This cozy screened porch was designed for these homeowners to enjoy their morning coffee while listening to the birds' chirp away.
This is an example of a traditional porch design in Chicago.

Rain rain go away we want to tan, listen to music, and relax all day. In this patio you can do just that with a built in security system that allows you to rest at ease in the safety of your home. As well, there in a built in audio system that lets you listen to music of your choice in the amazing weather. Even if it is dark out there is a lighting system that you can use to spend more time outside. Sit back and enjoy an amazing day spent outdoors in this amazing patio.

Mid-sized minimalist enclosed carpeted home theater photo in Philadelphia with a projector screen and white walls

Elegant and modern! These clients can enjoy the privacy of their backyard in great comfort all while listening to the calming water features.
Pool - mid-sized modern backyard stone and rectangular pool idea in Toronto

Photo © Eric Staudenmaier
Family room - contemporary open concept concrete floor family room idea in Los Angeles with a music area and white walls

With seating for eight in this home theater, family and friends can get comfortable for a night of watching movies or sporting events on an oversized movie screen in automatically reclining seats, all while listening to a surround sound audio system.

This transitional living room and dining room space was designed to be used by an active family. We used furniture that would create a casual sophisticated space for reading, listening to music and playing games together as a family. Michael Hunter Photography

Bud Kane has remodeled nearly every room in his own home over many years. Now reaching his 70’s, he contemplated heading up a major kitchen and laundry room renovation himself, planning on doing the carpentry work with his own hands. “I was not convinced I would ever meet anyone who could do it as well as I could do it myself”, said Bud. Ruth and Bud spent 5 years visiting kitchen firms and interviewing designers. They couldn’t however bring themselves to pull the trigger on the project, until they met Advance Design Studio in 2015. “No one understood what I wanted”, said Ruth. She was continually frustrated by experiences with designers who weren’t hearing what was important to her. “Everyone kept designing my kitchen with what they thought it should look like; I couldn’t find anyone who would listen to me”! When they met designer Scott Christensen from Advance Design Studio, they liked him right away. He listened to Ruth and designed a kitchen that she loved, all the while interjecting years of wisdom and design expertise that Ruth appreciated. “The finished product is better than I expected”, says Ruth. “I respected Scott’s opinions and together we created the perfect place for me to bake with my grandkids and truly enjoy the kitchen and laundry room I’ve been dreaming of for many years!” The kitchen transformation began with removing the home’s soffits, and extending new painted maple cabinetry to the ceiling with the addition of an elegant crown molding. Ruth’s new Vita Mix holds a coveted place on her counter, and adjustments were planned to size the cabinets in conjunction with the under cabinet decorative light molding to fit this appliance just right. “This one small detail was really important to me”, says Ruth smiling. An elegant new island replaced the original island, complete with room for 3 stools where her grandchildren will sit to make home-made pasta every Thanksgiving, and cookies at Christmas time. “Traditions are very important in my family, and making my kitchen work to suit cherished activities with my family was the number one reason this renovation was so desired”, replied Ruth when asked about the island. A picture perfect new tea station replaced a cluttered unused desk area, creating a wonderful place to prepare hot drinks for sipping any season of the year while overlooking the couple’s wonderfully manicured gardens from the lovely 3 season’s room just off the kitchen. The soft sage island bead panel detail was repeated on the backsplash, replicating the feel of a fine old piece of furniture. The biggest problem with the laundry room was 3 doors, one from the garage, one from the closet, and one to the hallway. “Scott designed a pocket door, and oh what a dream it is now to bring groceries in from the garage!” exclaims Bud who grew to disdain this task! Doing laundry is now a breeze in this attractive new space that doubles as a wonderful pantry for the kitchen with room to store food items that didn’t have a home in the poorly designed original space. New Hickory distressed wood flooring was laid both in the kitchen and leading to the hall foyer. Soft gray wood-replicating porcelain was placed in the laundry area, making for an easily cleanable surface for what doubles as a mud room from the garage. Creamy tumbled marble graces an unobtrusive backsplash spilling onto shiny granite counter tops in a rich earthy pattern of fall colors that mimic colors throughout the home. Advance is known details that included custom crafted furniture toe kicks, luxurious crown moldings, and beaded under cabinet moldings. The kitchen is complete with a glass display cabinet showing Ruth’s treasured china tea collection. Early on, it was initially only their intention of purchasing cabinets for the new design. They were so impressed however with Advance Design’s complete program for budgeting, design, installation and management that it became clear to them both that they wanted Advance to handle the entire project from start to finish. “After seeing the quality work they did, coupled with the in-house team completely dedicated to our satisfaction, it became apparent there was no other choice but to hire them to handle everything. And we’re so glad we did, we have not one regret”, says Bud. “The attention to detail by the carpentry crew more than satisfied my perfectionist expectations of the finished carpentry,” exclaimed Bud. “Every one of Advance Design’s people we encountered from design through construction was wonderful. We’ve never met a group of people so dedicated to making sure we were happy with every single detail, and every single part of this experience”, said Ruth and Bud. Designer: Scott Christensen Photographer: Joe Nowak

For Decorations Lucullus it’s always about listening to the client, but when the project is a historical property, it is about listening carefully to the spirit of the rooms as well. All style is part alchemy, a bit of conjuring and nerves of steel to accept what is honestly appropriate. These lovely old rooms had lived a very grand past. Miraculously the owner was open to the challenge of trying, just for fun, to see if that past could be recaptured without compromising present-day comforts. We all learned in the process that the old can be as luxuriously commodious as anything the “modern” can promise.

Photography by J.P. Chen, Phoenix Media
Large elegant light wood floor family room photo in Milwaukee with a music area, beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

This relaxed gathering space is perfect for watching a little TV, listening to music and unwinding at the end of the day. The linear continuity of the aquarium, fireplace and TV offers multiple focal points in the room.

No matter what you watch or listen to on iPhone or iPad, all you need to do is swipe up to reveal the control center, press AirPlay, and select the room you’re in.

For Decorations Lucullus it’s always about listening to the client, but when the project is a historical property, it is about listening carefully to the spirit of the rooms as well. All style is part alchemy, a bit of conjuring and nerves of steel to accept what is honestly appropriate. These lovely old rooms had lived a very grand past. Miraculously the owner was open to the challenge of trying, just for fun, to see if that past could be recaptured without compromising present-day comforts. We all learned in the process that the old can be as luxuriously commodious as anything the “modern” can promise.

For Decorations Lucullus it’s always about listening to the client, but when the project is a historical property, it is about listening carefully to the spirit of the rooms as well. All style is part alchemy, a bit of conjuring and nerves of steel to accept what is honestly appropriate. These lovely old rooms had lived a very grand past. Miraculously the owner was open to the challenge of trying, just for fun, to see if that past could be recaptured without compromising present-day comforts. We all learned in the process that the old can be as luxuriously commodious as anything the “modern” can promise.

Dream Finders Homes, Boca II, Bonus room
Family room - transitional light wood floor family room idea in Jacksonville with no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The television melds into the wall with use of a recessed cavity and thin mounting bracket. With such a thin television, the TV speakers are lacking, so in-ceiling speakers provide quality sound for listeners throughout the room.

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.

Family room - modern family room idea in Philadelphia

wooden bridge leads to a screened soaking tub area, listen to the waterfall nearby and hear the bamboo rustle in the wind
Design ideas for a modern backyard landscaping in Sacramento.