After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change.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.”

Wall cabinet facings, recessed shelf, brown counter top, and flooring all done in Neolith porcelain.
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Megelaine Images
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Make a statement with this lantern/address post combination. The Walpole products featured in this installation are an Oxford Lantern Post with a sign bracket and a 10" x 18" Double-sided Mahogany Sign with gold numbers. The lantern is from the owner's own collection.

This 1970s ranch style home was in need of a whole revival in the kitchen including a complete new orientation in the space. In order to solve the problem of inadequate passage at the garage door, laundry machines were relocated to another area of the home, and a new "drop zone" for mail and phones was created. A dated soffit was removed and the cooking area was relocated to a longer - focal point wall that allows the cook to be more included while entertaining. An updated rustic and simplified craftsman style was chosen to compliment the other elements of stone and beams in the rest of the home. Another great kitchen for a wonderful family. Photos by David Cobb Photography.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard concrete paver garden path in Boston.

Our client reached out with a problem for us to solve. Part of his property was an eyesore and difficult to keep up. A tree had fallen into his overgrown pond, it had been leaking for ages, and it had become a major problem for this homeowner. Mike Hall (Design and Construction manager) saw the land and with the help of Fitz's team and developed this concept of a multi-level waterfall that pours gracefully into the large basin. The challenge was to use the existing layout and keep the feel of the beautiful forest that surrounded it. This project was a chance to push the limit on scale. We were able to build a large water feature that was complex and build a sustainable healthy pond at the bottom. With over 30,000 gallons of water, our team custom built a filtration system to keep the water clean and healthy for the fish that call it home. The gravel suction grid for filtration worked like a charm. Then added a Used an external pressure filter, to keep the water extra clear. Our team cleared the whole pond, saved fish, fixed the drainage issues, lined the pond with a massive liner. Then we brought in 50 tons of moss rock boulders. Saved the original bridges and made them stronger and sturdy. Created a look that was natural to the forest surrounding it. This was an exciting project for the FFP team and we are extremely proud of how it turned out!

Example of a cottage kitchen design in Atlanta

New Fireplace and bookcases Photo: Dale Lange
Example of an arts and crafts living room design in Seattle

Removing the kitchen walls required a structural alternative to the existing load-bearing ridge beam. Installation of eight 4x8 Douglas Fir rafter ties solved the problem and provided an aesthetic windfall. The new rafter ties also provided mounting surface for the extensive LED Up and Down lighting. We designed a large floating soffit to anchor the kitchen without walls. Suspended from the rafter ties above the island, the soffit also provides a surface to mount unique LED task lighting in this otherwise high-ceilinged space.

Lighting is one of the main advantages of this great kitchen. Of course, the large windows in the kitchen allow daylight to easily enter the room, but in the evening, the owners of this apartment cannot do without effective artificial lighting. Unlike most prestigious kitchens with contemporary design styles, you can't see many different types of lighting here. Our interior designers solved the lighting problem with the help of original beautiful large pendant lamps. Make your kitchen as beautiful, stylish, and functional as this one together with our outstanding interior designers!

Photo: Lauren Andersen © 2019 Houzz
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in San Francisco

Laura Hull
Inspiration for a large timeless master bedroom remodel in Los Angeles with no fireplace and multicolored walls

Removing the kitchen walls required a structural alternative to the existing load-bearing ridge beam. Installation of eight 4x8 Douglas Fir rafter ties solved the problem and provided an aesthetic windfall. The new rafter ties also provided mounting surface for the extensive LED Up and Down lighting. We designed a large floating soffit to anchor the kitchen without walls. Suspended from the rafter ties above the island, the soffit also provides a surface to mount unique LED task lighting in this otherwise high-ceilinged space.

Example of a tuscan 3/4 mosaic tile floor and white floor freestanding bathtub design in San Diego with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Inspiration for a small contemporary rock and partial sun side yard river rock landscaping in Boston for spring.

This modest brick Rambler was dark in the Winter. What we thought was a lighting problem to solve, was really that of spacial arrangement and organization. The clutter with no place to store anything, made this interior seem so dark, and our interior design solution of custom built-ins made the space feel lighter and organized, along with adding a few extra lighting fixtures to the mix! North Seattle House - Compact Space Built-Ins. Belltown Design. Photography by Paula McHugh

• Before - 2,300 square feet • After – 3,800 square feet • Remodel of a 1930’s vacation cabin on a steep, lakeside lot • Asian-influenced Arts and Crafts style architecture compliments the owner’s art and furniture collection • A harmonious design blending stained wood, rich stone and natural fibers • The creation of an upper floor solved access problems while adding space for a grand entry, office and media room • The new staircase, with its Japanese tansu-style cabinet and widened lower sculpture display steps, forms a partitioning wall for the two-story library

Design Credit: Mary Michael O'Hare (MMO Designs) Photo Credit: Emily O'Brien
Home design - traditional home design idea in Boston