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.”

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

This beautiful courtyard was designed around a pergola and fountain. A collection of containers and flowering plants accentuate this tranquil entrance to this Napa Valley home.

Janet Logsdon
Inspiration for a mediterranean kitchen remodel in San Francisco

This previously unused attic space is now a sauna/yoga room. The left sauna wall follows the attic rafters down diagonally to allow a wider space for leg room on the twin sauna benches.

Product: Authentic Limestone for Exterior Living Spaces. Ancient Surfaces Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' design style as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates into 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, BBQ, fireplace or Jacuzzi pool spa all out of old reclaimed Mediterranean stone pieces is no easy task and shouldn’t be created out of the lowest common denominator of building materials such as concrete, Indian slates or Turkish travertine. The one thing you can bet the farmhouse on is that when the entire process unravels and when your outdoor living space materializes from the architects rendering to real life, you will be guaranteed a true Mediterranean living experience if your choice of construction material was as authentic and possible to the Southern Mediterranean regions. We believe that the coziness of your surroundings brought about by the creative usage of our antique stone elements will only amplify that authenticity. whether you are enjoying a relaxing time soaking the sun inside one of our Jacuzzi spa stone fountains or sharing unforgettable memories with family and friends while baking your own pizzas in one of our outdoor BBQ pizza ovens, our stone designs will always evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that one only gets while being on vacation is some exotic European island surrounded with the pristine beauty of indigenous nature and ancient architecture...

When re-purposing authentic antique gates it is important to take a few things into consideration as some of these projects can get costly and you'll want to make sure your results justify your investment. One of the details you'll want to consider if you're planning or have already purchased an antique gate is to make sure it can be modified to fit the opening you would like to use it in. In this case, the door was larger so a cut-down was easily done. Because the gate came with the original rustic iron hinges we opted to keep those as decorative features wile we retrofitted the gate with new operational hinges which will carry the weight of the gate for at least another century. Preserving the authentic characteristics of antique gates is of essence so you'll want to make sure you keep as much of the original elements when the retrofitting project is planned out. The challenge you'll have when pairing an antique gate with functional locking hardware is making sure the hardware will complement your gate's original character. This architectural gate was graciously fitted with a surface mounted mortise and lever box which allows the gate to be used conveniently as any other door in the house while having the option to lock it safely at night or while the homeowners are away on vacation. We opted for a rustic surface mounted lever and mortise lock system because the gate's thickness wasn't enough to install a regular inset roller catch and mortise box as in the gates we build from scratch. Check out the tag on the image to see what this antique gate looks like from inside when it's open. Although Dynamic Garage Door specializes in recreating antique European garden gates we also enjoy working on retrofits that make us part of a historic preservation that will carry our name for many decades more! Get project pricing and/or design consultations by calling us at: (855) 343-3667 (855) 343-DOOR

CUSTOMIZE YOUR INTERIOR GLASS DOOR! Interior glass doors ship for just $99 to most states, $159 to some East coast regions, custom packed and fully insured with a 1-4 day transit time. Available any size, as interior door glass insert only or pre-installed in an interior door frame, with 8 wood types available. ETA will vary 3-8 weeks depending on glass & door type.........Block the view, but brighten the look with a beautiful interior glass door featuring a custom frosted glass design by Sans Soucie! Select from dozens of sandblast etched obscure glass designs! Sans Soucie creates their interior glass door designs thru sandblasting the glass in different ways which create not only different levels of privacy, but different levels in price. Bathroom doors, laundry room doors and glass pantry doors with frosted glass designs by Sans Soucie become the conversation piece of any room. Choose from the highest quality and largest selection of frosted decorative glass interior doors available anywhere! The "same design, done different" - with no limit to design, there's something for every decor, regardless of style. Inside our fun, easy to use online Glass and Door Designer at sanssoucie.com, you'll get instant pricing on everything as YOU customize your door and the glass, just the way YOU want it, to compliment and coordinate with your decor. When you're all finished designing, you can place your order right there online! Glass and doors ship worldwide, custom packed in-house, fully insured via UPS Freight. Glass is sandblast frosted or etched and bathroom door designs are available in 3 effects: Solid frost, 2D surface etched or 3D carved. Visit our site to learn more!

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Orange County.

Garden Design Inc.
Photo of an asian landscaping in Philadelphia.

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2014 Houzz
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Dallas.

Cuban tile shower.
Tuscan black tile and cement tile doorless shower photo in Miami

Minimalist dark wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco

This Travertine wall Fountain is decorated with a diamond cut tile installation, this brings your eyes attention to the center basin and spout. The above ground Basin captures the large body of water as it descends from the center basin. The Bottom Basin is finished with a decorative engraving. The hardscape of the space is finished with stone tile pavers with 6 inch grass joints that soften the space.

Hallway - modern hallway idea in Houston

Design ideas for a farmhouse landscaping in Boston.

The overall pattern of the patio is revealed as a "river" of irregular stones breaking the rectilinear pattern of the main field of the patio. The changes in textures and pattern expand the small backyard space while the uniform colors keep the design from feeling "busy". The plants will fill in and provide another layer of textural interest in this Asian-inspired back yard. The white flags indicate location for future lighting. Thanks to Denchfield Landscaping for their professional installation. Molly Scott, RLA Molly Scott Exteriors, LLC

Custom Iron Gate door for entry way and iron window by San Marcos Iron Doors.