Highlighting the views was a key consideration for the project and the designer was very intentional with what views were kept open and what was blocked. Prideaux’s favorite element in the space is the view from the end of the pool and spa area.

The kitchen was large but dark inside. We built a significant light box on the roof to bring generous light to the center of the room but also to create a sense of place. The views from the room (to the left and behind the camera in this shot) are spectacular. Photo by Brad Knipstein

Tiltshift Studio
Home design - modern home design idea in Austin

Example of a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

Enjoy lounging, dining alfresco & making s'mores at the firepit with this fantastic outdoor living space. This project expanded the patio to create spaces for cooking, dining & gathering. Substantial brick bases anchor corner posts for the oversized covered arbor. Cooking arena includes built-in gas grill, under counter refrigerator and slab granite counter with eating bar.  Construction & design by Steven Ray Construction, Inc.

Highlighting the views was a key consideration for the project and the designer was very intentional with what views were kept open and what was blocked. Prideaux’s favorite element in the space is the view from the end of the pool and spa area.

Wolf 15" Induction Cooktop, Stainless Steel Trim, CT15I/S Wolf 15" Gas Cooktop, Two Dual-Stacked Sealed Burners, Stainless Steel, Natural Gas or LP Gas, CT15G/S Wolf 15" Electric Grill Module, Stainless Steel, IG15/S Wolf 15" Gas Multi-Function Cooktop, Dual-Stacked Sealed Burner, Stainless Steel, Natural Gas or LP Gas, IM15/S

2019 Spring Parade of Homes Twin Cities Builder: Robert Thomas Homes
Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor sunroom remodel in Minneapolis with a standard ceiling

Fully equipped kitchens have become a key outdoor living amenity. And there are reasons for locating your outdoor kitchen away from the house — if you have a ‘destination’ pool, or if other key outdoor living areas are set at a distance. However, it’s generally a good idea to position your outdoor kitchen as close to the house as possible. Proximity to your indoor kitchen is one obvious reason for this. But your home’s extended roof, not to mention house walls, can provide protection from the elements. It’s also easier to hook up electricity by being so close to the home’s utility lines. www.deckandpatio.com

Transitional tile patio photo in New York with a pergola and a fireplace

Inspiration for a transitional patio remodel in Boston

Enjoy lounging, dining alfresco & making s'mores at the firepit with this fantastic outdoor living space. This project expanded the patio to create spaces for cooking, dining & gathering. Substantial brick bases anchor corner posts for the oversized covered arbor. Cooking arena includes built-in gas grill, under counter refrigerator and slab granite counter with eating bar.  Construction & design by Steven Ray Construction, Inc.

The masonry grill station and adjoining bar added maximum entertaining value for our clients. The grill station is wrapped in Eden cut stone veneer with a detail sailor row of the home’s bricks. A thermal bluestone coping provides a clean uniform surface and matches the adjoining patio. Included within the grill station are a ProFire 48” gas grill, a double gas side-burner, a large Kamoda Joe grill, a pullout trash and recycling drawer and a double wet sink/bar station. The raised bar area provides ample casual dining space and view of the outdoor television under pavilion. A custom cedar trellis supports Sweet Autumn clematis and has integrated LED under-ledge lighting.

The homeowner’s knew they wanted to entertain outdoors and designed a complete outdoor kitchen that functions independently from the one indoors. The built-in Hybrid Fire Grill and Smoker Cabinet allow the homeowners to create restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of their own home for groups both large and small. The sleek stainless steel storage cabinets ensure all kitchen necessities are conveniently at hand and are weather-tight; ensuring contents remain clean and dry.

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.”

Custom outdoor kitchen
Patio - mid-sized contemporary patio idea in Portland

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard water fountain landscape in San Diego with decking.

This modern outdoor living space mere blocks from the beach is replete with all of the best staycation features. There is a cozy, yet refined screened patio space with a glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) wrapped spa that is situated opposite a Wolf-equipped outdoor dining and seating area. A custom GFRC fireplace with GFRC mantel connects the areas, while providing a touch of privacy. Through the retractable screens, a pair of Restoration Hardware chaise lounge chairs call for a sunning session. To beat the heat our clients can retreat to the pool and recline on the end-to-end sun shelf. Artificial turf and a stretch of Mexican beach pebble frame the pool and generous porcelain coping. Aloe, hibiscus, bamboo muhly, cabbage palms and other tropical landscaping enhance the modern beach aesthetic. Photos by Craig O'Neal