Late winter planting combination. Ian Lamond Photography
Photo of a traditional landscaping for winter.

Photo by Jay Sifford.

Black Lace™ flowers and foliage
Photo of a traditional partial sun landscaping in Chicago.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' - Leonard Messel Magnolia, these pale pink blossoms cover this small multi-stem flowering tree in spring. USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9

Example of a large classic u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Bobo hydrangea in full bloom on a summer day. This flowering shrub needs almost no maintenance to grow and flower vigorously every year.
Photo of a small eclectic partial sun landscaping in Chicago.

The backyard had an area that collected water and killed a few Arborvitae. The electric pole was also an eyesore. The area was raised and new plantings were installed with a path created to move the water away from the yard.

This compact, urban backyard was in desperate need of privacy. We created a series of outdoor rooms, privacy screens, and lush plantings all with an Asian-inspired design sense. Elements include a covered outdoor lounge room, sun decks, rock gardens, shade garden, evergreen plant screens, and raised boardwalk to connect the various outdoor spaces. The finished space feels like a true backyard oasis.

Photo of a mid-sized rustic partial sun backyard stone pond in Minneapolis for summer.

Agastache 'Blue Fortune' & Hibiscus 'Luna Pink Swirl' incorporated into a mixed perennial border. Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC

Blush Pink nandina is an exciting new version of the old standby Nandina ‘Firepower.’ Stunning pink new growth sets Blush Pink apart from its rivals. The pink color glows throughout the growing season leading up to a spectacular fall and winter display of bright pink and red foliage. A compact growth habit makes it ideal as a mass planting or a border. FEATURES Bloom/Feature Blush-colored young foliage Plant Type Shrubs Evergreen or Deciduous Evergreen USDA Zones 6,7,8,9,10 Zone Detail Hardy to -10 F Key Features Winter/fall foliage color, dwarf, year-round interest, fall blooming Use Accent, container, mass planting, slope Exposure Full sun to part shade Bloom Season None Dimension 2' H x 1.5-2' W Growth Rate Moderate to fast growth CARE Water Water as needed Soil Type Well-drained garden soil Fertilizer Early spring Pruning None PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS water before planting plant in full sun to part shade dig hole 3X the width of pot, backfill and plant 1”-2” above soil level water and add more soil if needed mulch plants; fertilize in early spring

Trace Robinson
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean drought-tolerant and full sun front yard gravel landscaping in Santa Barbara for fall.

Brick Pier
Elegant exterior home photo in Boston

Girly Chinoiserie Nursery
Inspiration for a zen girl nursery remodel in Austin

Photo of a large traditional backyard water fountain landscape in Orange County.

Naked buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) with red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens). Photo by Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds

Amelia B Lima
This is an example of an eclectic partial sun courtyard landscaping in San Diego.

Nicklaus Paulo of xeristyle | exterior | design
Photo of a coastal drought-tolerant front yard landscaping in Orange County.

Mike and Michelle of Lake Barrington knew they needed extra space. Their home was becoming too crowded for their family with blossoming teenagers, so a basement renovation offered the perfect solution for more space for the kids and more room to entertain for the adults. “Our project consisted of expanding our laundry room, putting in a first floor wet bar so we had adult space upstairs, while also renovating our basement for a family-friendly and teen-functional area as well,” Michelle says. They found Advance Design Studio through a neighbor who gave a glowing recommendation, giving Michelle and Mike the confidence they needed to move forward with a major home renovation. They felt like they knew Advance Design before they even worked together. When they met with the owner Todd Jurs and designer Nicole Ryan, Mike and Michelle knew they were getting a trustworthy, dependable team that could create the project they had been dreaming about for 7 years. Having virtually no natural light to work with, one of the biggest design challenges was creating a basement that did not feel dark and depressing. The Advance team got to work creating architectural archways and custom detailed dry-stack stone columns artfully designed into the space, adding a dramatic element that made the space feel less like a basement or more like a relaxing family room. Color 3D renderings were created to portray what the space would look like so Mike and Michelle could visualize the space in advance. Detailed trim and crown moldings grace the built in buffet and wet bar making for an amazingly functional space that lacks nothing in style and visual interest. Cherry wood cabinetry by Dura Supreme is featured in the space with a “Cocoa Brown” finish and includes beautiful mirrored glass doors embellished with unique elliptical mullion details. A built-in microwave, dishwasher and mini fridge add practicality to the ample entertainment mecca. An under mounted sink finishes the space joined with a intricate mosaic tile backsplash and “Ventisca Polished” quartz countertops. The basement is absolutely perfect for hosting friends and family with expertly designed key areas such as a game space for the kids, a movie area for the family, an ample workout room with luxurious full bath, and even built in wine storage. The family absolutely loves the new basement living space, and has already enjoyed numerous family movie nights and sleep-overs with friends. While custom cabinets made by Dura Supreme were used to create unique spaces that lived up to Mike and Michelle’s expectations., heated flooring under the 16”x16” “Mongolian Spring” tile was installed giving all tiled areas of the basement a much cozier feel, eliminating that cold hard surface most of us hate in our basements! The new basement must-have requirement list included a new bath space, which was incorporated adjacent to the work out room. The sleek shower door and cabinets in the new bathroom make guests and family feel like they are in an elegant hotel. The new guest bath features 4”x36” “Silver Screen” honed marble tile in a brick pattern on the shower walls and 2”x2” “Chenille” limestone tile in a hexagon mosaic pattern on the shower floor. “I came in with very specific requirements for our three project areas,” Michelle says. “There was not one time that I felt like I was asking for something that was not going to turn out how I anticipated.” Tying in multiple rooms during a renovation if you have can do it makes a lot of sense and saves money in the long run. A fully functional laundry room as well was a must on this family’s wish list. Michelle wanted to add space to the existing cramped and awkward laundry room, and Mike wanted to make sure they could still park a car in the garage. Reconfiguring interior walls required borrowing unused space cleverly from the garage in order to enlarge the laundry room space. Drawers under the stairs added beautiful hidden storage created almost magically out of dead space. White painted Dura Supreme cabinets bring additional light into the small space; while the 16”x16” cleft slate tile flooring provides excellent contrast and the naturally earthy feel Michelle wanted. Quartz countertops with a 3”x12” “Debut Dew” subway tile backsplash add elegance to the now upliftingly bright laundry room. The extra space makes doing laundry much more pleasurable and the added storage is a great for all those little things like winter hats and gloves, umbrellas and the like. “The Advance Design project team was phenomenal to work with,” Michelle says. “They came in, shared the plans with us and walked us through the expectations. We always knew what was coming next.” Converting an existing closet space, the wet bar upstairs was challenging because they wanted a functional area that didn’t look or feel like cabinets just sticking out of a closet. So the Advance team transformed this ordinary closet space into a stunning wet bar that architecturally appears as if it’s always been there. Traditional, elegant hand carved custom molding matching the adjacent fireplace ties the new entertainment bar area in nicely with the existing family room and kitchen area. Featuring a built in wine refrigerator, Dura Supreme cabinetry in deep cherry wood elegantly displays wine bottles and etched glass mullion doors that fill with soft light in the evening hours. Cambria “Windermere” quartz countertops with a sophisticated hammered copper sink and a glimmering backsplash round out the stunning wet bar. Hosting parties and family functions has become much more enjoyable now that they have a dedicated beverage serving area large enough to include hors devours. All three projects were designed and constructed together at the same time, making for a cohesive project that was administered smoothly and easily both for the design team and for the family. Disruption to the home was minimal as each phase was completed in each project conclusively, and design and meeting time for the homeowner was efficient and organized making for an enjoyable process. “Advance Design was great to work with,” Michelle says. “I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a home improvement project. They took the time at the beginning to understand our needs, our budget, and our vision for our home. The field team was great, attentive, on time, cleaned up each day and made the overall experience very positive. We couldn't be happier with the finished product.” With the help of our talented, award winning design team you can create the basement, laundry room, or any other home renovation that you have been dreaming of. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating you home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about that kitchen remodeling project. Joe Nowak