become settings for the owner’s art + collections, three-generations of family and the wonderful colors and textures of the land + water. Inside, a monumental central stair and tapered two-story tall red cedar and steel column was designed as the residence’s entry focal point and internal landmarks, guiding the visitor’s eye to the main atrium…. and upward. Heavy wide-flange steel moment frames support the house and enable whole walls of glass. Rough, mill-finished steel contrasts refined cabinetry, stone, wood structure and defining dropped ceilings, reflecting the opener’s love of the tension between highly polished and detailed + rough, found art. Outside, A new southern “dining room” was designed for warm summer evening gatherings under a heavy-timber trellis. The focus, opposite water and island views, is a metal perforated screen. The final screen is composed of the lyrics from a Joe Cocker song of great meaning to the owners, cut from ½” marine bronze, set into dark-fired brick. “Oh My Darling, Be Home Soon….” Natural daylight and high-efficiency lighting are central players as in any gallery. From a high clerestory and extensive southern and eastern window-walls to carefully selected up-lighting, pendants, and accent fixtures, Rhodes Architecture + Light worked closely with the owner to ensure that their dark existing house would become one filled with light…. night and day. The owners, Ken and Jane, allowed us to interview them about their experience working with Rhodes Architecture + Light, and how they are feeling about living with the architecture today. What was your experience like, working with Rhodes Architecture + Light? “They worked with us because it was a remodel, an existing thing, and we had to try to make it work for all of our interests and how our family operated. They listened, and we listened, and it was a great communication back and forth.”–Jane How has the renovation changed the way you live and enjoy your home? “I remember saying to them that I want the whole floor heated because it gets so chilly down here. And we had the wood burning stove, but it was over there and now we just turn the floor heat on and we can come down. It’s cozy and nice. So we’re looking forward to winter now.”–Ken “We have 5 kids together and now a bunch of grandchildren. I wanted a marble countertop, but there’s just no way. I didn’t want it to be a place where I had to say, ‘No, no, no. Wipe up your drink, do this, do that.’ I wanted it to be a place where everybody can come with all the kids, and we make a big mess, and I can clean it up. And we can enjoy ourselves here, because that room upstairs, we almost never went in. And now we’re in there eating pizza and watching the game.” –Jane As an artist, Jane enjoyed the collaborative process. “I can’t believe it was as positive as it was. I went into it thinking it would be a great, creative, fun, collaborative thing, and I have to say, with our architects, it was. I like that creative process. I always say when I am doing a painting, it’s a series of problem solving so it wasn’t unusual for me. I am completely blown away by them and had fun with that part of it.” –Jane Architect: Tim James Rhodes RA AIA, Rhodes Architecture + Light Builder: Fairbank Construction Company Structural: Swensen Say Faget

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Calgary

Build a Custom Home in 6 Months! Livio, formerly Aron Builders, is a technology driven, licensed, bonded and insured Home Builder. We build high quality single family homes. We have a five phase process that covers everything a homeowner may experience when designing and building their dream home. Services include California net zero energy building and guaranteed fixed pricing. Our approach is to employ highly trained professionals as relationship managers along with proprietary technology platform to deliver hassle free, efficient, transparent construction experience to its clients. Services Provided Custom Home, Demolition, Energy-Efficient Homes, Floor Plans, Foundation Construction, Green Building, Guesthouse Design & Construction, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Multigenerational Homes, New Home Construction, Pool House Design & Construction, Site Planning, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Design Areas Served Atherton, Belmont, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Loyola, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale, West Menlo Park, Woodside

Inside, strategically designed volumes crescendo to create uplifting spatial experiences, while subtle level transitions unify the interior and exterior, harmonizing with the natural slope of the site. Operable façades frame views of the expansive public park to the north, and extend the family’s private living spaces into the southern rear yard, effortlessly blending the dining and living areas into an indoor-outdoor experience. Thoughtful window placement and the elegant, centrally located stair, designed as a light shaft, draw daylight deep into the home throughout the day. Warm finishes, echoing the exterior palette, enhance the sense of cohesion, while personalized details imbue the space with character, crafting a home that is both sophisticated and intimately tailored to its residents. MAKE Architecture | www.makearch.com | 323-669-0278

Example of a beach style living room design in Boston

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Calgary

A new-construction, year-round vacation home was custom-built for a family to enjoy the natural beauty of West Marin, California. The home is sited on the beach, so understanding how to build on sand (instead of soil) and selecting the right materials that would withstand ongoing erosion from the ocean and salt air were both critical to the success of the project. Even in the most ideal circumstances climate can present challenges, but as this was a COVID-era project in a relatively remote location, we also faced supply chain issues and labor issues. Fortunately, we were able to draw on our decades of experience to identify solutions and work collaboratively with the geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, and subcontractors to ensure that everyone was aligned on the design vision and how we would achieve it. Our backgrounds as craftspeople and the project manager’s experience as an architect allowed our team to work in lockstep with the design team.

Eclectic freestanding desk light wood floor, beige floor and wallpaper home office photo in Nashville with multicolored walls

Spacious Spa Retreat This light, airy and spacious en-suite bathroom spa is perfect for couples who need a break from the busy world. The over sized custom tiled shower complete with tandem bench seating and luxurious rain fall shower head provide for the ultimate shower experience. The sizable, sleek soaker tub provides a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the double sided hearth making for a truly comforting bathing experience. A large white shaker double vanity and linen tower; completes this space.

Searching for a trusted kitchen remodel contractor in Santa Barbara? At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we’re a licensed Santa Barbara general contractor with over 20 years of experience transforming outdated kitchens into stunning, functional, and highly customized spaces. As a full-service company, we specialize in everything from kitchen renovations, premium finishes and complete home remodels, all delivered with expert craftsmanship and efficient project management. ​ Whether you're planning a full kitchen redesign in Santa Barbara, need cabinet refinishing in Goleta, or want to upgrade your Montecito home with new countertops, lighting, and layout improvements, our team handles it all from demo to finish paint. ​ What sets us apart: In-house licensed crews—no outsourcing Seamless project management from demolition to finish Expertise in custom finishes from our background as a top-rated Santa Barbara painting contractor Deep knowledge of local building codes and permitting ​ Our kitchen remodeling services include:​​ Tile backsplash & flooring Stone countertops Lighting & electrical upgrades Plumbing reconfiguration Drywall, finish carpentry, and professional painting Structural modifications and wall removal ​ We’re not just another contractor—we’re your one-stop shop for home remodeling in Santa Barbara, with the attention to detail and finish quality that only 20+ years of experience in both construction and painting can provide.

A new-construction, year-round vacation home was custom-built for a family to enjoy the natural beauty of West Marin, California. The home is sited on the beach, so understanding how to build on sand (instead of soil) and selecting the right materials that would withstand ongoing erosion from the ocean and salt air were both critical to the success of the project. Even in the most ideal circumstances climate can present challenges, but as this was a COVID-era project in a relatively remote location, we also faced supply chain issues and labor issues. Fortunately, we were able to draw on our decades of experience to identify solutions and work collaboratively with the geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, and subcontractors to ensure that everyone was aligned on the design vision and how we would achieve it. Our backgrounds as craftspeople and the project manager’s experience as an architect allowed our team to work in lockstep with the design team.

Inspiration for a timeless dining room remodel in DC Metro

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Denver

This luxury home theater blends comfort and style, featuring a rich cognac leather sectional that wraps around a plush shag area rug for a cozy viewing experience. The striking wood slat accent wall adds warmth and texture, framing the large wall-mounted TV above a sleek floating media console. Recessed ceiling lights and subtle LED perimeter lighting create a soft, cinematic glow, complemented by modern wall sconces for added ambiance. The high-gloss black tile flooring reflects the light beautifully, balancing the warm wood tones and soft textiles. Designed for both elegance and entertainment, this space exudes contemporary sophistication.

You know that enchanting feeling you get when stepping into a luxury boutique hotel or that coveted Airbnb that’s always fully booked? Imagine a guest bathroom that echoes that experience — an atmosphere draws visitors in -- that’s their own welcoming and serene retreat. A place where visiting friends or family feel like they’ve checked into a beautiful getaway—filled with bright natural light, classic tile underfoot, crisp white walls, and a sophisticated play of pattern. Where the exquisite finishes, thoughtful layout, soaking tub, black vanity with quartz counter, black framed mirror, wood mahogany door, linen closet, and city motif wallpaper have been curated for comfort and style. A pampered “stay-a-while” guest experience. Photography by Patricia Burke

A Sophisticated Multi-Zone Outdoor Living Experience This luxury outdoor living area, thoughtfully designed as three seamlessly connected yet distinct entertaining zones—each nestled beneath its own architecturally layered roofline, fulfilled every wish of our client. Enjoy a fully equipped gourmet outdoor kitchen and bar, an elegant dining pavilion, and a refined lounge with fireplace and large-screen TV, all styled for year-round comfort and effortless hosting. This stunning extension flows flawlessly from the home’s interior kitchen through to the ultimate man cave retreat, creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor experience that blends sophistication, functionality, and relaxation.