"In this project I used Malibu French Oak from the Alta Vista Collection. It was the perfect color to tie together the dark, rich stain that was used on the kitchen island, banister and built-ins. I wanted to keep the floor light and fresh, and this particular wood nicely incorporates all of the wood tones. " - Heather Petersen See more about this project here: http://hallmarkfloors.com/mountainviewproject/ Photo by: @prettyink_ (find her on Instagram)

Photo: Rachel Loewen © 2019 Houzz
Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in Chicago

What a fun project to work on with an artist and her husband. We collaborated to create a unique kitchen that expands the clients storage and cooking space. Subtle details that make a bold statement. It was through the clients interviewing process that they choose to go with Signature Designs Kitchen Bath over other large firms because of the personal collaboration connection. We created a curved island that resembles a piano while it maximized there countertop space it left plenty of room for them to entertain many guest in their nook.

Example of a transitional freestanding desk carpeted study room design in New York

Builder picked us (Showhomes) after interviewing 5 other staging companies, we staged the entry, living room, kitchen, dining room, master bedroom and master bathroom and even placed some outdoor furniture by the swimming pool. We had photos taken by a professional photographer which the listing realtor put up on the MLS when the house was listed. House sold in under 4 hours! Photos by Jennifer Montalvo

Designed by Michelle Stoots of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Fredericksburg, VA this French Country kitchen design features Ultracraft cabinets in 2 door styles and finishes. The perimeter cabinets are done in the Plymouth door style in Maple with an Arctic White with Brown Linen Glaze finish. The island cabinets feature the Freedom door style in Cherry with a Low Sheen Chocolate finish. White Spring granite countertops are used throughout the kitchen and double-stacked on the kitchen island with an Ogee edge. Kitchen appliances feature a Wolf Range, Thermador full height refrigerator and freezer, Uline wine refrigerators and a GE Café Double Oven. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC / www.btwimages.com

Inspiration for a contemporary home office remodel in Seattle

Project Feature in: Luxe Magazine & Luxury Living Brickell From skiing in the Swiss Alps to water sports in Key Biscayne, a relocation for a Chilean couple with three small children was a sea change. “They’re probably the most opposite places in the world,” says the husband about moving from Switzerland to Miami. The couple fell in love with a tropical modern house in Key Biscayne with architecture by Marta Zubillaga and Juan Jose Zubillaga of Zubillaga Design. The white-stucco home with horizontal planks of red cedar had them at hello due to the open interiors kept bright and airy with limestone and marble plus an abundance of windows. “The light,” the husband says, “is something we loved.” While in Miami on an overseas trip, the wife met with designer Maite Granda, whose style she had seen and liked online. For their interview, the homeowner brought along a photo book she created that essentially offered a roadmap to their family with profiles, likes, sports, and hobbies to navigate through the design. They immediately clicked, and Granda’s passion for designing children’s rooms was a value-added perk that the mother of three appreciated. “She painted a picture for me of each of the kids,” recalls Granda. “She said, ‘My boy is very creative—always building; he loves Legos. My oldest girl is very artistic— always dressing up in costumes, and she likes to sing. And the little one—we’re still discovering her personality.’” To read more visit: https://maitegranda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LX_MIA11_HOM_Maite_12.compressed.pdf Rolando Diaz

Builder picked us (Showhomes) after interviewing 5 other staging companies, we staged the entry, living room, kitchen, dining room, master bedroom and master bathroom and even placed some outdoor furniture by the swimming pool. We had photos taken by a professional photographer which the listing realtor put up on the MLS when the house was listed. House sold in under 4 hours! Photos by Jennifer Montalvo

What a fun project to work on with an artist and her husband. We collaborated to create a unique soft modern kitchen that has hints of mid-century modern details while expanding the clients storage and cooking space. Subtle details that make a bold statement. It was through the clients interviewing process that they choose to go with Signature Designs Kitchen Bath over other large firms because of the personal collaboration connection. We created a curved island that resembles a piano while it maximized there countertop space it left plenty of room for them to entertain many guest in their nook.

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.”

Builder picked us (Showhomes) after interviewing 5 other staging companies, we staged the entry, living room, kitchen, dining room, master bedroom and master bathroom and even placed some outdoor furniture by the swimming pool. We had photos taken by a professional photographer which the listing realtor put up on the MLS when the house was listed. House sold in under 4 hours! Photos by Jennifer Montalvo

Builder picked us (Showhomes) after interviewing 5 other staging companies, we staged the entry, living room, kitchen, dining room, master bedroom and master bathroom and even placed some outdoor furniture by the swimming pool. We had photos taken by a professional photographer which the listing realtor put up on the MLS when the house was listed. House sold in under 4 hours! Photos by Jennifer Montalvo

In the summer of 2012 we embarked on a remodel of our 1912 Craftsman. We wanted to redo the kitchen and the upper floor which contained the master bedroom, bathroom, guest room and office. We interviewed approximately 5 other architects prior to finding Mark. We knew right away he was the right person for the job. He was patient, thorough and we could tell he truly loved our home and wanted to work with us to make it even better. His vast experience showed through during the interview process which validated his portfolio. Mark truly became a trusted advisor who would guide us through this remodel process from beginning to end. His planning was precise and he came by many times to re-measure to get every detail accounted for. He was patient and helpful as we made decisions and then changed our minds! He was with us every week of the 10 weeks of the remodel. He attended each weekly meeting with the General Contractor and was at the house numerous other times guiding and really looking out for our best interests. I came to trust him enough to ask his opinion on almost everything from layout to colors and decorating tips! He consistently threw out ideas....many of which we took. Additionally Mark was a tremendous help in referring us to contractors, designers, and retailers to help us along the way. I am ecstatic over the results of the remodel. The kitchen and bath are truly beautiful and full of modern conveniences while maintaining the integrity of the 1912 structure. We were right about our decision to hire Mark and we wholehearted recommend him as an outstanding architect, and more!!

It’s #transformationtuesday which means we are sharing before and after photos of a #stairrunner project our installation team completed recently! We interviewed the homeowner to learn more about how she discovered us and why she selected the style she chose for her stair runner! Here are is the response! “I found you on Instagram from Candace of House of Paige (@_houseofpaige_)and also have seen Brenna Smith of Hope and Bay Design (@hopeandbay) go there too. You guys were local and I loved your instagram page - it was super easy to find inspiration ideas so I knew I needed to reach out. We have two dogs and a toddler (with another baby on the way!) so we wanted something that would be durable but would match our style a bit more! We did Oil Nut Bay in Charcoal. From my first visit to your work room to working with Billy over email, you made the process so easy! I really appreciated the honest feedback and opinions on the different styles we liked and if it would fit our lifestyle with dogs and kids at home. We must have had a dozen samples sent to us over the 2 months we worked together and it was just so easy to work with you virtually. We are so happy with the final product :)” We thank every single one of you for sharing your story and experience with us at The Carpet Workroom!

These high-quality prints are part of a project artist Juni Van Dyke began nearly 20 years ago. Van Dyke interviewed elderly subjects then created these pieces to represent the person's memories or current experience. Only 50 of each print are available and each one is signed and numbered by the artist, and includes the custom frame.

Years ago, Rhodes Architecture + Light designed a pergola addition for the couple we interviewed. During our visit, we sat under the dense canopy of grape vines that had nearly enveloped the 16-year-old structure. The owners wanted something unique that couldn’t be found at a big box store and felt like an extension of their home. Today they call it one of their favorite rooms of the house and take pride in entertaining guests in the cooling microclimate it creates.

Our clients Kevin and Nathan, are new residents of Madison, Wisconsin. They found us online not long after buying their home. They visited our office to interview Dave Duewel, Senior Designer, and Abe Degnan, President of Degnan Design-Build-Remodel. Dave shared a recently-designed contemporary project full of texture and geometry, so Kevin and Nathan quickly chose to engage us to begin their lower-level bar design.

Photo Credit: @alyssarosenheck | alyssarosenheck.com