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Our client wanted a SIP built home and we incorporated this and many other energy and sustainability features into this home which was in the Sheboygan County Parade of Homes.
Named "The Green Balanced Home", this project was all about creating practical and stunning living spaces that combined with sound environmental building materials and methods. By showcasing an assortment of leading-edge- green technologies, the Green Balanced Home was the talk of the Parade that year. In cooperation with our client, our methodology was:
Start with the site:
1. Protected tree lines
2. Drought resistant vegetation
3. High proportion of natural, plantings versus higher maintenance lawn
4. Optimal home placement on lot for solar exposure
5. Narrower streets
Build a high thermal envelope:
1. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam under basement, garage, and patio.
2. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam around exterior foundation walls.
3. R-10 ESP foam "shirt" around foundation
4. R-24 Structural Insulated panels (SIPs) for exterior walls, including garage
5. Sprayed foam in basement box sills and attic separation walls
6. R-15 garage door
7. R-60 blown cellulose attic insulation
Add efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, and electric utilization elements:
1. High efficiency fireplace with auxiliary ducting
2. Pull-out exterior wood-loading drawer
3. Air-to-air heat pump
4. 95% efficient, ultra-quiet variable capacity furnace
5. 19 SEER air conditioner
6. Five zones with programmable thermostats
7. Heat reclamation from hot water usage
8. LED lighting
9. Skylights
10. Energy Star appliances
11. Prep for in-floor heating system
12. Prep for photovoltaic (PV) solar
13. Prep for solar hot water
Incorporate water conservation:
1. Rain water recapture for toilet flushing and irrigation
2. Motion activated hot water circulation system
3. Power flush toilets
4. Dual flush toilets
Create high indoor air quality:
1. HEPA and UV filters
2. Air-to-air exchanger
3. Ultra-quiet bathroom fans with moisture sensor activation
Integrate sustainable, efficient materials:
* Expanded polystyrene (ESP) foam that does not emit HCFC "greenhouse" gases
* Oriented strand board (OSB) based siding, trim, and shutters
* SIPs panels that contain ESP an OSB
* Carpeting pads made from recycled materials
* Stewardship-certified cabinet manufacturing
* Job site recycling and reduce waste with SIPs

Kim Roberts, owner of Staging Beautifully, has a passion for creating beautiful spaces. From home staging to redecorating, Kim’s relaxed and friendly approach make even the most challenging project fun and enjoyable.
For those interested in refreshing their space, Staging Beautifully can assist a homeowner in decorating their home with the items they already own and love. Like staging, redesign may include color selection, rearranging furniture, hanging art and placing accessories. It is a cost effective design alternative which will give your home a facelift without the cost of an Interior Designer. Utilizing your furnishings and treasures, we will shop your home to find new and creative ways to display your family’s possessions. This will result in a complete interior transformation which will reflect your personality, style, comfort and functionality to your living space without having to buy anything.
Looking to sell your home, consider home staging to target a higher selling price. Home Staging aims to de-personalize your home and make it appealing to virtually all prospective buyers. The way you live in your home and the way you market your home are two very different things. Your home is competing with every other home on the market. A home that looks like it needs work or isn't move-in ready prompts buyers to low-ball their offers, or eliminate your home from consideration all together. Those homes that are staged to reflect current trends attract and appeal to more buyers, resulting in more offers, faster sales, and higher sale prices. Sometimes, an agent may even recommend your price be increased once your home is staged! A well-staged home can even start a bidding war with multiple offers!

The Courtyard Oasis project encompasses what abarnai does best; remodeling a space with an emphasis on functional installation artwork. Our clients wanted a beautiful and tranquil outdoor space as a seamless extension of their indoor living space. They initially described the outdoor area as a drainage ditch, and to transform it into a Courtyard Oasis required detailed design work and creative collaboration. An open central patio, with custom trellises as a living focal point, was the starting point of the design to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces and allow the courtyard area to be divided into different zones -- for relaxing, entertaining and gardening. The abarnai team loved this project because they go to completely revamp the area and utilize a wide variety of design and building skills, including patio construction, custom trellis artwork, composite decking and stairs, a wood retaining wall, feature lighting systems, planting areas, and a sprinkler system.
Find the right local pro for your project

Kim Roberts, owner of Staging Beautifully, has a passion for creating beautiful spaces. From home staging to redecorating, Kim’s relaxed and friendly approach make even the most challenging project fun and enjoyable.
For those interested in refreshing their space, Staging Beautifully can assist a homeowner in decorating their home with the items they already own and love. Like staging, redesign may include color selection, rearranging furniture, hanging art and placing accessories. It is a cost effective design alternative which will give your home a facelift without the cost of an Interior Designer. Utilizing your furnishings and treasures, we will shop your home to find new and creative ways to display your family’s possessions. This will result in a complete interior transformation which will reflect your personality, style, comfort and functionality to your living space without having to buy anything.
Looking to sell your home, consider home staging to target a higher selling price. Home Staging aims to de-personalize your home and make it appealing to virtually all prospective buyers. The way you live in your home and the way you market your home are two very different things. Your home is competing with every other home on the market. A home that looks like it needs work or isn't move-in ready prompts buyers to low-ball their offers, or eliminate your home from consideration all together. Those homes that are staged to reflect current trends attract and appeal to more buyers, resulting in more offers, faster sales, and higher sale prices. Sometimes, an agent may even recommend your price be increased once your home is staged! A well-staged home can even start a bidding war with multiple offers!

After undertaking a few minor updates over the years, these homeowners came to us ready to tear out their kitchen and start from scratch. The existing kitchen was large, but not laid out well for the everyday use it was getting. A bulky double fireplace in the center of the living space took up a lot of room and made the dining room feel disconnected from the kitchen, despite the substantial opening between the two. We removed the oversized wood burning fireplace and replaced it with a smaller gas one with shiplap above, creating a stylish featured piece. Meanwhile the kitchen was reimagined and reorganized into a functional space for a home chef that will work better for years to come.
These homeowners’ main concern was to update the style and function, as well as having quality materials that would stand the test of time. They wanted updated, gray cabinets; but didn’t want to lose any of the warm feeling of their home. Together with our design team they chose a light, warm gray for the perimeter cabinets and a darker gray to make the island a focal piece. The warm, light colored quartz countertops blend with the lighter gray and contrast nicely with the island. The textured dark blue backsplash tile adds a fun and exciting pop of color without stealing attention from any of the other pieces. To further maintain the warmth, they chose a rich walnut flooring with bold grain patterns.
When the homeowners fell in love with some contemporary brass colored light fixtures, they were nervous that they would compete with their stainless steel appliances and other silver toned pieces. By keeping all the lights in the same color family, we were able to achieve a look that feels intentional and modern. The corner 3-light pendant adds light and interest to the space. Not wanting to take up wall cabinet space with a bulky microwave, they opted for one built into a base cabinet. The other small appliances are neatly hidden away behind custom appliance garages.
For the fireplace, we focused on a clean, bright look that would stand out and look beautiful without competing with the neighboring kitchen. A small powder bathroom was also reorganized to better utilize the potential storage space and add counter space for guests. The style of the kitchen cabinetry was incorporated into the bathroom as well as into the dining room, which featured glass front cabinets to display dishes and mementos.
The redesigned space resulted in a warm and beautiful kitchen and dining area that will be enjoyed for years to come. The main floor living space now feels as cohesive as it was always meant to.

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life.
The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time.
The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room.
Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage.
Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee.
We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces.
In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color.
The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook!
Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home.
The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client.
Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients!
We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms.
This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

There’s nothing as wonderful as walking into a mid-century gem with clients who love the character of their new home. Our goal for this project was to incorporate the mid-century bones of this home into a new design that would better meet the contemporary needs of our clients. We started by taking down the walls that had separated this kitchen from the rest of the home and creating a welcoming space that blended seamlessly with the new open concept. The new kitchen design was a win for our clients with increased storage, more work surfaces, and a peninsula with plenty of seating. We utilized wood finishes through out this space with light wood flooring, medium-tones on the cabinetry, and darker wood accents throughout giving us a beautiful balance and a calm backdrop. This home had beautiful horizontal lines that we wanted to accentuate, so we selected a dark wood finish for the central beam and tied it in with the dark finish on the wood fireplace mantel and the stair handrail to emphasize the horizontal features. But we never miss an opportunity for a fun mid-century pop, and this home provided plenty of inspiration! The boomerang hardware on the cabinets and escher backsplash tiles give us great geometric elements to break up the clean lines of the rest of the space. One of our favorite features of this home was the original plaster ceilings with the custom hand troweled texture. We knew from the beginning that this was an element we wanted to maintain and accentuate, so when we opened up the kitchen and added recessed lighting we reached out to a local plaster artisan to carry the texture throughout the space, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. This design brings together the mid-century aesthetics of clean lines and fun patterns with the modern-day functionality our clients were looking for in their new kitchen.

Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

This proposal is for a new two-story home on the vacant heavily wooded lot with an existing 150-foot-long driveway lined by several beautiful oak trees culminating in a behemoth 43-inch oak tree where the driveway meets the main lot. The far end of the driveway terminates in a grove of three 43/40/43-inch redwoods and at the very center of the vacant lot stands a gargantuan V-twin 59-inch redwood tree paired with a “small” 29-inch redwood tree. The owners want to build a beautiful contemporary-styled home for their family that fully enjoys and embraces the mature trees on their cozy 65-foot by 100-foot lot.
As with all small, constrained lots, this project’s site design started first with meeting the relatively large parking and car maneuvering requirements. Menlo Park’s Department of Transportation typically requires side-facing garages to have 24-feet of backup space. So that they could give the largest feature redwood tree on site an added four feet (50%) of clearance outside of its critical root zone, the owners agreed to install a vehicle turntable at the end of their driveway to eliminate the extra four feet of space needed to back up and turnaround. This allowed them to pull their garage forward an additional four feet towards the front property line on the panhandle side, drastically reducing the rest of the home’s impact on the gargantuan V-Twin paired redwood tree at the center of the lot.
One of the owners has mobility issues, and accordingly, they first sought to design a one-story floor plan that incorporated all their family’s needs including plenty of covered patio and deck space to enjoy our fantastic California weather. But that single-story footprint spread too far into the critical root zones of several of the redwood trees on site, even despite the use of the vehicle turntable. During my interview process with the owners, they made it clear to me that one of their primary concerns is ensuring that the largest trees on site would thrive and become features of their new home after construction is complete. The single-story designs that removed the grove of three huge redwood trees were non-starters, as was the skimpy 5x10 master bath I designed when trying to squeeze the whole house program into an overly compromised single-story design. It was therefore deemed necessary to go with a two-story design despite the owner’s mobility issues. This two-story design has a much more compact ground floor footprint and has no bedrooms downstairs, other than the detached ADU. The owners must give up the floor area and incur the costs to install a residential elevator to access their upstairs master suite.
Our ground floor footprint is smaller due to the two-story design decision, and our foundation is pulled away from the trees thanks to the vehicle turntable. Yet, a tiny portion of the home’s ground floor footprint still encroaches into the critical root zones of the largest 59” redwood tree. Therefore, as outlined in the Arborist Report prepared by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting, the structural engineers are incorporating an array of drilled piers and shallow-grade beams for the main home’s foundation and deck area nearest the redwood’s critical root zone. This drilled piers and grade beam foundation is a type of “bridging” foundation as outlined in Aesculus’ report to preserve the health of these trees that the property was designed around. The rest of the foundation will be constructed as an insulated slab-on-grade foundation to minimize the number of steps and ramps needed for the owners to enjoy their home and patio areas.
Despite the owner’s desire to keep as many trees as possible on site, and despite the smaller ground floor footprint and the advantage of the vehicle turntable, the need for a 20x20-foot garage and 20x20/25-foot guest parking space on our panhandle lot requires the removal of two heritage trees in the required driveway, a 16” coast redwood, and a 17” coast redwood. An alternate design, such as swapping the garage and guest parking locations north-to-south, still requires the removal of these two trees for vehicle maneuvering but has the added disadvantage of cutting off the home’s sightlines to the behemoth 43” oak tree just outside the currently proposed front patio space and living room. Jim Redman of Elements Landscape is proposing 13 new trees be planted on site to replace the lost value of these two heritage coast redwood trees.
This contemporary architectural design features clean lines, and an abundance of full-height windows and large skylights to best take in the immense trees on site. To blend in with the forest-like setting, the home boasts a mix of rich textures and features a color palette of natural wood tones contrasted with dark blue and black. Once through the new steel gate at the street and down the 150-foot tree-lined driveway, a large covered front patio becomes visible past the neighbor’s detached accessory structure. The covered patio is just across the driveway from the beautiful 43” behemoth coast live oak. The single plane of the covered patio roof is delicately supported by a pair of steel posts in a “V-twin” configuration much like the largest redwood trees that tower over the center of the lot and will still be visible above the new two-story home, even from the front yard. The patio is covered in a dark-colored standing seam roof, with steel C-channel fascias, and tongue-and-groove wood ceiling planks on the underside. Generously sized skylights on the patio roof and inside the living area allow for impressive views of the amazing oak canopy as well as precious natural light.
Supporting the sloped covered patio on the other side is the two-car garage with a secondary bedroom suite stacked above the garage. This two-story volume is to be clad in vertical clear-coated redwood siding, to tie in with the grove of three 43-inch redwood trees just beyond. The garage door, and the bank of windows for Bedroom#2 above feature a steel fascia eyebrow header feature to provide shade and overhang protection, as we are not proposing a large overhang at this “redwood trunk”. The garage and bedroom volume are pulled 16 feet away from the side property line, instead of the minimum required setback of 6’-6”, thus leaving plenty of room for the redwood grove and existing mature pear tree to continue to thrive. This existing mature green screen in this 16-foot-wide side yard is a feature worth soaking in, which is why tall windows with low sill heights are proposed for both the stairs and the upstairs hallway. Though it may be infrequent to approve side-facing 2nd floor windows with sill heights as low as what we’re proposing, we are confident that the mature green screen and the over 16-foot-wide side yard are sufficient to provide for the continued privacy of our neighbor’s rear yard space, especially considering theses windows are in walkway zones.
The covered patio at the front entry is also bound by the 10-foot-tall living room. The great room is clad in a dark blue brick veneer, which wraps around all three sides of the living room. Upon entering the home from the covered patio, you are immediately greeted with one of the most impressive features of the home’s design: a 10-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide set of sliding glass doors. From the entry, this huge opening gives merely an initial glimpse of the massive trunks of the gargantuan V-twin redwoods sitting at the center of the lot. All three sliding glass panels open directly out into the smaller partially covered deck in the rear. This roof overhang element matches the design of the front patio with a steel C-channel fascia and a large skylight. But the rear deck’s roof element is set flat at a ten-foot ceiling height so that the living room’s ceiling seems to float above and out beyond the expanse of full-height sliding doors, thus creating an indoor-outdoor living space that will feel much larger than the home’s actual footprint. This rear covered deck is smaller than the patio in the front and also has a mix of solid and open-slatted roofing to allow for more solar access for the relatively small amount of open sky available.
The downstairs living room is open to the dining and kitchen areas, as well as the stair-and-elevator tower beyond. The stair tower is very open and glassy, and the stairs wind up and around the redwood-clad elevator tower. From certain perspectives in the 16-foot-wide side yard, it will almost seem as if the grove of three redwoods has a fourth tree that the house and the stairs were carefully built around. Other than the 3-foot-wide windows, the exterior walls of the stair tower, downstairs utility spaces, and Bedroom#3 above are finished in cement plaster, painted dark blue and black. The sloped roof over the stair-and-elevator tower continues cleanly over the area of upstairs Bedroom#3. This roof level is set by the side daylight plane and only yields an inside wall height of just under 6 feet in height. The owners are satisfied that the rest of this upstairs room has a nice vaulted ceiling to make up for the one short wall under the daylight plane.
The rest of the ground floor adjacent to the stair tower consists of a small utility wing containing a half-bath, laundry, storage area, and an exterior alcove for the electric heat pump HVAC unit. This short wing also gives more accessible access to the rear yard deck, as well as a backdrop for an outdoor kitchen. The bright white stone backsplash for the outdoor kitchen provides contrast to the otherwise consistent use of cement plaster painted dark blue and black for the two-story wing closest to the detached ADU. Though Bedroom#3 is stacked directly above this small wing, it is relatively short to comply with the side daylight plane of this narrow lot. Still, to further help break up the scale of this wall, another steel fascia eyebrow element is set about 8 feet above the rear deck.
The master suite sits centered above the ten-foot-tall great room. The master bedroom and its balcony, as well as the master bathtub area, have a commanding view of the central redwood trees and their impressive canopy, though the balcony is mostly recessed and should pose no privacy concerns to the neighbor’s rear yards. The master balcony parapet is clad in the same brick veneer continuing up from the living room below. A dark-painted metal rail makes up the rest of the open guardrail height. The entire length of the master balcony is comprised of 9-foot-tall sliding glass doors, but the area above the doors, as well as the area below the master bathroom windows, is accented with more redwood siding. The remainder of the master suite bathroom and walk-in closet is finished in cement plaster painted dark blue. The master bathroom has one side yard-facing window but will be frosted glass for both the owner’s and the neighbor’s privacy.
The 2nd floor is capped under a simple gable roof design with one roof ridge and varying eave and rake overhangs depending on the 2nd-floor layout and solar orientation. Since these roof planes are quite difficult to see in the middle of the heavily wooded panhandle lot, we are proposing a white TPO roofing for these two upper roof planes as a more sustainable choice compared to more dark-colored roofing like the covered patios and detached ADU.
The owners also wish to build a detached 292-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an office and guest suite. For the ADU foundation to be situated outside the central redwood tree’s critical root zone, this relatively tiny structure takes advantage of the narrower 4-foot side and rear setbacks allowed for ADUs smaller than 800 square feet. The small L-shaped detached ADU frames a wonderful quasi-courtyard around the gargantuan V-twin redwoods at the center of the lot. The ADU shares a matching material palette consisting of cement plaster painted blue and black, vertical redwood siding and soffits, and thin brick veneer. The ADU also features large full-height windows. The only difference between the main home and the ADU material palette is that the roofing will be a dark composition shingle roofing since it will be quite visible from the master balcony.

There’s nothing as wonderful as walking into a mid-century gem with clients who love the character of their new home. Our goal for this project was to incorporate the mid-century bones of this home into a new design that would better meet the contemporary needs of our clients. We started by taking down the walls that had separated this kitchen from the rest of the home and creating a welcoming space that blended seamlessly with the new open concept. The new kitchen design was a win for our clients with increased storage, more work surfaces, and a peninsula with plenty of seating. We utilized wood finishes through out this space with light wood flooring, medium-tones on the cabinetry, and darker wood accents throughout giving us a beautiful balance and a calm backdrop. This home had beautiful horizontal lines that we wanted to accentuate, so we selected a dark wood finish for the central beam and tied it in with the dark finish on the wood fireplace mantel and the stair handrail to emphasize the horizontal features. But we never miss an opportunity for a fun mid-century pop, and this home provided plenty of inspiration! The boomerang hardware on the cabinets and escher backsplash tiles give us great geometric elements to break up the clean lines of the rest of the space. One of our favorite features of this home was the original plaster ceilings with the custom hand troweled texture. We knew from the beginning that this was an element we wanted to maintain and accentuate, so when we opened up the kitchen and added recessed lighting we reached out to a local plaster artisan to carry the texture throughout the space, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. This design brings together the mid-century aesthetics of clean lines and fun patterns with the modern-day functionality our clients were looking for in their new kitchen.

After undertaking a few minor updates over the years, these homeowners came to us ready to tear out their kitchen and start from scratch. The existing kitchen was large, but not laid out well for the everyday use it was getting. A bulky double fireplace in the center of the living space took up a lot of room and made the dining room feel disconnected from the kitchen, despite the substantial opening between the two. We removed the oversized wood burning fireplace and replaced it with a smaller gas one with shiplap above, creating a stylish featured piece. Meanwhile the kitchen was reimagined and reorganized into a functional space for a home chef that will work better for years to come.
These homeowners’ main concern was to update the style and function, as well as having quality materials that would stand the test of time. They wanted updated, gray cabinets; but didn’t want to lose any of the warm feeling of their home. Together with our design team they chose a light, warm gray for the perimeter cabinets and a darker gray to make the island a focal piece. The warm, light colored quartz countertops blend with the lighter gray and contrast nicely with the island. The textured dark blue backsplash tile adds a fun and exciting pop of color without stealing attention from any of the other pieces. To further maintain the warmth, they chose a rich walnut flooring with bold grain patterns.
When the homeowners fell in love with some contemporary brass colored light fixtures, they were nervous that they would compete with their stainless steel appliances and other silver toned pieces. By keeping all the lights in the same color family, we were able to achieve a look that feels intentional and modern. The corner 3-light pendant adds light and interest to the space. Not wanting to take up wall cabinet space with a bulky microwave, they opted for one built into a base cabinet. The other small appliances are neatly hidden away behind custom appliance garages.
For the fireplace, we focused on a clean, bright look that would stand out and look beautiful without competing with the neighboring kitchen. A small powder bathroom was also reorganized to better utilize the potential storage space and add counter space for guests. The style of the kitchen cabinetry was incorporated into the bathroom as well as into the dining room, which featured glass front cabinets to display dishes and mementos.
The redesigned space resulted in a warm and beautiful kitchen and dining area that will be enjoyed for years to come. The main floor living space now feels as cohesive as it was always meant to.

The Courtyard Oasis project encompasses what abarnai does best; remodeling a space with an emphasis on functional installation artwork. Our clients wanted a beautiful and tranquil outdoor space as a seamless extension of their indoor living space. They initially described the outdoor area as a drainage ditch, and to transform it into a Courtyard Oasis required detailed design work and creative collaboration. An open central patio, with custom trellises as a living focal point, was the starting point of the design to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces and allow the courtyard area to be divided into different zones -- for relaxing, entertaining and gardening. The abarnai team loved this project because they go to completely revamp the area and utilize a wide variety of design and building skills, including patio construction, custom trellis artwork, composite decking and stairs, a wood retaining wall, feature lighting systems, planting areas, and a sprinkler system.

A 5x10 bathroom is one of the most common bathroom sizes, offering enough space for a full bath setup while maintaining efficiency. Whether you’re planning a simple refresh or a complete renovation, understanding the cost breakdown is essential to staying within budget.
Average Cost of a 5x10 Bathroom Remodel
The cost of remodeling a 5x10 bathroom can range between $6,000 and $25,000, depending on the level of renovation, materials, and labor costs in your area. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect:
• Basic Remodel ($6,000 - $10,000) – Cosmetic updates such as painting, new fixtures, and budget-friendly materials.
• Mid-Range Remodel ($10,000 - $18,000) – Upgrading vanities, flooring, and fixtures with higher-quality materials.
• Luxury Remodel ($18,000 - $25,000+) – Premium materials, custom cabinetry, high-end tile work, and luxury fixtures.
Cost Breakdown by Component
Remodel Component Estimated Cost Range
Demolition $500 - $1,500
Plumbing & Fixtures $1,500 - $5,000
Flooring $800 - $3,000
Shower/Tub Installation $2,000 - $7,000
Vanity & Countertops $1,500 - $5,000
Lighting & Electrical $500 - $2,000
Painting & Finishing $300 - $1,500
Permits & Labor $2,000 - $6,000
Factors That Affect the Cost
1. Material Choices – Higher-end materials like marble or custom cabinetry will drive costs up.
2. Labor Costs – Hiring professional contractors, plumbers, and electricians can significantly impact the budget.
3. Plumbing Relocation – Moving pipes or installing a new shower layout can add $2,000 - $5,000 to the total cost.
4. Tile Work Complexity – Intricate tile patterns and premium materials will increase labor and material expenses.
5. Customization – Custom bathroom vanities, glass enclosures, and luxury fixtures will elevate the budget.
How to Save Money on Your 5x10 Bathroom Remodel
• Choose Cost-Effective Materials – Consider porcelain tiles instead of marble and pre-made bathroom vanities instead of custom builds.
• Refinish Instead of Replace – Refinishing a bathtub or vanity can save thousands compared to buying new ones.
• DIY Where Possible – Simple tasks like painting or installing new fixtures yourself can cut labor costs.
• Get Multiple Quotes – Comparing contractor estimates helps ensure you get the best price.
• Use an AI-Powered Renovation Tool – Platforms like Allreno Design App can streamline planning, offer cost-saving design suggestions, and connect you with budget-friendly materials and contractors.
The Role of AI and Proptech in Bathroom Renovation
With advancements in Bathroom Renovation AI and proptech, homeowners and professionals can now utilize technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy in remodeling projects. AI-powered tools help generate instant layouts, optimize material selection, and reduce unexpected costs, making bathroom renovation easier than ever before.
Final Thoughts
A 5x10 bathroom remodel can vary widely in cost depending on the scope of work and materials used. Whether you’re going for a simple refresh or a high-end renovation, planning and using smart budgeting strategies can help you achieve the bathroom of your dreams within your price range.
Ready to start your remodel? Use Allreno Design App’s AI-powered platform to get instant design ideas, cost estimates, and connections to top-rated contractors—saving you time and money in your bathroom renovation.

Our clients have been raising their family in this charming Lakewood ranch home for several years and were ready to make some updates to their home to make it better fit their lifestyle. In particular, the existing kitchen just wasn’t meeting their needs. They were sacrificing usable square footage to redundant circulation and the kitchen wasn’t connecting well with the other spaces in their home, so things had to change. We started by reworking the entry to the kitchen and switching up their layout to allow the kitchen to flow seamlessly with the rest of the house. To add to the open feeling we were striving for, we removed the existing ceiling soffits and created a clean transition between the kitchen and dining room, and installed the same wood flooring throughout the entire home. Aesthetically we wanted to create an inviting kitchen that felt clean and bright but could still stand up to a busy family. Soft grey shaker cabinets gave us the welcoming air we were looking for while providing a subtle contrast against the white quartz counters and backsplash tile. We utilized the same elegant pulls on all of the cabinets to add to the cohesive look of the kitchen and keep things from feeling too cluttered. We wanted to have a little fun with the backsplash without loosing the clean feeling we were going for, so we selected a crisp white picket tile to add a pop of texture. Updating the dining room light fixture and adding a pendant over the sink help to personalize the space and the charming shelves provide an opportunity to display original sculpture.

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Sunbury, OH
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Curtis and Peggy had been thinking of a kitchen remodel for quite some time, but they knew their house would have a unique set of challenges. Their older Victorian house was built in 1891. The kitchen cabinetry was original, and they wanted to keep the authenticity of their period home while adding modern comforts that would improve their quality of life.
A friend recommended Advance Design Studio for their exceptional experience and quality of work. After meeting with designer Michelle Lecinski at Advance Design, they were confident they could partner with Advance to accomplish the unique kitchen renovation they’d been talking about for years. “We wanted to do the kitchen for a long, long time,” Curtis said. “(We asked ourselves) what are we actually going to do? How are we going to do this? And who are we going to find to do exactly what we want?”
The goal for the project was to keep the home renovation and new kitchen feeling authentic to the time in which it was built. They desperately wanted the modern comforts that come with a larger refrigerator and the dishwasher that they never had! The old home was also a bit drafty so adding a fireplace, wall insulation and new windows became a priority. They very much wanted to create a comfortable hearth room adjacent to the kitchen, complete with old world brick.
The original cabinetry had to go to make way for beautiful new kitchen cabinetry that appears as if it was a hundred years old, but with all the benefits of cutting-edge storage, self-closing drawers, and a brand-new look. “We just wanted to keep it old looking, but with some modern updates,” Peggy said.
Dura Supreme Highland Cabinets with a Heritage Old World Painted Finish replaced the original 1891 cabinets. The hand-applied careful rubbed-off detailing makes these exquisite cabinets look as if they came from a far-gone era. Despite the small size of the kitchen, Peggy, Curtis and Michelle utilized every inch with custom cabinet sizes to increase storage capacity. The custom cabinets allowed for the addition of a 24” Fisher Paykel dishwasher with a concealing Dura Supreme door panel. Michelle was also able to work into the new design a larger 30” Fisher Paykel French refrigerator. “We made every ¼ inch count in this small space,” designer Michelle said. “Having the ability to custom size the cabinetry was the only way to achieve this.”
“The kitchen essentially was designed around the Heartland Vintage range and oven,” says Michelle. A classic appliance that combines nostalgic beauty and craftsmanship for modern cooking, with nickel plated trim and elegantly shaped handles and legs; the not to miss range is a striking focal point of the entire room and an engaging conversation piece.
Granite countertops in Kodiak Satin with subtle veining kept with the old-world style. The delicate porcelain La Vie Crackle Sonoma tile kitchen backsplash compliments the home’s style perfectly. A handcrafted passthrough designed to show off Peggy’s fine china was custom built by project carpenters Justin Davis and Jeff Dallain to physically and visually open the space. Additional storage was created in the custom panty room with Latte Edinburg cabinets, hand-made weathered wood shelving with authentic black iron brackets, and an intricate tin copper ceiling.
Peggy and Curtis loved the idea of adding a Vermont stove to make the hearth-room not only functional, but a truly beckoning place to be. A stunning Bordeaux red Vermont Castings Stove with crisp black ventilation was chosen and combined with the authentic reclaimed Chicago brick wall. Advance’s talented carpenters custom-built elegant weathered shelves to house family memorabilia, installed carefully chosen barn sconces, and made the hearth room an inviting place to relax with a cup of coffee and a good book.
“Peggy and Curtis’ project was so much fun to work on. Creating a space that looks and feels like it always belonged in this beautiful old Victorian home is a designer’s dream. To see the delight in their faces when they saw the design details coming together truly made it worth the time and effort that went into making the very compact kitchen space work”, said Michelle. “The result is an amazing custom kitchen, packed with functionality in every inch, nook and cranny!” exclaims Michelle.
The renovation didn’t end with the kitchen. New Pella windows were added to help lessen the drafts. The removal of the original windows and trim necessitated the re-creation of hand-made corbels and trim details no longer available today. The talented carpenter team came to the rescue, crafting new pieces and masterfully finishing them as if they were always there. New custom gutters were formed and installed with a front entry rework necessary to accommodate the changes.
The whole house functions better, but it still feels like the original 1891 home. “From start to finish it’s just a much better space than we used to have,” Peggy said. “Jeff and Justin were amazing.” Curtis added; “We were lucky to find Advance Design, because they really came through for us. I loved that they had everything in house, anything you needed to have done, they could do it”.

Bathrooms weren’t always a focal point for homeowners and buyers, and it shows in homes that haven’t been built or updated recently. Now, home buyers and homeowners are looking for more than just a bathroom focused solely on utility.
Bathrooms with double-sink vanities, soaker tubs, steam showers, and other spa-like features are at the top of the list for buyers. Even just updating to a neutral color scheme and reglazed the tub can increase buyer interest and modernize this essential part of the home.
At Curbio, we are a pay-at-closing concierge solution that helps homeowners captivate buyers while walking away with the most money in their pocket. We pride ourselves on making smart home improvements to modernize dated bathrooms and get sellers more money back at the closing table.
After determining which pre-listing bathroom updates will result in the greatest return on investment, our licensed general contractors will get started whether the project is a quick bathroom refresh or a full remodel. With typically a faster project completion than traditional general home contractors, the project will not face unnecessary delays. Our teams also handle the entire project from start to finish so you do not have to. This makes for happier homeowners, and agents.

This particular project came to us from repeat clients, a husband and wife, we remodeled a kitchen for 9 years ago! Their master bathroom was original to the home from 1990 and was cramped, cluttered, and out of style. The shower itself was small, dark (as it was fully enclosed), and poorly ventilated causing substantial mildew buildup.
With clever design and custom engineering, we were able to open up the space, reconstruct a much bigger shower, keep the his-and-hers sink layout, add a large soaking tub, and double the amount of storage, all in the same footprint. Drawers were custom built to be molded around pipes and plumbing and utilize unused space behind the door to add 3 extra feet of vanity. Cabinetry above the counter featured electrical outlets to charge phones and run appliances, as well as built-in docking stations for rechargeable toothbrushes - all to ensure the owners could keep their beautiful stone countertops free of clutter.
What started out as a dark and dated bathroom now is bright, open, and comfortable. From design to completion, we had a blast working together again with these homeowners.

Full second floor renovation with new expanded bathroom. We started this project by taking down all the second floors plaster on the walls and ceilings. We reframed the bedroom closets to better utilize the space as well as adding a new hallway linen closet. We enlarged the main bathroom giving room for a new show stopping shower. New insulation, drywall, and trims were installed throughout. We also installed all new soft close by pass closet doors, new closet shelving, and black gas pipe closet rods. New Johnson hickory hardwood floors were installed throughout the bedrooms, hall, and stairs in English pub series; color hickory scotch. The bathroom tile work is exceptional and the metallic accent band adds to the look. From the ground up this second floor is brand new and it shows. Everything is now crisp and bright; a totally different space.

There’s nothing as wonderful as walking into a mid-century gem with clients who love the character of their new home. Our goal for this project was to incorporate the mid-century bones of this home into a new design that would better meet the contemporary needs of our clients. We started by taking down the walls that had separated this kitchen from the rest of the home and creating a welcoming space that blended seamlessly with the new open concept. The new kitchen design was a win for our clients with increased storage, more work surfaces, and a peninsula with plenty of seating. We utilized wood finishes through out this space with light wood flooring, medium-tones on the cabinetry, and darker wood accents throughout giving us a beautiful balance and a calm backdrop. This home had beautiful horizontal lines that we wanted to accentuate, so we selected a dark wood finish for the central beam and tied it in with the dark finish on the wood fireplace mantel and the stair handrail to emphasize the horizontal features. But we never miss an opportunity for a fun mid-century pop, and this home provided plenty of inspiration! The boomerang hardware on the cabinets and escher backsplash tiles give us great geometric elements to break up the clean lines of the rest of the space. One of our favorite features of this home was the original plaster ceilings with the custom hand troweled texture. We knew from the beginning that this was an element we wanted to maintain and accentuate, so when we opened up the kitchen and added recessed lighting we reached out to a local plaster artisan to carry the texture throughout the space, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. This design brings together the mid-century aesthetics of clean lines and fun patterns with the modern-day functionality our clients were looking for in their new kitchen.

This homeowner is part of a new development and they had a blank slate to start with. They wanted to have a few different spaces but at the same time make them feel that they are separate spaces/rooms. We also mixed in a few different materials utilizing natural bluestone and Unilock pavers. We went over the existing concrete steps with bluestone that complements the Unilock Richcliff paver. We created three rooms that are all broken up with a built in planter. They have their outdoor dining room/kitchen, a lounge area with a custom built fire feature and a quiet sitting area.

 
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This client came to us in a bit of a panic when she realized that she really wanted her bathroom to be updated by March 1st due to having 2 daughters getting married in the spring and one graduating. We were only about 5 months out from that date, but decided we were up for the challenge.
The beautiful historical home was built in 1896 by an ornithologist (bird expert), so we took our cues from that as a starting point. The flooring is a vintage basket weave of marble and limestone, the shower walls of the tub shower conversion are clad in subway tile with a vintage feel. The lighting, mirror and plumbing fixtures all have a vintage vibe that feels both fitting and up to date. To give a little of an eclectic feel, we chose a custom green paint color for the linen cabinet, mushroom paint for the ship lap paneling that clads the walls and selected a vintage mirror that ties in the color from the existing door trim. We utilized some antique trim from the home for the wainscot cap for more vintage flavor.
The drama in the bathroom comes from the wallpaper and custom shower curtain, both in William Morris’s iconic “Strawberry Thief” print that tells the story of thrushes stealing fruit, so fitting for the home’s history. There is a lot of this pattern in a very small space, so we were careful to make sure the pattern on the wallpaper and shower curtain aligned.
A sweet little bird tie back for the shower curtain completes the story...
Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD
Photography by: Michael Kaskel
For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com
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