Perhaps the hardest working space in a home [at least during the warmer months] is a patio. Great for early morning coffee or late night entertaining, patios are flexible and beautiful retreats that extend the living space of the house. Here, blue stone pavers are wrapped on two sides by a limestone sitting wall. Providing some degree of privacy and separation, the wall also serves as extra seating without having to add extra chairs. Eric & Chelsea Eul Photography

What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to gather around a beautiful fire pit with friends and family? The natural stone look of the Belvedere Fire Pit Kit transforms your patio or backyard into an inviting, warm retreat. Precast concrete is fire-safe and engineered to weather the hardest outdoor elements. Every Belvedere Firepit Kit comes with a steel firepit ring for further protection. Photo: Barkman Concrete Ltd.

What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to gather around a beautiful fire pit with friends and family? The natural stone look of the Belvedere Fire Pit Kit transforms your patio or backyard into an inviting, warm retreat. Precast concrete is fire-safe and engineered to weather the hardest outdoor elements. Every Belvedere Firepit Kit comes with a steel firepit ring for further protection. Photo: Barkman Concrete Ltd.

Meghan’s office presented a lot of opportunities for artwork, and a variety of it! It was an exciting challenge; one that we took in stride, as searched high and low for the perfect pieces. The hardest part about our search was finding large enough pieces of art to fill each wall. The gallery wall came about admist this struggle. Inspired by the water color prints from Meghan’s previous office, we decided to combine those with a variety of graphic prints in wood frames mixed in with photographs and sculptural pieces here and there.

Fabric Sofa Cleaning in Seattle — Beige Couch Restored Beige and cream fabric sofas are the hardest to maintain — every spill, every pet, every day of use shows. This client in Seattle had been living with a couch that had lost its original color and feel. One visit. Hot water extraction on every cushion and surface, finished with an acid rinse to neutralize residue and bring the fabric back to life. The difference was immediate. If your light-colored sofa has seen better days — don't replace it. Clean it first. Serving Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, and surrounding areas. ? Book today — same-week availability. ? https://ovenandcarpetcleaning.com/articles/couch-cleaning-seattle.php Fresh Furnish — Upholstery Cleaning, Greater Seattle Area

What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to gather around a beautiful fire pit with friends and family? The natural stone look of the Dimensional Fire Pit Kit transforms your patio or backyard into an inviting, warm retreat. Precast concrete is fire-safe and engineered to weather the hardest outdoor elements. Every Dimensional Firepit Kit comes with a steel firepit insert for further protection. Photo: Barkman Concrete Ltd.

Rodi Quartz is part of Arizona Tile's Della Terra Quartz collection. Della Terra is a natural quartz surface, it is a blend of nature and technology, combining beauty and functionality in a high performance surface. Della Terra is comprised of more than 93% natural quartz crystals, one of the hardest minerals in nature. Color controlled quartz is blended together with technologically advanced polymers. Because of its high quartz content, Arizona Tile's Della Terra Quartz surfaces are ultra-durable and resistant to scratches and chipping. Its dense composition also makes Della Terra Quartz highly resistant to staining.

What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to gather around a beautiful fire pit with friends and family? The natural stone look of the Dimensional Fire Pit Kit transforms your patio or backyard into an inviting, warm retreat. Precast concrete is fire-safe and engineered to weather the hardest outdoor elements. Every Dimensional Firepit Kit comes with a steel firepit insert for further protection. Photo: Barkman Concrete Ltd.

We are proud to say that we now have made a chair out of the of the hardest, most durable, and best outdoor wood available on the planet. This chair is made out of Ipe (Pronounced “ee-pay”) or Brazilian Walnut. Here is what Bob Cunha had to say and the great picture (above) he sent us of his new Forever Adirondack furniture, “We love the Adirondack chairs ,the lounges and our new coffee table! Everything is AWESOME -- thank you! Attached is a few photos of them in their new home... Thanks, Bob Cunha”

Kim Lindsey Photography Lazy Susans were added in the corner base cabinet to access the hardest to reach are of the kitchen. Perfect for accessories/pots and pans or anything you like, no matter how often it is used!

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.”

As with all projects, which Murphy Bros. initiated during the pandemic outbreak in the spring of 2020, careful considerations were made in consultations with homeowners to protect everyone during each phase of the remodel. “We sealed off the upstairs with a poly wall from the downstairs and put a special lock on the walkout patio door so we had a separate entrance to the project,” explains Long. “I think the hardest thing for COVID protocol was keeping the homeowners from coming downstairs to peek in on the progress,” says Long, “But even with that, the safety was maintained at a high level and the work was done with minimal disruption.

A client of ours wanted to redesign a garden they had and we suggested to put in raised vegetable beds.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Philadelphia.

This Knoxville, MD kitchen remodeling project features a contemporary farmhouse style with 2 cabinet door styles and finishes, both of them from Greenfield Cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets feature the Jackson A door style in a Paintable Glacier finish, while the kitchen island features the Falls Creek door style in Knotty Alder with a Black finish. Kitchen countertops are Silestone engineered quartz in the color Eternal Calacatta Gold. According to the client, "The hardest part of the kitchen renovation was getting started with the design and being able to get what we wanted. With the expertise of Paula she was able to deliver exactly what we wanted. She listened and made it all come together." Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Amazing Cambria Quartz kitchen countertop, the Blackwood™, where finding your favorite natural surface is so easy. It is a quartz stone surface, recognized as a superior choice in countertop materials. Beside offering an elegant and clean look, Cambria Quartz has a stunning cosmetic appeal and is one of the hardest materials in nature. Cambria countertops consist of 93% natural quartz stone and require no maintenance, even with heavy use. Cambria® is only available through exclusive dealers (and cannot be found in Home Centers). Building Pro offers customizable options of Cambria Quartz kitchen countertops and spa showers for a care free, NSF certified as safe to use for food preparation surface and ready to convert your kitchen or shower into a Masterpiece you will be proud off to enjoy for long time!

Architect: Michelle Penn, AIA The tall cabinets on either side of the fireplace hide the equipment for the TV! This is a perfect solution for having a TV over a fireplace...one of the hardest design solutions to solve right now in home design!

Meghan’s office presented a lot of opportunities for artwork, and a variety of it! It was an exciting challenge; one that we took in stride, as searched high and low for the perfect pieces. The hardest part about our search was finding large enough pieces of art to fill each wall. The gallery wall came about admist this struggle. Inspired by the water color prints from Meghan’s previous office, we decided to combine those with a variety of graphic prints in wood frames mixed in with photographs and sculptural pieces here and there.

Our closet is truly the hardest working part of the room. Everything we need to run our office is stored here in clear containers so we can quickly find what we need. One of our favorite ideas was the vintage french crate that we use to sort and easily access all of our pretty ribbons. Photo by Liz Daly

This great space is easily the hardest working room in the house with the purpose to serve multiple functions all in one shared space. Making everyday living just a little easier comes with making a communal space a little more enticing. This can present extra challenges so we are here to help you put the puzzle together. If you are looking into a minor or major remodel, we’d love to come for a free consultation and help you decide what is best for you and your needs.