Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder Photo credit: Lisa Francis New England aster and Goldenrod Symphyotrichum novae-angliae and Solidago speciosa Kemper - Lopata Prairie Garden

Does this room look familiar? This is the indoor-outdoor patio space. The entire window wall is able to open up completely as we see in the previous photo. Do you also notice the pebble detailing? It is trimming each room that has this glossy tiled flooring. Again, it's all in the small details. Also taking a notice to the great coffee table. Its a more modern design with rustic barnwood sides and a cement top. The phenomenal red chairs up close and personal look even better. The small touches of this same colour throughout the decor, the planter and the candles, really ties this colour throughout the space. Would you add anything else to this space?

Clean, pure Rino White Marble in the contemporary kitchen of a cozy single family home in NW Washington, D.C.
Mid-sized trendy galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen photo in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances 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After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change.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.”

A Modern home that wished for more warmth... An addition and reconstruction of approx. 750sq. area. That included new kitchen, office, family room and back patio cover area. The custom-made kitchen cabinets are semi-inset / semi-frameless combination. The door style was custom build with a minor bevel at the edge of each door. White oak was used for the frame, drawers and most of the cabinet doors with some doors paint white for accent effect. The island "legs" or water fall sides if you wish and the hood enclosure are Tambour wood paneling. These are 3/4" half round wood profile connected together for a continues pattern. These Tambour panels, the wicker pendant lights and the green live walls inject a bit of an Asian fusion into the design mix. The floors are polished concrete in a dark brown finish to inject additional warmth vs. the standard concrete gray most of us familiar with. A huge 16' multi sliding door by La Cantina was installed, this door is aluminum clad (wood finish on the interior of the door).

Renovation of an existing house included small adjustments to the rooflines to make a much more modern expression inspired by Scandinavian architecture. Minimal trim around windows and corners also helps the pure geometric forms emerge. While still respecting the scale and the origins of the local style, it is unmistakably distinct. Its complementary black box master suite with roof deck creates a contrast with the more traditional, iconic house shapes in white. The result is a house that is familiar and comfortable while at the same time challenging our ideas about what a house should be.

The kitchen is lit by generous floor-to-ceiling windows that afford views out over the lush green yard and onto the Humber ravine. Inside, the island incorporates an ‘urban cultivator’ for growing fresh greens and herbs year-round.

Challenge After living in their home for ten years, these Bonita Bay homeowners were ready to embark on a complete home makeover. They were not only ready to update the look and feel, but also the flow of the house. Having lived in their house for an extended period of time, this couple had a clear idea of how they use their space, the shortcomings of their current layout and how they would like to improve it. After interviewing four different contractors, they chose to retain Progressive Design Build’s design services. Already familiar with the design/build process having finished a renovation on a lakefront home in Canada, the couple chose Progressive Design Build wisely. Progressive Design Build invested a lot of time during the design process to ensure the design concept was thorough and reflected the couple’s vision. Options were presented, giving these homeowners several alternatives and good ideas on how to realize their vision, while working within their budget. Progressive Design Build guided the couple all the way—through selections and finishes, saving valuable time and money. Solution The interior remodel included a beautiful contemporary master bathroom with a stunning barrel-ceiling accent. The freestanding bathtub overlooks a private courtyard and a separate stone shower is visible through a beautiful frameless shower enclosure. Interior walls and ceilings in the common areas were designed to expose as much of the Southwest Florida view as possible, allowing natural light to spill through the house from front to back. Progressive created a separate area for their Baby Grand Piano overlooking the front garden area. The kitchen was also remodeled as part of the project, complete with cherry cabinets and granite countertops. Both guest bathrooms and the pool bathroom were also renovated. A light limestone tile floor was installed throughout the house. All of the interior doors, crown mouldings and base mouldings were changed out to create a fresh, new look. Every surface of the interior of the house was repainted. This whole house remodel also included a small addition and a stunning outdoor living area, which features a dining area, outdoor fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling slate finish, exterior grade cabinetry finished in a natural cypress wood stain, a stainless steel appliance package, and a black leather finish granite countertop. The grilling area includes a 54" multi-burner DCS and rotisserie grill surrounded by natural stone mosaic tile and stainless steel inserts. This whole house renovation also included the pool and pool deck. In addition to procuring all new pool equipment, Progressive Design Build built the pool deck using natural gold travertine. The ceiling was designed with a select grade cypress in a dark rich finish and termination mouldings with wood accents on the fireplace wall to match. During construction, Progressive Design Build identified areas of water intrusion and a failing roof system. The homeowners decided to install a new concrete tile roof under the management of Progressive Design Build. The entire exterior was also repainted as part of the project. Results Due to some permitting complications, the project took thirty days longer than expected. However, in the end, the project finished in eight months instead of seven, but still on budget. This homeowner was so pleased with the work performed on this initial project that he hired Progressive Design Build four more times – to complete four additional remodeling projects in 4 years.

Bright walls with linear architectural features emphasize the expansive height of the ceilings in this lux golf community home. Although not on the coast, the use of bold blue accents gives a nod to The Hamptons and the Palm Beach area this home resides. Different textures and shapes are used to combine the ambiance of the lush golf course surroundings with Florida ocean breezes. Robert Brantley Photography

Indy Ferrufino EIF Images eifimages@gmail.com
Example of a mid-sized transitional open concept family room design in Phoenix with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

This Spanish Revival takes its place among the graceful and genteel tradition of Santa Barbara architecture. Located in a secreted area of Montecito, the house is tucked amidst a wooded glen along a riparian creek bed. Carefully sited at the top of a rolling green, the building provides a strong form in the natural landscape. With its reference to historical precedent, the house is both undeniably familiar and tangibly rich. Site sensitivity and pure spatial relationships combine in new ways, showing that what’s old can be new again. An entry courtyard concealed behind a pair of wooden doors of Moorish design begins the entry sequence. The courtyard, wrapped around an existing mature oak tree, creates an outdoor room, which establishes an interplay between interior and exterior spaces, a theme that recurs throughout the house. An exercise in scale and proportion, the 5,000-square-foot residence is imbued with classic detail and richness found in the Spanish Colonial architecture characteristic of George Washington Smith and others. Interior spaces are created through pure and varied geometric volumes, and are elaborated by opened beamed ceilings, groin vaults and Moorish arches.

This is a very small space that measures approximately 20x14 feet and gets very little sunlight. The client is from New Orleans where they still maintain a house and wanted something that would remind them of home so we went with a contemporary take on the New Orleans-style courtyard. This space was unused and the landscape died as a result of poor soil conditions, poor drainage and heavy shade long before we took on the project. Our mission was to 1) Invite the homeowner into a space they were familiar and comfortable with, and 2) Involve all of their senses (aesthetics for the eyes, water fountain for the ears, fragrant flowers and herbs for the nose). This picture is the right side of this outdoor living space which features an area that allows the homeowner to read, one of their favorite activities, in a cozy and private environment. We used multiple flowers and colors, along with a variety of ground cover.

This home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL is contemporary space with a pop of color. With a simple palette of greys, the home is cozy and familiar space. The pop of orange adds warmth and personality.

Completed in 2011 this 4 BR, 3 1/2 bath custom home is situated on a very tight urban infill lot in Northern, Virginia. Our clients were relocating to the D.C. area from New England and wanted to retain some of the New England vernacular they were familiar with in their new home. Due to heavy zoning restrictions, stylistic CCR's and a large program of almost 7000 sf, our design response is a modern take on a traditional hipped 4-square. We intentionally kept the skin and form of the building simple in order to contain cost and allow for a higher level of interior finish. The main level employs our favorite Great Room scheme that merges cooking, eating and entertaining into one seamless space that flows onto an expansive deck overlooking the rear yard. The entry elevation welcomes guests with a traditional front porch and stone path that passes by a small rain garden. The basement accommodates a guest room, media room, exercise area, and full shop while the upper level orients 2 kid's bedrooms, a Jack-n-Jill bath and the master suite toward a territorial view of the rear yard. All of this program is housed beneath a hipped roof that minimizes the scale of the house while presenting a thoughtful appearance toward the street and neighbors.

This classic architecturally significant Newton home built in the 1920’s had an outdoor porch over the garage that was nice but rarely enjoyed due to wind, snow, cold, heat, bugs and the road noise was too loud. Sound familiar? By adding the Four Seasons 10’ x 18’ Georgian Conservatory the space is now enlarged and feels like outdoor space that can be enjoyed year round in complete comfort thanks to the Exclusive high performance and sound deadening characteristics of patented Conserva-Glass with Stay Clean Technology. We also added some of window walls system under the adjacent space to enclose new and existing areas. By working collaboratively with the homeowners and their carpenter, who did the site work and finish work, we were able to successfully get the best design, quality and performance all at the lowest price. Stay tuned for future finished photos with furniture and tasteful decorating for a drop dead gorgeous retreat. This Georgian Conservatory is sure be this nice family’s favorite room in the house!

The 5,600 square foot Willow Creek ranch home blends industrial and organic design elements for a modern but classic design scheme. For an aesthetic that is simultaneously traditional and contemporary, By Design Interiors utilized Banker Wire’s fine woven wire mesh pattern S-12 in two separate areas of the home—the French Country inspired kitchen, and the game room bar—to provide unexpected touch points while creating a cohesive design experience. The modern French Country inspired kitchen was designed from the ground up. As a central point in the open concept home, the theme of organic-meets-industrial originates here. Specified in an antique brass finish, Banker Wire’s S-12—a fine woven wire mesh pattern—was fabricated into the front of the kitchen cabinets. The robust woven wire mesh provides a warm aesthetic touch to the surrounding neutral color palette while also giving a near opaque cover to the storage space. The highly faceted surface of S-12 both absorbs and reflects the colors of its surroundings, adding texture and depth to the striking design. “Banker Wire’s S-12 provides the integral industrial element in the kitchen area, helping to create the high/low aesthetic of the space—accentuating the organic materials, such as the leathered quartzite countertop island and single-sided waterfall edge, and the custom zinc vent range hood,” says Ayca Stiffel, Senior Interior Designer, Design Interiors. “The nearby dining room chandelier, grey-white walls, and natural light add a softness to the space, when contrasted with the industrial look and feel of the mesh.” Departing from the traditional French touchpoints found in the kitchen, By Design Interiors leaned more heavily on industrial accents to realize the custom game room bar. The homeowner’s requested a fun “industrial” space different from any home bar they had seen before. Using Banker Wire’s fine woven wire mesh pattern S-12, multiple sliding screen doors were crafted to create customizable storage space for the bar. The antique brass finish of the mesh reflects the warm light, adding a lighter tone that contrasts the chocolate browns and matte black finishes of the surrounding space. Leather chairs and metal work on the foot bars, bar front and frame compliment the woven wire mesh, creating a cohesive environment that is both unique and welcoming. Edgy, sophisticated, and familiar, the Willow Creek Texas Ranch Home exemplifies the role that unique materiality—such as Banker Wire’s architectural woven wire mesh—can play in a contemporary residential design scheme.

Transitional exterior home idea in Denver

Photo Credit: TammiTPhotography
Inspiration for a huge scandinavian brown two-story wood exterior home remodel in Denver

Amy E. Photography
Example of a mid-sized classic dark wood floor and beige floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Phoenix with white walls and no fireplace