Example of a classic white one-story exterior home design in New York

Kiel's woodworking talents are in full effect in the kitchen. Rather than incorporate pre-fabricated cabinets into the newly rebuilt space, he decided to build them himself, affording the home the custom work that it so deserves. "It didn't make sense to put in the same fiberboard cabinetry that was there before", he confesses. Part of the plan called for open shelving up top to show off Chelsea's colorful plate collection. "One of the perks of being married to a wood worker", Chelsea jokes, "is having an entire kitchen worth of cabinets for the cost of wood and paint!" The couple outfitted the antique sink with a modern spray fixture from IKEA. The enameled cast iron sink was not only a steal at $25, but it is certainly made to last. "Often we buy older pieces which have been around for 50+ years because we know that if they have survived this long they will likely survive another 50", she says. Backsplash Tile, Hamilton Parker Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz

Cape Cod; Dennis, MA This kitchen beautifully captures the essence of a Cape Cod coastal style, blending a light, airy color palette with high-end, functional elements. The room is centered around a kitchen island with a dark countertop and classic turned legs, offering a striking visual contrast to the mostly white space. The island provides both a spacious workspace and a casual dining area with woven bar stools that feature a subtle patterned cushion. Above the island, two modern pendant lights with polished metal shades serve as a focal point and provide task lighting. The kitchen's main work area features a white farmhouse sink situated beneath a large window, which floods the space with natural light. The countertops and full-height backsplash are a single slab of white marble with delicate veining, creating a clean and luxurious surface. The white shaker-style cabinetry, including glass-front cabinets for displaying dishes, reinforces the traditional coastal aesthetic. On the far left, a large, integrated refrigerator with sleek handles maintains the clean, built-in look of the cabinetry. The light wood floors provide warmth and a connection to natural elements, completing the inviting and sophisticated feel of the room.

Walk-in closet - huge modern gender-neutral beige floor walk-in closet idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets and gray cabinets

Pam Singleton, Image Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional women's travertine floor dressing room remodel in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets and gray walls

Simplicity and functionality merged perfectly in this bathroom. A single vanity, Duravit© toilet, and built-in storage make the most of limited space.

Example of a mid-sized tuscan u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and granite countertops

This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Example of a trendy built-in desk concrete floor home studio design in Salt Lake City with white walls

Sequined Asphalt Studios
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal dark wood floor mudroom remodel in New York with beige walls and a glass front door

Vaulted ceilings add great volume to any space. Wood, granite, tile, modern fixtures, and great seating choices create a comfortable and functional look. Everyone will gravitate towards this island!

Photo by Ryann Ford
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

Jeri Koegel
Example of a tuscan laundry room design in Orange County

The tip out tray from ShelfGenie makes better use of the space in front of your kitchen sink. Instead of a false front, we install a hinged tray that tips forward. Store your sponges and scrub brushes out of sight, yet still right by the sink where you need them!

Danish master subway tile and white tile cement tile floor and multicolored floor walk-in shower photo in New York with white walls and a hinged shower door

DESIGN BUILD REMODEL | Vintage Bathroom Transformation | FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC This vintage inspired master bath remodel project is a FOUR POINT FAVORITE. A complete design-build gut and re-do, this charming space complete with swap meet finds, new custom pieces, reclaimed wood, and extraordinary fixtures is one of our most successful design solution projects. THANK YOU HOUZZ and Becky Harris for FEATURING this very special PROJECT!!! See it here at http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23834088/list/old-hollywood-style-for-a-newly-redone-los-angeles-bath Photography by Riley Jamison AS SEEN IN Houzz Martha Stewart

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.”

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   We went with a minimalist, clean, industrial look that feels light, bright and airy. The island is a dark charcoal with cool undertones that coordinates with the cabinetry and transom work in both the neighboring mudroom and breakfast area. White subway tile, quartz countertops, white enamel pendants and gold fixtures complete the update. The ends of the island are shiplap material that is also used on the fireplace in the next room. In the new mudroom, we used a fun porcelain tile on the floor to get a pop of pattern, and walnut accents add some warmth. Each child has their own cubby, and there is a spot for shoes below a long bench. Open shelving with spots for baskets provides additional storage for the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Utility room - mid-sized traditional limestone floor utility room idea in Chicago with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer