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.

Downstairs Living Room with Fireplace. Home built by Cameo Homes Inc. in Tuhaye, Park City, Utah. Park City Showcase of Homes 2013. Utah Home Builder, Cameo Homes Inc. www.cameohomesinc.com. Photos by Phillip K. Erickson.

Photo Credit: Lincoln Barbour Photo. Interior Design: Kim Hagstette, Maven Interiors. This media room was designed with all the bells and whistles (hidden). The dark walls, ceiling and motorized blackout draperies help set the tone. The television wall was custom designed to conceal all the speakers, subwoofer and AV equipment behind twisted felt panels. All the high definition sound comes through without any distraction from visual clutter. The wall was custom design by Maven Interiors and the custom felt textile is by Moufelt.

What do you do when you have a small narrow kitchen with high ceilings? you build up! in this kitchen we used every inch of space. creating a u shaped kitchen with a narrow island in the center and cabinets all the way up the 10 foot ceiling. The white shaker cabinets, white quartz counter tops and white beveled subway tiles, all help create a clean and minimalist look that does not cramp the space.

Costa Christ
Kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Blonde woods and brass-trimmed pendants are beautiful accents for this high contrast palette. Matte black and white kitchens are a sophisticated and timeless trend that’s easy to achieve with Cambria quartz countertops and Benjamin Moore paints in Classic Gray, Simply White and Black Ink hues. This space features an Ella™ kitchen island and backsplash and White Cliff™ perimeter counters. A spacious butler’s pantry offers a sleek storage and prep space. Get the full home tour in Cambria Style magazine.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Contemporary white high gloss Crystal cabinets with Cambria white cliff counter tops is striking. Adding black painted walls and large scale black tile floors make it even more dramatic. But with the addition of orange light fixtures and colorful artwork, the kitchen is over the top with energy. With no upper cabinets only floating shelves for display the base cabinets are well planned for each functional work zone. a. The “Cooking Zone” hosts the 60” range top (with hood) and is the heart of the kitchen. The ovens, coffee system and speed oven are located outside of this zone and use the island/snack bar as their landing space. b. The “Prep Zone” includes the refrigerator, freezer, sink, and dishwasher c. The “Entertainment Zones” has a separate sink and dishwasher, the wine cooler and beverage center. A desk off to the side of the kitchen with a large roll up tambour to keep any mess hidden. Also their robot vacuums have a charging station under the files drawers in the toe kick. NKBA 3rd Place Large Kitchen

GAIA ENGINEERED SOLID POLYMER CORE COMPOSITE (eSPC) - BLACK SERIES Multi-ply eSPC features the best quality of embossing with depth and definition that is state of the art. The level of definition and quality in the texture and laser aligned film makes this the most realistic luxury synthetic floor to date and it's proprietary composition is industry leading. Gaia Engineered Multi-ply Solid Polymer Core Composite (eSPC) combines advantages of both SPC and new engineered Multi-ply luxury With IXPE cushioned backing, Gaia eSPC provides: a quieter, warmer vinyl flooring and, surpasses luxury standards for multilevel estates. Waterproof and guaranteed in all rooms in your home and all regular commercial environments. UV Cured Ceramic Bead Finish With Stain Resistance This protective finish is a UV cured ceramic bead finish that is scratch resistant and stain resistant. Wear Layer at 0.5mm/20mil Thickness This wear layer is 20 mil to ensure longevity and residential and commercial environments. Laser-Aligned High Definition Film With Realistic Texture The decorative film has multi-layer depth in color to provide a similar realism to real wood. Stabilizing eSPC Layer This SPC component layer is a proprietary composition to maintain the benefits of an SPC but provide stability necessary on a thick plank. High Density Skeleton Core This core provides luxury thermal and luxury sound insulation with a high tensile strength. The bone structure keeps insulating pockets strong and light. Balancing Solid Polymer Layer This is a proprietary composition layer that combined with the SPC component layer provides leading waterproof stability for a 10mm product. High Density IXPE Antimicrobial Underlayment The underlayment is a high density antimicrobial virgin vinyl padding to provide warmth and a luxury feel.

Here's what our clients from this project had to say: We LOVE coming home to our newly remodeled and beautiful 41 West designed and built home! It was such a pleasure working with BJ Barone and especially Paul Widhalm and the entire 41 West team. Everyone in the organization is incredibly professional and extremely responsive. Personal service and strong attention to the client and details are hallmarks of the 41 West construction experience. Paul was with us every step of the way as was Ed Jordon (Gary David Designs), a 41 West highly recommended designer. When we were looking to build our dream home, we needed a builder who listened and understood how to bring our ideas and dreams to life. They succeeded this with the utmost honesty, integrity and quality! 41 West has exceeded our expectations every step of the way, and we have been overwhelmingly impressed in all aspects of the project. It has been an absolute pleasure working with such devoted, conscientious, professionals with expertise in their specific fields. Paul sets the tone for excellence and this level of dedication carries through the project. We so appreciated their commitment to perfection...So much so that we also hired them for two more remodeling projects. We love our home and would highly recommend 41 West to anyone considering building or remodeling a home.

Example of a large trendy galley kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored backsplash

double sink custom vanity. white glossy flat panel. Floating mirror. Two medicine cabinets, sconces.
Large minimalist master porcelain tile and white floor bathroom photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Shelley Metcalf & Glenn Cormier Photographers
Example of a country galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Northern Michigan is the ultimate getaway destination with serene views and abundance of outdoor recreation. This remote Up North house offers nothing short of that. With the nearest major town almost 45 minutes away, it was essential this vacation home offered all the amenities for entertainment and relaxation. Spire worked with the client to create the perfect lake house retreat with comfort and convenience during any season or weather. The living room with an attached game room is a versatile space that offers endless entertainment. A 65” TV was installed over the fireplace in the custom stone wall. The adjustable mount allows the TV to lower for comfortable viewing from either the couch or pool table. A pair of Meridian Audio DSP7200 custom color matched speakers equipped with a Meridian Audio 218 digital controller were strategically installed on each side of the fireplace. The floor-standing speakers compliment the natural stone while providing astonishingly life-like sound, perfect for streaming live concerts. The powerful audio extends to the upper level of the home. Spire installed B&W 700 series bookshelf speakers in the executive office and a Triad custom speaker bar in the master bedroom. These speakers are ideal for smaller rooms, while elevating the TV experience. The large living room windows offer beautiful lake views and ample lighting. Lutron Palladiom shades were installed to easily control the natural light in the living room, master bedroom and bathroom. They are custom designed and fully automated to let in the morning sun or achieve partial shading or complete privacy. Whether set on a schedule or controlled from an iPad, the shades operate quietly and seamlessly. The technology was designed to be enjoyed just as much indoors as outdoors. With the whole home audio system, high-quality sound can flow throughout the indoor rooms as well as the outdoor patio. While the location may be remote, Spire ensured the WiFi and network connection is strong both throughout the yard and inside the home. A Lutron HomeWorks QS system integrates the control of all the interior and exterior lighting including motion sensing for the exterior pathway. Since this is not a permanent residence, a control and security system was very important. A personalized Savant system was integrated for full home control of lighting, climate, entertainment and security from anywhere with a smart device . This includes the ability to control the multiple landscape light zones with timed scenes. The Doorbird cameras and chimes with the integration of camera feeds into the Savant Control provides remote communication with visitors at any of the exterior doors. Remote access also allows rebooting of all essential systems from any location.

Tyler Lewis Photography High Camp Home Mountain Home Center
Large mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with yellow walls and a stone fireplace

This modern home theater recalls classic movie houses with the duo-tone color scheme and lighting, with custom upholstered theater style seating, high definition projection and intelligent control panel it's the perfect setting for watching a film, or two!

Our clients purchased this 1950 ranch style cottage knowing it needed to be updated. They fell in love with the location, being within walking distance to White Rock Lake. They wanted to redesign the layout of the house to improve the flow and function of the spaces while maintaining a cozy feel. They wanted to explore the idea of opening up the kitchen and possibly even relocating it. A laundry room and mudroom space needed to be added to that space, as well. Both bathrooms needed a complete update and they wanted to enlarge the master bath if possible, to have a double vanity and more efficient storage. With two small boys and one on the way, they ideally wanted to add a 3rd bedroom to the house within the existing footprint but were open to possibly designing an addition, if that wasn’t possible. In the end, we gave them everything they wanted, without having to put an addition on to the home. They absolutely love the openness of their new kitchen and living spaces and we even added a small bar! They have their much-needed laundry room and mudroom off the back patio, so their “drop zone” is out of the way. We were able to add storage and double vanity to the master bathroom by enclosing what used to be a coat closet near the entryway and using that sq. ft. in the bathroom. The functionality of this house has completely changed and has definitely changed the lives of our clients for the better!

Large Deluxe 2,000 Square Foot Heater The deluxe 34 DVL gas fireplace insert is the most convenient and beautiful way to provide warmth to medium and large sized homes. This insert has the same heating capacity as the 33 DVI gas insert but features the award-winning Ember-Fyre™ burner technology and high definition log set, along with fully automatic operation with the GreenSmart™ 2 handheld remote. The 34 DVL gas insert comes standard with powerful convection fans, along with interior top and rear *Accent Lights, which can be utilized to illuminate the interior of the fireplace with a warm glow, even when the fire is off. The 34 DVL gas insert features the Ember-Fyre™ burner and high-definition log set, or the Dancing-Fyre™ burner with your choice of log set. It also offers a variety of face designs and fireback options to choose from.

This clean profile, streamlined kitchen embodies today's transitional look. The white painted perimeter cabinetry contrasts the grey stained island, while perfectly blending cool and warm tones.