Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

Traditional kitchen with soapstone counter tops, tile blacksplash and an island cooktop.
Large transitional eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, soapstone countertops, green backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

This ordinary house was redesigned and dramatically transformed into a stately Georgian Colonial style home. The exterior is all brick, has 5 chimneys, 6 dormers and many other architectural features. The new floor plan features a grand foyer, a new kitchen and a master suite among many other changes to create an open and functional layout. The living space was expanded by adding a 2-story addition to the front, rear and south elevations. A breezeway and carriage style garage with a bonus room was added to the north end. The front elevation addition features a beautiful new porch with stone balusters and a courtyard. The back of this Georgian style home is as spectacular as the front. A 2 story addition was also added to the back to include a new kitchen and breakfast nook. A large terrace with stone pilasters that extends over the basement walkout patio was also part of the design. Brick piers rise from the lower level to the main level terrace and are joined by beautiful archways that add to the magnificent architecture. The basement was finished to include a theater room, wine cellar, bar, game room and much more. The new basement design opens up to a glorious new Gunite swimming pool and spa, complete with stone work, landscaping, landscape lighting, fireplace, all melding with the architectural style of this gorgeous home.

Located in the Lafayette Square Historic District, this garage is built to strict historical guidelines and to match the existing historical residence built by Horace Bigsby a renowned steamboat captain and Mark twain's prodigy. It is no ordinary garage complete with rooftop oasis, spiral staircase, Low voltage lighting and Sonos wireless home sound system.

Need inspiration in the kitchen? Pella Architect Series casement windows transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary, ensuring that whatever you cook up will be deliciously inspired.

This was once a very ordinary bathroom full of drab neutral tones. After redesign on layout and aesthetic, this master suite now boasts spa-like appeal. Design and Build by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers, photography by Versatile Imaging.

Two years before this photo shoot, a Bloomington couple came to SYI wondering whether to renovate their dated bi-level or upgrade to a new house entirely: the classic love-it-or-list-it dilemma. The whole house needed to be touched, really: bathrooms and kitchen, lighting and flooring and paint everywhere, not to mention new furniture to fill in and improve the living spaces. We spent a year with this family, considering options that were less transformative but allowed for the whole house to be upgraded, as well as options that dramatically changed the main living space but meant the rest of the house would have to wait. Meanwhile, they kept an eye out for better digs in town: a house at their price point, that met their family's needs and matched their aesthetic without major construction. After a year of hunting, hemming and hawing: they pulled the trigger. Give us the whole enchilada in the kitchen and main living space, they said. There's no other house for us. The bathrooms and basement can wait. Make this space, where we spend all our time, a place we love to be. Walls and ceilings came down; clerestory windows went in. A stunning 4-panel sliding door-cum-window wall replaced two separate doors in two separate rooms, and the sun streaming in now gives this house in Indiana a California-like access to the outdoors. The central custom screen does triple duty: displaying the client's objets d'art, hiding an HVAC chase, and holding up the ceiling. The gas fireplace is completely new, with custom shelving on either side. Of course, in 2017, the kitchen anchors everything. Family Central, it features custom cabinetry, honed quartz, a new window wall, and a huge island. Materials are earthy and natural, lending a warm modern effect to the space. The medium stain of the wood and overall horizontality of the design are a nod to the home's era (1967), while white cabinetry and charcoal tile provide a neutral but crisp backdrop for the family's stunning and colorful art collection. The result: an ordinary bi-level is now an extraordinary home, unlike any other in Bloomington. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Construction Cabinetry: Tim Graber Furniture Photography: Gina Rogers

These 3 wallpapered niches leading away from the homeowners entry, draw your eye into their gorgeous family room. The abstract spike balls placed throughout the niches give the space a soft asymmetrical appearance. The use of colorful glass plates and a large custom modern floral in the staircase niche gave this seemingly ordinary staircase a splash of the unexpected.

At every Weinstein showroom, there’s more going on than meets the eye. Our expert design consultants will guide you to create your personal and exceptional Kitchen or Bathroom. Plan and learn, See things up close and in person, Experience brands you won’t find in ordinary stores. See more at: http://weinsteinluxury.com

Turning ordinary into extraordinary! This beautifully organized pantry is ready to handle all of the kitchen storage needs for our client! Equipped with wire baskets and cutout handle drawers, this pantry design will help this client keep track of all their ingredients and kitchen essentials!

This beautiful white kitchen is far from ordinary with its Maple wood recessed panels in Nordic White uniquely stacked and use of glass doors. To complete this kitchen we used Terra Bianca granite.

The owners of this 1980’s built-home wanted to create a completely new look for their outdated master bath and turned to Renovisions for design and build services. Having perused Renovisions website, they were confident they made the right choice to help them transform their ordinary space into something truly extraordinary. The design team created several configurations for the homeowners review until they nailed down one particular design that would create that wow factor. The main challenges were creating an open, spacious feel and maximizing natural light and ventilation with plenty of storage and customizations. The addition of a second window allows ample light into the space throughout the day along with the recessed and sconce lights which were perfectly placed. Storage, which was a key element of this design, includes two separate vanity cabinets (his and hers) with plenty of space for needed toiletries, a matching framed medicine cabinet for her and a custom built cubby for him. Built on site was a linen closet with both roll out and stationary shelves for towels and shower supplies. The spacious walk-in, all tiled shower boasts ‘no door’ access with lineal drain, traditional fixed and hand-held shower heads and a rounded shower seat. Polished black granite was used inside the cubby and topping both the threshold and seat creating a nice contrast to and tying in with the floor. The decorative grab bar ensures safety for these homeowners while showering. The heated floors added throughout the bath take the edge off when stepping out of the warm shower and are conveniently operated by a 24 hour programmable thermostat. Classic white subway tile and chair rail trims adorne all walls and tie in nicely to each vanity station. Carrera look quartz was the perfect choice for countertops creating a clean fresh look. Stunning marble basket-weave mosaic floor tile set the stage in this exquisite bath as the beautiful white painted cabinetry softened the overall feel of the space. These homeowners are not saving spa retreats for once-a-year vacations anymore, they now enjoy a relaxing spa-like shower experience every day in their own home!

This homeowner is a local shop keeper and interior designer in Geneva, who exudes style and a has a great eye for interiors. There was no doubt that we had to create a space that showcased her favorite decorative accents and heirlooms. A myriad of display cabinets were artfully fitted into the design which delightfully boasts her family’s keepsakes. The refrigerator, strategically hidden within the wall, is a millwork backdrop – Not standing in the way, like refrigerators are famous for. The kitchen a visual work of art amid the ordinary tasks of cooking and tidying. Project specs: Appliances by Gaggenau, Walnut island with natural quartzite countertops. Limestone countertops on the perimeter’s white painted cabinets. Photo Bruce Van Inwegen

Builder: J. Peterson Homes Interior Designer: Francesca Owens Photographers: Ashley Avila Photography, Bill Hebert, & FulView Capped by a picturesque double chimney and distinguished by its distinctive roof lines and patterned brick, stone and siding, Rookwood draws inspiration from Tudor and Shingle styles, two of the world’s most enduring architectural forms. Popular from about 1890 through 1940, Tudor is characterized by steeply pitched roofs, massive chimneys, tall narrow casement windows and decorative half-timbering. Shingle’s hallmarks include shingled walls, an asymmetrical façade, intersecting cross gables and extensive porches. A masterpiece of wood and stone, there is nothing ordinary about Rookwood, which combines the best of both worlds. Once inside the foyer, the 3,500-square foot main level opens with a 27-foot central living room with natural fireplace. Nearby is a large kitchen featuring an extended island, hearth room and butler’s pantry with an adjacent formal dining space near the front of the house. Also featured is a sun room and spacious study, both perfect for relaxing, as well as two nearby garages that add up to almost 1,500 square foot of space. A large master suite with bath and walk-in closet which dominates the 2,700-square foot second level which also includes three additional family bedrooms, a convenient laundry and a flexible 580-square-foot bonus space. Downstairs, the lower level boasts approximately 1,000 more square feet of finished space, including a recreation room, guest suite and additional storage.

Mastic Vinyl Siding, Harvey Windows, and a Therma-Tru Entry Door look beautiful on this Lakeville, MA colonial! The homeowner chose a combination of Mastic Cedar Discovery and Carvedwood 44 Vinyl Siding in the historic color, Russet Red. Cedar Discovery mimics the look of painted cedar shingles and Carvedwood 44 replicates the look of painted cedar clapboard siding. With realistic wood textures and shadow lines, these homeowners have a durable and affordable siding option that looks beautiful without the worry that comes along with wood siding. With a 230 mph wind rating and an lovely collection of colors, textures, and styles, our customers enjoy both the durability and beauty of professional grade siding. We also installed Harvey Classic Double Hung Vinyl Replacement windows. The Harvey Classic is our top-selling, energy efficient replacement window. Homeowners enjoy tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning, customizable colors, hardware, and grid patterns. As one of the area’s select Harvey Elite Window Dealers, Care Free customers can also choose from exclusive package upgrades and warranties that can’t be offered by ordinary contractors. A Therm-Tru Fiberglass Entry system is factory-finished in the color, onyx. This Smooth Star door welcomes guests with a pair of coordinating sidelites featuring decorative glass and grids. Care Free Homes is the preferred contractor of thousands of homeowners. Past customers and referrals are responsible for over half of our business each year! Once you become a Care Free customer – chances are you’ll stay a Care Free customer and invite your friends and family to become one, too! We ask for absolutely no money until the project is complete and have financing options for qualified homeowners. Get started on your project with a FREE Quote by calling (508) 997-1111 or contact us online and we’ll follow up with you! Make your house a Care Free home!

This gracious Kitchen is open to rounded Breakfast alcove with cove ceiling. Photo by Katie Basil Photography
Example of a large classic l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

By doing something out of the ordinary with the entry walk, this home has a very unique entry with a very contemporary look.
Inspiration for a large contemporary full sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Denver for fall.

Example of a mid-sized tuscan yellow one-story stucco exterior home design in Miami with a hip roof

classic style Roman Shade, cordless and Blackout lined. Patterned material with a soft solid drape to maximize this space from ordinary to extraordinary!!