The owners of this beautiful St. Louis Park home are savvy designers, my longest-term client, and good friends. Years ago, they decided to make this house their “forever” home. They imagined how to expand their home over time to meet the needs of a growing family. My work on this home began in 2008. Our first project added a comfortable second-floor master suite with full bath. We also updated the exterior from dark brown to grey with white accents to enhance curb appeal. In 2012 we remodeled the basement with a big, warm family room and fireplace, updated laundry and utility room, and a custom wet bar. An open staircase invites traffic into the family room, while a child-proof gate to keep the 3-year-old twins safe. More In 2019 we added a two-story addition by extending the first floor into the backyard, creating a large, open kitchen/dining/family space. We reconfigured the existing main floor bath to a roomy ¾ bath with shower, and removed the existing tub. Two existing first-floor bedrooms were updated as well. The second floor was expanded toward the back yard, creating a larger master suite featuring two large 10′ X 10′ custom closets. The second floor was also expanded over a new garage to make room for another new bedroom with a 100 sq. ft. closet. All this transformed their home into a comfortable, full featured four-bedroom home. With all this construction over the years the backyard was in dire need of landscaping. And as before, the owners wanted to do this in phases. The fourth phase has just been completed, and the results are amazing. Like an arboretum, the backyard features mature trees with abundant shade for Minnesota’s hot and humid summers. The patio is perfect for barbecue entertaining. Naturally stained cedar fencing surrounds the yard, and a small utility shed looks mimics the home’s exterior. Notice the second-floor dormer and window on the front of the house, and the first-floor expansion on the back of the house (+ 25 feet) with windows looking into the family room and kitchen. Imagine the view of this backyard from the kitchen table, where owners often work from home. As plants grow over the years and it will only get better. The result: A forever home that grows with this family.

The owners of this beautiful St. Louis Park home are savvy designers, my longest-term client, and good friends. Years ago, they decided to make this house their “forever” home. They imagined how to expand their home over time to meet the needs of a growing family. My work on this home began in 2008. Our first project added a comfortable second-floor master suite with full bath. We also updated the exterior from dark brown to grey with white accents to enhance curb appeal. In 2012 we remodeled the basement with a big, warm family room and fireplace, updated laundry and utility room, and a custom wet bar. An open staircase invites traffic into the family room, while a child-proof gate to keep the 3-year-old twins safe. More In 2019 we added a two-story addition by extending the first floor into the backyard, creating a large, open kitchen/dining/family space. We reconfigured the existing main floor bath to a roomy ¾ bath with shower, and removed the existing tub. Two existing first-floor bedrooms were updated as well. The second floor was expanded toward the back yard, creating a larger master suite featuring two large 10′ X 10′ custom closets. The second floor was also expanded over a new garage to make room for another new bedroom with a 100 sq. ft. closet. All this transformed their home into a comfortable, full featured four-bedroom home. With all this construction over the years the backyard was in dire need of landscaping. And as before, the owners wanted to do this in phases. The fourth phase has just been completed, and the results are amazing. Like an arboretum, the backyard features mature trees with abundant shade for Minnesota’s hot and humid summers. The patio is perfect for barbecue entertaining. Naturally stained cedar fencing surrounds the yard, and a small utility shed looks mimics the home’s exterior. Notice the second-floor dormer and window on the front of the house, and the first-floor expansion on the back of the house (+ 25 feet) with windows looking into the family room and kitchen. Imagine the view of this backyard from the kitchen table, where owners often work from home. As plants grow over the years and it will only get better. The result: A forever home that grows with this family.

As the final phase of this 14 year relationship, the client wanted to add some premium details to the basement. One of these was a man cave with a hidden millwork door pictured here.

A Seeping Chimney Can Cause Long-Term Damage A seeping chimney is a slow, gradual way of water entering into the home and causing damage slowly, steadily and over time. The seeping chimney damage can range from a minor repair to something far more extensive. However, when it comes to water, it certainly doesn’t play nice with the materials your home is made from, including your chimney. Let’s take a look at some of the various damage that can occur when your chimney leaks and makes its way to the various part of your home. Wall Damage One of the most obvious telltale signs of a water leak from the seeping chimney is wall damage. When it reaches your walls, the paint can peel, the wall can little bubbles or even the drywall can begin to chip away. No different if you have crown molding, wood paneling or other decorative aspects to your walls. Water can make the varnish peel and cause discoloration. When your chimney isn’t inspected each year by a certified technician, these damages can be very expensive to repair. Mold Growth Many of us have experienced mold in the bathroom. Why? Because it is a perfect place for mold to grow. You have the perfect main ingredient. Moisture. If a seeping chimney allows for moisture to enter your home, it can create a perfect scenario for mold to grow. Mold can be harmful to your heath, especially if you have health issues such as asthma, allergies or emphysema to name a few. By maintaining a healthy chimney equipped with a chimney crown, chimney cap and a waterproofing solution called Chimney Saver, you can keep moisture out and your health in good shape. Soft Wood, Walls & More When water gets at wood or walls, and it drips over time, the wood and wall material turn soft and falls apart. This rotting makes the wood or walls flaky to the touch and can cause structural damage. There’s another issue that comes with rotting wood or water-logged walls…bugs and pests. This is the perfect vacation spot for bugs and pests. Keeping them out of your home is a top priority. Keep unwanted visitors out of your home by having an inspection on the chimney, the flue and down to the fireplace completed. Contact us today at 877-244-6349. We’re right here in Lombard, IL, close to where you reside. What You Can’t See Can Hurt You One way to ensure wall damage, mold spores and deteriorating wood and walls don’t happen is to get a yearly inspection on the chimney. Whether you have a gas or wood burning fireplace, use it all the time or not, rain water is still active trying to find its way into your home. Don’t give it that chance. Keep on top of it with a yearly inspection. Contact us today at 877-244-6349 to set an appointment for a fireplace clean and check for a certified chimney inspection.

Ensuite, circa 2011. My relationship with this house and this family starts here. I was introduced by Bruce Johnson to the homeowners. At the time it was a step up in project complexity for me. Returning to photograph it all these years later the space still works well and looks great.

This light and airy kitchen is the definition of elegance. It has white shaker cabinets with satin gold pulls topped with white quartz counters. The matching white quartz backsplash provides a clean look. The center piece of the room is the large island! With seating for four, the deep blue island is loaded with storage and has a drawer microwave. For a special touch on the white quartz counter, we used an extra thick quartz slab. The striking gold pendants are from Ferguson Lighting. Sleek and contemporary, this beautiful home is located in Villanova, PA. Blue, white and gold are the palette of this transitional design. With custom touches and an emphasis on flow and an open floor plan, the renovation included the kitchen, family room, butler’s pantry, mudroom, two powder rooms and floors. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

The Moore Designs team has formed long-term relationships with only the most highly skilled tradespersons and vendors in the area. This amazing kitchen illustrates why our clients typically can “Expect Moore” when building with Moore Designs.

Modern Hotel Lobby Interior Design. We all know the importance of first impressions. From meeting a new colleague to arriving in an unknown city, the impact of the first few seconds cannot be overestimated and sets the tone for the long-term relationship.

At Global Garage of Central New Jersey we strive for 100% customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves in offering a quality product at an affordable price backed up by a lifetime warranty. There is no better feeling then getting a job off the referral of a previous customer. Referrals speak volumes about our relationships with our customers and their level of satisfaction with our service and the product. This garage is yet another job we received off the referral of their neighbor whose garage we worked on back in August.

Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Bedroom and large transitional girl light wood floor bedroom photo in New York with white walls

Alison & Eric have been my clients for almost 5 years. We began working together , shortly after they purchased their home. About a year later, when Alison was pregnant with their first child they reached out to me to design the nursery & transform the garage into an office/ lounge. Later we did a total makeover in their living room, and recently I completed the nursery for their newest addition the the family. For me, as a designer with a great passion for the home, I absolutely love to be able to build long term relationships with the people I work with. Seeing my clients grow and transform and being there to ensure that their spaces, the backdrop of their lives, continue to nourish & inspire them. Photography by Roberto Garcia

Example of a trendy powder room design in New York with a vessel sink and tile countertops

Ryan Struck Photography
Urban l-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Bathroom with Floating Vanity
Mid-sized trendy kids' gray tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor and white floor alcove bathtub photo in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

This is a new hybrid senior living campus involving a blend of entrance fee and rental models aimed at the middle market. This new campus will provide a full spectrum of housing and care including 100 independent living apartments, 24 villa homes, 48 assisted living apartments, 30 assisted living memory care apartments and 102 private, skilled nursing rooms for long term care and short-term rehabilitation. This building includes three and four stories of apartment development on 20 acres of land. Indoor and outdoor common areas are designed to foster experiences that encourage social relationships, wellness and life-long learning. Food service equipment, processes and even menus are all created to provide extraordinary dining experiences in bistros, restaurants and casual venues. Supportive technology is infused throughout the campus to enhance the resident experience and provide “behind the scenes” health care monitoring and care.

This existing client reached out to MMI Design for help shortly after the flood waters of Harvey subsided. Her home was ravaged by 5 feet of water throughout the first floor. What had been this client's long-term dream renovation became a reality, turning the nightmare of Harvey's wrath into one of the loveliest homes designed to date by MMI. We led the team to transform this home into a showplace. Our work included a complete redesign of her kitchen and family room, master bathroom, two powders, butler's pantry, and a large living room. MMI designed all millwork and cabinetry, adjusted the floor plans in various rooms, and assisted the client with all material specifications and furnishings selections. Returning these clients to their beautiful '"new" home is one of MMI's proudest moments!

Countertop: Ella from Cambria's Marble Collection
Trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Home design - transitional home design idea in Calgary