Peg and Randy had a wonderful experience working with APlus and were impressed with the incredible workmanship that went into the remodel. They started their journey looking at their options with stock cabinets and came to realize it wasn’t the best choice for them. A friend that was very happy with the remodel being completed at her home by APlus recommended they call to set up an appointment to meet with a designer. They met with Alex and loved his design ideas so they decided to hire APlus to remodel their kitchen. Peg and Randy were very pleased with the cost and were very surprised to find that a custom kitchen was well within their budget. When guest ask them how they came up with the design concept of the kitchen they praise Alex for coming up with such a gorgeous design. Many changes were made in the kitchen such as adding wonderful high end appliances and hiding the microwave from view. Prior to remodeling their kitchen they had such limited storage space in the kitchen that they resorted to using their garage to store items. This Lake Forest couple now has an amazing amount of hidden storage space with plenty of new space to spare. Now when they step into their kitchen they are in awe and disbelief that they finally have the kitchen of their dreams. http://www.apluskitchen.com/Orange-County-Lake-Forest-Complete-Kitchen-Remodel-Project76.html

Rob Karosis
Example of a classic hallway design in New York

In the summer of 2012 we embarked on a remodel of our 1912 Craftsman. We wanted to redo the kitchen and the upper floor which contained the master bedroom, bathroom, guest room and office. We interviewed approximately 5 other architects prior to finding Mark. We knew right away he was the right person for the job. He was patient, thorough and we could tell he truly loved our home and wanted to work with us to make it even better. His vast experience showed through during the interview process which validated his portfolio. Mark truly became a trusted advisor who would guide us through this remodel process from beginning to end. His planning was precise and he came by many times to re-measure to get every detail accounted for. He was patient and helpful as we made decisions and then changed our minds! He was with us every week of the 10 weeks of the remodel. He attended each weekly meeting with the General Contractor and was at the house numerous other times guiding and really looking out for our best interests. I came to trust him enough to ask his opinion on almost everything from layout to colors and decorating tips! He consistently threw out ideas....many of which we took. Additionally Mark was a tremendous help in referring us to contractors, designers, and retailers to help us along the way. I am ecstatic over the results of the remodel. The kitchen and bath are truly beautiful and full of modern conveniences while maintaining the integrity of the 1912 structure. We were right about our decision to hire Mark and we wholehearted recommend him as an outstanding architect, and more!!

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.”

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.”

48" kohler farmhouse sink with wood wash board and dual faucets
Transitional dark wood floor kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops and no island

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

Collaboration with Canonbury Homes and Frank Neely Design Associates.
Inspiration for a timeless open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets and two islands

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

Walk-in white melamine closet with lacquer shaker drawer-fronts in brownstone in Brooklyn.
Inspiration for a small contemporary gender-neutral light wood floor walk-in closet remodel in New York with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

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.”

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

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.”

A couple hired us as the professional remodeling contractor to update the first floor of their Brookfield, WI home. The project included the kitchen, family room entertainment center, laundry room and mudroom. The goal was to improve the functionality of the space, improving prep space and storage. Their house had a traditional style, so the homeowners chose a transitional style with wood and natural elements. Kitchen Remodel We wanted to give the kitchen a more streamlined, contemporary feel. We removed the soffits, took the cabinetry to the ceiling, and opened the space. Cherry cabinets line the perimeter of the kitchen with a soft gray island. We kept a desk area in the kitchen, which can be used as a sideboard when hosting parties. This kitchen has many storage and organizational features. The interior cabinet organizers include: a tray/cutting board cabinet, a pull-out pantry, a pull-out drawer for trash/compost/dog food, dish peg drawers, a corner carousel and pot/pan drawers. The couple wanted more countertop space in their kitchen. We added an island with a black walnut butcher block table height seating area. The low height makes the space feel open and accessible to their grandchildren who visit. The island countertop is one of the highlights of the space. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that is durable and indestructible. The ‘Trilium’ color comes from their industrial collection, that looks like patina iron. We also used Dekton counters in the laundry room. Family Room Entertainment Center We updated the small built-in media cabinets in the family room. The new cabinetry provides better storage space and frames the large television. Laundry Room & Mudroom The kitchen connects the laundry room, closet area and garage. We widened this entry to keep the kitchen feeling connected with a new pantry area. In this area, we created a landing zone for phones and groceries. We created a folding area at the washer and dryer. We raised the height of the cabinets and floated the countertop over the appliances. We removed the sink and instead installed a utility sink in the garage for clean up. At the garage entrance, we added more organization for coats, shoes and boots. The cabinets have his and hers drawers, hanging racks and lined shelves. New hardwood floors were added in this Brookfield, WI kitchen and laundry area to match the rest of the house. We refinished the floors on the entire main level.

Great spacious bathroom with lot of amenities. Photographer: Jon Upson
Large elegant master beige tile and porcelain tile drop-in bathtub photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a two-piece toilet