This South Texas ranch home utilizes the flexibility of separate building volumes and a vast, open site to create the ideal country retreat. The arrangement of the three simple volumes recalls and reinterprets the historic building forms of the Texas plains, while meeting the clients’ programmatic requests for highly efficient spaces, both public and private. The dogrun pavilion, which connects the Great Room and Master Suite beneath a delicate steel-truss roof, provides the perfect place to gather in the shade, entertain guests, and pick up the comfortable southeast breezes. With this sensitive approach, the result is not just a collection of structures, but an integrated dwelling awaiting a comfortable Texas lifestyle. Photography By: David Bowers, Constructed By: Mangum Builders

Photographer: David Tosti
Example of a beach style exterior home design in Orange County

Large windows allow for a generous amount of natural light to flow into this handsome timber frame living room. A spacious layout allows ample room for movement.

This hangout space for a teen girl needed plenty of room for friends to visit and study. The desk area is functional, while the sectional is her fun space. Moveable ottomans allow for different configurations when friends want to spend the night. A pink chair can be pulled up to join in the fun. Copper and gold metals compliment the pops of blush. A great space for a teen girl to entertain!

The flagstone flooring extends to the Pool House for a seamless indoor-outdoor transition. The crisp white and orange color scheme is carried throughout. Photographed by Kate Russell

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Toronto

Unit consists of: 2 shallow depth top cabinets recessed into wall Obscured glass doors Valance joining both in space in between Shelving below Shallow 'mini drawers' with special interior tab to stabilize Crown moulding and trim to finish

The new front garden patio has been graded and arranged to comfortably fit a new deck, sitting area, fire pit,dining area, BBQ and a fountain . ©Daniel Bosler Photography

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

DAMAGED DURING SUPERSTORM SANDY, the existing detached garage was repaired and restyled with a grade level porch whose posts match the entry arch of the main house.

FOR A TRUE KITCHEN PASS THRU WINDOW WITH NO TRACKING., TRY A FLIP OUT WINDOW. IT COMES AS A RETROFIT OR A NEW NAIL FLANGE. WITH GAS STRUTS, JUST UNLOCK ON THE INSIDE & GIVE A GENTLE PUSH. IT THEN OPENS AND LOCKS IN PLACE. IT IS THAT EASY TO BRING YOUR INDOORS TO THE OUTDOORS. BELLY UP TO THE BAR FOR A DRINK OR SNACK & JOIN THE KITCHEN CONVERSATION. NOT TO MENTION, DOING THE DISHES WITH THIS BREEZE & VIEW IS NO LONGER PUT OFF TILL LATER. www.FlipOutWindows.com

Contemporary craftsman style lake front home
Large arts and crafts backyard dock photo in Other with a roof extension

The wide custom made bed head is designed so that the two single beds can be made into a double bed or separated into two single beds. Art work was used to decorate the spaces. A feature pendant light is hung in the corner for a bit of fun! The bed throws are custom made in rich velvets and suede. Styling by Maria Fenlon Interior Design. Photography Sean & Yvette Photography

Mike and Michelle of Lake Barrington knew they needed extra space. Their home was becoming too crowded for their family with blossoming teenagers, so a basement renovation offered the perfect solution for more space for the kids and more room to entertain for the adults. “Our project consisted of expanding our laundry room, putting in a first floor wet bar so we had adult space upstairs, while also renovating our basement for a family-friendly and teen-functional area as well,” Michelle says. They found Advance Design Studio through a neighbor who gave a glowing recommendation, giving Michelle and Mike the confidence they needed to move forward with a major home renovation. They felt like they knew Advance Design before they even worked together. When they met with the owner Todd Jurs and designer Nicole Ryan, Mike and Michelle knew they were getting a trustworthy, dependable team that could create the project they had been dreaming about for 7 years. Having virtually no natural light to work with, one of the biggest design challenges was creating a basement that did not feel dark and depressing. The Advance team got to work creating architectural archways and custom detailed dry-stack stone columns artfully designed into the space, adding a dramatic element that made the space feel less like a basement or more like a relaxing family room. Color 3D renderings were created to portray what the space would look like so Mike and Michelle could visualize the space in advance. Detailed trim and crown moldings grace the built in buffet and wet bar making for an amazingly functional space that lacks nothing in style and visual interest. Cherry wood cabinetry by Dura Supreme is featured in the space with a “Cocoa Brown” finish and includes beautiful mirrored glass doors embellished with unique elliptical mullion details. A built-in microwave, dishwasher and mini fridge add practicality to the ample entertainment mecca. An under mounted sink finishes the space joined with a intricate mosaic tile backsplash and “Ventisca Polished” quartz countertops. The basement is absolutely perfect for hosting friends and family with expertly designed key areas such as a game space for the kids, a movie area for the family, an ample workout room with luxurious full bath, and even built in wine storage. The family absolutely loves the new basement living space, and has already enjoyed numerous family movie nights and sleep-overs with friends. While custom cabinets made by Dura Supreme were used to create unique spaces that lived up to Mike and Michelle’s expectations., heated flooring under the 16”x16” “Mongolian Spring” tile was installed giving all tiled areas of the basement a much cozier feel, eliminating that cold hard surface most of us hate in our basements! The new basement must-have requirement list included a new bath space, which was incorporated adjacent to the work out room. The sleek shower door and cabinets in the new bathroom make guests and family feel like they are in an elegant hotel. The new guest bath features 4”x36” “Silver Screen” honed marble tile in a brick pattern on the shower walls and 2”x2” “Chenille” limestone tile in a hexagon mosaic pattern on the shower floor. “I came in with very specific requirements for our three project areas,” Michelle says. “There was not one time that I felt like I was asking for something that was not going to turn out how I anticipated.” Tying in multiple rooms during a renovation if you have can do it makes a lot of sense and saves money in the long run. A fully functional laundry room as well was a must on this family’s wish list. Michelle wanted to add space to the existing cramped and awkward laundry room, and Mike wanted to make sure they could still park a car in the garage. Reconfiguring interior walls required borrowing unused space cleverly from the garage in order to enlarge the laundry room space. Drawers under the stairs added beautiful hidden storage created almost magically out of dead space. White painted Dura Supreme cabinets bring additional light into the small space; while the 16”x16” cleft slate tile flooring provides excellent contrast and the naturally earthy feel Michelle wanted. Quartz countertops with a 3”x12” “Debut Dew” subway tile backsplash add elegance to the now upliftingly bright laundry room. The extra space makes doing laundry much more pleasurable and the added storage is a great for all those little things like winter hats and gloves, umbrellas and the like. “The Advance Design project team was phenomenal to work with,” Michelle says. “They came in, shared the plans with us and walked us through the expectations. We always knew what was coming next.” Converting an existing closet space, the wet bar upstairs was challenging because they wanted a functional area that didn’t look or feel like cabinets just sticking out of a closet. So the Advance team transformed this ordinary closet space into a stunning wet bar that architecturally appears as if it’s always been there. Traditional, elegant hand carved custom molding matching the adjacent fireplace ties the new entertainment bar area in nicely with the existing family room and kitchen area. Featuring a built in wine refrigerator, Dura Supreme cabinetry in deep cherry wood elegantly displays wine bottles and etched glass mullion doors that fill with soft light in the evening hours. Cambria “Windermere” quartz countertops with a sophisticated hammered copper sink and a glimmering backsplash round out the stunning wet bar. Hosting parties and family functions has become much more enjoyable now that they have a dedicated beverage serving area large enough to include hors devours. All three projects were designed and constructed together at the same time, making for a cohesive project that was administered smoothly and easily both for the design team and for the family. Disruption to the home was minimal as each phase was completed in each project conclusively, and design and meeting time for the homeowner was efficient and organized making for an enjoyable process. “Advance Design was great to work with,” Michelle says. “I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a home improvement project. They took the time at the beginning to understand our needs, our budget, and our vision for our home. The field team was great, attentive, on time, cleaned up each day and made the overall experience very positive. We couldn't be happier with the finished product.” With the help of our talented, award winning design team you can create the basement, laundry room, or any other home renovation that you have been dreaming of. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating you home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about that kitchen remodeling project. Joe Nowak

The colorful and contemporary organic vibe continues in the dining room with the use of natural materials such as rock crystal buffet knobs, clamshell and coral wall sconces and a jute wrapped mirror. White foo dogs, dramatic black shades and a gold sculptured dish add a splash of Hollywood Regency.

Kyle Hixon, Precision Cabinets & Trim
Example of a mid-sized classic master beige tile and stone tile porcelain tile corner shower design in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

This bathroom design is very homogeneous with floor to ceiling marble tile. Adding texture and green created depth in this corner.
Inspiration for a small contemporary master porcelain tile marble floor bathroom remodel in Minneapolis

Texas gun room includes Texas Walnut custom bar with drink rail and peninsula. Category: bar top and peninsula, Wood species: Texas Walnut, Construction method: face grain Features: drink rail for bar top, special shape on peninsula top Size & thickness: bar top 28.25" wide by 11.5" long joined via a mitre joint to 28.5" wide by 54.5" long by 1.75" thick Edge profile: wave with fillet Finish: Food safe Tung Oil/Citrus solvent finish bar top & peninsula top by: DeVos Custom Woodworking Project location: New Braunfels, TX Photos by:DeVos Custom Woodworking

Java cherry Wood-Mode cabinets and Vermont Danby white marble join to create a fabulous kitchen. A latte-colored marble mosaic backsplash makes this room perfect for morning coffee, and everything else, as well! Ken Wyner Photography