Trendy backyard concrete paver patio photo in San Francisco with no cover

Photos by Langdon Clay
Mid-sized elegant front porch photo in San Francisco with a roof extension and decking

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.”

Michael J. Lee Photography
Large ornate medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, custom tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, gray walls, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

Our clients house was built in 2012, so it was not that outdated, it was just dark. The clients wanted to lighten the kitchen and create something that was their own, using more unique products. The master bath needed to be updated and they wanted the upstairs game room to be more functional for their family. The original kitchen was very dark and all brown. The cabinets were stained dark brown, the countertops were a dark brown and black granite, with a beige backsplash. We kept the dark cabinets but lightened everything else. A new translucent frosted glass pantry door was installed to soften the feel of the kitchen. The main architecture in the kitchen stayed the same but the clients wanted to change the coffee bar into a wine bar, so we removed the upper cabinet door above a small cabinet and installed two X-style wine storage shelves instead. An undermount farm sink was installed with a 23” tall main faucet for more functionality. We replaced the chandelier over the island with a beautiful Arhaus Poppy large antique brass chandelier. Two new pendants were installed over the sink from West Elm with a much more modern feel than before, not to mention much brighter. The once dark backsplash was now a bright ocean honed marble mosaic 2”x4” a top the QM Calacatta Miel quartz countertops. We installed undercabinet lighting and added over-cabinet LED tape strip lighting to add even more light into the kitchen. We basically gutted the Master bathroom and started from scratch. We demoed the shower walls, ceiling over tub/shower, demoed the countertops, plumbing fixtures, shutters over the tub and the wall tile and flooring. We reframed the vaulted ceiling over the shower and added an access panel in the water closet for a digital shower valve. A raised platform was added under the tub/shower for a shower slope to existing drain. The shower floor was Carrara Herringbone tile, accented with Bianco Venatino Honed marble and Metro White glossy ceramic 4”x16” tile on the walls. We then added a bench and a Kohler 8” rain showerhead to finish off the shower. The walk-in shower was sectioned off with a frameless clear anti-spot treated glass. The tub was not important to the clients, although they wanted to keep one for resale value. A Japanese soaker tub was installed, which the kids love! To finish off the master bath, the walls were painted with SW Agreeable Gray and the existing cabinets were painted SW Mega Greige for an updated look. Four Pottery Barn Mercer wall sconces were added between the new beautiful Distressed Silver leaf mirrors instead of the three existing over-mirror vanity bars that were originally there. QM Calacatta Miel countertops were installed which definitely brightened up the room! Originally, the upstairs game room had nothing but a built-in bar in one corner. The clients wanted this to be more of a media room but still wanted to have a kitchenette upstairs. We had to remove the original plumbing and electrical and move it to where the new cabinets were. We installed 16’ of cabinets between the windows on one wall. Plank and Mill reclaimed barn wood plank veneers were used on the accent wall in between the cabinets as a backing for the wall mounted TV above the QM Calacatta Miel countertops. A kitchenette was installed to one end, housing a sink and a beverage fridge, so the clients can still have the best of both worlds. LED tape lighting was added above the cabinets for additional lighting. The clients love their updated rooms and feel that house really works for their family now. Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging

Warm grey tones create the backdrop for this cozy living room with a palette of blue and green accents. The painting anchors the room setting a quiet, peaceful mood. John Granen Photography

Barry Halkin
Example of a country three-story stone exterior home design in Philadelphia

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

© Francis Dzikowski/2016
Walk-in closet - small contemporary gender-neutral bamboo floor walk-in closet idea in New York with open cabinets and light wood cabinets

Nat Rea
Small cottage built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office photo in Providence with gray walls

The functional program called for a generous living/gathering room, kitchen & dining, a screened porch, and attendant utility functions. Instead of a segregated bedroom, the owner desired a sleeping loft contiguous with the main living space. The loft opens out to a covered porch with views across the marsh. Phillip Spears Photographer

Rather than starting with an outcome in mind, this 1,400 square foot residence began from a polemic place - exploring shared conviction regarding the concentrated power of living with a smaller footprint. From the gabled silhouette to passive ventilation, the home captures the nostalgia for the past with the sustainable practices of the future. While the exterior materials contrast a calm, minimal palette with the sleek lines of the gabled silhouette, the interior spaces embody a playful, artistic spirit. From the hand painted De Gournay wallpaper in the master bath to the rugged texture of the over-grouted limestone and Portuguese cobblestones, the home is an experience that encapsulates the unexpected and the timeless.

For this project, the initial inspiration for our clients came from seeing a modern industrial design featuring barnwood and metals in our showroom. Once our clients saw this, we were commissioned to completely renovate their outdated and dysfunctional kitchen and our in-house design team came up with this new this space that incorporated old world aesthetics with modern farmhouse functions and sensibilities. Now our clients have a beautiful, one-of-a-kind kitchen which is perfecting for hosting and spending time in. Modern Farm House kitchen built in Milan Italy. Imported barn wood made and set in gun metal trays mixed with chalk board finish doors and steel framed wired glass upper cabinets. Industrial meets modern farm house

Molly Winters Photography
Example of a mid-sized 1950s single-wall ceramic tile eat-in kitchen design in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This Chicago North Shore transitional style kitchen incorporates mixed woods which delineate various kitchen functions. The dark stained wood barn doors provide easy unencumbered access to the walk-in pantry. Norman Sizemore - photographer

Ward Jewell, AIA was asked to design a comfortable one-story stone and wood pool house that was "barn-like" in keeping with the owner’s gentleman farmer concept. Thus, Mr. Jewell was inspired to create an elegant New England Stone Farm House designed to provide an exceptional environment for them to live, entertain, cook and swim in the large reflection lap pool. Mr. Jewell envisioned a dramatic vaulted great room with hand selected 200 year old reclaimed wood beams and 10 foot tall pocketing French doors that would connect the house to a pool, deck areas, loggia and lush garden spaces, thus bringing the outdoors in. A large cupola “lantern clerestory” in the main vaulted ceiling casts a natural warm light over the graceful room below. The rustic walk-in stone fireplace provides a central focal point for the inviting living room lounge. Important to the functionality of the pool house are a chef’s working farm kitchen with open cabinetry, free-standing stove and a soapstone topped central island with bar height seating. Grey washed barn doors glide open to reveal a vaulted and beamed quilting room with full bath and a vaulted and beamed library/guest room with full bath that bookend the main space. The private garden expanded and evolved over time. After purchasing two adjacent lots, the owners decided to redesign the garden and unify it by eliminating the tennis court, relocating the pool and building an inspired "barn". The concept behind the garden’s new design came from Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello with its wandering paths, orchards, and experimental vegetable garden. As a result this small organic farm, was born. Today the farm produces more than fifty varieties of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers; many of which are rare and hard to find locally. The farm also grows a wide variety of fruits including plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, peaches, guavas, avocados (Haas, Fuerte and Reed), olives, pomegranates, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and ten different types of citrus. The remaining areas consist of drought-tolerant sweeps of rosemary, lavender, rockrose, and sage all of which attract butterflies and dueling hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Laura Hull Photography. Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock. Landscape Design: Laurie Lewis Design. General Contractor: Martin Perry Premier General Contractors

Transitional formal living room photo in Miami with beige walls and a ribbon fireplace

Inspiration for a timeless light wood floor multiuse home gym remodel in DC Metro with blue walls

Drew Rice, Red Pants Studio
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Seattle with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, subway tile backsplash and an island