After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change.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.”

Modern kitchen with rift-cut white oak cabinetry and a natural stone island.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Lynn Bagley
Country dark wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls and blue countertops

Bill Taylor
Living room - traditional formal dark wood floor living room idea in Boston with green walls

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Chicago

Location: Denver, CO, USA THE CHALLENGE: Transform an outdated, uninspired condo into a unique, forward thinking home, while dealing with a limited capacity to remodel due to the buildings’ high-rise architectural restrictions. THE SOLUTION: Warm wood clad walls were added throughout the home, creating architectural interest, as well as a sense of unity. Soft, textured furnishing was selected to elevate the home’s sophistication, while attention to layout and detail ensures its functionality. Dado Interior Design DAVID LAUER PHOTOGRAPHY

Farmhouse two-story wood exterior home photo in Santa Barbara

This kitchen was created with StarMark Cabinetry's Fairhaven inset door style in Cherry finished in a cabinet color called Toffee. The island was created with StarMark Cabinetry's Fairhaven inset door style in Cherry finished in Chestnut. The drawers in this kitchen have optional five-piece drawer headers. Glass front doors were created with glass in the Koko Seedy pattern. Additional accents include faux metal inserts in a color called Ragged Copper, and optional furniture pegs on doors and drawer headers.

Example of a large transitional wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase design in Dallas with painted risers

Keith Gegg; Gegg Media
Example of a tuscan medium tone wood floor kitchen design in St Louis with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Atlantic Archives, Richard Leo Johnson
Example of a classic kitchen design in Jacksonville with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Built in 1907 and nestled into the beating heart of San Fran’s Bernal Heights neighbourhood, this adorable abode was an unpolished gem ready to be turned into our clients’ dream home. Our mission was to gift Bonview with classic, natural and timeless style while setting it up with impressive functionality so that it was ready to be the pet-friendly, kid-friendly and entertaining-friendly home they needed it to be. Mission accepted! Our clients’ vision was clear: They wanted whites, blacks and wood tones with texture and personality. Oh, and that spunky wine fridge? Yep, that was a non-negotiable. ? “It’s not unusual for our friends and family to drop past unannounced any day of the week. And we love it!” They told us during our initial Design Therapy Sesh. We knew immediately what she meant - we have an open-door policy with our families, too! Which was why we consciously created living spaces that were open, inviting and welcoming. Now, the only problem our clients would have would be convincing their guests to leave! Our clients also enjoyed cooking and baking casually, so we created an organized, intuitive and functional kitchen and pantry that made whipping up homemade dips and snacks for their game nights a breeze.

This home located in Thiensville, Wisconsin was an original 1950's ranch with three bedrooms and one and one half baths. The remodel consisted of all new finishes throughout with a new kitchen matching the existing kitchen layout. The main bath was completely remodeled with new fixtures and finishes using the existing cabinetry. The original half bath was converted into a full bath by using an adjoining closet for more space. The new bathroom consists of new custom shower, fixtures and cabinets. This project is a good example of how to fix up an outdated house with a low budget.

From drab and outdated, to a fantastic modern farmhouse feel, Architectural Ceramics designers were able to give these residents the kitchen of their dreams with the help of the latest trend in tile- cement! Cement tiles are made one at a time by hand, with blends of cement, marble powder, fine sand, and natural mineral color pigments to create the patterns the world has fallen in love with. After helping the client narrow down their favorite selections from Architectural Ceramic’s thousands of high quality tile options, a custom concrete design in shades of blue and grey for their backsplash turned out to be the perfect match to the rest of the kitchen. Architectural Ceramics designers eagerly work to make your project their top priority with a one of a kind design you can brag about for years to come. Visit our website to make an appointment at http://www.architecturalceramics.com/.

TV niche with wallpapered back wall. Photo by Matthew Niemann
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Austin

Louis G. Weiner Photography - This powder room started as a design disaster before receiving a stunning transformation. It was green, dark, and dreary and stuck in an outdated Southwestern theme (complete with gecko lizard décor.) We knew they needed help fast. Our clients wish was to have a modern, sophisticated bathroom with a little pizzazz. The design required a full demo and included removing the heavy soffit in order to lift the room. To bring in the bling, we chose a unique concave and convex tile to be installed from floor to ceiling. The elegant floating vanity is finished with white quartz countertops and a large vessel sink. The mercury glass pendants in the corner lend a soft glow to the room. Simple and stylish new hardware, commode and porcelain tile flooring play a supporting role in the overall impact. The stars of this powder room are the geometric foil wallpaper and the playful moose trophy head; which pays homage to the clients’ Canadian heritage.

This room is part of a whole house renovation to make an outdated large cabin marketable
Bedroom - large transitional bedroom idea

An outdated 1920's kitchen in Bayside Queens was turned into a refreshed, classic and timeless space that utilized the very limited space to its maximum capacity. The cabinets were once outdated and a dark brown that made the space look even smaller. Now, they are a bright white, accompanied by white subway tile, a light quartzite countertop and brushed brass hardware throughout. What made all the difference was the use of the dark porcelain floors as a great contrast to all the white. We were also diligent to keep the hold extractor a clear glass and stainless steel.

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography
Small minimalist gender-neutral medium tone wood floor walk-in closet photo in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets