Symmetry and detail distinguish this charming Amsterdam-inspired townhouse in a historic enclave of Northwestern Brooklyn. When it came to renovation we collaborated with Michael Schmitt Architect to carry out one mission for our clients: to carefully restore and artfully embellish the home with their personality, to create a modern family-friendly dwelling worthy of showcasing their impressive collection of art, furniture and objects.

This project was an interior refurbishment of a Vancouver Special. The driving focus was a space which is clean and simple, in order to serve as a backdrop for the homeowners' modern living. The intention was to create a canvas to showcase the Owners' furniture, art and objects and have space for their growing family while staying budget conscious. Photos by Laura Jaramillo

Symmetry and detail distinguish this charming Amsterdam-inspired townhouse in a historic enclave of Northwestern Brooklyn. When it came to renovation we collaborated with Michael Schmitt Architect to carry out one mission for our clients: to carefully restore and artfully embellish the home with their personality, to create a modern family-friendly dwelling worthy of showcasing their impressive collection of art, furniture and objects.

The Castello Main level: 2294 Sq Ft Basement: 2226 Sq Ft Total: 4520 Sq Ft The Castello Stretch out and find comfort in this imaginatively designed home with a creative flair. The living areas are designed for easy flow and access whether you’re entertaining or just relaxing at home, and the beautiful outdoor views are everywhere. The barrel vault ceiling in the Grand room continues out to the rear covered patio. The kitchen takes in extra light with a glass-block wall, and its double-island design creates plenty of counter space for multiple chefs or cook-time mingling. The dining room offers an optional built-in credenza/desk, and optional matching hutches let you display your beautiful china and crystal or showcase your art objects. The master suite is set off by a quiet hallway that delivers seclusion as well as access to the five-piece bath and walk-in closet. Down the corridor, the main floor also offers a flexible room that could be used as a study or an activity space for projects. The Castello’s unique approach is similar to the Como except what is a separate casita in the Como is now part of the main home with an optional bath. It is perfect as a guest room or office, a painting or pottery studio, and anything else your imagination and interests desire The Optional upstairs loft option can incorporate a powder room and includes a balcony with a lovely view above the entry courtyard, and the spacious downstairs provides a large flexible space that can be optionally designed to your specific needs.

These custom arched built-in cabinets were designed and handcrafted by First Hand Custom Woodworks in Jacksonville, Florida to create a warm and functional living room feature wall. The cabinetry combines painted built-ins with white oak shelving and paneled oak back panels, adding depth and contrast to the design. Three architectural arches frame the display shelving, creating a balanced focal point while showcasing decorative objects and artwork. Integrated brass gallery lighting highlights the shelving and brings warmth to the oak interior panels. Below the display area, custom storage cabinets and drawers provide concealed storage while maintaining clean lines and symmetry across the entire wall. The cabinetry features reeded panel doors, solid wood drawer fronts, and brass hardware, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern styling. The painted cabinetry pairs beautifully with the natural oak shelving to create a timeless living room built-in that feels both architectural and furniture-like. Every piece was custom designed, built, and installed locally in Jacksonville to perfectly fit the space and the homeowner’s style.

For a client relocating from the Northeast to Naples, FL, we edited a nice collection of furniture to pieces that worked together well in a smaller space. We showcased antiques, art and objects to their best advantage within interiors defined by a more transitional style.

Built in shelves help display pictures, showcase special objects, and keep a wall hung flat screen TV tucked away
Large medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in DC Metro with gray walls

Modernism’s most sacred tenets—simplicity, utility, order, rationalism, form following function—were nothing new to the Shakers who settled New York’s Columbia County. This house, located in Chatham and not far from Hancock Shaker Village, therefore picks up on these parallel precedents to embrace both Shaker ideals and their natural outgrowth in the architecture of today. Here, a 16-foot entrance gallery lined with clerestory windows serves to separate principle living areas from bedrooms, while also functioning as exhibition space for a perpetually evolving collection of contemporary art and design objects. The house, raised on a concrete plinth, is clad in wood, while a separate studio showcases exterior surfaces covered in Cor-ten steel shingles. Yet the forms are unified by a continuous copper roofline. The interrelationship creates juxtapositions between urban and rural aesthetics, a sense of lofty volume grounded by humble materials and finishes, and an interplay between intimate rooms and the rolling wide-open landscape outside. Design: John Beckmann © Axis Mundi Design LLC

The Castello Main level: 2294 Sq Ft Basement: 2226 Sq Ft Total: 4520 Sq Ft The Castello Stretch out and find comfort in this imaginatively designed home with a creative flair. The living areas are designed for easy flow and access whether you’re entertaining or just relaxing at home, and the beautiful outdoor views are everywhere. The barrel vault ceiling in the Grand room continues out to the rear covered patio. The kitchen takes in extra light with a glass-block wall, and its double-island design creates plenty of counter space for multiple chefs or cook-time mingling. The dining room offers an optional built-in credenza/desk, and optional matching hutches let you display your beautiful china and crystal or showcase your art objects. The master suite is set off by a quiet hallway that delivers seclusion as well as access to the five-piece bath and walk-in closet. Down the corridor, the main floor also offers a flexible room that could be used as a study or an activity space for projects. The Castello’s unique approach is similar to the Como except what is a separate casita in the Como is now part of the main home with an optional bath. It is perfect as a guest room or office, a painting or pottery studio, and anything else your imagination and interests desire The Optional upstairs loft option can incorporate a powder room and includes a balcony with a lovely view above the entry courtyard, and the spacious downstairs provides a large flexible space that can be optionally designed to your specific needs.

Turkish mosaic art is a beautiful form of traditional craftsmanship that involves creating intricate patterns or images using small, colored pieces of glass, stone, or other materials. In addition to lamps, Turkish mosaic art can be found in various other forms, including wall decorations, jewelry, and decorative objects. The intricate patterns and vibrant colors of Turkish mosaic art reflect the rich cultural heritage of Turkey and the craftsmanship of its artisans. Today, Turkish mosaic art continues to thrive, with artisans preserving traditional techniques while also incorporating modern designs and materials. It remains a popular choice for both decorative and functional items, showcasing the enduring beauty and elegance of this ancient art form.

The Castello Main level: 2294 Sq Ft Basement: 2226 Sq Ft Total: 4520 Sq Ft The Castello Stretch out and find comfort in this imaginatively designed home with a creative flair. The living areas are designed for easy flow and access whether you’re entertaining or just relaxing at home, and the beautiful outdoor views are everywhere. The barrel vault ceiling in the Grand room continues out to the rear covered patio. The kitchen takes in extra light with a glass-block wall, and its double-island design creates plenty of counter space for multiple chefs or cook-time mingling. The dining room offers an optional built-in credenza/desk, and optional matching hutches let you display your beautiful china and crystal or showcase your art objects. The master suite is set off by a quiet hallway that delivers seclusion as well as access to the five-piece bath and walk-in closet. Down the corridor, the main floor also offers a flexible room that could be used as a study or an activity space for projects. The Castello’s unique approach is similar to the Como except what is a separate casita in the Como is now part of the main home with an optional bath. It is perfect as a guest room or office, a painting or pottery studio, and anything else your imagination and interests desire The Optional upstairs loft option can incorporate a powder room and includes a balcony with a lovely view above the entry courtyard, and the spacious downstairs provides a large flexible space that can be optionally designed to your specific needs.

Creating a personal wellness retreat doesn't always mean starting from scratch. Through thoughtful design-build solutions, this Portland metro primary bathroom renovation showcases how reimagining your existing space can deliver extraordinary results. Nestled into the side of Cooper Mountain, this stunning remodel artfully balances bold neutrality with warm, natural elegance. The centerpiece of the transformation—a spacious cedar-clad sauna—connects harmoniously with the expanded double shower, where biophilic accent tile reflects in the striking wall tile like dappled sunlight on water. The refined vanity area, featuring expertly repainted cabinetry and luminous countertops, ties the space together with subtle sophistication. The success of this luxury renovation stems from strategic space planning and custom craftsmanship. By removing the existing oversized tub and deck—elements that weren't serving the homeowners' needs—we created space for a fully custom two-person sauna. The shower expansion, though modest at 12 inches, significantly enhanced the comfort and functionality for two users, demonstrating how thoughtful design can maximize every square foot. What sets this project apart is its fully integrated design-build approach. Rather than relying on prefabricated solutions, the custom sauna was designed and constructed from the ground up. This complex undertaking required seamless coordination among electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades across the Portland Metro Area, all working together to transform a standard bathroom into a high-performance wellness retreat. Client collaboration played a pivotal role in the project's success. Through detailed 3D renderings, curated photo books, and hands-on material samples, the homeowners could confidently visualize and participate in design decisions. Every element—from the rich cedar sauna cladding to the plumbing fixtures—was carefully selected to create a perfect balance of aesthetics, performance, and budget considerations. Speaking of budget, strategic decisions helped prioritize the homeowners' main objectives: a comfortable two-person sauna and an expanded shower. Instead of complete replacement, the existing cabinetry received a professional refinishing, maintaining a fresh, cohesive look while reducing material costs. By thoughtfully retaining elements like plumbing fixtures, electrical wiring, and the toilet location, we avoided unnecessary expenses while upgrading lighting with efficient LED fixtures where needed. This primary bathroom and sauna project exemplifies how a collaborative design-build approach can transform your vision into reality. By combining strategic space planning, custom craftsmanship, and budget-conscious decisions, we created a personalized wellness retreat that delivers both luxury and functionality.

Transform your outdoor space into a serene retreat with this expertly designed project, featuring a custom wood pergola, elegant planter boxes, a luxurious hot tub with a bespoke wood privacy screen, and stylish pavers and concrete pads. The centerpiece is a stunning wood pergola, crafted for both shade and style, providing a sophisticated focal point for lounging or dining alfresco. Complementing this are custom-built planter boxes that showcase vibrant greenery, adding a lush backdrop to the area. The hot tub, surrounded by a custom wood privacy screen, offers ultimate relaxation and seclusion while seamlessly integrating with the pergola’s design. High-quality pavers create a clean, elegant surface, enhancing the overall look and functionality of the space, while strategically placed concrete pads provide stability and support, contributing to the modern, polished aesthetic. This project masterfully blends functionality with design, resulting in a luxurious outdoor retreat perfect for unwinding or entertaining guests.

https://pipafineart.com/products/before-the-first-slice-tomato-photorealism-digital-artwork-loose-art-print. Savor the vibrant simplicity of "Before the First Slice," an artwork that captures the essence of a ripe, red tomato in its purest form. This photorealistic print showcases the tomato's smooth, glistening skin, its vibrant hue contrasting beautifully with the soft pink background. The delicate green stem and subtle imperfections add a touch of natural realism, inviting you to appreciate the simple beauty of this culinary staple. Printed on high-quality photo paper with premium inks, "Before the First Slice" brings a touch of understated elegance and vibrant color to any space. Hang "Before the First Slice" in your kitchen, pantry, dining room, or restaurant to add a touch of freshness and vibrancy. This artwork is a celebration of the beauty found in everyday objects, a reminder to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and the artistry of nature. The minimalist composition and bold color palette create a striking visual impact, while the familiar subject matter evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia. "Before the First Slice" is made in the USA and printed on demand, ensuring a high-quality piece that will be cherished for years to come. Available in a variety of sizes, it makes a perfect gift for art enthusiasts, food lovers, and anyone who appreciates the beauty of minimalist art and the simple elegance of natural forms.

This lakeside residence was envisioned as a timeless American home that blends naturally with its picturesque surroundings. The objective of the visualization was to showcase the architecture within its landscape, highlighting the relationship between the home, the water, and the surrounding greenery. Careful attention was given to materials, lighting, and environmental details to create a realistic and inviting atmosphere that reflects the character of the property. The renderings were developed to help communicate the design intent while capturing the tranquility and charm of lakeside living. The project was modeled in SketchUp and rendered using D5 Render, combining detailed architectural modeling with high-quality visualization to bring the residence to life.

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.”

At times, the most remarkable spaces emerge when we begin with a clean slate. In this particular project, we had the privilege to design a completely custom home, starting from scratch for our client. They simply entrusted us with a piece of land, and from that point forward, we handled everything. Our primary objective for this project was to craft an exceptional, contemporary, and practical dream home for a family of four. By creatively manipulating height variations at the front of the house, we conceived the standout element of the home: the impressive windows that showcase the bespoke steel spinal staircase.

This mid-century home was in need of some restoration to its original roots. The kitchen was outdated and closed off with no dining area near to gather naturally and host guests. The clients desired to honor the style of the home but incorporate their personal style for a clean and modern look. The clients, who happen to be artists themselves, had a very graphic sense and their main objective was to have structure, function and organization for their new kitchen and dining. For functionality purposes, the old office adjacent to the kitchen was the perfect space to repurpose into a dining room. Walls dividing those rooms were torn down, allowing natural light to flow easily throughout the space, creating the illusion of a bigger area. To cut down on costs, original windows remained and the layout of the kitchen generally stayed the same. The custom features incorporated showcase what’s important to the client. Custom cabinetry includes breadboards, pull out drawers, tray dividers and organizational dividers. Their banquette seating even has custom drawers for the purpose of shoe organization and miscellaneous items. For aesthetic purposes, cherry and warm grey tones were chosen based on what was already throughout the home for a cohesive feel. White Fireclay handmade tiles were installed at a straight-set pattern with pops of gray for a modern backsplash. Mid-Century elements include their custom-made lighting and banquette seating area that was originally styled for the home. Overall, the impact of the design brought about a bright, fresh modern uplift that were all in the details.

At the heart of this clean, classic French-inspired kitchen, is Wood-Mode cabinetry with the Georgetown Raised door style, and finished in Nordic White. Custom refrigerator panels, tall cabinet doors and several drawers have the addition of an Antique Mirror inserts. A finish combination of the brushed stainless steel hardware and brass lighting accents, catch the light bouncing off the mirrored cabinet doors. The oversized hood was designed with the appearance of sandstone, creating a focal point for the room. Additional details like the carving on the sides of the oversized island and custom made feet for the cabinetry, draw attention give it the look and feel of furniture. A wet bar with floating upper cabinets and glass front inserts provides a glimpse to within, and wall mounted glass and brass shelving provide a platform to showcase objects of desire.