Jeremy Bitterman
Inspiration for a modern exterior home remodel in Seattle

Brian Vanden Brink
Example of a huge classic master beige tile bathroom design in Portland Maine with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige walls and an undermount sink

This bathroom needed help as it was tired, dated and cramped! The vanity area was open to the master bedroom and sandwiched between a closet and existing bathroom wall. Behind the bathroom wall, was a second sink, a small walk-in shower and the commode. A poorly placed linen closet ate into the area and there was a soffit over the shower adding to the cramped feeling. The ceiling was cluttered with old-school heating lamps, flush-mount fixtures and ventilation grills. The “movie star” lighting meant to add some glamour only made the bathroom feel dated and sad. Our clients wanted to bring this bathroom to life. We built a wall and added a door between the bedroom and bathroom to ensure more privacy and define the space. In addition, we removed the wall separating the actual bathroom and vanity area to make the master bathroom larger. The linen closet was also taken out so the shower could be expanded significantly. Our homeowner had recently suffered a knee injury so they were looking for future solutions that would work for them as they continued to age. We made the shower large enough to include a bench and installed a handheld sprayer located near the seat. Shower walls were reinforced so that when the day came that a grab bar was needed, they would be ready. We added a tall cabinet that featured two, deep rollouts and interior shelving to keep linens and bathroom supplies organized. Beneath the sinks, we included rollout drawers so items would not get lost in those dark areas under the plumbing. Everything that had been cluttering the ceiling was removed including the shower soffit and heat lamp. With those gone, we added evenly-spaced, recessed ceiling lights to help brighten the space making it safer and more practical. We chose a custom blue-green paint for the cabinets which was understated enough to provide a sense of serenity while still offering a splash of color to help liven up the room. Walnut-framed mirrors added a touch of warmth and the patterned floor tile made the whole room fun! An old bathroom came alive!

For this color, we have both floating floor and glue down tiles. - Installation Type: Floating / Glue Down - Edge type: square edge (seamless floor) - Finish: Three coats German water based polyurethane - Made with formaldehyde free adhesives - 25 year warranty (residential installation) - Underlayment not required - Hypo-allergenic - Healthy alternative to carpet - Excellent thermal and acoustic insulation - Stain resistant - Naturally resistant to insects, mould, mildew due to anti-microbial properties. - Low slip surface - Excellent surface for seniors, children or people suffering from arthritis or joint pain *** Price for glue down tile: $2.39/sqft ***Price for floating floor (straight edge): $3.33/sqft Price may change without notice. Please check our website for the guaranteed price. Order FREE SAMPLES on our website: www.icorkfloor.com

Finding a home is not easy in a seller’s market, but when my clients discovered one—even though it needed a bit of work—in a beautiful area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, they decided to jump in. Surrounded by old-growth redwood trees and a sense of old-time history, the house’s location informed the design brief for their desired remodel work. Yet I needed to balance this with my client’s preference for clean-lined, modern style. Suffering from a previous remodel, the galley-like bathroom in the master suite was long and dank. My clients were willing to completely redesign the layout of the suite, so the bathroom became the walk-in closet. We borrowed space from the bedroom to create a new, larger master bathroom which now includes a separate tub and shower. The look of the room nods to nature with organic elements like a pebbled shower floor and vertical accent tiles of honed green slate. A custom vanity of blue weathered wood and a ceiling that recalls the look of pressed tin evoke a time long ago when people settled this mountain region. At the same time, the hardware in the room looks to the future with sleek, modular shapes in a chic matte black finish. Harmonious, serene, with personality: just what my clients wanted. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

The historic Edward H.C. Taylor home was build in 1890, it suffered substantial fire damage and required extensive restoration of the interior and exterior. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to work on this gem.

Transitional porch photo in Richmond

In addition to the siding and trim issues associated with this home, it was also suffering from poor grading and drainage. We installed roof drainage as well as subterranean drainage around the house. With new siding, trim, and metal flashings throughout, as well as new landscaping, this restored cape is now the gem of the neighborhood. Berkshire Mountain Design Build. -Log Home -Timber Framing -Post and Beam -Historic Preservation

Independent Home just recently completed a Florida walk in tub installation in the city of Pensacola for our customer Claire S. Learn about the process and why it may be a good idea to add one to your home! Our installation process starts with a pre-installation meeting with the customer to go over what type of walk in tub is best for their needs, what the best location would be, and what type of the finish the customer wants. At the meeting with Claire, she told us that she wanted a tub that could prove a safe bathing experience but also help with her arthritis and leg pain. Our installation experts decided that the celebrity walk in tub was the best option for Claire. The celebrity walk in tub was the best option for Claire’s Florida home because of the safety features it is able to provide. Claire’s previous bathtub had a 15 inch edge, which made her nervous of getting in and out. Her old tub also had a non-secure seat giving Claire the fear that she may fall. The celebrity walk in tub has a low threshold eliminating the high edge. It also has a 17” ADA compliant seat, giving Claire that extra security that she needed. As stated before Claire suffers from arthritis and leg pain and she wanted her new tub to help with the pain. The celebrity walk in tub was a great choice because you are able to add hydrotherapy features. Hydrotherapy is the use of water to help decrease physical discomfort. It works by the jets greater range of motion. The jets waves allow an increase in circulation causing the joint inflammation to decrease, which will help eliminate Claire’s pain. Installing Claire’s walk in tub took just a couple of days to complete. The process included removing Claire’s old tub including the foundation, putting in the proper plumbing, connecting the water, making sure there weren’t any leaks, and finally building the shelf area around the tub. Claire is extremely happy with her new walk in tub. Her worries of falling are behind her. She enjoys that when she is in a hurry and can’t enjoy a full soak there is an extendable shower wand. Overall, every time Claire gets a bath she feels like she is at her own private spa.

The original Master bath suffered a tiny shower and a tub that was never used. It was very dark and cavernous and needed some softness to oppose angled walls. The tub was removed to make a larger, more accessible shower. The desired style was modern but not severe. We installed Cambria Britannica quartz slab with large veining and soft flowing movement on all the shower walls. A dark floor grounds the space. A combination of light walls, and sleek floating cabinets, creates an overall softness in this Modern Masterpiece.

Edward Duarte, duartephoto.com
Urban porcelain tile kitchen photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

CONTACT These home owners initially contacted their Designer to identify the reason that the floor in their upstairs bedroom suffered from a noticeable slant. The floor problem actually impacted a small bathroom and adjoining study also. Early on, the decision was made to re-design the footprint for the 3 rooms in conjunction with repairing the uneven floor. The approach was to gut all three spaces of walls and floors and start from scratch. The new spaces were designed with the clients needs for accessibility in mind. DESIGN The design effort included identifying the products to be used throughout the spaces. This included everything from the flooring to the wall paint. Kohler plumbing fixtures and Adelphi cabinetry were decided on first. A radiant heat grid was included for the bathroom floor. Lighting, paint and tile soon followed. Wood flooring was installed throughout the adjoining spaces. The master bedroom was redesigned to allow for entry from the study or the master bath via pocket doors. The study was given an access to the master bath also. The hardwood flooring ties the bedroom and study together and gives each room a very spacious feel. The original master bedroom was changed to incorporate a large walk-in closet that features custom storage throughout. The study that also doubles as the IT center for the home was updated with custom book cases and cabinetry from Adelphi Cabinets. When discussing the reapportioning of the entire space for the individual rooms the bathroom was given priority. The previous small bathroom did not include a window for natural light. The new design corrected that in a big way by incorporating an existing bedroom window into the new space. The decision was made early on to allow for the inclusion of a large shower with full granite walls and custom plate glass surround. The shower system includes both fixed and hand held shower heads. A thermostatic control system was included to eliminate scalding. A large bench seat of matching granite allows for relaxing while getting squeaky clean. A separate air massage tub from Kohler centered under the new windows allows for a relaxed moment while being caressed by all those tiny bubbles. His and her side by side vanity sinks allows for efficient use of the space. The Caxton sinks and coordinated toilet were selected to match the color of the tub and do so beautifully! CONSTRUCTION We started the project not knowing what we were going to find. The slanting floor upstairs was not evident in the ceiling of the first floor Once the demolition had been completed it was evident that the floor joists were at the heart of the problem. The home had been framed with floor joists that had been strung together to increase their length. Over time and with the house settling, the strung together joists started to droop from their connection point. This was concealed on the first floor by a large HVAC duct running through the garage. This was corrected by the addition of two laminated beams in the ceiling of the first floor (luckily in the garage) that re-supported the offending joists. THE END The project was a huge success in terms of problem solving and designing with budget and time frame in mind. The overall impact of the new space is impressive both visually and from a practicality point of view. The new master suite with upscale bathroom and study adds significant value to the home and the home owners quality of life!

Photo: Bonnie McCarthy © 2015 Houzz
Example of a classic living room design in Los Angeles

Front walk with dry land plantings
Photo of a rustic landscaping in Austin.

The Master Bath needed some updates as it suffered from an out of date, extra large tub, a very small shower and only one sink. Keeping with the Mood, a new larger vanity was added in a beautiful dark green with two sinks and ample drawer space, finished with gold framed mirrors and two glamorous gold leaf sconces. Taking in a small linen closet allowed for more room at the shower which is enclosed by a dramatic black framed door. Also, the old tub was replaced with a new alluring freestanding tub surrounded by beautiful marble tiles in a large format that sits under a deco glam chandelier. All warmed by the use of gold fixtures and hardware.

Large open kitchen with professional grade appliances, distressed cabinetry, large windows over looking the valley views and deck, and a huge island with granite top for all of your baking needs!

The G.G. Gerbing azaleas in full spectacular bloom. David Morello
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Houston.

This lovely colonial revival in Scarsdale New York with classic lines suffered from a dated, cramped kitchen. Studio Dearborn worked with the client to expand the space and design a layout than enabled seating around the island and plentiful storage. All appliances by Miele; countertops, Jet Mist granite; Backsplash, Crackle subway by Vermeere Classics; Bar Stools, Crate and Barrel; hardware, Alexander Jeffrey Belcastel collection; pendants, Restoration Hardware

Finding a home is not easy in a seller’s market, but when my clients discovered one—even though it needed a bit of work—in a beautiful area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, they decided to jump in. Surrounded by old-growth redwood trees and a sense of old-time history, the house’s location informed the design brief for their desired remodel work. Yet I needed to balance this with my client’s preference for clean-lined, modern style. Suffering from a previous remodel, the galley-like bathroom in the master suite was long and dank. My clients were willing to completely redesign the layout of the suite, so the bathroom became the walk-in closet. We borrowed space from the bedroom to create a new, larger master bathroom which now includes a separate tub and shower. The look of the room nods to nature with organic elements like a pebbled shower floor and vertical accent tiles of honed green slate. A custom vanity of blue weathered wood and a ceiling that recalls the look of pressed tin evoke a time long ago when people settled this mountain region. At the same time, the hardware in the room looks to the future with sleek, modular shapes in a chic matte black finish. Harmonious, serene, with personality: just what my clients wanted. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva