Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

Our client had originally owned the duplex apartment in the front of this town house (1st and 2nd floor). Once the studio apartment on the 2nd floor in the rear of the town house was placed on the market, they immediately purchased it to combine with their existing space. This apartment would become the extension of the apartment for entertaining and guests, as there was a kitchen and dining room in the front duplex. The studio apartment had a small kitchen in which we turned into a walk in closet, then main room remained the living room and the bedroom / out cove became the library. The entire apartment was re wired with new electrical for outlets, wall sconces, center chandelier and recessed lights. Each light location is controlled by its own dimmer for energy efficiency. The challenge was going to be for our cabinet manufacturer flying into the United States from Europe. To take detailed and precise measurements of all walls, ceiling heights, window opening and doorway in order to create shop drawings. All millwork was custom built in England and there was going to be no room for error. From its travel over the Atlantic, passing through customs, delivered to the building and carried up 2 flights of stairs it all needed to be perfect. A complaint that the neighbor living below had was always hearing footsteps of someone walking. To rectify this issue and to make a happy neighbor, we installed a soundproof mat with 2 layers of plywood prior to the installation of the carpet. The 2 tone wood combination of tiger birch and mahogany gives definition and shows the depth of layering. All fixtures are gold plated, from the chandelier, to the recessed light trims even the custom screw less plate covers are gold. In the powder room we relocated all plumbing fixtures to accommodate the new layout and walk through from each apartment. Below each window the custom millwork covers the radiators, the front panels are removable to access and service the units. The goal was to transform this empty room into true elegance…

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

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.”

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Traditional bathroom remodel featuring white-oak reeded cabinets, satin brass fixtures, and ceramic tiles.
Example of a mid-sized classic kids' white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, gray floor and double-sink alcove bathtub design in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

Richmond Hill Design + Build brings you this gorgeous American four-square home, crowned with a charming, black metal roof in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park neighborhood! Situated on a .46 acre lot, this craftsman-style home greets you with double, 8-lite front doors and a grand, wrap-around front porch. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll see the lovely dining room on the left, with crisp, white wainscoting and spacious sitting room/study with French doors to the right. Straight ahead is the large family room with a gas fireplace and flanking 48” tall built-in shelving. A panel of expansive 12’ sliding glass doors leads out to the 20’ x 14’ covered porch, creating an indoor/outdoor living and entertaining space. An amazing kitchen is to the left, featuring a 7’ island with farmhouse sink, stylish gold-toned, articulating faucet, two-toned cabinetry, soft close doors/drawers, quart countertops and premium Electrolux appliances. Incredibly useful butler’s pantry, between the kitchen and dining room, sports glass-front, upper cabinetry and a 46-bottle wine cooler. With 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and 5 walk-in closets, space will not be an issue. The owner’s suite has a freestanding, soaking tub, large frameless shower, water closet and 2 walk-in closets, as well a nice view of the backyard. Laundry room, with cabinetry and counter space, is conveniently located off of the classic central hall upstairs. Three additional bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, round out the second floor, with one bedroom having attached full bath and the other two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath. Lovely hickory wood floors, upgraded Craftsman trim package and custom details throughout!

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.