Scott and Janet of Elgin have had four design to build renovations with Advance Design over the last decade. We got the chance to sit down and talk with Janet about her experience working with Advance Design on so many different areas of her home. Starting with her kitchen in 2009, Janet proclaimed, “The reason we kept coming back is because our first [renovation] went so extremely well, exceeding all of my expectations.” Since their kitchen renovation with Advance Design ten years ago, Scott and Janet have also worked with Advance to remodel their master bedroom, their power room, a wet bar, and most recently their master bath. Having renovated practically every major room in the house with the team, we asked Janet what made her experience with Advance Design so special. “We went with Advance Design because we trusted them so much more, their experience, and everything that they brought. We were confident they were giving us what we wanted for the money we were spending.” For their most recent renovation, Scott and Janet clearly knew what to expect going into their master bath renovation. They were familiar with Advance’s step by step design process that epitomizes the “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy applied in every project Advance creates. After once again experiencing the careful budgeting analysis, the pointed design meetings, and the clear documentation that leads up the a thoroughly managed installation, Janet’s simple summary of their experience is this; “The word I would use to describe the process is – collaboration!” Working closely with Advance Design kitchen designer Michelle Lecinski, together they were able to develop a new master bath design that not only worked with their investment goal, but also made sense for their lifestyle. “Oh Michelle, my designer! I connected with her immediately. She spent time getting to know us, our lifestyle, even the setting of our house.” The threesome had a great experience designing and producing yet another successful project together. When it came to their new project plans, Scott and Janet were interested in creating a relaxing “spa-like” experience in their master bath. One of the many ideas Michelle introduced during the design process was installing a Kohler Alteo series showerhead for a rain-like shower experience. This designer showerhead, mixed with the warm ambiance of the lighting and pebble accent running throughout the shower make for what Janet calls a “luxury spa essence”. From the oversized glass sliding door to the recessed niche for accessories, each special detail was considered and implemented intentionally so as to create the maximumly optimized use of the compact space. Not only was this transformation one of beauty and luxury, but special attention was given to every way possible to provide additional storage to maximize the functionality of the bath area as a whole. Once design was complete and the bath construction project began in their home, making sure everything happened efficiently and on schedule became new priority number one. “Having a project manager made an enormous difference,” Janet said, “It was so worth it to hire professionals that knew exactly what they were doing. Even after all of these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.” “It was a pleasure working together with Janet and Scott to create this beautiful space that will enhance their lives for many years,” says Michelle. “It is so much fun to get to do this job every day, I love that I can have this sort of impact on their lives by doing something for them [Janet & Scott] that comes so naturally to me!” After reviewing the long-term relationship with clients like Scott and Janet, owner Todd Jurs had this to say, “Clients returning and asking us to transform that next area of their home really warms my heart. It reaffirms that every decision to please clients no matter what is always the right choice, and that our honesty and integrity along with the immense collective talent of this team is recognized and appreciated by those who continue to return to us year after year.” He continued to say, “I always say how blessed we truly are to be able to do what we do, and experiences like this one put a smile on my face every time.”

This luxurious master bath has a wonderful oval bathtub, a stone faced shower, double sinks, a marble floor and a private "water closet". What a way to come clean! ; ) Builder: Blair Dibble Builder - www.blairdibble.com

Patrick Wong Photography
Trendy wood exterior home photo in Austin

Living room - transitional open concept medium tone wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall living room idea in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

A modern master bath provides a contemporary space to unwind after an outing on the lake. The clean white porcelain and light stained oak cabinetry are uninterrupted by frameless glass and reflected by oversized mirrors. ©Shoot2Sell Photography

This little gem of a house designed in 1952 by Architect Paul Schweikher cantilevers over a wooded ravine. All the walls facing the ravine are alternating wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors, opening the entire house to nature; rooms with a view. The opposite wall is closet concealed by doors reminiscent of Shoji screens. Materials to build the entire house are Douglas fir, redwood, glass and Chicago brick. Aside from the Asian influence, the house feels rustic and woodsy. All these references were used in furnishing and accessorizing. Elements from Japan, China, Thailand, Afghanistan, Africa and France are untied in the warm, colorful Master Bedroom.

Double facing mirrors made for a sink vanity and a make up area. Allowing the mirrors to face each other made the 7'4" wide room to seem spacious. Photgraper:Fred Ingram

Pratt metal four leg washstands with undermount sink topped in 2cm Calcutta Gold marble. Etoile low profile three hole deck mounted faucet with metal cross handles in nickel. Margaux 70x30x27 freestanding oval cast iron bathtub with burnished finish also from Waterworks. Tile behind vanity is 12x12 sheets of statuary marble, split faced and stacked. Floor tile is 18x18 Calacatta Gold set on a diagonal. Wall field tile behind the tub is Waterworks #ARF036 3x6. Base is Architectonics 6x6 style #ARBS3E also from Waterworks.

Inquire About Our Design Services When we first started talking in the spring of 2015, I was impressed. She was witty, realistic, and understood that as much as she loves my shows on HGTV, design does not does not happen in 43 minutes! She told me about her space, and how she felt that her bedroom seemed “blah” to her. She had no retreat. Molly desperately longed for a place that she could spend time in, read in, play in and above all, relax in. What we did: Many people are terrified of hiring a designer. Rightfully so, they are investing a pretty penny in their homes. They want to make sure that everything, down to the last floral arrangement, is to their liking, because they will have to live it (and pay for it). Unfortunately, a client can unintentionally stifle a designer’s creativity through micro-management. This can produce lackluster results and ultimately cause more time (and money) to be spent on a project than is really necessary. With Molly, that was never an issue. Before she even showed me the room in question, she said that I could have full creative license to do what I needed to do to her bedroom. SAY WHAAH!? With Molly giving me complete creative freedom, I planned everything out and got down to business. The result: Bite-your-bottom-lip sexy. I don’t get jealous of too many of my clients’ spaces, but this one still takes my breath away every time I look at the pics! The craziest part was that by adding more furniture, it actually made the space feel larger. Molly and her husband Patrick loved the finished space, and promised me I will be back to finish the rest of the house! Here’s the highlights of the rest of the project: I came up with a space plan with three options. Next, we reviewed mood boards and fabric schemes that would work for both Molly and her hubby Patrick. We started with the bed. My goal was to add edge to its otherwise traditional style. We decided to spice things up by painting the trim work in the room black. We built in layers of lighting with dimmers. In a bedroom everything should be on dimmers, right? Right. We designed and customized bedding, chairs and window treatments. Together with Molly, we selected the most perfect wallpaper. This geometric “grasscloth” adds so much depth and dimension that was just missing before. What I love: That light fixture. I mean it is really, really amazing in person. The porcupine mirror. This thing came packaged like it was the hope diamond, and everyone was terrified to handle it. But it really became a highlight of the room.

Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS
Bathroom - mid-sized traditional master multicolored tile and stone tile marble floor bathroom idea in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a wall-mount toilet and gray walls

Spaces and Faces Photography
Example of a bedroom design in Austin

Built from the ground up on 80 acres outside Dallas, Oregon, this new modern ranch house is a balanced blend of natural and industrial elements. The custom home beautifully combines various materials, unique lines and angles, and attractive finishes throughout. The property owners wanted to create a living space with a strong indoor-outdoor connection. We integrated built-in sky lights, floor-to-ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings to attract ample, natural lighting. The master bathroom is spacious and features an open shower room with soaking tub and natural pebble tiling. There is custom-built cabinetry throughout the home, including extensive closet space, library shelving, and floating side tables in the master bedroom. The home flows easily from one room to the next and features a covered walkway between the garage and house. One of our favorite features in the home is the two-sided fireplace – one side facing the living room and the other facing the outdoor space. In addition to the fireplace, the homeowners can enjoy an outdoor living space including a seating area, in-ground fire pit and soaking tub.

Colin Price Photography
Example of a mid-sized classic master white tile and porcelain tile marble floor and black floor bathroom design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Bedroom - contemporary dark wood floor, brown floor and vaulted ceiling bedroom idea in Miami with white walls

White painted brick fireplace in the luxurious master suite of this Street of Dreams Home 2013. With the brick mantle, white wood built in surrounding the fireplace and a tv above this master suite is fully complete.

A pair of chairs facing each other creates an intimate seating vignette at the foot of the bed, adding refined functionality and quiet luxury to the bedroom design. The large-scale artwork “Don Quixote” by Zaza Khabuliani introduces an inspiring, whimsical focal point, while Jeanne Petrosky’s handmade paper artwork, “Adventure of Courage,” displayed above the cream-painted campaign chests, adds curated color, layered texture, and bespoke artistic detail to the elegant interior. Design: Carol Lombardo Weil, Photography: Alain Jamarillo

When designer Rachel Peterson of Simply Baths, Inc. first met this young, stylish couple at their house they had a small handful of items they knew they really wanted in their master bathroom: a freestanding tub, a chandelier, a larger shower and more counter space. But the truth was, the bath needed a major face-lift. The space was outdated and lacked personality. It certainly didn't reflect the homeowners and their elegant aesthetic. The combination of stone and wood tiles lends just enough of a rustic flair to bring a little bit of the outdoors in and while helping to balance some of the feminine elements in the room with simple masculine touches. Featuring Dura Supreme Cabinetry.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless master travertine floor and brown floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops