This estate is characterized by clean lines and neutral colors. With a focus on precision in execution, each space portrays calm and modern while highlighting a standard of excellency.

Mike and Michelle of Lake Barrington knew they needed extra space. Their home was becoming too crowded for their family with blossoming teenagers, so a basement renovation offered the perfect solution for more space for the kids and more room to entertain for the adults. “Our project consisted of expanding our laundry room, putting in a first floor wet bar so we had adult space upstairs, while also renovating our basement for a family-friendly and teen-functional area as well,” Michelle says. They found Advance Design Studio through a neighbor who gave a glowing recommendation, giving Michelle and Mike the confidence they needed to move forward with a major home renovation. They felt like they knew Advance Design before they even worked together. When they met with the owner Todd Jurs and designer Nicole Ryan, Mike and Michelle knew they were getting a trustworthy, dependable team that could create the project they had been dreaming about for 7 years. Having virtually no natural light to work with, one of the biggest design challenges was creating a basement that did not feel dark and depressing. The Advance team got to work creating architectural archways and custom detailed dry-stack stone columns artfully designed into the space, adding a dramatic element that made the space feel less like a basement or more like a relaxing family room. Color 3D renderings were created to portray what the space would look like so Mike and Michelle could visualize the space in advance. Detailed trim and crown moldings grace the built in buffet and wet bar making for an amazingly functional space that lacks nothing in style and visual interest. Cherry wood cabinetry by Dura Supreme is featured in the space with a “Cocoa Brown” finish and includes beautiful mirrored glass doors embellished with unique elliptical mullion details. A built-in microwave, dishwasher and mini fridge add practicality to the ample entertainment mecca. An under mounted sink finishes the space joined with a intricate mosaic tile backsplash and “Ventisca Polished” quartz countertops. The basement is absolutely perfect for hosting friends and family with expertly designed key areas such as a game space for the kids, a movie area for the family, an ample workout room with luxurious full bath, and even built in wine storage. The family absolutely loves the new basement living space, and has already enjoyed numerous family movie nights and sleep-overs with friends. While custom cabinets made by Dura Supreme were used to create unique spaces that lived up to Mike and Michelle’s expectations., heated flooring under the 16”x16” “Mongolian Spring” tile was installed giving all tiled areas of the basement a much cozier feel, eliminating that cold hard surface most of us hate in our basements! The new basement must-have requirement list included a new bath space, which was incorporated adjacent to the work out room. The sleek shower door and cabinets in the new bathroom make guests and family feel like they are in an elegant hotel. The new guest bath features 4”x36” “Silver Screen” honed marble tile in a brick pattern on the shower walls and 2”x2” “Chenille” limestone tile in a hexagon mosaic pattern on the shower floor. “I came in with very specific requirements for our three project areas,” Michelle says. “There was not one time that I felt like I was asking for something that was not going to turn out how I anticipated.” Tying in multiple rooms during a renovation if you have can do it makes a lot of sense and saves money in the long run. A fully functional laundry room as well was a must on this family’s wish list. Michelle wanted to add space to the existing cramped and awkward laundry room, and Mike wanted to make sure they could still park a car in the garage. Reconfiguring interior walls required borrowing unused space cleverly from the garage in order to enlarge the laundry room space. Drawers under the stairs added beautiful hidden storage created almost magically out of dead space. White painted Dura Supreme cabinets bring additional light into the small space; while the 16”x16” cleft slate tile flooring provides excellent contrast and the naturally earthy feel Michelle wanted. Quartz countertops with a 3”x12” “Debut Dew” subway tile backsplash add elegance to the now upliftingly bright laundry room. The extra space makes doing laundry much more pleasurable and the added storage is a great for all those little things like winter hats and gloves, umbrellas and the like. “The Advance Design project team was phenomenal to work with,” Michelle says. “They came in, shared the plans with us and walked us through the expectations. We always knew what was coming next.” Converting an existing closet space, the wet bar upstairs was challenging because they wanted a functional area that didn’t look or feel like cabinets just sticking out of a closet. So the Advance team transformed this ordinary closet space into a stunning wet bar that architecturally appears as if it’s always been there. Traditional, elegant hand carved custom molding matching the adjacent fireplace ties the new entertainment bar area in nicely with the existing family room and kitchen area. Featuring a built in wine refrigerator, Dura Supreme cabinetry in deep cherry wood elegantly displays wine bottles and etched glass mullion doors that fill with soft light in the evening hours. Cambria “Windermere” quartz countertops with a sophisticated hammered copper sink and a glimmering backsplash round out the stunning wet bar. Hosting parties and family functions has become much more enjoyable now that they have a dedicated beverage serving area large enough to include hors devours. All three projects were designed and constructed together at the same time, making for a cohesive project that was administered smoothly and easily both for the design team and for the family. Disruption to the home was minimal as each phase was completed in each project conclusively, and design and meeting time for the homeowner was efficient and organized making for an enjoyable process. “Advance Design was great to work with,” Michelle says. “I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a home improvement project. They took the time at the beginning to understand our needs, our budget, and our vision for our home. The field team was great, attentive, on time, cleaned up each day and made the overall experience very positive. We couldn't be happier with the finished product.” With the help of our talented, award winning design team you can create the basement, laundry room, or any other home renovation that you have been dreaming of. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating you home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about that kitchen remodeling project. Joe Nowak

SOME OF OUR PROJECTS We at Not Just Closets are proud of our workmanship, our creativity, and the help we have been able to provide to our many clients. We look forward to meeting you, and working with you to find just the right solution to your space organization problems. Perhaps photos of your project will wind up here in the Portfolio section. We will be adding to the examples in this web page as we complete more projects. This web page was created on 11/05/2013, so expect the examples displayed to continue to grow in the coming years. We were pleased to be invited to do a new Master Bedroom Closet project for a home in Albuquerque that was featured in the 2013 Parade of Homes. Perhaps you visited it during the 2013 Parade? The next 4 images are from that home. The closet was long and narrow but there was plenty of space for hanging clothes and drawer units as well as for folded clothes, shoes and other items. All this was accomplished without sacrificing elbow room in this narrow space. Views from the bathroom into the Master Closet. Another perspective of the Master Closet. The closets shown here were designed for a NE Heights home in Albuquerque. They were installed and photos were taken before any clothes or other items were added. The dark pullout in the first image is a clothes hamper. These light colored cabinets were chosen for the Master Bedroom closet to help keep the space bright and light. Note the two rows of hangars for shirts and dresses above, and pants below. The double row of drawers in this closet replaces the typical Chest of Drawers without sacrificing the extra space needed for the chest. This is a great addition to any closet. The last closet photo shows a two-door vertical storage closet on the right that is very flexible to configure. It can be outfitted to store clothes, shoes, jewelry, or other items. Also note the extra-length hangar space for formal dresses or long gowns. Not Just Closets was also contracted to do the Pantry in the above home. Please notice that the shelving wraps around the corners, providing the greatest amount of storage space. Also you will find that the spacing on the shelves was designed to allow for a large number of varying size items in the pantry. There are large shelves on the bottom since large items are usually heavy and bulky. Seldom-used items can also be stored on the top shelf. The storage shelves shown are in a large walk-in pantry, with a concommitantly large number of shelves. Dark colored cabinets were chosen for the Pantry to match the Kitchen cabinets. We were asked to design and install the closets for a house in the October 2014 Parade of Homes. The view is of an extremely large walk-in closet with upper and lower hanging bars, tall hanging areas, and a huge amount of cabinet and drawer storage. The next two views portray the same closet, demonstrating the size of the closet and the many wrap around hanging areas, shelves, storage cabinets, and drawers. All four walls were filled with these features. The closet also has a pull-down ironing board, allowing for quick refreshing of creases in trousers or straightening of dresses. Not Just Closets also does commercial installations, as evidenced by the corporate office kitchen and file storage solutions shown here. This photo is of a work center island incorporating file storage. Not shown is another large set of shelves for bulk storage. The back side of the work center also has cabinets for storage. This is a view of the Break Center at the corporate office. The counter, sink and upper and lower cabinets were all designed and installed by Not Just Closets. Photo A - Shown is a corner shelf unit for a child's closet in a 2015 Parade of Homes residence. The corner unit stores many toys in a neat, orderly fashion. Photo B - Hanging space above drawers illustrates the versatility of our units. Every inch of space is utilized in this Master Bedroom Closet in the 2015 Parade of Homes residence. Roll-out shelves offer convenience and easy access to a pantry in the 2015 Parade of Homes kitchen. This customer said - "Total 100% customer satisfaction. I love it! It is the crown jewel of the room. Every woman who has seen it has mentioned they are jealous of it all". We agree. This closet was custom-designed for blueprint storage for an architect. Master Bedroom closet units offer a variety of ways to hang and store clothes. Above the double hang and drawer unit are wardrobe lifts (not shown at the top of this photograph) to store seasonal clothes. A small bedroom closet can be made more useful with the right combination of hangs (hanging racks) and shelving. An entry closet with double hangs and a convenient bench for removing and storing shoes. This is a Master Bedroom Closet with adjustable shelves to organize and optimize the storage needs of the customer. The large nest of small drawers just exudes an aura of organization, and the shoe storage is adjusted to hold different sizes of boots and shoes.

New Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.

Snow Creek Consort Through warm craftsman colors, truth of materials and a ground hugging connection to nature, the Pasadena Residence portrays naturalistic simplicity with references to the historical Arts and Craftsman Movement with modern touches. The rich colors emulate the hues found in the natural environment through the style’s history of traditional values of quality and beauty. Materials found in their traditional form set the stage for hard horizontal lines and softly flowing curves throughout the 1914 home. These ideals emanate the Arts and Craft’s ideals while keeping the original historical intentions of the home.

In this project we transformed a traditional style house into a modern, funky, and colorful home. By using different colors and patterns, mixing textures, and using unique design elements, these spaces portray a fun family lifestyle. Photo Credit: Bob Fortner

New Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.

Reminiscent of softly weathered wood, Dura Supreme’s Weathered collection of finishes looks as if it has been exposed to years of sun, wind and rain. Like an old drift fence, tumbled driftwood, or seasoned barn planks; each of Dura Supreme’s Weathered finishes portrays wood that has been exposed to the elements. Dura Supreme’s special finishing process raises the grain to expose swirls and patterns with a uniquely textured surface. The wood is then lightly distressed by hand to replicate age and wear. After staining, glaze is applied to highlight the grain and then lightly buffed on edges and around knots to reveal the stain color shown. Because each cut of wood is unique, every Weathered finish is a one-of-a-kind rendition that appears to have been aged and worn by time itself. Dura Supreme’s Weathered finish collection includes an array of colors that evoke images of driftwood, dock planks or charred campfire wood. Choose from Dura Supreme’s four different wood species, each with their own charm and character marks. Select from any of Dura Supreme’s wood door styles to create a look that’s uniquely your own. Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

Reminiscent of softly weathered wood, Dura Supreme’s Weathered collection of finishes looks as if it has been exposed to years of sun, wind and rain. Like an old drift fence, tumbled driftwood, or seasoned barn planks; each of Dura Supreme’s Weathered finishes portrays wood that has been exposed to the elements. Dura Supreme’s special finishing process raises the grain to expose swirls and patterns with a uniquely textured surface. The wood is then lightly distressed by hand to replicate age and wear. After staining, glaze is applied to highlight the grain and then lightly buffed on edges and around knots to reveal the stain color shown. Because each cut of wood is unique, every Weathered finish is a one-of-a-kind rendition that appears to have been aged and worn by time itself. Dura Supreme’s Weathered finish collection includes an array of colors that evoke images of driftwood, dock planks or charred campfire wood. Choose from Dura Supreme’s four different wood species, each with their own charm and character marks. Select from any of Dura Supreme’s wood door styles to create a look that’s uniquely your own. Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

Reminiscent of softly weathered wood, Dura Supreme’s Weathered collection of finishes looks as if it has been exposed to years of sun, wind and rain. Like an old drift fence, tumbled driftwood, or seasoned barn planks; each of Dura Supreme’s Weathered finishes portrays wood that has been exposed to the elements. Dura Supreme’s special finishing process raises the grain to expose swirls and patterns with a uniquely textured surface. The wood is then lightly distressed by hand to replicate age and wear. After staining, glaze is applied to highlight the grain and then lightly buffed on edges and around knots to reveal the stain color shown. Because each cut of wood is unique, every Weathered finish is a one-of-a-kind rendition that appears to have been aged and worn by time itself. Dura Supreme’s Weathered finish collection includes an array of colors that evoke images of driftwood, dock planks or charred campfire wood. Choose from Dura Supreme’s four different wood species, each with their own charm and character marks. Select from any of Dura Supreme’s wood door styles to create a look that’s uniquely your own. Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

New Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.

James Borchuk
Dining room - tropical dining room idea in Tampa

Bedroom - bedroom idea in Las Vegas

This couple was ready for some major changes in their home on north Euclid in Upland, CA. After completing their nursery last year, they asked for help designing their family room. Everything had to go! The brick fireplace, the TV niche next to the fireplace, the wet bar…none of it portrayed my client’s taste or style in any way. They requested a space that was modern, not fussy, clean and contemporary. I achieved this look by transforming the fireplace wall with limestone and paneled walls with hidden storage behind where the TV niche used to be. Other features that helped in this transformation are updated recessed and accent lighting, fixtures, window coverings, sleek, contemporary furnishings, art and accessories. The existing carpet was replaced with dark wood flooring that seamlessly meets the new limestone fireplace hearth that runs the distance of the entire focal wall.

Invoking the regal femininity the paisley portrays, our Indian Wall Stencils has been given a royal look through layers of beautiful floral pattern surrounding a lovely paisley motif. Stencil these Indian inspired wall stencils as a focal point over a bed, mantel, or piece of furniture. Or create a random wallpaper pattern. From Royal Design Studio Stencils.

New Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.

The farmhouse sink portrays a certain charm and quickly becomes one of the focal points to this kitchen. The combination of Rohl Apron Front Sink and Waterstone Annapolis Bridge Faucet embodies charm while losing the outdated feel of the previous kitchen.

Sitting in one of Capital Hill’s beautiful neighborhoods, the exterior of this residence portrays a bungalow style home as from the Arts and Craft era. By adding a large dormer to east side of the house, the street appeal was maintained which allowed for a large master suite to be added to the second floor. As a result, the two guest bedrooms and bathroom were relocated to give to master suite the space it needs. Although much renovation was done to the Federalist interior, the original charm was kept by continuing the formal molding and other architectural details throughout the house. In addition to opening up the stair to the entry and floor above, the sense of gained space was furthered by opening up the kitchen to the dining room and remodeling the space to provide updated finishes and appliances as well as custom cabinetry and a hutch. The main level also features an added powder room with a beautiful black walnut vanity.

Antique Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.