An addition was added to the read of the home before the current owners purchased the property. The homeowners gave it a modern touch by adding a garage door to open the sitting area up to their outdoor entertaining space. Wrapping the addition in corrugated steel gave it a funky feel that the homeowners love. Photos by Craig Thompson. Resources: Designers: Camden and Heather Johnson Leeds; Concrete Zen; Contractor: Brian Sieffert, Take Pride Construction (now a joint venture with Artemis Environmental known as Artemis Construction & Design); Flooring: stained concrete, Concrete Zen; restored hardwood, Take Pride Construction; Countertops: concrete counters and reclaimed marble floor, Concrete Zen; Cabinetry: Ikea; Windows: Pella Windows; Superior Window Manufacturing, Inc.; Exterior cement panels: Eastern Architectural Products; Exterior reclaimed barnwood: Artemis Environmental (now a joint venture with Take Pride Construction known as Artemis Construction & Design); Garage Door: Thomas V. Giel Corporation; Outdoor concrete vessels and firepit: Concrete Zen

Eric Roth - Photo INSIDE OUT, OUTSIDE IN – IPSWICH, MA Downsizing from their sprawling country estate in Hamilton, MA, this retiring couple knew they found utopia when they purchased this already picturesque marsh-view home complete with ocean breezes, privacy and endless views. It was only a matter of putting their personal stamp on it with an emphasis on outdoor living to suit their evolving lifestyle with grandchildren. That vision included a natural screened porch that would invite the landscape inside and provide a vibrant space for maximized outdoor entertaining complete with electric ceiling heaters, adjacent wet bar & beverage station that all integrated seamlessly with the custom-built inground pool. Aside from providing the perfect getaway & entertainment mecca for their large family, this couple planned their forever home thoughtfully by adding square footage to accommodate single-level living. Sunrises are now magical from their first-floor master suite, luxury bath with soaker tub and laundry room, all with a view! Growing older will be more enjoyable with sleeping quarters, laundry and bath just steps from one another. With walls removed, utilities updated, a gas fireplace installed, and plentiful built-ins added, the sun-filled kitchen/dining/living combination eases entertaining and makes for a happy hang-out. This Ipswich home is drenched in conscious details, intentional planning and surrounded by a bucolic landscape, the perfect setting for peaceful enjoyment and harmonious living

The first information you should know when looking for a new bathroom vanity is the space available. This is very important, as you want your bathroom to look neat with everything in place. After you know the space, you should consider what shape, size, and color or finish you want your vanity to be. Lastly, it is time to find what features you want. One of the most popular types of bathroom vanity features is storage doors. The reason for this is because vanities with doors make it easy to access your storage. A high-quality vanity cabinet with doors can help change the look from modern to traditional, or vice versa, depending on the door design. Do you want the vanity to have a countertop, and undermount sinks? Do you want the vanity to have vessel sinks? Or do you want it with recessed sinks? It all depends on the look that you want to give to your bathroom, as bathroom vanities are certainly the focal point in any bathroom. We offer a wide range of styles from modern to contemporary, making it easy for you to choose a vanity that will match any style you have in mind. We also offer options such as wall mounted or floor standing vanities, single or double sink vanities, mirror or medicine cabinet vanities. These options allow you to customize your bathroom vanity to meet your exact preference. Single Sink bathroom vanities are ideal for small bathrooms. A small bathroom does not mean that you have to waive elegance and style. You can find a single sink vanity for your small bathroom, which will help pull together your design. Small bathroom vanities can be purchased with or without mirrors cabinet set. It is important to measure your space before purchasing a small bath vanity to make sure it is just the right fit. In the other hand, double sink bathroom vanities are perfect for master bathrooms. Sharing the bathroom in the morning can be difficult with only one sink. If you share the bathroom in the morning, then a double vanity will give you all space you need. A double sink bathroom vanity is not only good to share with your family, or the person you are living with, but it also gives an appealing touch to your bathroom with its space – looks like everything is in place here! Double vanities are the perfect solution for larger bathrooms and look elegant with sinks next to one another. See our bathroom vanities collections below:

Joe and Denise purchased a large Tudor style home that never truly fit their needs. While interviewing contractors to replace the roof and stucco on their home, it prompted them to consider a complete remodel. With two young daughters and pets in the home, our clients were convinced they needed an open concept to entertain and enjoy family and friends together. The couple also desired a blend of traditional and contemporary styles with sophisticated finishes for the project. JRP embarked on a new floor plan design for both stories of the home. The top floor would include a complete rearrangement of the master suite allowing for separate vanities, spacious master shower, soaking tub, and bigger walk-in closet. On the main floor, walls separating the kitchen and formal dining room would come down. Steel beams and new SQFT was added to open the spaces up to one another. Central to the open-concept layout is a breathtaking great room with an expansive 6-panel bi-folding door creating a seamless view to the gorgeous hills. It became an entirely new space with structural changes, additional living space, and all-new finishes, inside and out to embody our clients’ dream home. PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Transitional • Colors: Gray & White • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Chrome • Lighting Fixtures: unique and bold lighting fixtures throughout every room in the house (pendant lighting, chandeliers, sconces, etc) • Photographer: Andrew (Open House VC)

Joe and Denise purchased a large Tudor style home that never truly fit their needs. While interviewing contractors to replace the roof and stucco on their home, it prompted them to consider a complete remodel. With two young daughters and pets in the home, our clients were convinced they needed an open concept to entertain and enjoy family and friends together. The couple also desired a blend of traditional and contemporary styles with sophisticated finishes for the project. JRP embarked on a new floor plan design for both stories of the home. The top floor would include a complete rearrangement of the master suite allowing for separate vanities, spacious master shower, soaking tub, and bigger walk-in closet. On the main floor, walls separating the kitchen and formal dining room would come down. Steel beams and new SQFT was added to open the spaces up to one another. Central to the open-concept layout is a breathtaking great room with an expansive 6-panel bi-folding door creating a seamless view to the gorgeous hills. It became an entirely new space with structural changes, additional living space, and all-new finishes, inside and out to embody our clients’ dream home. PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Transitional • Colors: Gray & White • Countertops: Calacatta Nuvo (Caesarstone) • Cabinets: Frameless Shaker, White (DeWils) • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Chrome • Lighting Fixtures: unique and bold lighting fixtures throughout every room in the house (pendant lighting, chandeliers, sconces, etc) • Flooring: White Oak (Titanium wash) • Photographer: Andrew (Open House VC)

"When we decided to renovate our newly purchased home we hired TaylorPro, owned by Kerry Taylor. We were extremely happy with his work - in fact, I can't imagine being happier. Our new kitchen is just beautiful as is the master bath and updates to other parts of our house. We hired Kerry while we were still living in Boston so keeping in touch was critical and Kerry corresponded with us very frequently, including photos to keep us apprised of the status of the various projects. Of course if there was a question it was asked almost immediately and he was wonderful about suggesting less expensive alternatives when that made sense. Throughout the project it felt like Kerry was remodeling his own home. He was all about quality. The remodel was finished in the time frame that Kerry had promised and on target with our budget. We love our new home. I hear so many people complain about their contractor. Not me. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. If you hire Kerry and his team you'll see what I mean." ~ Lauren S, Client Master Suite Remodel featuring Walnut Cabinetry and Walnut Doors. Rich porcelain tile shower . Signature Designs Kitchen Bath HighPoint Cabinetry. Photos by Jon Upson

The first information you should know when looking for a new bathroom vanity is the space available. This is very important, as you want your bathroom to look neat with everything in place. After you know the space, you should consider what shape, size, and color or finish you want your vanity to be. Lastly, it is time to find what features you want. One of the most popular types of bathroom vanity features is storage doors. The reason for this is because vanities with doors make it easy to access your storage. A high-quality vanity cabinet with doors can help change the look from modern to traditional, or vice versa, depending on the door design. Do you want the vanity to have a countertop, and undermount sinks? Do you want the vanity to have vessel sinks? Or do you want it with recessed sinks? It all depends on the look that you want to give to your bathroom, as bathroom vanities are certainly the focal point in any bathroom. We offer a wide range of styles from modern to contemporary, making it easy for you to choose a vanity that will match any style you have in mind. We also offer options such as wall mounted or floor standing vanities, single or double sink vanities, mirror or medicine cabinet vanities. These options allow you to customize your bathroom vanity to meet your exact preference. Single Sink bathroom vanities are ideal for small bathrooms. A small bathroom does not mean that you have to waive elegance and style. You can find a single sink vanity for your small bathroom, which will help pull together your design. Small bathroom vanities can be purchased with or without mirrors cabinet set. It is important to measure your space before purchasing a small bath vanity to make sure it is just the right fit. In the other hand, double sink bathroom vanities are perfect for master bathrooms. Sharing the bathroom in the morning can be difficult with only one sink. If you share the bathroom in the morning, then a double vanity will give you all space you need. A double sink bathroom vanity is not only good to share with your family, or the person you are living with, but it also gives an appealing touch to your bathroom with its space – looks like everything is in place here! Double vanities are the perfect solution for larger bathrooms and look elegant with sinks next to one another. See our bathroom vanities collections below:

"When we decided to renovate our newly purchased home we hired TaylorPro, owned by Kerry Taylor. We were extremely happy with his work - in fact, I can't imagine being happier. Our new kitchen is just beautiful as is the master bath and updates to other parts of our house. We hired Kerry while we were still living in Boston so keeping in touch was critical and Kerry corresponded with us very frequently, including photos to keep us apprised of the status of the various projects. Of course if there was a question it was asked almost immediately and he was wonderful about suggesting less expensive alternatives when that made sense. Throughout the project it felt like Kerry was remodeling his own home. He was all about quality. The remodel was finished in the time frame that Kerry had promised and on target with our budget. We love our new home. I hear so many people complain about their contractor. Not me. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. If you hire Kerry and his team you'll see what I mean." ~ Lauren S, Client Master Suite Remodel featuring Walnut Cabinetry and Walnut Doors. Rich porcelain tile shower . Signature Designs Kitchen Bath HighPoint Cabinetry. Photos by Jon Upson

This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.

This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.

Transforming a Master Bathroom When our clients purchased their beautiful home in South Fort Myers, FL they fell in love with the expansive, sweeping space. It wasn’t long, however, before they realized the master bathroom just didn’t suit their taste. The large walk-in shower was practically cave-like. Consequentially, it completely dwarfed the bathroom. Along with bland colors, outdated finishes, and a dividing wall in the middle of the room, the whole space felt smaller than its ample dimensions implied. There was no question about it – the bathroom needed an update. Making Room for More First, we demolished the existing finishes and cut the concrete slab for new underground plumbing. We minimized the imposing shower and moved it to the other side of the room. Moving the shower also allowed for the installation of our Dura Supreme Alectra style cabinetry in cocoa brown. For increased functionality, we created split his-and-hers vanities. Then we added towers to match the cabinets. With interior outlets, the towers added smart storage for bathroom appliances, helping to keep the counters clutter-free. For a finishing touch, we outlined the large mirrors with crown molding trim in a complimentary finish – an essential detail to tie all the cabinetry together. The Spa To bring the feel of the spa to this gorgeous home, we installed our luxurious drop-in 72”x42” Kohler Air Massage bathtub. We completely surrounded it with 3cm granite countertops in Delicatus green and added a tub deck with tile backsplashes for a sumptuous ambiance. Lighting On either side of the his-and-hers vanity, we installed George Kovach tube sconces. Vertical placement of the sconces provided ample lighting while enhancing the contemporary style of the space. To frame the room, we added a drop ceiling with recessed lighting and outlined the tray ceiling with crown molding to match the rest of the design. To complete the bath remodel, we installed the final element – a stunningly unique 10-light polished chrome chandelier from Maxim lighting. A Complete Transformation When we met with our clients, it was instantly clear to us why they were unhappy with their master bathroom. The cave-like shower and cumbersome dividing wall overpowered a room in dire need of a modernizing. Furthermore, with two small children and a busy lifestyle, we could sense our clients not only desired a bathroom renovation, they needed a relaxing retreat. Ultimately, this project was nothing less than a complete transformation of space. In fact, by the time we had finished, the only original fixtures left were the windows! With beautifully updated finishes and an improved layout, we were able to achieve the functionality our clients craved along with a new, spa-like feel. The end result was nothing short of a haven at home – the perfect spot to recharge at the end of a long day.

The homeowners had just purchased this home in El Segundo and they had remodeled the kitchen and one of the bathrooms on their own. However, they had more work to do. They felt that the rest of the project was too big and complex to tackle on their own and so they retained us to take over where they left off. The main focus of the project was to create a master suite and take advantage of the rather large backyard as an extension of their home. They were looking to create a more fluid indoor outdoor space. When adding the new master suite leaving the ceilings vaulted along with French doors give the space a feeling of openness. The window seat was originally designed as an architectural feature for the exterior but turned out to be a benefit to the interior! They wanted a spa feel for their master bathroom utilizing organic finishes. Since the plan is that this will be their forever home a curbless shower was an important feature to them. The glass barn door on the shower makes the space feel larger and allows for the travertine shower tile to show through. Floating shelves and vanity allow the space to feel larger while the natural tones of the porcelain tile floor are calming. The his and hers vessel sinks make the space functional for two people to use it at once. The walk-in closet is open while the master bathroom has a white pocket door for privacy. Since a new master suite was added to the home we converted the existing master bedroom into a family room. Adding French Doors to the family room opened up the floorplan to the outdoors while increasing the amount of natural light in this room. The closet that was previously in the bedroom was converted to built in cabinetry and floating shelves in the family room. The French doors in the master suite and family room now both open to the same deck space. The homes new open floor plan called for a kitchen island to bring the kitchen and dining / great room together. The island is a 3” countertop vs the standard inch and a half. This design feature gives the island a chunky look. It was important that the island look like it was always a part of the kitchen. Lastly, we added a skylight in the corner of the kitchen as it felt dark once we closed off the side door that was there previously. Repurposing rooms and opening the floor plan led to creating a laundry closet out of an old coat closet (and borrowing a small space from the new family room). The floors become an integral part of tying together an open floor plan like this. The home still had original oak floors and the homeowners wanted to maintain that character. We laced in new planks and refinished it all to bring the project together. To add curb appeal we removed the carport which was blocking a lot of natural light from the outside of the house. We also re-stuccoed the home and added exterior trim.

Adding furniture and accessories to a vacant property makes an incredible difference to the potential purchaser's perspective when they walk through the door for the first time. If you would like a consultation, give us a call at 514-222-5553. We work with investors, home owners, realtors and house 'flippers'. Unique home Solutions Inc. has been in business since 2006 helping owners improve the look of their properties.

The first information you should know when looking for a new bathroom vanity is the space available. This is very important, as you want your bathroom to look neat with everything in place. After you know the space, you should consider what shape, size, and color or finish you want your vanity to be. Lastly, it is time to find what features you want. One of the most popular types of bathroom vanity features is storage doors. The reason for this is because vanities with doors make it easy to access your storage. A high-quality vanity cabinet with doors can help change the look from modern to traditional, or vice versa, depending on the door design. Do you want the vanity to have a countertop, and undermount sinks? Do you want the vanity to have vessel sinks? Or do you want it with recessed sinks? It all depends on the look that you want to give to your bathroom, as bathroom vanities are certainly the focal point in any bathroom. We offer a wide range of styles from modern to contemporary, making it easy for you to choose a vanity that will match any style you have in mind. We also offer options such as wall mounted or floor standing vanities, single or double sink vanities, mirror or medicine cabinet vanities. These options allow you to customize your bathroom vanity to meet your exact preference. Single Sink bathroom vanities are ideal for small bathrooms. A small bathroom does not mean that you have to waive elegance and style. You can find a single sink vanity for your small bathroom, which will help pull together your design. Small bathroom vanities can be purchased with or without mirrors cabinet set. It is important to measure your space before purchasing a small bath vanity to make sure it is just the right fit. In the other hand, double sink bathroom vanities are perfect for master bathrooms. Sharing the bathroom in the morning can be difficult with only one sink. If you share the bathroom in the morning, then a double vanity will give you all space you need. A double sink bathroom vanity is not only good to share with your family, or the person you are living with, but it also gives an appealing touch to your bathroom with its space – looks like everything is in place here! Double vanities are the perfect solution for larger bathrooms and look elegant with sinks next to one another. See our bathroom vanities collections below:

This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.

Five stars isn’t enough! Our project was to reconfigure and update the main floor of a house we recently purchased that was built in 1961. We wanted to maintain some of the unique feeling it originally had but bring it up-to-date and eliminate the closed-in rooms and downright weird layout that was the result of multiple, partial remodeling projects. We began with a long wishlist of changes which also required replacement of very antiquated plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC. We even found a fireplace that had been walled in and needed major re-construction. Many other aspects and details on this incredible list we made included an all new kitchen layout, converting a bedroom into a master closet, adding new half-bath, completely rebuilding the master bath, and adding stone, tile and custom built cabinetry. Our design plans included many fixtures and details that we specified and required professional installation and careful handling. Innovative helped us make reasonable decisions. Their skilled staff took us through a design process that made sense. There were many questions and all were answered with sincere conversation and positive – innovation – on how we could achieve our goals. Innovative provided us with professional consultants, who listened and were courteous and creative, with solid knowledge and informative judgement. When they didn’t have an answer, they did the research. They developed a comprehensive project plan that exceeded our expectations. Every item on our long list was checked-off. All agreed on work was fulfilled and they completed all this in just under four months. Innovative took care of putting together a team of skilled professional specialists who were all dedicated to make everything right. Engineering, construction, supervision, and I cannot even begin to describe how much thanks we have for the demolition crew! Our multiple, detailed project designs from Raul and professional design advice from Mindy and the connections she recommended are all of the best quality. Diego Jr., Trevor and his team kept everything on track and neat and tidy every single day and Diego Sr., Mark, Ismael, Albert, Santiago and team are true craftsmen who follow-up and make the most minuscule woodworking details perfect. The cabinets by Tim and electrical work and installation of fixtures by Kemchan Harrilal-BB and Navindra Doolratram, and Augustine and his crew on tile and stone work – all perfection. Aisling and the office crew were always responsive to our calls and requests. And of course Clark and Eric who oversaw everything and gave us the best of the best! Apologies if we didn’t get everyone on this list – you’re all great! Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We can’t thank you enough Innovative Construction – we kind of want to do it again! Dave Hallman & Matt DeGraffenreid

The first information you should know when looking for a new bathroom vanity is the space available. This is very important, as you want your bathroom to look neat with everything in place. After you know the space, you should consider what shape, size, and color or finish you want your vanity to be. Lastly, it is time to find what features you want. One of the most popular types of bathroom vanity features is storage doors. The reason for this is because vanities with doors make it easy to access your storage. A high-quality vanity cabinet with doors can help change the look from modern to traditional, or vice versa, depending on the door design. Do you want the vanity to have a countertop, and undermount sinks? Do you want the vanity to have vessel sinks? Or do you want it with recessed sinks? It all depends on the look that you want to give to your bathroom, as bathroom vanities are certainly the focal point in any bathroom. We offer a wide range of styles from modern to contemporary, making it easy for you to choose a vanity that will match any style you have in mind. We also offer options such as wall mounted or floor standing vanities, single or double sink vanities, mirror or medicine cabinet vanities. These options allow you to customize your bathroom vanity to meet your exact preference. Single Sink bathroom vanities are ideal for small bathrooms. A small bathroom does not mean that you have to waive elegance and style. You can find a single sink vanity for your small bathroom, which will help pull together your design. Small bathroom vanities can be purchased with or without mirrors cabinet set. It is important to measure your space before purchasing a small bath vanity to make sure it is just the right fit. In the other hand, double sink bathroom vanities are perfect for master bathrooms. Sharing the bathroom in the morning can be difficult with only one sink. If you share the bathroom in the morning, then a double vanity will give you all space you need. A double sink bathroom vanity is not only good to share with your family, or the person you are living with, but it also gives an appealing touch to your bathroom with its space – looks like everything is in place here! Double vanities are the perfect solution for larger bathrooms and look elegant with sinks next to one another. See our bathroom vanities collections below:

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.