From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Improved curb appeal. AFTER. Light gray paint with crisp white trim & shutters. Existing trees and shrubs were removed or trimmed up to reveal a clean, low maintenance landscape sure to attract buyers. It's amazing what can be accomplished with paint and a little elbow grease. There's never a second chance to make a good first impression. If you were in the market, would you have wanted to see the inside of the house in the before photos?

Willie & Leslie of Barrington Hills loved the location of their home. Its breathtaking views overlooked a wooded backyard and a captivating lake. They didn’t want to move, but they needed more space. But the house was missing that big family room where everyone could gather, relax and converse, and the house was completely cut off visually from the beautiful outdoor view right outside! They knew what they wanted meant building an addition to their home. They began searching the internet and came across Advance Design Studio, and after browsing through project after project and reading one outstanding client review after another, they were sold on Advance Design. Additionally, they loved Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” process and felt confident that it would allow the Design/Build company to easily coordinate the multiple projects they wanted to complete all at one time. Willie and Leslie immediately set up a meeting with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Claudia Pop. When the meeting ended, they were sure that Advance Design were the right people and the right approach for their project. "Establishing a direction and a budget is always key in project of this size," Todd said. "This house was screaming for a family room and it didn't have one. Ultimately, it's about working together towards the same goal of a beautiful functional addition." The project consisted of a significant family room addition with an extraordinary vaulted ceiling and floor to ceiling fireplace, a guest suite renovation with a luxury bath, a garage addition, and an adjoining outdoor patio renovation complete with a fantastic built in grilling station. The main goal was to add comfort and space to the existing home that would last their lifetime, and finally allow them to capture the amazing view of the backyard and lake that they never could really enjoy previously. Willie, Leslie and Claudia paid special attention to designing the space to make sure that the footprint of the room did not interfere with the views. Floor to ceiling Pella windows were incorporated into a spectacular window wall to provide plenty of natural light. Vaulted ceilings gave the room a bigger feel and the stunning floor to ceiling masonry fireplace was designed giving the room a rustic, comfortable feel of a Colorado Lodge. Barnwood doors and exposed wooden beams accentuate the crackling fireplace and family gathering space. An oversized statement chandelier bathes the space in soft light once the sun sets and compliments the exposed wood and fireplace perfectly. “It simple elegant and beautiful,” Designer Claudia Pop said. “It is a great family room that captures the views perfectly. They love the fireplace, the barndoors and the openness of the space we designed for the whole family now to enjoy.” And when warm weather beckons, the outdoor patio is a terrific place to spend an evening. The family now enjoys fall nights in front of their outdoor fireplace overlooking the quiet lake. Dekton Trillium Quartz counters tops adorn an amazing grilling bar. Nearly indestructible, they are the only manufactured stone product designed exclusively to withstand high heat in summer and extreme cold temperatures in winter. The guest bath renovation makes Willie and Leslie’s friends and family feel like they are staying at a 5-star hotel. Carlisle colored Maple cabinets from Medallion make a roomy dual vanity more than adequate with plenty of space to get ready for the day after a peaceful night’s sleep. Cambria Quartz countertops are durable and elegant, while contrasting the neutral cabinets flawlessly. Heated flooring from Warmly Yours is the cherry on top for this cozy guest bath. All the projects turned out better than they even imagined. Willie and Leslie now have a spacious family room with even better views of the lake and woods, a much larger garage, a fantastic relaxing outdoor patio, and a guest bath that makes it almost impossible to get the guest to leave after their stay. Are you thinking about a remodeling project? Talk to the experts at Advance Design about the renovation of your dreams. Now is the perfect time to renovate. Check out other amazing projects here. With “Common Sense Remodeling”, the process of renovating your home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about your kitchen remodeling project, or any other home renovation you are planning. Our talented team can help you design and build the new space you’ve been dreaming about.

Willie & Leslie of Barrington Hills loved the location of their home. Its breathtaking views overlooked a wooded backyard and a captivating lake. They didn’t want to move, but they needed more space. But the house was missing that big family room where everyone could gather, relax and converse, and the house was completely cut off visually from the beautiful outdoor view right outside! They knew what they wanted meant building an addition to their home. They began searching the internet and came across Advance Design Studio, and after browsing through project after project and reading one outstanding client review after another, they were sold on Advance Design. Additionally, they loved Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” process and felt confident that it would allow the Design/Build company to easily coordinate the multiple projects they wanted to complete all at one time. Willie and Leslie immediately set up a meeting with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Claudia Pop. When the meeting ended, they were sure that Advance Design were the right people and the right approach for their project. "Establishing a direction and a budget is always key in project of this size," Todd said. "This house was screaming for a family room and it didn't have one. Ultimately, it's about working together towards the same goal of a beautiful functional addition." The project consisted of a significant family room addition with an extraordinary vaulted ceiling and floor to ceiling fireplace, a guest suite renovation with a luxury bath, a garage addition, and an adjoining outdoor patio renovation complete with a fantastic built in grilling station. The main goal was to add comfort and space to the existing home that would last their lifetime, and finally allow them to capture the amazing view of the backyard and lake that they never could really enjoy previously. Willie, Leslie and Claudia paid special attention to designing the space to make sure that the footprint of the room did not interfere with the views. Floor to ceiling Pella windows were incorporated into a spectacular window wall to provide plenty of natural light. Vaulted ceilings gave the room a bigger feel and the stunning floor to ceiling masonry fireplace was designed giving the room a rustic, comfortable feel of a Colorado Lodge. Barnwood doors and exposed wooden beams accentuate the crackling fireplace and family gathering space. An oversized statement chandelier bathes the space in soft light once the sun sets and compliments the exposed wood and fireplace perfectly. “It simple elegant and beautiful,” Designer Claudia Pop said. “It is a great family room that captures the views perfectly. They love the fireplace, the barndoors and the openness of the space we designed for the whole family now to enjoy.” And when warm weather beckons, the outdoor patio is a terrific place to spend an evening. The family now enjoys fall nights in front of their outdoor fireplace overlooking the quiet lake. Dekton Trillium Quartz counters tops adorn an amazing grilling bar. Nearly indestructible, they are the only manufactured stone product designed exclusively to withstand high heat in summer and extreme cold temperatures in winter. The guest bath renovation makes Willie and Leslie’s friends and family feel like they are staying at a 5-star hotel. Carlisle colored Maple cabinets from Medallion make a roomy dual vanity more than adequate with plenty of space to get ready for the day after a peaceful night’s sleep. Cambria Quartz countertops are durable and elegant, while contrasting the neutral cabinets flawlessly. Heated flooring from Warmly Yours is the cherry on top for this cozy guest bath. All the projects turned out better than they even imagined. Willie and Leslie now have a spacious family room with even better views of the lake and woods, a much larger garage, a fantastic relaxing outdoor patio, and a guest bath that makes it almost impossible to get the guest to leave after their stay. Are you thinking about a remodeling project? Talk to the experts at Advance Design about the renovation of your dreams. Now is the perfect time to renovate. Check out other amazing projects here. With “Common Sense Remodeling”, the process of renovating your home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about your kitchen remodeling project, or any other home renovation you are planning. Our talented team can help you design and build the new space you’ve been dreaming about.

Cottage walls and ceilings are particularly challenging as changing temperature and humidity are incompatible with drywall or plaster. The most common solution is the type of wood laminate panelling seen on the walls here, but there is another solution, and that's stretch ceiling, seen on the ceiling here. Completely impervious to moisture and able to withstand any temperature extremes that North American weather can bring in the absence of climate control, stretch ceiling can be printed with any high resolution image, like the butterflies and flowers image that we printed on this ceiling. It will never fade, peel, bubble, discolour, need repainting, warp, or grow mould or mildew.

The flagstone patio was the most expensive and difficult part of the whole project. I had never done a patio before, and I didn’t realize how much dirt would need to be removed to create the gravel base. Fortunately, my wife was working for a landscaping company at the time, and they let us borrow a Dingo mini excavator. Since our house backs up to a hill, the Dingo was also very helpful in bringing the crushed stone several hundred feet from where the dump truck dropped it. However, we had to return the Dingo before the job was finished, and a good friend helped me move about 15,000 lbs. of gravel in wheel barrows from the front driveway to the back yard. He also helped me pick up the flagstone from the local stone yard (another 6,000 lbs.).

Words by Wilson Hack The best architecture allows what has come before it to be seen and cared for while at the same time injecting something new, if not idealistic. Spartan at first glance, the interior of this stately apartment building, located on the iconic Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, quickly begins to unfold as a calculated series of textures, visual artifacts and perfected aesthetic continuities. The client, a globe-trotting entrepreneur, selected Jeanne Schultz Design Studio for the remodel and requested that the space be reconditioned into a purposeful and peaceful landing pad. It was to be furnished simply using natural and sustainable materials. Schultz began by gently peeling back before adding only the essentials, resulting in a harmoniously restorative living space where darkness and light coexist and comfort reigns. The design was initially guided by the fireplace—from there a subtle injection of matching color extends up into the thick tiered molding and ceiling trim. “The most reckless patterns live here,” remarks Schultz, referring to the checkered green and white tiles, pink-Pollack-y stone and cast iron detailing. The millwork and warm wood wall panels devour the remainder of the living room, eliminating the need for unnecessary artwork. A curved living room chair by Kave Home punctuates playfully; its shape reveals its pleasant conformity to the human body and sits back, inviting rest and respite. “It’s good for all body types and sizes,” explains Schultz. The single sofa by Dareels is purposefully oversized, casual and inviting. A beige cover was added to soften the otherwise rectilinear edges. Additionally sourced from Dareels, a small yet centrally located side table anchors the space with its dark black wood texture, its visual weight on par with the larger pieces. The black bulbous free standing lamp converses directly with the antique chandelier above. Composed of individual black leather strips, it is seemingly harsh—yet its soft form is reminiscent of a spring tulip. The continuation of the color palette slips softly into the dining room where velvety green chairs sit delicately on a cascade array of pointed legs. The doors that lead out to the patio were sanded down and treated so that the original shape and form could be retained. Although the same green paint was used throughout, this set of doors speaks in darker tones alongside the acute and penetrating daylight. A few different shades of white paint were used throughout the space to add additional depth and embellish this shadowy texture. Specialty lights were added into the space to complement the existing overhead lighting. A wall sconce was added in the living room and extra lighting was placed in the kitchen. However, because of the existing barrel vaulted tile ceiling, sconces were placed on the walls rather than above to avoid penetrating the existing architecture.

Words by Wilson Hack The best architecture allows what has come before it to be seen and cared for while at the same time injecting something new, if not idealistic. Spartan at first glance, the interior of this stately apartment building, located on the iconic Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, quickly begins to unfold as a calculated series of textures, visual artifacts and perfected aesthetic continuities. The client, a globe-trotting entrepreneur, selected Jeanne Schultz Design Studio for the remodel and requested that the space be reconditioned into a purposeful and peaceful landing pad. It was to be furnished simply using natural and sustainable materials. Schultz began by gently peeling back before adding only the essentials, resulting in a harmoniously restorative living space where darkness and light coexist and comfort reigns. The design was initially guided by the fireplace—from there a subtle injection of matching color extends up into the thick tiered molding and ceiling trim. “The most reckless patterns live here,” remarks Schultz, referring to the checkered green and white tiles, pink-Pollack-y stone and cast iron detailing. The millwork and warm wood wall panels devour the remainder of the living room, eliminating the need for unnecessary artwork. A curved living room chair by Kave Home punctuates playfully; its shape reveals its pleasant conformity to the human body and sits back, inviting rest and respite. “It’s good for all body types and sizes,” explains Schultz. The single sofa by Dareels is purposefully oversized, casual and inviting. A beige cover was added to soften the otherwise rectilinear edges. Additionally sourced from Dareels, a small yet centrally located side table anchors the space with its dark black wood texture, its visual weight on par with the larger pieces. The black bulbous free standing lamp converses directly with the antique chandelier above. Composed of individual black leather strips, it is seemingly harsh—yet its soft form is reminiscent of a spring tulip. The continuation of the color palette slips softly into the dining room where velvety green chairs sit delicately on a cascade array of pointed legs. The doors that lead out to the patio were sanded down and treated so that the original shape and form could be retained. Although the same green paint was used throughout, this set of doors speaks in darker tones alongside the acute and penetrating daylight. A few different shades of white paint were used throughout the space to add additional depth and embellish this shadowy texture. Specialty lights were added into the space to complement the existing overhead lighting. A wall sconce was added in the living room and extra lighting was placed in the kitchen. However, because of the existing barrel vaulted tile ceiling, sconces were placed on the walls rather than above to avoid penetrating the existing architecture.

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.

Pro-Tile & Marble, Inc. Something you may never have thought about is actually the hot trend: faux wood tile flooring. If you’ve never seen a faux wood tile floor, then you are missing out. These types of floors not only give you the look of wood, but also the durability of tile. This homeowner chose a beautiful natural color plank tile floor for her home at the beach. She wanted a floor that could stand up to her animals, the beach sand, ad everything else that goes with living at the beach. She was pleased with the final results and is loving the look of her new flooring. After all home is where the heart is.... Call us today for a free in home estimate 904-731-6471

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The second-largest and most developed of Georgia's barrier islands, St. Simons is approximately twelve miles long and nearly three miles wide at its widest stretch (roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). The island is located in Glynn County on Georgia's coast and lies east of Brunswick (the seat of Glynn County), south of Little St. Simons Island and the Hampton River, and north of Jekyll Island. The resort community of Sea Island is separated from St. Simons on the east by the Black Banks River. Known for its oak tree canopies and historic landmarks, St. Simons is both a tourist destination and, according to the 2010 U.S. census, home to 12,743 residents. Early History The earliest St. Simons Island Village record of human habitation on the island dates to the Late Archaic Period, about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. Remnants of shell rings left behind by Native Americans from this era survive on many of the barrier islands, including St. Simons. Centuries later, during the period known by historians as the chiefdom era, the Guale Indians established a chiefdom centered on St. Catherines Island and used St. Simons as their hunting and fishing grounds. By 1500 the Guale had established a permanent village of about 200 people on St. Simons, which they called Guadalquini. Beginning in 1568, the Spanish attempted to create missions along the Georgia coast. Catholic missions were the primary means by which Georgia's indigenous Native American chiefdoms were assimilated into the Spanish colonial system along the northern frontier of greater Spanish Florida. In the 1600s St. Simons became home to two Spanish missions: San Buenaventura de Guadalquini, on the southern tip of the island, and Santo Domingo de Asao (or Asajo), on the northern tip. Located on the inland side of the island were the pagan refugee villages of San Simón, the island's namesake, and Ocotonico. In 1684 pirate raids left the missions and villages largely abandoned. Colonial History As Fort Frederica early as 1670, with Great Britain's establishment of the colony of Carolina and its expansion into Georgia territory, Spanish rule was threatened by the English. The Georgia coast was considered "debatable land" by England and Spain, even though Spain had fully retreated from St. Simons by 1702. Thirty-one years later General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English settlement of Savannah. In 1736 he established Fort Frederica, named after the heir to the British throne, Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, on the west side of St. Simons Island to protect Savannah and the Carolinas from the Spanish threat. Between 1736 and 1749 Fort Frederica was the hub of British military operations along the Georgia frontier. A town of the same name grew up around the fort and was of great importance to the new colony. By 1740 Frederica's population was 1,000. In 1736 the congregation of what would become Christ Church was organized within Fort Frederica as a mission of the Church of England. Charles Wesley led the first services. In 1742 Britain's decisive victory over Spain in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, ended the Spanish threat to the Georgia coast. When the British regimen disbanded in 1749, most of the townspeople relocated to the mainland. Fort Frederica went into decline and, except for a short time of prosperity during the 1760s and 1770s under the leadership of merchant James Spalding, never fully recovered. Today the historic citadel's tabby ruins are maintained by the National Park Service. Plantation Era By the start of the American Revolution (1775-83), Fort Frederica was obsolete, and St. Simons was left largely uninhabited as most of its residents joined the patriot army. Besides hosting a small Georgia naval victory on the Fort Frederica River, providing guns from its famous fort for use at Fort Morris in Sunbury, and serving as an arena for pillaging by privateers and British soldiers, the island played almost no role in the war. Following the war, many of the townspeople, their businesses destroyed, turned to agriculture. The island was transformed into fourteen cotton plantations after acres of live oak trees were cleared for farm land and used for building American warships, including the famous USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides." Although rice was the predominant crop along the neighboring Altamaha River, St. Simons was known for its production of long-staple cotton, which soon came to be known as Sea Island cotton. Between Ebos Landing the 1780s and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65), St. Simons's plantation culture flourished. The saline atmosphere and the availability of cheap slave labor proved an ideal combination for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. In 1803 a group of Ebo slaves who survived the Middle Passage and arrived on the west side of St. Simons staged a rebellion and drowned themselves. The sacred site is known today as Ebos Landing. One of the largest owners of land and slaves on St. Simons was Pierce Butler, master of Hampton Point Plantation, located on the northern end of the island. By 1793 Butler owned more than 500 slaves, who cultivated 800 acres of cotton on St. Simons and 300 acres of rice on Butler's Island in the Altamaha River delta. Butler's grandson, Pierce Mease Butler, who at the age of sixteen inherited a share of his grandfather's estate in 1826, was responsible for the largest sale of human beings in the history of the United States: in 1859, to restore his squandered fortune, he sold 429 slaves in Savannah for more than $300,000. The British actress and writer Fanny Kemble, whose tumultuous marriage to Pierce ended in divorce in 1849, published an eyewitness account of the evils of slavery on St. Simons in her book Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (1863). Another Retreat Plantation large owner of land and slaves on St. Simons was Major William Page, a friend and employee of Pierce Butler Sr. Before purchasing Retreat Plantation on the southwestern tip of the island in 1804, Page managed the Hampton plantation and Butler's Island. Upon Page's death in 1827, Thomas Butler King inherited the land together with his wife, Page's daughter, Anna Matilda Page King. King expanded his father-in-law's planting empire on St. Simons as well as on the mainland, and by 1835 Retreat Plantation alone was home to as many as 355 slaves. The center of life during the island's plantation era was Christ Church, Frederica. Organized in 1807 by a group of island planters, the Episcopal church is the second oldest in the Diocese of Georgia. Embargoes imposed by the War of 1812 (1812-15) prevented the parishioners from building a church structure, so they worshiped in the home of John Beck, which stood on the site of Oglethorpe's only St. Simons residence, Orange Hall. The first Christ Church building, finished on the present site in 1820, was ruined by occupying Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884 the Reverend Anson Dodge Jr. rebuilt the church as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The cruciform building with a trussed gothic roof and stained-glass windows remains active today as Christ Church. Civil War and Beyond The St. Simons Island Lighthouse outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 put a sudden end to St. Simons's lucrative plantation era. In January of that year, Confederate troops were stationed at the south end of the island to guard the entrance to Brunswick Harbor. Slaves from Retreat Plantation, owned by Thomas Butler King, built earthworks and batteries. Plantation residents were scattered—the men joined the Confederate army and their families moved to the mainland. Cannon fire was heard on the island in December 1861, and Confederate troops retreated in February 1862, after dynamiting the lighthouse to keep its beacon from aiding Union troops. Soon thereafter, Union troops occupied the island, which was used as a camp for freed slaves. By August 1862 more than 500 former slaves lived on St. Simons, including Susie King Taylor, who organized a school for freed slave children. But in November the ex-slaves were taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Fernandina, Florida, leaving the island abandoned. After the Civil War the island never returned to its status as an agricultural community. The plantations lay dormant because there were no slaves to work the fields. After Union general William T. Sherman's January 1865 Special Field Order No. 15 —a demand that former plantations be divided and distributed to former slaves—was overturned by U.S. president Andrew Johnson less than a year later, freedmen and women were forced to work as sharecroppers on the small farms that dotted the land previously occupied by the sprawling plantations. By St. Simons Lumber Mills 1870 real economic recovery began with the reestablishment of the timber industry. Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs of New York set up lumber mill operations at Gascoigne Bluff, formerly Hamilton Plantation. The lumber mills provided welcome employment for both blacks and whites and also provided mail and passenger boats to the mainland. Such water traffic, together with the construction of a new lighthouse in 1872, designed by architect Charles B. Cluskey, marked the beginning of St. Simons's tourism industry. The keeper of the lighthouse created a small amusement park, which drew many visitors, as did the seemingly miraculous light that traveled from the top of the lighthouse tower to the bottom. The island became a summer retreat for families from the mainland, particularly from Baxley, Brunswick, and Waycross. The island's resort industry was thriving by the 1880s. Beachfront structures, such as a new pier and grand hotel, were built on the southeastern end of the island and could be accessed by ferry. Around this time wealthy northerners began vacationing on the island. Twentieth Century The St. Simons Island Pier and Village opening in 1924 of the Brunswick–St. Simons Highway, today known as the Torras Causeway, was a milestone in the development of resorts in the area. St. Simons's beaches were now easily accessible to locals and tourists alike. More than 5,000 automobiles took the short drive from Brunswick to St. Simons via the causeway on its opening day, paving the way for convenient residential and resort development. In 1926 automotive pioneer Howard Coffin of Detroit, Michigan, bought large tracts of land on St. Simons, including the former Retreat Plantation, and constructed a golf course, yacht club, paved roads, and a residential subdivision. Although the causeway had brought large numbers of summer people to the island, St. Simons remained a small community with only a few hundred permanent residents until the 1940s. The St. Simons Island outbreak of World War II (1941-45) brought more visitors and residents to St. Simons. Troops stationed at Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah; and nearby Camp Stewart took weekend vacations on the island, and a new naval air base and radar school became home to even more officers and soldiers. The increased wartime population brought the island its first public school. With a major shipyard for the production of Liberty ships in nearby Brunswick, the waters of St. Simons became active with German U-boats. In April 1942, just off the coast, the Texas Company oil tanker S. S. Oklahoma and the S. S. Esso Baton Rouge were torpedoed by the Germans, bringing the war very close to home for island residents. Due in large part to the military's improvement of the island's infrastructure during the war, development on the island boomed in the 1950s and 1960s. More permanent homes and subdivisions were built, and the island was no longer just a summer resort but also a thriving community. In 1950 the Methodist conference and retreat center Epworth by the Sea opened on Gascoigne Bluff. In 1961 novelist Eugenia Price visited St. Simons and began work on her first works of fiction, known as the St. Simons Trilogy. Inspired by real events on the island, Price's trilogy renewed interest in the history of Georgia's coast, and the novelist herself relocated to the island in 1965 and lived there for thirty-one years. St. Simons is also home to contemporary Georgia writer Tina McElroy Ansa. Since Epworth by the Sea 1980 St. Simons's population has doubled. The island's continued status as a vacation destination and its ongoing development boom have put historic landmarks and natural areas at risk. While such landmarks as the Fort Frederica ruins and the Battle of Bloody Marsh site are preserved and maintained by the National Park Service, and while the historic lighthouse is maintained by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, historic Ebos Landing has been taken over by a sewage treatment plant. Several coastal organizations have formed in recent years to save natural areas on the island. The St. Simons Land Trust, for example, has received donations of large tracts of land and plans to protect property in the island's three traditional African American neighborhoods. Despite its rapid growth and development, St. Simons remains one of the most beautiful and important islands on the Georgia coast.

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.

Take a home that has seen many lives and give it yet another one! This entry foyer got opened up to the kitchen and now gives the home a flow it had never seen.

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.

This new patio was designed and installed long distance, with never having met the clients. It relied on lots of communication and trust.
Elegant pool photo in New York

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

It was a great experience working with Barbara & Peter on their bathroom remodel. They never did a remodel before on their 1983 built house and were looking to refresh the outdated master bathroom. A new custom shower was installed with a new backer board, waterproof, and shower wall tile. They chose Idole Tear White ceramic tile from Floor & Decor for the shower wall tile. They picked White Marble Flat Pebble for the new shower floor tile and the new shower wall niche. They also had us install a new shower handheld fixture, shower head, and grab bar that has a fun curve to it and matches the shower wall. They also had us install a new frameless tempered rain glass with a door on the new shower. For the bathroom flooring, we used Valley Ridge Mansfield Amber III Porcelain, which adds a fresh and sleek feel to the area.

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.