Our clients wanted to modernize their 1980's home, focusing on reimagining the main floor. We used warm palettes, natural elements, and clean lines while maximizing natural light and preserving key architectural features to create a welcoming, functional space. We completely reimagined the kitchen to enhance flow and gain additional cabinet space. Features include a center island with bar stools that also doubles as a casual dining area, a functional layout, and ample storage.

Stacy Goldberg
Living room - transitional open concept brown floor living room idea in DC Metro with a bar and white walls

Kohler Caxton under mount with bowls are accented by Water-works Studio Ludlow plumbing fixtures. Metal cross handles in a chrome finish adorn both bowls. The Wellborn Estate Collection in maple with a Hanover door style and inset hinge Vanities support the beautiful Carrera white honed marble vanity tops with a simple eased edge. A large 1” beveled mirrors up to the ceiling with sconce cut-out were framed out matching trim– finishing the look and soften-ing the look of large mirrors. A Kohler Sun struck freestanding soak tub is nestled between two wonderful windows and give view to the sky with a Velux CO-4 Solar powered Fresh Air Skylight. A Waterworks Studio Ludlow freestanding exposed tub filler with hand-shower and metal chrome cross handles continues the look. The shower fixtures are the Waterworks Studio Lodlow and include both the wall shower arm and flange in chrome along with the hand shower. Two Moen body sprays add to the showering experience. Roeser’s signature niche for shower needs complete the functioning part of the shower. The beauty part is AE Tongue in chic tile in the “You don’t snow me”- 2.5 X 10.5 on shower walls to ceiling. Matching stone slabs were installed on the shower curb, niche sill and shelf along with the wall cap. A frameless custom shower door keeps the shower open and eloquent. Tile floor was installed over heated flooring in the main bath with a Carrera Herringbone Mosaic on the bathroom flooring– as well the shower flooring. To complete the room the AE Tongue in Chic tile was installed from the floor to 42” and finished with a pencil liner on top. A separate toilet room (not shown) gave privacy to the open floor plan. A Toto white elongated Bidet Washlet with night light, auto open and close, fan, deodorizer and dryer, to men-tion just a few of the features, was installed finishing this most eloquent, high-end, functional Master Bathroom.

Down-to-studs remodel and second floor addition. The original house was a simple plain ranch house with a layout that didn’t function well for the family. We changed the house to a contemporary Mediterranean with an eclectic mix of details. Space was limited by City Planning requirements so an important aspect of the design was to optimize every bit of space, both inside and outside. The living space extends out to functional places in the back and front yards: a private shaded back yard and a sunny seating area in the front yard off the kitchen where neighbors can easily mingle with the family. A Japanese bath off the master bedroom upstairs overlooks a private roof deck which is screened from neighbors’ views by a trellis with plants growing from planter boxes and with lanterns hanging from a trellis above. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-mediterranean/

This beautiful French Provincial home is set on 10 acres, nestled perfectly in the oak trees. The original home was built in 1974 and had two large additions added; a great room in 1990 and a main floor master suite in 2001. This was my dream project: a full gut renovation of the entire 4,300 square foot home! I contracted the project myself, and we finished the interior remodel in just six months. The exterior received complete attention as well. The 1970s mottled brown brick went white to completely transform the look from dated to classic French. Inside, walls were removed and doorways widened to create an open floor plan that functions so well for everyday living as well as entertaining. The white walls and white trim make everything new, fresh and bright. It is so rewarding to see something old transformed into something new, more beautiful and more functional.

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photo by Thom Greene
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Chicago with an integrated sink, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

A key factor in the design of this week's home was functionality for an expanding family. This mudroom nook located off the kitchen allows for plenty of storage for the regularly used jackets, bags, shoes and more. Making it easy for the family to keep the area functional and tidy. #entryway #entrywaydesign #welcomehome #mudroom

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.”

Cynthia Lynn
Example of a transitional living room design in Chicago

Inspiration for a transitional white tile gray floor and single-sink alcove shower remodel in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a freestanding vanity

Example of a mountain style beige tile beige floor freestanding bathtub design in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and beige countertops

Trendy living room photo in Seattle

Eric Rorer
Example of a 1960s kitchen design in San Francisco

Example of a beach style master bedroom design in New York with gray walls and no fireplace

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This Chicago client was tired of living with her outdated and not-so-functional kitchen and came in for an update. The goals were to update the look of the space, enclose the washer/dryer, upgrade the appliances and the cabinets. The space is located in turn-of-the-century brownstone, so we tried to stay in keeping with that era but provide an updated and functional space. One of the primary challenges of this project was a chimney that jutted into the space. The old configuration meandered around the chimney creating some strange configurations and odd depths for the countertop. We finally decided that just flushing out the wall along the chimney instead would create a cleaner look and in the end a better functioning space. It also created the opportunity to access those new pockets of space behind the wall with appliance garages to create a unique and functional feature. The new galley kitchen has the sink on one side and the range opposite with the refrigerator on the end of the run. This very functional layout also provides large runs of counter space and plenty of storage. The washer/dryer were relocated to the opposite side of the kitchen per the client's request, and hide behind a large custom bi-fold door when not in use. A wine fridge and microwave are tucked under the counter so that the primary visual is the custom mullioned doors with antique glass and custom marble backsplash design. White cabinetry, Carrera countertops and an apron sink complete the vintage feel of the space, and polished nickel hardware and light fixtures add a little bit of bling. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This stunning home is a combination of the best of traditional styling with clean and modern design, creating a look that will be as fresh tomorrow as it is today. Traditional white painted cabinetry in the kitchen, combined with the slab backsplash, a simpler door style and crown moldings with straight lines add a sleek, non-fussy style. An architectural hood with polished brass accents and stainless steel appliances dress up this painted kitchen for upscale, contemporary appeal. The kitchen islands offers a notable color contrast with their rich, dark, gray finish. The stunning bar area is the entertaining hub of the home. The second bar allows the homeowners an area for their guests to hang out and keeps them out of the main work zone. The family room used to be shut off from the kitchen. Opening up the wall between the two rooms allows for the function of modern living. The room was full of built ins that were removed to give the clean esthetic the homeowners wanted. It was a joy to redesign the fireplace to give it the contemporary feel they longed for. Their used to be a large angled wall in the kitchen (the wall the double oven and refrigerator are on) by straightening that out, the homeowners gained better function in the kitchen as well as allowing for the first floor laundry to now double as a much needed mudroom room as well.

Location: New York, NY, USA We loved renovating this space for our client who is a Chef and wanted a functional kitchen that is also beautiful. Her previous kitchen had been purchased at a Restaurant Supply Store on the Lower East Side and though totally functional it was just not highlighting the natural beauty of the apartment. We were able to use the existing beams and brick walls as an amazing back-drop to the kitchen. We added decorative lighting to the Kitchen and Dining Areas to define those spaces and changed the track heads throughout the apartment to modernize the lighting. We also built her a new Home Office enclosure to be more in keeping with the loft environment - a little jewel box in the apartment. Overall, a total success!! Photographed by: James Salomon

Example of a classic bathroom design in New Orleans