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 couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

The addition included this large living and dining room, with new master bedroom and bathroom. New kitchen was the end of the original house footprint. Even with the tall ceilings, the space above was finished off and used for additional storage. This cabinetry was actually purchased from Restoration Hardware, and then prepped and painted white to match finishes. Large divided light windows and french doors, crown molding and true oak floors finish off the space.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

The addition included this large living and dining room, with new master bedroom and bathroom. New kitchen was the end of the original house footprint. Even with the tall ceilings, the space above was finished off and used for additional storage. This cabinetry was actually purchased from Restoration Hardware, and then prepped and painted white to match finishes. Large divided light windows and french doors, crown molding and true oak floors finish off the space.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

The master bedroom. Here's a view of the entire master bedroom with a seating area in the bay window. Originally, the client had the builder paint the walls and ceiling an avocado green. They also purchased the four poster canopy bed and accompanying pieces. The goal was to combine the client's love of contemporary style with the existing wall color and more traditional furnishings. The project included painting the ceiling white, drapery selection and installation, custom bedding, seating area, bench, lighting, artwork and accessories.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

This couple purchased the home with the intent to remodel. Not only did it have an amazing view, it also had a lot of potential. We focused on improving the flow of the home and bringing it up to date. Tearing down some large obstacles in the open areas and optimizing the space for the master suite by pulling the closet out of the carpeted bathroom and creating a much more functional walk in closet which also acted as a sound barrier from the living spaces. Because the couple was expecting and not completely moved in, this was a fast tracked project while they rented space elsewhere.

Example of a beach style enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor family room design in Charlotte with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

These homeowners purchased this house for their retirement years. To make their retirement even more sweet, we took this confined and dated home and opened it up by raising and widening doorways, replacing carpet with hardwoods, and bringing more light through the whole space. To add detail and visual interest, 2-piece casing and paneling were added in the main hallway. The custom master bathroom includes inset cabinetry and a curved tub panel. All of these changes refreshed the property, creating a clean, contemporary, and welcoming space to fully enjoy retirement. Photos by Kimberly Gavin Photography

Maple House is a lovely little craftsman-style home that had some great features to begin with, like a full size pantry and a mudroom entry from the carport. It did need a lot of love, though, from top to bottom, and ceiling to floor! It is now a really functional and efficient home, with lovely tile work in the bathrooms, granite counters and new cabinetry in the re-designed kitchen, new flooring throughout, and a huge walk-in closet in the adorable master bedroom. This one only stayed on the market a few days before being purchased by a very lovely family!

JANE BEILES
Trendy home design photo in New York

Maple House is a lovely little craftsman-style home that had some great features to begin with, like a full size pantry and a mudroom entry from the carport. It did need a lot of love, though, from top to bottom, and ceiling to floor! It is now a really functional and efficient home, with lovely tile work in the bathrooms, granite counters and new cabinetry in the re-designed kitchen, new flooring throughout, and a huge walk-in closet in the adorable master bedroom. This one only stayed on the market a few days before being purchased by a very lovely family!

Our clients already had a cottage on Torch Lake that they loved to visit. It was a 1960s ranch that worked just fine for their needs. However, the lower level walkout became entirely unusable due to water issues. After purchasing the lot next door, they hired us to design a new cottage. Our first task was to situate the home in the center of the two parcels to maximize the view of the lake while also accommodating a yard area. Our second task was to take particular care to divert any future water issues. We took necessary precautions with design specifications to water proof properly, establish foundation and landscape drain tiles / stones, set the proper elevation of the home per ground water height and direct the water flow around the home from natural grade / drive. Our final task was to make appealing, comfortable, living spaces with future planning at the forefront. An example of this planning is placing a master suite on both the main level and the upper level. The ultimate goal of this home is for it to one day be at least a 3/4 of the year home and designed to be a multi-generational heirloom. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

The house is about 100 years old and was originally on Pawleys Island proper. It was moved to “mainland” Pawleys island about 10 or 15 years ago and was purchased by owners in 2009. It’s a cozy (read small), happy house with lots of character that hugs you when you walk in. There were a couple of changes that absolutely needed to happen to make the house more functional. The first was a laundry room, the second was a place for us to eat as a family and entertain, and the third was a more functional kitchen. Here is the end result.