Planted non-fruiting olive trees ( Swan Hill) in a bed of Convolvulus flowering shrubs. Built the raised bed with a semi-rose colored Travertine stone. Each tree is deep watered with www.deepdrip.com stakes to reduce water loss from evaporation.

Muzata's cable railing system meets many of your needs, whether you want to install it as a complete package or use it with your existing stakes, we've got you covered. These systems are more durable than traditional wood or iron railings, reducing the frequency and cost of replacement and maintenance.

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Photo of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard stone formal garden in Indianapolis for spring.

For this project, we removed the old sod and excavated 3 to 4 inches of topsoil. We capped the sprinklers and then spread a base of crushed aggregate, which was packed down. The artificial turf was laid out and trimmed. Then seamed and staked into place, we spread infill and power broomed the turf so the blades would stand up straight. We used Tigerturf (Tiger Cool) Everglade Fescue. Created by Tencate, a worldwide innovator of space-age yarns for NASA and Boeing, TigerCool® yarns are engineered with heat reflective color pigments and advanced U.V. inhibitors that reduce surface temperatures. A series of solar panel tests indicate that artificial grass featuring TigerCool® technology successfully reduces turf temperatures by 30% and up to 17 degrees! That’s a difference that you can feel. The homeowner also selected a border of river rocks with a slight wave that gives a lush cool grassy Island effect. Photo by Greg Hawks

Violet-colored Liatris Spicata (Gayfeather): Gayfeather (tall purple plant on the left) is an extremely easy plant to grow. is an extremely easy plant to grow. It blooms in late summer and grows from corms that sprout in spring. Part of the sunflower family, it, too, is native to North America. It likes full sun, well-drained soils; it attract birds and butterflies, and is an ideal perennial. Because the Gayfeather often grows to a robust 2-4’ feet tall, it may require staking or some other support. www.deckandpatio.com

APPLICATION: - Up light, Shadowing, Wall Wash, Silhouette, Architectural Accents DESIGNED and CONSTRUCTED for MAXIMUM HEAT TRANSFER: - 6061 Aluminum - Clear Anodized (SSA Model) - 6061 Aluminum - High Performance Enamel (AB, BLK Models) - High Performance C230 Solid Brass (BR Model) - Tempered Mineral Glass Protective Lens LED LIFE EXPECTANCY (Philips Lumileds TM-21 data): - Greater than 60,000 hours (greater than 20 years at 8 hours per day) DRIVER SYSTEM: - External Driver reduces heat while extending the life of electronic components INPUT VOLTAGE: - 10.5 to 20 Volts AC INSTALLATION and HARDWARE: - LV180 Ground Stake included - All stainless steel hardware LEAD WIRES: - SPT-2 18 gauge Tinned wire, total lead length is 46” ELECTRONICS WARRANTY: - 20 Years

APPLICATION: - Up light, Shadowing, Wall Wash, Silhouette, Architectural Accents DESIGNED and CONSTRUCTED for MAXIMUM HEAT TRANSFER: - 6061 Aluminum - Clear Anodized (SSA Model) - 6061 Aluminum - High Performance Enamel (AB, BLK Models) - High Performance C230 Solid Brass (BR Model) - Tempered Mineral Glass Protective Lens LED LIFE EXPECTANCY (Philips Lumileds TM-21 data): - Greater than 60,000 hours (greater than 20 years at 8 hours per day) DRIVER SYSTEM: - External Driver reduces heat while extending the life of electronic components INPUT VOLTAGE: - 10.5 to 20 Volts AC INSTALLATION and HARDWARE: - LV180 Ground Stake included - All stainless steel hardware LEAD WIRES: - SPT-2 18 gauge Tinned wire, total lead length is 46” ELECTRONICS WARRANTY: - 20 Years

Photo of a mid-sized farmhouse full sun backyard landscaping in Atlanta.

APPLICATION: - Up light, Shadowing, Wall Wash, Silhouette, Architectural Accents DESIGNED and CONSTRUCTED for MAXIMUM HEAT TRANSFER: - 6061 Aluminum - Clear Anodized (SSA Model) - 6061 Aluminum - High Performance Enamel (AB, BLK Models) - High Performance C230 Solid Brass (BR Model) - Tempered Mineral Glass Protective Lens LED LIFE EXPECTANCY (Philips Lumileds TM-21 data): - Greater than 60,000 hours (greater than 20 years at 8 hours per day) DRIVER SYSTEM: - External Driver reduces heat while extending the life of electronic components INPUT VOLTAGE: - 10.5 to 20 Volts AC INSTALLATION and HARDWARE: - LV180 Ground Stake included - All stainless steel hardware LEAD WIRES: - SPT-2 18 gauge Tinned wire, total lead length is 46” ELECTRONICS WARRANTY: - 20 Years

Beach style painted wood floor and white floor foyer photo in DC Metro with white walls and a glass front door

This is an example of a mid-sized farmhouse shade backyard landscaping in Nashville.

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

The previous year Finesse, Inc. remodeled this home in Monrovia and created the 9-lite window at the entry of the home. After experiencing some intense weather we were called back to build this new entry way. The entry consists of 1/3 covered area and 2/3 area exposed to allow some light to come in. Fabricated using square steel posts and beams with galvanized hangers and Redwood lumber. A steel cap was placed at the front of the entry to really make this Modern home complete. The fence and trash enclosure compliment the curb appeal this home brings. PC: Aaron Gilless

Jennifer and Dan have lived in their Deer Park Illinois home for 15 years, slowly making minor fixes like painting and decorating; but they had a new plan for their kitchen the entire time. An awkwardly placed garage door, and an island cooktop with a terrible downdraft made a full-scale kitchen remodel an absolute must. Jennifer had many ideas in mind and wanted to work with a company that could provide high-end work, while partnering with a designer that would tailor the kitchen to her ideas. She was intrigued by the phrase “Common Sense Remodeling” in Advance Design’s feature she discovered while perusing an issue of the community’s Quintessential Barrington Magazine. Doing further research on the company’s website, as she looked through project profiles and read about Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy, she promptly scheduled an appointment to see if the people and ideas she read about were truly who they said they were. The more she read, the more she knew that the “Common Sense” approach to remodeling they described was exactly the type of company she was looking for. The partnership was sealed after an initial consultation with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Michelle Lecinski. They displayed a combination of friendliness, professionalism and respect that was unmatched by any of the other companies Jennifer talked to. She knew that with Advance Design, she would be able to retain the vision that she had in mind with high-quality craftsmanship. “I reached out to Advance Design because of the ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ tagline,” Jennifer said. “That’s what lingered for me”. “Advance Design was the most respectful- of the house and of my design ideas, and the most professional of the handful of companies that looked at my project”. Soon after the meeting Jennifer began working with Michelle on the project design. They quickly developed chemistry. Jennifer loved how Michelle researched and located every detail that Jennifer wanted for the kitchen. Between the two of them, every concept and idea was worked through and perfected. “Jennifer had definite ideas about what she wanted the new kitchen to look like, she just didn’t know how to bring it all together. We worked together really well to make her ideas into the practical reality necessary for a well-functioning kitchen, with the look and feel that she had envisioned”, says Michelle. “Michelle was wonderful in using the CAD system she would show me new drawings every time we changed the layout while working through the design,” Jennifer said. “She was a really wonderful partner in execution, she made sure everything happened quickly and easily.” The finished design drew out elements of Jennifer’s style and personality. The pair call the look “sophisticated farmhouse” to describe the kitchen renovation to family and friends. The result was a beautifully crafted, authentic-feeling space that satisfied Jennifer’s dreams 15 years in the making. The whole project consisted of a kitchen remodel, mudroom upgrade with powder room, and garage entry relocation. “The projects I personally like the best, are the ones that put the client’s dreams on display,” Project Designer Michelle said. “And this is one of those projects.” The main focal point of the kitchen is custom zinc and brass ventilation hood with a vintage sheen, which was hand made to order by a small company in Indiana named Vogler Metalworking. “It’s like sculpture, a true work of art”, says Jennifer. Your eye is immediately drawn towards this elegant yet practical hood that eliminated the home’s downdraft problem and added a striking conversation piece at the same time. The carpenters had to use special gloves when transporting and installing it, so they didn’t smudge it with fingerprints. The beautiful hood centers proudly over the stunning black enamel and brass LaCornue Range. “I had a friend who had a LaCornue range and after learning how easy it was to cook perfect meals, I was convinced I wanted to have one”, says Jennifer. This unique, breathtaking combination anchors the entire kitchen and is apparent immediately as you walk into the great room the surrounds the space. DuraSupreme Crestwood cabinets with a Kendall Panel add function and sophistication. A custom gray paint color paired with a storm blue was developed so that the new kitchen looked like it belonged to the existing space. Unlacquered brass faucets and hardware were important to Jennifer because she wanted the living finishes to age over time. Remarkable brass diamond mesh cabinet door inserts imported from the UK continue to add this one-of-a-kind kitchen renovation; giving it a “you won’t see this everywhere” quality. The use of old railcar flooring for the coffee bar countertop and reclaimed oak for the open shelving gives an authenticity to the space uncommon in kitchens today. Jennifer and Michelle fell in love with the Limestone Grey Stone while they were investigating unique island countertop ideas. They liked the fact that the limestone as a living finish will age and change over time. Calcutta Miel Quartz countertops made for an excellent pairing around the perimeter, as it’s durable and perfect for cooking preparations. A textured white subway tile backsplash that runs to the ceiling keeps your eye moving towards the open shelving, and to the main focal point of the stunning range hood combination. “The kitchen functions beautifully, and it’s gorgeous,” beams Jennifer as she gestures with both hands while smiling ear to ear. “The most important thing was I wanted a kitchen that had a wonderful flow, cooked beautiful meals and was a great gathering place for family and friends, and this space does that perfectly! Beauty wise, it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. I felt the function part was the hardest part, and that was nailed”! Relocating the garage entry to the new mudroom was a huge priority and has finally separated the family’s arriving home functions from their kitchen. Now coats and shoes and bags have their own area for dropping once members arrive home. Matching gray DuraSupreme cabinetry helped create gorgeous, purposeful lockers for the family. A reclaimed vintage sink and custom wall paper were added to the tiny powder room to beautify the once previously only functional space. Advance Design was even able to create a custom space for their dog to sleep while the family is away. “It was unbelievable that a project of this size was completed in such a short time, and I think that’s because of the large amount of planning and preparation that went into it,” Jennifer marveled, “When we started, we were ready, and everything was prepared”. When it came to execution, Project Manager Justin Davis and his crew were quick, accessible, and organized. Projects like this kitchen are typically completed in as little as 8-10 weeks. Jennifer’s kitchen however despite the relocation of some challenging HVAC in a soffit and moving of an exterior door was completed remarkably fast in part because the team was working with an existing tile floor that ran throughout the first floor that the client really loved. “You get to know these people really well because they’re living in your house while you’re living in your house. They were so fast and really good, it didn’t take as long as even planned” reported Jennifer. “I would text Justin and he always responded almost immediately. I got to know all the guys who were working in our house and they were all wonderful people”. Details in a customized kitchen like this one require skill and care from the people who install it. “All the guys on the job were skilled at what the did. I wanted small details like little feet to look like furniture, that is where their carpentry skill came in to make these all perfect”, said Jennifer. “The tile guys were wonderful. They even let me determine how I wanted the texture with the grout to appear for a salt and pepper look; now that is a very skilled trade person making it custom”. In Jennifer’s interview, she continued to reference Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling”, so I took a minute to ask her exactly what that phrase meant to her and how it played out in her experience with her project and the Advance Design team. Here is what she said: “I was intrigued about Common Sense Remodeling and in my head that there would be clear costs and prices, great communication between the design team, the execution team and me”, said Jennifer. They did deliver on that, it was so clear about the cost breakdown, what I could expect from everyone who came to my house, and everything that we had ordered. That to me is the Common Sense”! It’s great to see a client take literally our assertion that a well-planned remodeling project is simply “Common Sense”! She anticipated each step of the way would be clear, concise, and predictable, all the while protecting the outcome due to the careful upfront planning. “Advance Design delivered on their ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ promise,” Jennifer said. “From the design team, to the execution team - everything was straight forward like I imagined. The project turned out exactly how I envisioned, I enjoyed this process and absolutely would recommend Advance Design Studio to anyone.”

Gary Knaub
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard stone patio remodel with a fire pit and no cover

This is an example of a small rustic shade side yard vegetable garden landscape in New York.

Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern partial sun front yard gravel driveway in Denver for summer.