Natural stone paver entry with river rocks. You can see the hellstrip before the Dymondia has grown in in the back.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard stone garden path in San Francisco.

Preliminary architecture renderings were given to Obelisk Home with a challenge. The homeowners needed us to create an unusual but family friendly home, but also a home-based business functioning environment. Working with the architect, modifications were made to incorporate the desired functions for the family. Starting with the exterior, including landscape design, stone, brick and window selections a one-of-a-kind home was created. Every detail of the interior was created with the homeowner and the Obelisk Home design team. Furnishings, art, accessories, and lighting were provided through Obelisk Home. We were challenged to incorporate existing furniture. So the team repurposed, re-finished and worked these items into the new plan. Custom paint colors and upholstery were purposely blended to add cohesion. Custom light fixtures were designed and manufactured for the main living areas giving the entire home a unique and personal feel. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw

Sam Oberter
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern home design remodel in Philadelphia

Ran Gas Line, Installed Burner, Key Valve, Lava Rock & Gas Logs (all products that we stock) We do all aspects of fire pits except for the stone.
Example of a mid-sized classic backyard concrete paver patio design in Chicago with a fire pit and no cover

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel. Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com

Newly constructed pool house and outdoor kitchen compliment a pre-existing pool.
Pool - craftsman pool idea in Los Angeles

Our clients loved the location of their duplex home with its peak-a-boo ocean view, but their existing kitchen was not suited for their growing family. They wanted a kitchen with a coastal vibe, plenty of storage space, and an eat-in area. We started by bringing the far wall into the kitchen space to accommodate a large panty and communication center for the family. Doing this allowed us to move the refrigerator out of the main traffic area and doubled the amount of storage space. Several new windows were added to bring in natural light. A half wall was moved to allow more countertop area and open up sight lines. The previously awkwardly shaped island was slimmed down to create better flow. There were a few venting challenges to overcome; gas lines and plumbing had to be re-routed without disturbing the unit below. To open up sight lines, soffits were eliminated which allowed the extension of cabinets to the ceiling. To stay within the homeowner’s budget, we match existing scraped flooring by lacing in and repairing patches. The old dining area was too small for table, so we designed and built a custom banquette to maximize the space and take advantage of the outdoor views. The overall space works for family meals as well as entertaining. A light summer palette was used to reflect the shades of the sand, sea and sky. Even though the new kitchen is actually smaller than the original space, its now far more functional and open.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

Tony Moody
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized traditional carpeted enclosed dining room idea in Boise with beige walls

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

The goal of this project was to provide a lush and vast garden for the new owners of this recently remodeled brick Georgian. Located in Wheaton this acre plus property is surrounded by beautiful Oaks. Preserving the Oaks became a particular challenge with the ample front walk and generous entertaining spaces the client desired. Under most of the Oaks the turf was in very poor condition, and most of the property was covered with undesirable overgrown underbrush such as Garlic Mustard weed and Buckthorn. With a recently completed addition, the garages were pushed farther from the front door leaving a large distance between the drive and entry to the home. This prompted the addition of a secondary door off the kitchen. A meandering walk curves past the secondary entry and leads guests through the front garden to the main entry. Off the secondary door a “kitchen patio” complete with a custom gate and Green Mountain Boxwood hedge give the clients a quaint space to enjoy a morning cup of joe. Stepping stone pathways lead around the home and weave through multiple pocket gardens within the vast backyard. The paths extend deep into the property leading to individual and unique gardens with a variety of plantings that are tied together with rustic stonewalls and sinuous turf areas. Closer to the home a large paver patio opens up to the backyard gardens. New stoops were constructed and existing stoops were covered in bluestone and mortared stonewalls were added, complimenting the classic Georgian architecture. The completed project accomplished all the goals of creating a lush and vast garden that fit the remodeled home and lifestyle of its new owners. Through careful planning, all mature Oaks were preserved, undesirables removed and numerous new plantings along with detailed stonework helped to define the new landscape.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

Mike and Anne of Barrington Hills desperately needed to update and renovate both their kid’s hall bath and guest bath, and in their 1980’s home each project presented a different set of unique challenges to overcome. When they set out to identify the right remodeling company to partner with, it was important to find a company that could help them to visualize design solutions for the bath renovations. When they came across Advance Design Studio’s website, they were immediately drawn to the solution-oriented remodeling process and the family friendly company. They say they chose Advance Design because of the integrated approach of “Common Sense Remodeling”, making the design, project management and construction all happen in one place. When they met with Project Designer Michelle Lecinski, they knew they chose the right company. “Michelle’s excellent work on the initial designs made it easy to proceed with Advance Design Studio,” Mike said. Like most homeowners anticipating a big renovation project, they had some healthy fears; with two bathrooms being remodeled at the same time they worried about timeframes and staying within budget. With the help of Michelle, and the “Common Sense” guidelines, they were confident that Advance Design would stay true, orchestrating all the moving parts to stay within both the estimated timeline and budget. The guest bath offered the biggest design challenge. A dormer obstruction made the already cramped shower awkward to access. Mike and Anne also wanted the shower size to be expanded, making it more accommodating. Working with Advance’s construction expert DJ Yurik, Michelle relocated the shower concealing the original dormer and creating a larger, more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing guest shower. The unsightly and not at all user-friendly closet was removed and replaced with elegant White Maple Dura Supreme cabinetry with much improved function featuring dual tall linen cabinets, a special makeup area and two sinks, providing a dual vanity which was extremely important for better guest use. The Fossil Brown quartz countertop is in pleasing contrast to the white cabinetry, and coordinates nicely with the mocha porcelain tile gracing the shower for an accent. The decorative glazed turquoise tile backsplash, tile border, and bottle niche adds a taste of marine green to the room, while marble-looking porcelain tile makes guests feel they are staying in a 5-star hotel. Polished nickel Kohler plumbing fixtures were chosen to add a touch of sophistication. This renovated guest bath is comfortable and elegant, and Anne and Mike’s house guests may never want to leave! “The end result was updated and restyled bathrooms that the client will enjoy and increase the value of their home,” Designer Michelle said. The children’s hall bath had its own set of challenges. The current placement of the sink was not conducive to the best use of the existing space, nor did it allow for any visual interest, something Advance’s designers always work to achieve even within the tight confines of a small bath. Advance removed the linen closet and used the gain in wall space to create a dramatic focal point on the vanity wall. They also took additional space that wasn’t being used for new Storm Gray Dura Supreme tall built-in linen cabinets, creating functional storage space that the former bath lacked. A customized glass splash panel was created for the bath, and the high ceilings with skylights were accented with a custom-made track lighting fixture featuring industrial pipe and cage materials. Authentic cement encaustic tile was used wall to wall surrounding the vanity to create a dramatic and interesting back drop for the new elegant and stately furniture-like double sink wall. Hand-made encaustic tile originated in Western Europe beginning in the 1850’s and reminded Mike and Anne of tile they had seen and loved from their travels overseas. Today, encaustic tile has made a re-appearance in today’s modern bath design with its wide array of appealing patterns and artistic use of color. Oil rubbed bronze Kohler fixtures echo the black accents in the beautiful tile pattern and reflect the matte black of the unique lighting detail. Easy to maintain Blanca Arabescato Quartz countertops add practicality and natural beauty and compliments the warm wood porcelain tile floors. This handsome bath has generated praise from friends and family even before it’s complete unveiling as photos of the space leaked out on social media! It’s not only completely functional to use, but especially pretty to look at. “Advance Design Studio did a terrific job for us. We really appreciated how easy it was to work with them on a complex project of the complete remodeling of two bathrooms. They very capably handled all the details from design, to project management, to construction. It is a great group of people to work with and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them again anytime,” Mike said.

Home design - eclectic home design idea

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.

An excellent example of complimenting an already existing structure. This beautiful Rich Sequoia attached DIY pergola kit is attached to the top of the pre-existing timber railing posts and —by all appearances— one would think the deck and pergola were the same structure, built at the same time. The pergola covers an outdoor kitchen and dining area and features the integrated power posts wherein the power lines run through the length of the posts —fully protected and pre-wired for convenience.