http://www.houzz.com/pro/scottlawrencephoto/scott-lawrence-photography

Photography: Gerardine and Jude Vargas
This is an example of a mid-sized mid-century modern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone water fountain landscape in Phoenix for fall.

David Duncan Livingston
Living room library - transitional living room library idea in San Francisco with blue walls

When I saw these floorplans hit my desk, I was immediately WOWED! Chris sure knows how to make a tight lot feel spacious and open! The courtyard garage and stacked front porches really welcome you home. Inside, Miken Builders executed every detail of class and elegance from the kitchen with hidden pantry to the master with zero entry shower to the cabana with built in shower & exterior fireplace. And for the homeowners grandkids, a super cool “merkids” Jack and Jill shower. Too many fun details to list in this beauty. What a great pleasure to help this couple, turned neighbors, turned great friends!

When I saw these floorplans hit my desk, I was immediately WOWED! Chris sure knows how to make a tight lot feel spacious and open! The courtyard garage and stacked front porches really welcome you home. Inside, Miken Builders executed every detail of class and elegance from the kitchen with hidden pantry to the master with zero entry shower to the cabana with built in shower & exterior fireplace. And for the homeowners grandkids, a super cool “merkids” Jack and Jill shower. Too many fun details to list in this beauty. What a great pleasure to help this couple, turned neighbors, turned great friends!

When I saw these floorplans hit my desk, I was immediately WOWED! Chris sure knows how to make a tight lot feel spacious and open! The courtyard garage and stacked front porches really welcome you home. Inside, Miken Builders executed every detail of class and elegance from the kitchen with hidden pantry to the master with zero entry shower to the cabana with built in shower & exterior fireplace. And for the homeowners grandkids, a super cool “merkids” Jack and Jill shower. Too many fun details to list in this beauty. What a great pleasure to help this couple, turned neighbors, turned great friends!

When I saw these floorplans hit my desk, I was immediately WOWED! Chris sure knows how to make a tight lot feel spacious and open! The courtyard garage and stacked front porches really welcome you home. Inside, Miken Builders executed every detail of class and elegance from the kitchen with hidden pantry to the master with zero entry shower to the cabana with built in shower & exterior fireplace. And for the homeowners grandkids, a super cool “merkids” Jack and Jill shower. Too many fun details to list in this beauty. What a great pleasure to help this couple, turned neighbors, turned great friends!

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz An eclectic array of artwork and layered Bokhara rugs create a comfortable living space. Weiss put together the gallery wall starting with one piece and worked outward. "It's like putting together a puzzle," she says. One of the most significant changes made to the building is the addition of windows and doors along the back wall. Constructed from steel and double-pained glass, the windows are at once referential and thoroughly modern. Windows: A&S Window Associates, Inc.

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

Stripped of its original charm with sagging floors and water leaks, this 1900 row house was prime for a full renovation. While the staircase and marble fireplace are original, everything from the white oak flooring, crown, applied, and base moldings, to the archways and brass door hardware is new; yet they all feel original to the house. Other projects included removing soffits and tucking away randomly placed support beams and posts, relocating and expanding the kitchen, renovating each bathroom – and adding a new one, upgrading all the mechanical, electric and plumbing systems, removing a fireplace, and regrading the back patio for proper drainage and added greenery. The project is a perfect study of juxtaposing new and old, classic and modern. Photography Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a timeless exterior home remodel in New York

Complete renovation of a 1900s Queen Anne Victorian kitchen in the tiny town of Moulton, TX. Interior Design by Sarah Stacey Interior Design -Photo by Erin Williamson

A guest room anyone would want to stay in with a iron chandelier and wall gallery above the king size bed with hotel bed linens. Graphic Executions Design Studio

After many years of having no outdoor living space and dealing with overgrown plants and trees the owner’s decided it was time to revitalize their backyard. They knew they wanted a large sitting area with a wood burning fireplace, room for outdoor dining and a place for the grill. A connecting walk would be needed to get guests from the driveway to the outdoor space. Last but not least, the owners wanted the ability to and a reason for stepping out of their unusable patio doors. The designers decided from the start the fireplace would be the prominent feature and focal point for the entire project. A large fireplace accented with sitting walls and arbors was positioned to anchor the corner of the patio. Stone was chosen to set the fireplace apart as its own element. Brick was used for the sitting walls and brick accents were added to the fireplace to tie into the house. An inlaid herringbone brick detail was incorporated above the stone mantle to simulate artwork which is typically found above indoor fireplaces. Flagstone was used for the wall caps and hearth to match the patio and thicker flagstone tread stock was used for the mantle and top. The arbors were added to visually balance the pergolas at the opposite side of the patio. For the patio the designers created a series of offset spaces to help subtly divide the space into two areas, sitting and dining. Two large existing trees also help dictate the shape of the patio. Cut flagstone was chosen for the surface bordered by a double soldier edge of brick. The brick edging also surrounds a decorative gravel area topped with an urn fountain which provides a secondary focal point and the sound of water. Large flagstone treads were used for the steps leading to the previously unused patio doors. Opposite the fireplace a short walk leads to a square transition area with a statue chosen by the owner. The statue provides a strong focal point when entering from the driveway. A longer walk leads from this space along the house to the driveway. The pergolas and arbors were designed by the landscape designer as part of this project but were ultimately contracted separately by the owner. The larger square pergola was intended as an area for a bench or two separate from the main patio. The longer pergola was added later in the design phase to help provide shade to the interior of the house. The arbors at the fireplace were added to balance out the wood elements at the opposite side while adding additional architectural interest to the fireplace. While this project was predominantly hardscaping, planting and lighting were also incorporated into the design. Several large existing trees were retained and serious of smaller understory trees were added to help enclose the space. The designer’s took advantage of the large trees to place down lights on the branches to achieve a moonlight effect at night. Additional lighting was used on the pergola, to accent focal points, to up light the smaller trees and around the patio. Massed planting of Japanese forest grass provides bold foliage color for the shady garden. A mulch path leads off behind the fireplace to another garden and a secluded area ideal for a bench or small table and chairs. Additional plantings were added along the rear property line to screen and unsightly fence. This project has obviously completely changed the way the owners use their backyard. They now have a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors with the use of the patio doors. The large patio allows for entertaining small gatherings outdoors for the first time. The fireplace has definitely become the primary gathering place for family and friends.

Upon stepping into this master bedroom for the first time a few design issues immediately struck me. One being the bed placement against what was the original fireplace in the room. The second was the wall and area rug color and the general blandness of the yellow especially against the white of the original paneled door and window moldings. Thirdly, the general fussiness and extensive amount of stuff everywhere. There needed to a more organized way to stay on top of the day to day clutter that accumulates regularly. Photo: Ward Roberts

Amy Bartlam
Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Los Angeles with blue walls

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized 1950s terrazzo floor, white floor and exposed beam eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Transitional home gym photo in Calgary

Scott DuBose Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Francisco with quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island, white countertops, a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets and gray cabinets