The slanted master bed ceiling was wrapped with wood slats that was custom hand painted by the very talented local painter. For space saving purposes two very wide and separate master closets were cleverly created by borrowing space from the adjacent new Audio Visual/Sitting Room. - Photo credit: Susan Teare

Family Room
Family room - modern family room idea in San Francisco

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

This Minneapolis garage, named after the Owner’s beloved dog Harry, is an example of attention to detail, both in design and execution. The client set out to create a new garage to match his historic home. He wanted a garage that could do both: store his car and host late afternoon soirees. The bar faces the home to create an inviting backyard courtyard. The bar’s custom rolling screen rolls up to reveal a bar countertop, which creates a welcoming spot for friends and family to gather. Careful consideration was made to match the historic home’s turn-of-century brick color and the brick coursing (pattern). Unfortunately, the closest color matched brick was the wrong size. Thus, we worked with talented craftspeople at Welch Foresman to cut each brick in half, which turned the large utility bricks into slimmer Roman bricks. We drew the specific brick coursing to ensure that the structure would match the historic proportions of the home.

The entire home was redone with the expertise and talents of Long Island Creative Contracting. We were brought in for collaboration on the kitchen and bathroom. Comaring the before pictures to the after it is clear to see this is a whole new house! The kitchen is now open concept, that opens right up to dining and living spaces. Not to mention the beautiful view of the new backyard area as well.

Location: Bethesda, MD, USA A beautiful landscape and hardscape created and executed by our talented Olivetree Landscape and Design. Finecraft Contractors, Inc.

Cantoni is Designer's Choice for this Palatial Home in South Carolina. Cantoni partners on many projects with architects, interior designers, developers, realtors and others in the trade. The featured project in this eNewsletter is a spectacular example of a recent partnering between Susan Sentell ASID, Beaux Monde, Inc., Cumming, Georgia, and Design Consultant Kohl Sudnikovich of Cantoni Atlanta. While inspired by classic Italian architecture, this palatial home is not in the foothills of Italy’s Apennines but in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina. When we saw the images of this stunning home and what went into planning and executing its interiors, I thought: here’s a perfect illustration of Cantoni’s branding theme: Great Design Is A Way of Life. Design isn’t just something cosmetic, something tacked on, but the very essence of a residence’s personality and of the personality of the people who make the house a home. This sensational South Carolina project is a superb example of Cantoni’s Great Design theme brought to life. According to Kohl, Cantoni’s involvement kicked in when Susan, whom he’d worked with before, contacted him to consult on furniture collections that would help her fulfill her and her client’s overall design theme. Susan says, "This is a 5,800-sq. ft. new construction designed by a prestigious national architectural group. Given the Mediterranean-influenced elevation and the client’s wish for an airy, Italian-contemporary interior treatment I felt Cantoni was the best source for furnishing some of the main rooms. "The theme of our project we called, ‘The Goddess House’ for its ethereal look and feel– open, warm, free, filled with light and natural colors, flowing with sophisticated detail. I felt Cantoni was the right choice to help us carry out the theme. I knew Cantoni not only for its Italian design but for the quality of its products and depth and breadth of its selection. "After creating furniture plans and the overall palette, I contacted Kohl and asked him to consult with us on Cantoni pieces that would realize our plans for the living room, dining room, master bedroom, media room and outdoor. "The finished product is a beautiful example of what you can achieve when the vision of the client and the skills of the design team are in alignment. I think the feeling you get in this home is a manifestation of that harmony.” Thanks so much to Susan for choosing Cantoni and for her client for generously allowing us to show the interiors of the rooms with Cantoni product. And good job Kohl and the Cantoni Atlanta team for your efforts–not the least of which were the logistics involved in delivery and installation, this home being a great distance from Atlanta. Great Design IS a Way of Life. That theme works at many levels: alluding to our clients’ tastes and dreams and sophistication, the product itself, and the creative talents of the designers.

Iron Entry Doors from First Impression Ironworks are crafted uniquely for your home. Our steel entry doors are an investment that will truly add value to your home, since each door is custom built to your home’s specifications and made from the highest quality materials. Each wrought iron door, whether solid steel, iron and glass, or wrought iron and wood, is expertly made in Arizona by our talented iron artisans. Our wrought iron is sourced here in the U.S.A., using only 100% American steel. Every iron entry door is crafted from the strongest, most robust steel in the door, frame, iron pull handles, and even the standard 10" steel latch and lock guard. Name brand Kwikset or Schlage hardware is always included, so your new front door can be upgraded with the latest technology and integrated with alarm and monitoring systems. We’re here to bring your dreams to life with customization available for whatever needs fit your home best, whether it’s removable sunscreens, sidelights, transoms, or elegant iron hardware. Create the first impression you’ve always wanted for your home today with your vision and our expertise!

Blue Pineapple is a home decor accessories retailer based in Ontario CA. We started as a Interior Design Studio and have grown into a successful multi service Design Center. Our lead interior designer has 20 plus years of experience in the field. She has assisted from start to finish in all of our design projects. With her talent she has the ability to identify a fresh look for client's home while still allowing for everyday functionality. At Blue Pineapple we are proud to offer many exquisite and unique home decor accessories available to you. Add this ceramic pierced jar to your abode that will be a great addition to your room space. Made of quality ceramic this pierced vase is sure to last for long. This ceramic pierced vase features abstract texture and comes in complete shiny white color palette that adds to its beauty. This pierced vase can be added to your showcase space else place on a light colored table top.

UpperKey is thrilled to present our latest venture: Parisian Kitchens. We offer a comprehensive range of services to design and remodel kitchens to meet the needs of those residing in Paris. Our talented team of experts will bring your kitchen vision to life, creating a space that exudes both style and functionality. You can count on UpperKey to craft a kitchen that perfectly captures your personal tastes and requirements. Furthermore, we offer a suite of services for property owners, including guaranteed rent, full property management, and Airbnb concierge services. Our specialists will work with you to find the ideal balance between aesthetics and practicality, so that you can have the kitchen of your dreams without any compromises. UpperKey also offers valuable resources and information for property owners. Our article, "All You Need to Know About Letting a Property," provides comprehensive guidance on the ins and outs of renting out your property. Be sure to check it out and take the first step towards successfully letting your property with UpperKey here: https://www.theupperkey.com/post/all-you-need-to-know-about-letting-a-property

This Portland kitchen transformation focused on reimagining the flow and functionality of the space, while also refreshing its look and feel. The original layout featured a peninsula that created a visual and physical barrier between the cooking and dining areas—and the patio outside—limiting both movement and social interaction. The homeowners goal was to remove this dividing element and replacing it with a thoughtfully designed custom island that serves as both a functional workspace and a natural gathering point. This strategic change opened up the entire space, creating a seamless flow while maintaining distinct zones for cooking and dining. Because one of the homeowners is a talented woodworker, we were able to incorporate some really lovely, custom handmade elements throughout the kitchen and dining room. The result is a kitchen that not only functions better but creates a more inviting environment for both everyday living and entertaining.

When my clients purchased their home, they knew it needed a major overhaul. And by major, I mean we may have left one wall while tearing down the entire home before building it back up. With requests for a modern, sophisticated southern charmer, we designed a timeless classic perfectly suited for their family’s functions and needs full of whimsy, color and pattern. Everything you see was designed and built from the ground up, including space planning, hard surface specifications from floor to ceiling, lighting, furniture, artwork, and accessories. We reworked their floorplan to efficiently use the space and provide plenty of natural light, living and entertaining space, and storage throughout. Beautiful accents and thoughtful details are found throughout their home like the custom entry floor pattern, reeded wood detailing on the navy kitchen hutch, custom reeded great room cabinetry, the laundry room dog wash drawer/step or the pull-out drying rack, the double-sided fireplace in the master bedroom and master bath, or the paneled walls with inset wallpaper. There’s sophistication and beauty at every turn and I absolutely loved all of the color and pattern! Stay tuned for the before and after reveal because it’s major! I’m also honored to say this was also awarded two ASID ANDYZ Awards for Best Residential Kitchen Design over 150sq.ft. and Best Multiple Residential Space over 3000 sq.f.t. I’m grateful to work with such amazing clients and talented trades! Be sure to check out the full reveal with the before and after photos too!

Note the shape of the engineered quartz hand rail. Not an easy task to create. Our very talented stone fabricator outdid himself on this project. Photo: Warren Smith, CMKBD,CAPS

Photo Credit: Willett Photography http://www.willettphoto.com The home is located in Atlanta, GA and was a complete ground up project. We worked with the very talented architect Rodolfo Castro. We worked closely with him and the clients to achieve the right interior layout as well as the furniture plan. As far as the interior design, we helped with the selections of the various finishes (flooring, bathroom tiles, paint colors for both interior and exterior, hardware, furniture and light fixtures). Working with great vendors such as Francois & Co. for the kitchen hood and the fireplace, Specialty Tile, Circa Lighting, Century Furniture, and many other wonderful local vendors. This helped us achieve the perfect atmosphere and architectural detail in the space. The clients were very involved in the selection process and so it helped that they had great taste! It was a great project from concept to the finished design.

When you start with a great design and quality materials, the results are just spectacular and this St. Charles kitchen is a result of that! Modern ~ Clean ~ Functional ~ Elegant ~ Starting with a brilliant design by PB Kitchen Design in Geneva, and a perfectly executed build from our team of talented craftsmen, these homeowners now have the kitchen of their dreams. We used Premier Custom-Built Cabinets, Caesarstone USA and Grothouse countertops, Carlson's Flooring for the tile backsplash, and Top Knobs for the cabinet hardware. Also, a big thank you to Michael Alan Kaskel Photography for the beautiful photos! Is it time for you to have your dream kitchen? Call us- we can make it happen! (224) 577-57453

The owners of this beautiful home and property discovered the talents of the Fred Parker Company "Design-Build" team on Houzz.com. Their dream was to restore and renovate an old barn into a new guest house and to design and build an elaborate outdoor kitchen (See Separate Houzz Project- "Rustic-Luxe" Guest House- Barn Renovation ). The elaborate “Gourmet” Outdoor-Kitchen was designed and built to be utilized with their existing outdoor living and swimming areas. The husband loved outdoor cooking and wanted to fully incorporate all the latest accessories which included a stone pizza oven, gas grill, smoker, refrigerator, sink, storage, and leathered granite countertops. The structure was architecturally designed to blend with the existing residence, which included plaster stucco finish, steep pitch hip roof with turned overhang, custom metal gutters, and 12’ ceilings with decorative ceiling beams. Credits: -Ron Parker AIBD: Building Designer, Custom Builder -Lila Parker: ASID Interior Designer -Richard Berry: Associate Building Designer -Paul Diseker: Project Manager -Bryce Moore: Photographer

This year's 2014 SF decorator showcase house featured talented designer Jaimie Belew who installed this stunning bathroom using New Ravenna and Sahara Gold marble from Da Vinci Marble

Client came to us with a limited budget for cabinetry and remodeling. We were successfully able to give the client everything they wanted (and more) using our talented creative team who put together a Value Oriented Award Winning Design. Every cabinet is equipped with organizers to further enhance the functionality of the design.

This older house was completely transformed and opened up with the help of our talented designers for an integrated living room and kitchen combo.
Example of a small classic galley vinyl floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and beige countertops