Remarkable focal points in each area aim to capture the personality of the homeowners – An elegant vintage chandelier that draws the gaze when sitting in the parlor, baroque hand made paintings that add a French colonial charm to the dining room and a stunning marble fireplace with a pattern that just takes the viewer’s breath away and adds glamour to the living room. A lighter toned color brightens up the entire space while creating a rustic and comfortable decor overall. Comfy Shag rugs on the sofas ensure the family dog has a cozy spot to snuggle in. A vintage area rug with hand-selected accessories in the cabinets around the fireplace finish out a gorgeous and welcoming room. Dining area chairs with a pop of blue around a sturdy round oak table personify energy yet are classically elegant. A lot of time, effort and of course, patience went into this 4-year project. But the end result is a balanced, harmonious space that reflects the personality of the people who use it, which is what good Design is all about.

To accomplish all of her design goals though, Jenny needed help. “I don’t have the patience to measure or figure out dimensions. Plus, I have a toddler and a full-time job at a tech start up. I just wanted someone to do it all for me,” she explains. Originally, she and her sister used IKEA’s design service, but found that process time consuming and confusing. In fact, the IKEA planner had issues with IKEA’s software during the design process, which delayed the project. “So, I found IKD and immediately signed up,” she says, adding that she worked with IKD on designs at night while her baby was asleep. And while the design process took months, for that reason, Jenny concludes that, “Paulina at IKD was amazing, was so responsive and answered all my questions!”

This small dining room bursts with a big personality, marked by its vibrant apple green walls that immediately draw the eye. These walls set a lively backdrop, contrasting beautifully with other elements in the space. Central to the room is a bespoke piece of furniture featuring a stone top, serving both as a practical dining surface and a stylish focal point. Adding to the room’s charm is the ceiling, impressively high and adorned with reclaimed panels that introduce texture and a sense of history. The combination of these bold colours, unique furnishings, and textured ceiling makes this dining room exceptionally special and inviting.

For more information, visit our website https://platinumpools.com One of the more popular materials for building luxury pool decks, the travertine is known for its beautiful and hard-wearing characteristics since ancient times. Nowadays, pool builders depend on the material’s porous nature helping it to be more heat resistant and cool to the touch. Just like the Belgard Paver, travertine absorbs water immediately, is slip-resistant and handles all types of weather conditions.

A young couple that vacations annually in the Mediterranean retained MHG Greens&Gardens to transform their Dorado Beach East home into a Mediterranean villa. With red roof tiles, soft flat stucco walls, plenty of clean lines, a portico, and ample grounds, MHG Greens&Gardens immediately saw the potential to personalize the couple’s contemporary Caribbean home according to their longtime dream. After transplanting the pre-existing vegetation (including three species of palm and ferns) to a more suitable location on the property, MHG Greens&Gardens redesigned and planted the front lawn with two 9 feet tall Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), rimmed with a single low ball of Eugenia myrtifolium; and three Eugenia myrtifolium topiaries (three balls connected by a central bare stem); and an “Ayer, hoy y siempre” shrub (Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)), a small evergreen shrub with colorful blooms ranging from purple to white according to their stage of development.

My House Design/Build Team | www.myhousedesignbuild.com | 604-694-6873 | Duy Nguyen Photography -------------------------------------------------------Right from the beginning it was evident that this Coquitlam Renovation was unique. It’s first impression was memorable as immediately after entering the front door, just past the dining table, there was a tree growing in the middle of home! Upon further inspection of the space it became apparent that this home had undergone several alterations during its lifetime... The homeowners unabashedness towards colour and willingness to embrace the home’s mid-century architecture made this home one of a kind. The existing T&G cedar ceiling, dropped beams, and ample glazing naturally leant itself to a mid-century space.

Living Room in Old Paint Drive | Room Type: Entry / Game Room | Project Name: Old Paint Trail | Key Feature: A redesigned front entry game room that serves as a welcoming focal point immediately visible when entering the home. Challenge: The home featured beautiful desert views but felt dark and underutilized. The front space also needed a clear purpose while making a strong first impression since it is the first area seen upon entering the home. Solution: The space was lightened up and transformed into a functional game room that feels both visually inviting and practical for the family. The redesign created a beautiful focal area that enhances the home’s entry experience. Timeline: Completed in 2018

This stunning master bedroom is a true sanctuary of luxury and comfort, showcasing exquisite pieces from Caracole. The focal point is the magnificent Fontainebleau Platform King Upholstered Bed by Caracole, which immediately draws the eye with its elegant design and plush upholstery, promising restful nights. Complementing the bed's sophistication is the Fontainebleau Smoke Double Dresser, offering ample storage with a chic, mirrored finish that adds a touch of glamour to the space. Flanking the bed, the Perfect Gem Nightstands by Caracole provide convenient bedside surfaces, featuring a beautiful design that enhances the room's refined aesthetic.

This bathroom, originally built in 1970 needed some updating but it was important to the client to keep the same flare and design style of the home. The original floor plan had a small 36”x36” shower and dangerous sunken bathtub in the middle of the floor plan. With supply lines for the shower and bathtub fixed in concrete, the design challenge then became to keep the original layout, enlarge the shower and make the space more functional. The new design was far from ordinary, the etched glass shower door with it’s “rolling hills” top, as the client like to call it, made this shower a focal point. You can see the elegant detail added to the tub surround and shower. Inside the shower is an 8 port Kohler DTV shower unit equipped with body sprays and a rain shower head which makes you feel like it’s a day at the spa. The DTV unit is an advanced digital platform that wraps water, sound, light and steam together in a seamless and customizable system. As we wrapped up this project it was evident we were able to sustain the personality of this home while making it functional, interesting and well designed. *For before pictures of this projects and others visit www.CressKitchenBath.com or follow us on Facebook.

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Atlanta

Photo: Faith Towers Media © 2016 Houzz
Example of an eclectic exterior home design in New York

Richard and Monica of Huntley, IL, needed to make better use of their kitchen as well as more storage for pots, pans, and countertop appliances. Their space was laid out unconventionally, making cooking a challenge. A triangular nook held their refrigerator, hard-to-reach cabinets, and a cramped pantry. They needed to find a solution, so they searched Facebook for home remodeling companies in their area. Soon they found Advance Design Studio’s profile and were immediately impressed. “Advance Design was the first and last studio I contacted,” Richard said. Richard called Advance Design and felt an immediate connection with Project Designer Nicole. She was knowledgeable and thorough and offered many unique solutions to their kitchen layout problem. A week later, Nicole came out to their home to meet the couple. They talked about their kitchen remodeling project and told Nicole what they wanted in their dream kitchen. Nicole saw that the kitchen had weird angles that hindered the cabinets you could use. She knew that designing a space that met both the client’s needs and dreams would be challenging. Nicole worked with Richard and Monica to create an innovative design. When the couple came out to Advance Design Studio in Gilberts, they were blown away by the 3D illustrations Nicole showed them. “I incorporated a hidden pantry cabinet to not only be a cool feature but also allowed me to square off the walls to gain more cabinet space,” Nicole said. The hidden pantry added storage and squared off the strange triangular nook, creating a more traditional and functional kitchen layout. With the layout problems solved, they worked together to select materials. Richard and Monica wanted something brighter than their previous dark brown kitchen. They chose a combination of blue and white cabinetry with a white subway tile backsplash and white quartz countertops. The design was finalized, the materials were selected. It was time to begin construction. One fear most homeowners have when beginning a home remodel is dust. Advance Design uses BuildClean HEPA filters to eliminate dust throughout the house while construction is going on. Project Manager Jason and his crew created temporary walls and cleaned up after every day of work. “We were very impressed with how clean and organized the crew kept things while the remodeling process was underway,” Richard said. The result is just what Richard and Monica envisioned when they began the process. Richard’s love for cooking can be explored through all-new Thermador appliances, featuring an easy-to-use induction cooktop, built-in double oven, and spacious refrigerator. Matte black hardware contrasts the bright white backsplash, countertops, and cabinets, while the stunning blue cabinets complement the dark hardwood floor and stainless-steel appliances. The dual pendant light fixtures over the reconfigured island are eye-catching and add necessary lighting. This Huntley kitchen renovation turned out better than Richard and Monica hoped. Their experience with Advance Design’s Common Sense Remodeling process has them thinking about other projects they could do in the future. Our award-winning design team would love to create a beautiful, functional, and spacious place for you and your family. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating your home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-665-1711 or schedule an appointment.

We designed an exterior space that provided them with privacy from neighbors and visiting guests. The indoor patio is located between the living room and guest bedroom, which gave us the idea to create a zen concept with water fountains, hanging chairs and white partitions with lots of orchids and flowers. Rolando Diaz Photographer

Landscaping was carefully integrated with the design of the house.
Large 1950s black two-story brick gable roof idea in Seattle

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

THEME A passion for sports that never grows up, never grows old and never tires is at the heart of this room. Designed as a den/office for a radio sports talent who’s life work revolves around stats, scores, free agents and athletes, the room ensures that its owner is surrounded by the teams and games he loves, with room for storage, a desk, a computer station and some personal accents. FOCUS Four baseball stadium seats procured from the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit, repainted with a faux wood grain look and personalized with each member of the family’s name give the room a true sports feel. Favorite team jerseys as well as team logos — painted tan to match the overall look of the room — highlight the space. Large wall towers divide the room into three distinct spaces. The central area houses two TV monitors and a hidden computer system, while the other two areas display oversized family photos in sepia tone prints and custom, matching frames. The towers, which provide storage, were purchased at Pottery Barn, and already in the room. To make them more functional, height was added to bring them to the ceiling, and the room’s crown molding is taken around each tower’s top to create a seamless flow. STORAGE The creation of the towers gives the room plenty of useful storage, including display areas, multiple shelves, and a place to hide computer accessories and office supplies. GROWTH The room can easily change over time as new sports memorabilia and family photos are added or switched out. SAFETY All wires for the monitors and computer system are hidden within the wall and inside the storage towers. Power running to digital frames dedicated to particular teams is hidden within the walls.