Five stars isn’t enough! Our project was to reconfigure and update the main floor of a house we recently purchased that was built in 1961. We wanted to maintain some of the unique feeling it originally had but bring it up-to-date and eliminate the closed-in rooms and downright weird layout that was the result of multiple, partial remodeling projects. We began with a long wishlist of changes which also required replacement of very antiquated plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC. We even found a fireplace that had been walled in and needed major re-construction. Many other aspects and details on this incredible list we made included an all new kitchen layout, converting a bedroom into a master closet, adding new half-bath, completely rebuilding the master bath, and adding stone, tile and custom built cabinetry. Our design plans included many fixtures and details that we specified and required professional installation and careful handling. Innovative helped us make reasonable decisions. Their skilled staff took us through a design process that made sense. There were many questions and all were answered with sincere conversation and positive – innovation – on how we could achieve our goals. Innovative provided us with professional consultants, who listened and were courteous and creative, with solid knowledge and informative judgement. When they didn’t have an answer, they did the research. They developed a comprehensive project plan that exceeded our expectations. Every item on our long list was checked-off. All agreed on work was fulfilled and they completed all this in just under four months. Innovative took care of putting together a team of skilled professional specialists who were all dedicated to make everything right. Engineering, construction, supervision, and I cannot even begin to describe how much thanks we have for the demolition crew! Our multiple, detailed project designs from Raul and professional design advice from Mindy and the connections she recommended are all of the best quality. Diego Jr., Trevor and his team kept everything on track and neat and tidy every single day and Diego Sr., Mark, Ismael, Albert, Santiago and team are true craftsmen who follow-up and make the most minuscule woodworking details perfect. The cabinets by Tim and electrical work and installation of fixtures by Kemchan Harrilal-BB and Navindra Doolratram, and Augustine and his crew on tile and stone work – all perfection. Aisling and the office crew were always responsive to our calls and requests. And of course Clark and Eric who oversaw everything and gave us the best of the best! Apologies if we didn’t get everyone on this list – you’re all great! Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We can’t thank you enough Innovative Construction – we kind of want to do it again! Dave Hallman & Matt DeGraffenreid

Capitalizing on trends, this homeowner took advantage of the marble, honeycomb, and herringbone pattern look inside of this walk-in shower. CAP Carpet & Flooring is the leading provider of flooring & area rugs in the Twin Cities. CAP Carpet & Flooring is a locally owned and operated company, and we pride ourselves on helping our customers feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door. We are your neighbors. We work and live in your community and understand your needs. You can expect the very best personal service on every visit to CAP Carpet & Flooring and value and warranties on every flooring purchase. Our design team has worked with homeowners, contractors and builders who expect the best. With over 30 years combined experience in the design industry, Angela, Sandy, Sunnie,Maria, Caryn and Megan will be able to help whether you are in the process of building, remodeling, or re-doing. Our design team prides itself on being well versed and knowledgeable on all the up to date products and trends in the floor covering industry as well as countertops, paint and window treatments. Their passion and knowledge is abundant, and we're confident you'll be nothing short of impressed with their expertise and professionalism. When you love your job, it shows: the enthusiasm and energy our design team has harnessed will bring out the best in your project. Make CAP Carpet & Flooring your first stop when considering any type of home improvement project- we are happy to help you every single step of the way.

Striking stainless steel design. Strikingly delicious drinks — espresso, cappuccino, latte, macchiato, long or short coffee, even hot water for tea. Like a great cup of coffee, the Wolf coffee system strikes all the right notes. It produces professional-quality drinks with the touch of a couple of buttons and lets you easily customize every aspect of your drink, from temperature to strength to level of foam. It can be installed anywhere, requiring no tie-in to a water line. It cleans the milk nozzle with push button ease because milk never enters the internal workings. In short, it is a joy to use and own.

Alluring azure makes a surprising appearance in the comely Grosseto Sideboard. The multi-function sideboard provides useful storage in dining rooms, living room, and home offices. The smooth surface consists of opening doors behind an abundance of shelf space. Center cubby space in accent color provides a chic balance. Cabinets feature Italian hydraulic hinges for smooth and lasting use. Panels made of high-pressure laminate over engineered fiberboard, and finished on both sides in eco-friendly veneers or colors. Panel thickness 18mm. Designer-selected color palette includes Dark Elm and Nile Blue (matte) finishes. Professional assembly required. Made in Italy.

Pro-Painting & Drywall, Inc. Drywall Finishing Finishing drywall is an art. It requires significant hand-eye coordination. You need to mix the finishing compound so it’s the correct consistency. Put too much compound under the tape, and you’ll have humps in your walls. Put too little under the tape and you’ll end up with blisters when you apply the second coat. I recommend that you call Pro-Painting & Drywall to help. You'll be stunned at the finished results when using a professional to do the job. Call us today 904-731-6471

This bedroom was part of a larger Toronto condo home staging project furnished with rental pieces from Rent WOW!!!. For this room, only a demo mattress with bed railings and two night tables were rented. The professional home stager used accessories and styling to create a warm, inviting bedroom while keeping the furniture rental requirements for this space minimal.

Mead features quality cabinetry from major manufacturers, including Custom Wood, Embassy, Omega, Merillat, Woodland Cabinetry, and Rushmore Countertops to provide our customers with an extensive selection of styles, options, and great craftsmanship. Customers can choose between cabinet door styles, wood types, and stain finishes, as well as our excellent selection of countertops, to find the look that will fit their style, home, and budget. Our professional sales and design personnel will be pleased to help you with the 20/20 computerized design, product selections, on-site measurements, and any other assistance the project requires. Meet with one of our associate's today to find the perfect cabinets and countertops for your kitchen, bath, den, study, great room, wet bar, laundry area, or wherever.Mead features quality cabinetry from major manufacturers, including Custom Wood, Embassy, Omega, Merillat, Woodland Cabinetry, and Rushmore Countertops to provide our customers with an extensive selection of styles, options, and great craftsmanship. Customers can choose between cabinet door styles, wood types, and stain finishes, as well as our excellent selection of countertops, to find the look that will fit their style, home, and budget. Our professional sales and design personnel will be pleased to help you with the 20/20 computerized design, product selections, on-site measurements, and any other assistance the project requires. Meet with one of our associate's today to find the perfect cabinets and countertops for your kitchen, bath, den, study, great room, wet bar, laundry area, or wherever.

Find elegant flair in this light understated yet attractive details. Notice the contour of the sturdy base. Clear gold-finished and white on the inside provide a dash of sparkle to this classic design. Energy-efficient solid-state LED lamping provide care-free, bright soft light for your home for years to come. - Materials: Brass, Arylic - Finish: Gold - Dimension: 15.7"L x 2.37"H (400mmL x 60mmH) - Bulbs: 40W LED warm white lamp - Assembly Instructions: This fixture does need to be hard-wired. Assembly is required. Professional installation is recommended.

This Blaze Professional 34-Inch grill is backed up against a wall that blocks the view of the neighbor’s home and allows them to turn and look at the river instead. The vent hood above the grill is crucial for this space because without it, smoke would become trapped by the screens surrounding the outdoor kitchen and linger in the sitting area. Even more important, though, is the insulated jacket around the grill, which is a required safety measure to shield the wooden cabinet from the grill’s heat.

The year-round heat pump versatility is very beneficial, but it has some drawbacks too. Its surprising breakdown can leave you without both heating and cooling. Therefore it is vital for you to know where you can turn for immediate professional repair whenever you face the requirement. If you live in Chicago, then Windy City Duct Cleaning services are there for you. No matter whether it is routine check up or state of emergency, we are ready to hear your problem. We have experienced and certified professionals in our team who will diagnose the problem at a single glance. Besides, we bring the use of high-quality parts and accessories, so the output of your device will not be compromised. With our meticulous workmanship, we even offer unbeatable heat pump repair warranties. You should understand the fact that you can’t go long without a properly functioning heat pump. That’s why it is suggested to call professionals for quick repair and maintenance whenever you notice something wrong with your heat pump. You can rely on us; we have an impressive amount of experience to assist you. We have confidence in our skills that we can repair any heat pump and even restore it to better working condition by offering regular maintenance.

This phase of the Upper Lonsdale full house renovation involved exterior structural modifications to accommodate new window placements and updated glazing. The scope included re-framing existing openings, structural header adjustments, precise window installation, and full exterior envelope integration. New energy-efficient windows were installed and carefully tied into the existing wall assembly, followed by professional stucco repair and texture matching to maintain architectural continuity. Executing exterior modifications in North Vancouver requires coordination with building code requirements, weatherproofing best practices, and long-term moisture management — particularly in our West Coast climate. The final result blends seamlessly into the original façade while significantly improving natural light and performance.

Five stars isn’t enough! Our project was to reconfigure and update the main floor of a house we recently purchased that was built in 1961. We wanted to maintain some of the unique feeling it originally had but bring it up-to-date and eliminate the closed-in rooms and downright weird layout that was the result of multiple, partial remodeling projects. We began with a long wishlist of changes which also required replacement of very antiquated plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC. We even found a fireplace that had been walled in and needed major re-construction. Many other aspects and details on this incredible list we made included an all new kitchen layout, converting a bedroom into a master closet, adding new half-bath, completely rebuilding the master bath, and adding stone, tile and custom built cabinetry. Our design plans included many fixtures and details that we specified and required professional installation and careful handling. Innovative helped us make reasonable decisions. Their skilled staff took us through a design process that made sense. There were many questions and all were answered with sincere conversation and positive – innovation – on how we could achieve our goals. Innovative provided us with professional consultants, who listened and were courteous and creative, with solid knowledge and informative judgement. When they didn’t have an answer, they did the research. They developed a comprehensive project plan that exceeded our expectations. Every item on our long list was checked-off. All agreed on work was fulfilled and they completed all this in just under four months. Innovative took care of putting together a team of skilled professional specialists who were all dedicated to make everything right. Engineering, construction, supervision, and I cannot even begin to describe how much thanks we have for the demolition crew! Our multiple, detailed project designs from Raul and professional design advice from Mindy and the connections she recommended are all of the best quality. Diego Jr., Trevor and his team kept everything on track and neat and tidy every single day and Diego Sr., Mark, Ismael, Albert, Santiago and team are true craftsmen who follow-up and make the most minuscule woodworking details perfect. The cabinets by Tim and electrical work and installation of fixtures by Kemchan Harrilal-BB and Navindra Doolratram, and Augustine and his crew on tile and stone work – all perfection. Aisling and the office crew were always responsive to our calls and requests. And of course Clark and Eric who oversaw everything and gave us the best of the best! Apologies if we didn’t get everyone on this list – you’re all great! Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We can’t thank you enough Innovative Construction – we kind of want to do it again! Dave Hallman & Matt DeGraffenreid

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

A sparkling clear glass bell jar encases the 3 suspended candlesticks for a central display, creating a minimalist appearance with a vibe of rustic grace. A delicate canopy with a loop in black stays true to the design and completes the look. Used singly or in multiple, this pendant light is beautiful and lends that rustic grace and tranquility. - Materials: Glass, Metal - Finish: Black - Dimensions: 11.8"Dia x 25.6"H (300mmDia x 650mmH) - Chains Length: 39.4"/1000mm (adjustable, contact us if you need longer) - Bulbs: 3 x 40W incandescent E12 (not included) - Assembly Instructions: This fixture does need to be hard wired. Minimal assembly is required. Professional installation is recommended.

The garage becomes part of the garden by the use of a natural espalier... Grewia Occidentalis. Photos by Caitlin Atkinson
Photo of a small transitional drought-tolerant and full sun backyard stone landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit for summer.

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.”

The classic appeal of traditional shingle style architecture is, in my professional opinion, one of America's greatest architectural contributions. While we will always stare in wonderment at the architectural mastery of the architecture that grew out of the European Renaissance, those masters of ornamental architecture can never take claim to the American hampton style home. The real magic of the shingle style home is that it bears its roots in the american barn. While the barn style is fundamentally a product of its function, there are those few architects who will continually challenge themselves take it once step further by interpolating the unique gambrel roof lines of the American barn and combine it with elegant architectural details of today high- end home to create a habitable sculpture. Without some semblance of historic precedence, we can never truly achieve architectural enlightenment , as that requires not just elegant design details, but a touch or nostalgia to lift the spirit.

Stylish and functional, this flush mount ceiling light is an ideal addition to update your home. Featuring the ring design in an eye-catching arrangement, it creates a modern yet chic look. Made of durable gold metal and white acrylic, this ring ceiling light ensures reliability and beauty for years to come. Buy and give your home a new look! - Materials: Metal, Acrylic - Finish: Gold - Dimension: 20.9"L x 15.7"W x 4.7"H (530mmL x 400mmW x 120mmH) - Bulbs: 42W LED warm white lamp (integrated) - Assembly Instructions: This fixture needs to be hard-wired. Assembly is required. Professional installation is recommended.

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Jacksonville