Roger Wade Studio
Eat-in kitchen - rustic eat-in kitchen idea with glass-front cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Peter Rymwid
Inspiration for a large timeless dark wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

This is an example of a traditional courtyard landscaping in Kansas City.

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath.

An added porch off to the side - a quiet place to relax and enjoy the pretty landscaping Michael Lipman Photography
Elegant front porch photo in Chicago

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.”

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

A turn-of-the-century farmhouse gets a facelift for a modern young family. Photo by: Olson Photographic Design assistant: Jennifer Lattanzi
Transitional light wood floor family room photo in Bridgeport with beige walls

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

An exciting children water play concept executed at the premier Lodha World Towers, where science blends effortlessly with excitement and fun. We appreciate Lodha Group for trusting Valerius to execute first of its kind project in India in collaboration with Timber Play UK. The project comprises of Archimedes Screw, Ball Valve, Paddle Pump and many more equipment. The complexity in the design was to provide water at different pressures to each equipment as specified by the manufacture to obtain the desired water effect. Secondly being children play area the water quality also had to meet stringent quality parameters to ensure safety and hygiene. Lodha Group is one of the largest real estate developer and is known to provide not only world class amenities but also such exclusive living experience to its customers.

Our client wanted a rustic chic look for their covered porch. We gave the crown molding and trim a more formal look, but kept the roof more rustic with open rafters. At Atlanta Porch & Patio we are dedicated to building beautiful custom porches, decks, and outdoor living spaces throughout the metro Atlanta area. Our mission is to turn our clients’ ideas, dreams, and visions into personalized, tangible outcomes. Clients of Atlanta Porch & Patio rest easy knowing each step of their project is performed to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and dependability. Our team of builders and craftsmen are licensed, insured, and always up to date on trends, products, designs, and building codes. We are constantly educating ourselves in order to provide our clients the best services at the best prices. We deliver the ultimate professional experience with every step of our projects. After setting up a consultation through our website or by calling the office, we will meet with you in your home to discuss all of your ideas and concerns. After our initial meeting and site consultation, we will compile a detailed design plan and quote complete with renderings and a full listing of the materials to be used. Upon your approval, we will then draw up the necessary paperwork and decide on a project start date. From demo to cleanup, we strive to deliver your ultimate relaxation destination on time and on budget.

Tom Holdsworth Photography Our clients wanted to create a room that would bring them closer to the outdoors; a room filled with natural lighting; and a venue to spotlight a modern fireplace. Early in the design process, our clients wanted to replace their existing, outdated, and rundown screen porch, but instead decided to build an all-season sun room. The space was intended as a quiet place to read, relax, and enjoy the view. The sunroom addition extends from the existing house and is nestled into its heavily wooded surroundings. The roof of the new structure reaches toward the sky, enabling additional light and views. The floor-to-ceiling magnum double-hung windows with transoms, occupy the rear and side-walls. The original brick, on the fourth wall remains exposed; and provides a perfect complement to the French doors that open to the dining room and create an optimum configuration for cross-ventilation. To continue the design philosophy for this addition place seamlessly merged natural finishes from the interior to the exterior. The Brazilian black slate, on the sunroom floor, extends to the outdoor terrace; and the stained tongue and groove, installed on the ceiling, continues through to the exterior soffit. The room's main attraction is the suspended metal fireplace; an authentic wood-burning heat source. Its shape is a modern orb with a commanding presence. Positioned at the center of the room, toward the rear, the orb adds to the majestic interior-exterior experience. This is the client's third project with place architecture: design. Each endeavor has been a wonderful collaboration to successfully bring this 1960s ranch-house into twenty-first century living.

Contrast is the key to this gorgeous transitional family room. Soft greige walls are in contrast with the platinum silk draperies and charcoal sofa. Custom lounge chairs in gold ikat add a touch of glamour to this formal living space. Modern art keeps it fresh and fun.