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.

This once unused bonus room was transformed into a wonderful new bedroom for a boy with lots of room to grow, play and have sleepovers. We took advantage of the attic space either side of the room by recessing the TV / storage area and also on the opposite side with the double desk unit. The room was separated by the sets of drawers that have custom headboards at the back of them, this helping with the great length of this room. Custom bookcase shelving was made for the window wall to also create not only depth but display as well. The clients as well as their son are enjoying the room!

Solid Apollo LED. This inclosed city patio was brought to life with the addition of vibrant color changing LED lights. Along the main wall color changing RGB LED Strip Light was laid flush in the ground. The planter boxes along the other wall had Pathway Outdoor LED Landscaping Lights each to bring the palm plants to life. All the lights were tied together so single colors and color changing programs could be played in sequence using the 10 Zone RGBW controller.

In 2009, Visionscapes was proud to be part of the construction of the Rotary Flames house at the Alberta Children's Hospital. The project consisted of several expansive brick retaining walls, multiple seating areas, play areas, green space, an outdoor kitchen and an expansive adaptive learning and play area for kids and their families receiving end of life treatment at this special facility. This was one of those projects where it was easy to dig a little deeper, work a little harder and remember just how blessed we are each and every day! Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

A charming Airbnb rental in the Toronto area. We wanted the design to be glamorous and welcoming - a place where guests feel thay are most relaxed! Working within this client’s budget, we were able to design a beautiful and cohesive new look for the bedroom and living area. In the bedroom, we added new bedding with a play on pattern, stripes, and accents of gold. The art piece is a wonderful statement piece that was the inspiration to highlight some of the rich blues and subtle gold onto the bedding. The living room decor is warm & inviting with a play on contrast, texture, and pattern. Less is more here, with warm cream tones in the cushions and area rug which lightens up the space and creates harmony. The living room now meets the needs of these clients, with a sectional to seat multiple people and an arching floor lamp that adds great lighting. Project completed by Toronto interior design firm Camden Lane Interiors, which serves Toronto. For more about Camden Lane Interiors, click here: https://www.camdenlaneinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.camdenlaneinteriors.com/portfolio-item/torontocondo/

This once unused bonus room was transformed into a wonderful new bedroom for a boy with lots of room to grow, play and have sleepovers. We took advantage of the attic space either side of the room by recessing the TV / storage area and also on the opposite side with the double desk unit. The room was separated by the sets of drawers that have custom headboards at the back of them, this helping with the great length of this room. Custom bookcase shelving was made for the window wall to also create not only depth but display as well. The clients as well as their son are enjoying the room!

How about that for an outdoor hangout area?? Custom designed by Chuck Oliver and meticulously custom built by award winning builder, Rusty Golden (Le Jardin Development), this impeccable Villa Style has it all. Doors has been faux finished to look antique, walls glazed to reflect light, multiple arched clad doors welcome Mother Nature and are open to front and rear courtyards creating a fantastic party atmosphere. Beautiful chandeliers, heart pine wood floors and multiple exotic stone and marble finishes come together to create an Italian ambience you will not forget! Recent addition of a ONE OF A KIND private master (her) dressing and closet spaces will make you want to play dress up every day! Oversized master suite and separate office are tucked away and private, yet share the beauty of the well appointed rear patio and courtyards, lush with flowers and outdoor entertaining areas. Downstairs the home also features an additional full guest suite overlooking the front courtyards and fountain areas. The home shares two upstairs areas, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a den area on one side and the other is a huge game room that currently serves as a young boys "man cave". This area has recently been completed and features custom closets and ship lap walls. Custom decorative iron door open to an incredible wine room with Italian countryside paintings al fresco. A tasting area allows for guests to join in the "choosing and trying"! The outdoor kitchen was recently built and features top of the line stainless appliances, beautiful wood and steel details and all stainless drawers and storage areas. The garage is a "car mans" dream; clean, sleek and outfitted for a guys hang out area. An exterior half bath is adjacent to the garage and outdoor entertaining area, making it "pool ready"! Whole house generator is ready to run your hurricane parties, keeping friends and family happy while assuring your wine room never looses its cool! BELLISSIMO!

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.

This 1,000ft² recording and production studio, built in 2021 for producer couple Latifah Alattas and Lucas Morton, was designed as a fully custom creative environment that supports writing, mixing, and collaboration at the highest level. Both Latifah and Lucas are multi-instrumentalists, engineers, and mixers, and the studio reflects the full range of their workflows—visually inspiring, technically precise, and intuitive in every room. The facility was built from the ground up with a strong emphasis on architectural acoustics and plug-and-play connectivity. The layout includes two Control Rooms, multiple isolation booths, and shared common spaces, all tied together with seamless audio integration. No matter where you are in the studio, routing, monitoring, and communication remain effortless and consistent. Behind the aesthetic, the acoustic design is exceptionally robust. Six independent floating-floor systems support the suites, ensuring each room operates with minimal sound transmission. Tailored sound-reducing wall assemblies, full-lite doors, engineered window systems, and intentional treatment plans deliver clarity, isolation, and precision for tracking and mixing. Each space is mechanically decoupled, allowing multiple rooms to run simultaneously without compromise. For monitoring, both Latifah and Lucas chose Genelec “The Ones” series monitors with GLM calibration to ensure accurate translation and consistency across the entire facility. Natural light and a warm, welcoming aesthetic anchor the visual identity of the studio, reflecting the creative energy and personality of its owners. The result is a highly functional, beautifully crafted space where ideas can move freely and production can happen without limitations.

In 2009, Visionscapes was proud to be part of the construction of the Rotary Flames house at the Alberta Children's Hospital. The project consisted of several expansive brick retaining walls, multiple seating areas, play areas, green space, an outdoor kitchen and an expansive adaptive learning and play area for kids and their families receiving end of life treatment at this special facility. This was one of those projects where it was easy to dig a little deeper, work a little harder and remember just how blessed we are each and every day! Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

Sunset Heights Renovation This Victorian style home was beautifully designed from the interior to the exterior. Our clients were looking to update the outdoor space, not only was it not functional, but it did not complement their Victorian home. Although we had a yearlong waiting list for design, our clients were patient and hired us for 3D design. Many times, our clients already have all the components in place, such as a pool, outdoor kitchen, fireplace, pergola etc., but they just don’t feel right. The most important feature of our client’s new space was not only the components, but to be able to have a space that would allow them to create a lifetime of memories. From a visual perspective their existing space seemed limited and confined. Our design team was able to see past this and expanded its space to its full potential which allowed us to create multiple destinations for relaxation, enjoyment and most importantly entertainment. As we began the design process, we were able to take a closer look at the existing space and noticed many safety concerns and how the existing materials did not accentuate the home either. At the completion of their 3D design, we were able to present new ideas and materials that would enhance the value of the home as well as help them visualize the new space created with multiple destinations. Ivory travertine coping & decking was a must as was the Talavera blue highlighted tiles for the newly renovated pool. A new working spa and functional outdoor kitchen with bar were two spaces we are sure they would enjoy while spending time outdoors. We enlarged the existing covered patio to expand the seating area to include chaise lounges, a loveseat and chairs under the pergola shade accent. Newest favorite additions are the gas firepit and cabin play fort which can be highly utilized year-round. Our clients say, “The adults love hanging out in the fort too!” Nestled in the Historic District, our client’s home is now filled with plenty of space and great energy for family gatherings, parties, watching sports, graduations and so much more. Who knows, maybe a future wedding or two! Memories of a lifetime will be made here for years to come! Architecture and lifestyle are always our focus when designing feel good and functional spaces for our clients!

From Empty Yard to Outdoor Living What started as a large, completely blank backyard became a thoughtfully designed outdoor living space where every area has a purpose — while still feeling open, relaxed, and connected. We transformed the yard by creating distinct spaces for lounging, entertaining, gathering around the fire, dining, and play, all connected through a cohesive landscape design. The sunken fire-pit lounge became a destination of its own, surrounded by built-in seating, warm integrated lighting, and beautiful material details. A generous lawn keeps the center of the yard open and green, while the children’s play area was intentionally incorporated into the overall design rather than feeling like an afterthought. Along the perimeter, raised planters, bamboo screening, layered planting, custom benches, stepping-stone pathways, and landscape lighting soften the property and create privacy. The existing covered patio was transformed into a comfortable extension of the home — a place to sit, dine, relax, and enjoy the backyard year-round. And once the sun goes down, the entire space takes on another personality. String lights, illuminated pathways, uplighting, and the glow of the fire create a warm atmosphere throughout the yard. One empty yard. Multiple outdoor experiences. One cohesive design. Designed to be beautiful — but more importantly, designed to be lived in.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Commercial (size more than 15,000 sf) Contractor: B&D Contractors Inc. Producer: Keystone Hardscapes Designer: OJB Landscape Architects Once modest and tucked away off a dead end road, Levy Park received a revitalization to re-engage the local community. CityStone, Holland, Roman Cobble and Verona pavers were chosen in the design to help separate different areas of the park, add a sense of playfulness and accentuate natural features. The transformation included native landscaping, interactive water features, a dog park, garden, park pavilion and children’s play area. Pavers helped create and define each of these spaces through use of colors, shapes and inlay patterns. Variegated and whimsical paver patterns invoke a sense of spirited movement and fun. The use of multiple paver shapes, colors, and upgraded textures added depth and beauty to this cunningly conceived urban space, by accenting native grass areas and designating different park sections. The central grand walkways gracefully arc throughout the space with large plank style pavers, creating a modern boardwalk feel. Recognizing the park’s development history dating back to 1941, incorporating new design elements while maintaining original aspects was important to the redesign. The chosen pavers were able to integrate with the longstanding historical elements, while adding an artful refresh to the park. A local resident stated, “This is hands down the most gorgeous and well-designed park I’ve ever seen. I fell in love the second I stepped foot into it.” Through thoughtful design and paver choices utilizing different shapes, colors and textures, Levy Park is now a community hot spot.

How about that for an outdoor hangout area?? Custom designed by Chuck Oliver and meticulously custom built by award winning builder, Rusty Golden (Le Jardin Development), this impeccable Villa Style has it all. Doors has been faux finished to look antique, walls glazed to reflect light, multiple arched clad doors welcome Mother Nature and are open to front and rear courtyards creating a fantastic party atmosphere. Beautiful chandeliers, heart pine wood floors and multiple exotic stone and marble finishes come together to create an Italian ambience you will not forget! Recent addition of a ONE OF A KIND private master (her) dressing and closet spaces will make you want to play dress up every day! Oversized master suite and separate office are tucked away and private, yet share the beauty of the well appointed rear patio and courtyards, lush with flowers and outdoor entertaining areas. Downstairs the home also features an additional full guest suite overlooking the front courtyards and fountain areas. The home shares two upstairs areas, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a den area on one side and the other is a huge game room that currently serves as a young boys "man cave". This area has recently been completed and features custom closets and ship lap walls. Custom decorative iron door open to an incredible wine room with Italian countryside paintings al fresco. A tasting area allows for guests to join in the "choosing and trying"! The outdoor kitchen was recently built and features top of the line stainless appliances, beautiful wood and steel details and all stainless drawers and storage areas. The garage is a "car mans" dream; clean, sleek and outfitted for a guys hang out area. An exterior half bath is adjacent to the garage and outdoor entertaining area, making it "pool ready"! Whole house generator is ready to run your hurricane parties, keeping friends and family happy while assuring your wine room never looses its cool! BELLISSIMO!

How about that for an outdoor hangout area?? Custom designed by Chuck Oliver and meticulously custom built by award winning builder, Rusty Golden (Le Jardin Development), this impeccable Villa Style has it all. Doors has been faux finished to look antique, walls glazed to reflect light, multiple arched clad doors welcome Mother Nature and are open to front and rear courtyards creating a fantastic party atmosphere. Beautiful chandeliers, heart pine wood floors and multiple exotic stone and marble finishes come together to create an Italian ambience you will not forget! Recent addition of a ONE OF A KIND private master (her) dressing and closet spaces will make you want to play dress up every day! Oversized master suite and separate office are tucked away and private, yet share the beauty of the well appointed rear patio and courtyards, lush with flowers and outdoor entertaining areas. Downstairs the home also features an additional full guest suite overlooking the front courtyards and fountain areas. The home shares two upstairs areas, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a den area on one side and the other is a huge game room that currently serves as a young boys "man cave". This area has recently been completed and features custom closets and ship lap walls. Custom decorative iron door open to an incredible wine room with Italian countryside paintings al fresco. A tasting area allows for guests to join in the "choosing and trying"! The outdoor kitchen was recently built and features top of the line stainless appliances, beautiful wood and steel details and all stainless drawers and storage areas. The garage is a "car mans" dream; clean, sleek and outfitted for a guys hang out area. An exterior half bath is adjacent to the garage and outdoor entertaining area, making it "pool ready"! Whole house generator is ready to run your hurricane parties, keeping friends and family happy while assuring your wine room never looses its cool! BELLISSIMO!

Joanne Abramowitz. Solid Apollo LED. In this incredible outdoor landscaping and architectural lighting project, a variety of LED lights were used to accent and highlight multiple features of this amazing back yard. At the base of the trees are Pathway LED Landscaping Lights (a fully recessed in-ground light) and framing the lawn and pathways are CricketPro LED Landscaping Lights (which are multi-positionable for just the right direction of lighting). All of the lighting is controlled using the LEDWizard Smartphone and Tablet Controller, for control of multiple lighting zones, and their colors, hues, brightness levels and even has the ability to play 8 color changing programs.

Originally built in 1990 the Heady Lakehouse began as a 2,800SF family retreat and now encompasses over 5,635SF. It is located on a steep yet welcoming lot overlooking a cove on Lake Hartwell that pulls you in through retaining walls wrapped with White Brick into a courtyard laid with concrete pavers in an Ashlar Pattern. This whole home renovation allowed us the opportunity to completely enhance the exterior of the home with all new LP Smartside painted with Amherst Gray with trim to match the Quaker new bone white windows for a subtle contrast. You enter the home under a vaulted tongue and groove white washed ceiling facing an entry door surrounded by White brick. Once inside you’re encompassed by an abundance of natural light flooding in from across the living area from the 9’ triple door with transom windows above. As you make your way into the living area the ceiling opens up to a coffered ceiling which plays off of the 42” fireplace that is situated perpendicular to the dining area. The open layout provides a view into the kitchen as well as the sunroom with floor to ceiling windows boasting panoramic views of the lake. Looking back you see the elegant touches to the kitchen with Quartzite tops, all brass hardware to match the lighting throughout, and a large 4’x8’ Santorini Blue painted island with turned legs to provide a note of color. The owner’s suite is situated separate to one side of the home allowing a quiet retreat for the homeowners. Details such as the nickel gap accented bed wall, brass wall mounted bed-side lamps, and a large triple window complete the bedroom. Access to the study through the master bedroom further enhances the idea of a private space for the owners to work. It’s bathroom features clean white vanities with Quartz counter tops, brass hardware and fixtures, an obscure glass enclosed shower with natural light, and a separate toilet room. The left side of the home received the largest addition which included a new over-sized 3 bay garage with a dog washing shower, a new side entry with stair to the upper and a new laundry room. Over these areas, the stair will lead you to two new guest suites featuring a Jack & Jill Bathroom and their own Lounging and Play Area. The focal point for entertainment is the lower level which features a bar and seating area. Opposite the bar you walk out on the concrete pavers to a covered outdoor kitchen feature a 48” grill, Large Big Green Egg smoker, 30” Diameter Evo Flat-top Grill, and a sink all surrounded by granite countertops that sit atop a white brick base with stainless steel access doors. The kitchen overlooks a 60” gas fire pit that sits adjacent to a custom gunite eight sided hot tub with travertine coping that looks out to the lake. This elegant and timeless approach to this 5,000SF three level addition and renovation allowed the owner to add multiple sleeping and entertainment areas while rejuvenating a beautiful lake front lot with subtle contrasting colors.

This once unused bonus room was transformed into a wonderful new bedroom for a boy with lots of room to grow, play and have sleepovers. We took advantage of the attic space either side of the room by recessing the TV / storage area and also on the opposite side with the double desk unit. The room was separated by the sets of drawers that have custom headboards at the back of them, this helping with the great length of this room. Custom bookcase shelving was made for the window wall to also create not only depth but display as well. The clients as well as their son are enjoying the room!

This 1,000ft² recording and production studio, built in 2021 for producer couple Latifah Alattas and Lucas Morton, was designed as a fully custom creative environment that supports writing, mixing, and collaboration at the highest level. Both Latifah and Lucas are multi-instrumentalists, engineers, and mixers, and the studio reflects the full range of their workflows—visually inspiring, technically precise, and intuitive in every room. The facility was built from the ground up with a strong emphasis on architectural acoustics and plug-and-play connectivity. The layout includes two Control Rooms, multiple isolation booths, and shared common spaces, all tied together with seamless audio integration. No matter where you are in the studio, routing, monitoring, and communication remain effortless and consistent. Behind the aesthetic, the acoustic design is exceptionally robust. Six independent floating-floor systems support the suites, ensuring each room operates with minimal sound transmission. Tailored sound-reducing wall assemblies, full-lite doors, engineered window systems, and intentional treatment plans deliver clarity, isolation, and precision for tracking and mixing. Each space is mechanically decoupled, allowing multiple rooms to run simultaneously without compromise. For monitoring, both Latifah and Lucas chose Genelec “The Ones” series monitors with GLM calibration to ensure accurate translation and consistency across the entire facility. Natural light and a warm, welcoming aesthetic anchor the visual identity of the studio, reflecting the creative energy and personality of its owners. The result is a highly functional, beautifully crafted space where ideas can move freely and production can happen without limitations.