These new homeowners fell in love with this home's location and size, but weren't thrilled about it's dated exterior. They approached us with the idea of turning this 1980's contemporary home into a Modern Farmhouse aesthetic, complete with white board and batten siding, a new front porch addition, a new roof deck addition, as well as enlarging the current garage. New windows throughout, new metal roofing, exposed rafter tails and new siding throughout completed the exterior renovation.

Inspiration for a transitional family room remodel in Kansas City

This picture is a master bedroom features a silver leaf ceiling, crystal and iron chandelier, and upholstered inset panels.
Bedroom - traditional master bedroom idea in New York

Barry Grossman Photography
Drop-in bathtub - contemporary stone tile and white tile drop-in bathtub idea in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and granite countertops

Morgan Howarth Photography
Example of a transitional built-in desk home office design in DC Metro

This gray and transitional kitchen remodel bridges the gap between contemporary style and traditional style. The dark gray cabinetry, light gray walls, and white subway tile backsplash make for a beautiful, neutral canvas for the bold teal blue and yellow décor accented throughout the design. Designer Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair did a fabulous job at using grays to create a neutral backdrop to bring out the bright, vibrant colors that the homeowners love so much. This Milwaukee, WI kitchen is the perfect example of Dura Supreme's recent launch of gray paint finishes, it has been interesting to see these new cabinetry colors suddenly flowing across our manufacturing floor, destined for homes around the country. We've already seen an enthusiastic acceptance of these new colors as homeowners started immediately selecting our various shades of gray paints, like this example of “Storm Gray”, for their new homes and remodeling projects! Dura Supreme’s “Storm Gray” is the darkest of our new gray painted finishes (although our current “Graphite” paint finish is a charcoal gray that is almost black). For those that like the popular contrast between light and dark finishes, Storm Gray pairs beautifully with lighter painted and stained finishes. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

Renovation, new kitchen of a townhouse in Brooklyn Heights photo by Michael Weber
Elegant kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Best of Houzz Kitchen Design 2016 winner. A custom kitchen remodel was one of the final projects for this beautiful Georgian Century Home. All the details were part of the effort to maintain the feel of an old kitchen but with all the most current conveniences. Notice the glass cabinet hung in front of a window, granite counter top repeated as the back splash, porcelain tiles that mimic wood and marble on the floor, a stunning island light and the coffered ceiling. Michael Jacob Photography

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

We were asked to achieve modern-day functionality and style while preserving the architectural character of this Victorian home built in 1900. We balanced a classic white cabinet style with a bold backsplash tile and an island countertop made from reclaimed high school bleacher seats. // Photographer: Caroline Johnson

Greg Reigler
Large elegant front porch photo in Miami with decking and a roof extension

© Will Sullivan, Emerald Coat Real Estate Photography, LLC
Elegant laundry room photo in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Here is the built in desk area with open shelves, library drawers and a custom bulletin board to make organization a breeze. Photo courtesy of Neil Kelly--Aaron Ziltener

Small zen formal and open concept living room photo in San Diego with white walls, a metal fireplace, a standard fireplace and a concealed tv

The transition to several garden rooms, a gravel path leads from the rear terrace to the many spaces. The entry is flanked by the New England fieldstone seat wall, capped in blue stone. The path is lined with cushwa brick outlining the formal garden filled with boxwood, pachysandra ground cover, hydrangea, magnolia, and eastern redbud. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Large transitional galley kitchen photo in Sydney with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a contemporary beige tile alcove shower remodel in Providence with an undermount tub

Fully integrated Signature Estate featuring Creston controls and Crestron panelized lighting, and Crestron motorized shades and draperies, whole-house audio and video, HVAC, voice and video communication atboth both the front door and gate. Modern, warm, and clean-line design, with total custom details and finishes. The front includes a serene and impressive atrium foyer with two-story floor to ceiling glass walls and multi-level fire/water fountains on either side of the grand bronze aluminum pivot entry door. Elegant extra-large 47'' imported white porcelain tile runs seamlessly to the rear exterior pool deck, and a dark stained oak wood is found on the stairway treads and second floor. The great room has an incredible Neolith onyx wall and see-through linear gas fireplace and is appointed perfectly for views of the zero edge pool and waterway. The center spine stainless steel staircase has a smoked glass railing and wood handrail.

Photography by www.stephanibuchmanphotography.com Interior Design by Christine DeCosta www.decorbychristine.com
Transitional single-wall dark wood floor wet bar photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and white countertops