Laundry rooms and mudrooms can be a headache for many homeowners. They are usually cramped with poor functionality and little storage space. Joe and Kristin suffered all those aches and more, as their laundry room lacked clothing storage. Shoes were crammed in every corner. There was nowhere to fold clothes without taking them to the kitchen. They were ready for a complete laundry room remodel project. Joe and Kristin interviewed several local remodeling companies but didn’t connect with anyone who could understand their vision. During the summer, when they were attending their son’s race venue, they noticed fellow kart racers Todd and Christine Jurs’ sponsor banner for their remodeling company, Advance Design Studio. Immediately they were thrilled that they knew someone they trusted who could handle the renovation. “We wanted someone that we actually knew, who has a little bit more invested than an outside person that we don’t have any ties to,” Kristin said. Project Designer Nicole Ryan came to their home in Warrenville for the initial consultation. Kristin, an avid HGTV viewer, brought her ideas to Nicole. Throughout the design process, they worked together designing the space, selecting materials, and choosing colors. Nicole made sure to incorporate Kristin’s must-haves into the finished laundry room remodel. “It was really easy. Nicole made the transition very easy,” Kristin said of Nicole’s work in the design phase of the project. With the materials selected and the drawings finalized, it was time to begin construction. Kristin and Joe were impressed with how quickly and cleanly this phase went. “Everyone that came in was very respectful, very neat, and that was a big part for me because I didn’t want dust going through the rest of my house,” Kristin said. The new combination mudroom/laundry room is everything Kristin and Joe hoped. There is plenty of storage, three pull-out laundry hampers for presorting laundry, a large central island for folding clothes, a designated bar to hang dry, and even a unique rotating shoe rack to keep shoes from cluttering the space. “My rotating shoe rack,” Kristin said when asked what her favorite part of her new laundry room was. “We have four kids. We have a lot of shoes and sporting events. So it makes sense to have all that space for shoes.” The center island has an exceptional feature as well. It has wheels. Kristin wanted to be able to move the island out of the way for different functions in the room. An island with wheels can be placed wherever needed in the space. The two existing closets were reconfigured with built-in closet storage systems to make them more functional than before with shelves for baskets holding gloves and hats, umbrellas, and coats. “They love it,” Project Designer Nicole Ryan said. “They had a vision of how they wanted the space to function but didn’t know exactly how to get it there. My design took all their needs and used the most efficient products to get them the desired outcome. Tons of function, while still looking beautiful!” The “White” Hudson Panel Dura Supreme cabinetry on the perimeter brightens the space and contrasts the popular blue “Gale Force” Dura Supreme cabinetry of the rolling island. The black and white encaustic design porcelain tile backsplash adds visual interest to the room above the white quartz countertops. Additionally, an oil-rubbed bronze bar for hanging clothes is conveniently located above the washer/dryer, and a stainless-steel under-mount sink with a matching Kohler faucet offers perfect functionality. “I would definitely recommend Advance Design; they’ve been wonderful. They were so helpful. Any little changes we had, they were able to accommodate,” Kristin said.

Staircase - staircase idea in New Orleans

Seating bench outside of the shower
Doorless shower - large contemporary backyard and 3/4 stone, beige tile, gray tile and stone tile doorless shower idea in New York with a pergola, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multicolored walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

Example of a transitional home design design in New Orleans

This pebble wall paper adds extreme interest to a small powder room. Light reflects off the metallic towel bar and the glassy stones.
Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Burlington

Trendy home design photo in Toronto

Inspiration for a large contemporary straight staircase remodel in Boston

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Example of a transitional home design design in Boston

Photography: John Knowlton/Till Gardens. Project completed while employed at Oehme, van Sweden and Associates.
This is an example of a large transitional full sun landscaping in New York.

Modern grey triangles alternate with metallic accents. Printed on foil for a spectacular and radiant wallpaper option.
Example of a minimalist living room design in Boston

Inspiration for a huge modern full sun front yard river rock driveway in San Diego for summer.

This detail of the hand-painted mural shows the deft application of paint in the background, a "flogged" finish, with branches and leaves painted on top. The effect gracefully offers a sense of being surrounded by trees while dining in a room with no windows -- elegant, organic and unique! John Cole Photography Sheppard Bear, Fine Art Finishes, Painted mural

White fantasy corner shelves. Photo; Christopher Dearborn, New Frontiers Design
Corner shower - traditional master corner shower idea in New York with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

Cheyenne Interior Door
Inspiration for a timeless beige floor bedroom remodel in Orange County with blue walls

Dialogue Design
Hallway - transitional hallway idea in Toronto

Our intent was to create a contemporary beach house that would combine the simplicity of geometrical spaces and volumes with warm materials. This family weekend house is entered at the upper street level through a translucent glass gate that is set between the simple geometric volumes of the house and adjacent monumental gate pier, giving the feeling of penetrating a solid volume of architecture to arrive at your destination. This leads down to the entry courtyard space, defined by the bold architecture on three sides, dense landscape on the other side and a reflecting pool to contrast the manmade with the natural. The solid entry facade, creating intrigue and providing privacy, contrasts with the glass oceanside facades, providing view and transparency. The house is organized around a dramatic skylit central hall with a monumental stair made of wood treads that seem to float on brushed stainless steel supports—the stair is both art/sculpture and architecture. Materials in muted and warm colors—beige plaster walls, floors in random ashlar limestone at the lower seaside level, wire-brushed oak floors at the second floor and stair, and travertine baths—maintain a united color scheme that is punctuated by colorful fabrics and the owner’s collection of tribal art and modern furnishings. Interior design by Atelier AM Landscape architecture by Mark Beall

Mid-sized beach style guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Minneapolis with purple walls and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized classic guest porcelain tile bedroom design in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace