Hans’ current windows hadn’t been comprised of triple pane glass which had been detrimental to his home’s energy efficiency. He was pleased to learn that SeasonGuard windows have three panes of glass separated and filled with Low-E and high-density argon gas. These properties allow SeasonGuard windows to prevent exterior air from penetrating the home and lowering the temperatures during the winter months, and hot exterior air from raising the home’s internal temperature in the summer months.

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

Modern Minimalism Meets Everyday Life in Lancaster Project Overview Challenge: With three children, two cats, and frequent visits from friends and extended family, the homeowners needed a kitchen that could keep up with their active household. As certified foster parents, [LINK TO THIS MONTH’S BLOG POST] they also required secure, lockable storage for knives, alcohol, and cleaning supplies. While functional, the existing kitchen felt dated and lacked efficiency. Their vision: clean countertops, hidden appliances, and durable finishes with timeless appeal. Design: Lenton Company created a tailored plan that honored the family’s budget and priorities. The U-shaped layout was preserved, but the stove was moved to the opposite wall to improve flow for two active cooks. Dark green shaker-style base cabinets were paired with white uppers and quartz countertops, delivering a high-contrast, classic look. Water resistant, wood-tone flooring was installed throughout the kitchen and main living areas for durability and cohesion. The drop ceiling remained due to ductwork but was refinished for a fresh appearance. Build: Construction began with a full demo and was carefully sectioned off to maintain a safe environment. The remodel included all-new appliances, lighting, cabinetry, and finishes. Thoughtful features like soft-close drawers, oversized pull-out trash and recycling, locking storage, a hidden microwave, and dedicated space for a toaster oven contributed to a clutter-free and functional kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting, overhead fixtures, and a half lazy Susan further enhanced efficiency and usability. Reveal: In the words of our homeowners, “Working with Lenton Company made the process feel seamless and turnkey. Having the designer, project manager, and build team all under one roof was a huge advantage. Our designer really listened to our needs and design preferences, offering thoughtful layout options and guiding us toward choices that fit our style and budget. The build team was efficient, professional, and kept everything on track—and tidy! After the renovation, we knew without a doubt we had made the right decision.”

The gas fireplace in this sunporch offers enough heat that this room can be used 12 months a year in Wisconsin. Black stacked stone offers a great neutral texture and remains visually calm enough to allow the scenery outside to capture attention. Windows on three sides of the room offer incredible views. This room easily entertains 20 people.

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

Create the Home of Your Dreams in three steps and in just about a week. Just choose a design for every room and we will adjust it to your floorpan, as well as provide you with the shopping list and installation details. Then you can DIY or with our help. Easy, convenient, prompt & amazing! And with financing available, it is as low as $40 per month / per room with zero down! Welcome to your new home! We hope this will begin a great chapter in your life and this place will become a true foundation for it. However, now that you have these empty rooms with white walls, what’s next? Will you rent used furniture or spend weeks in furniture stores buying random pieces? Are you going to paint walls and, if so, in which colors? What about rugs, mirrors, curtains or cushions? How much will it cost? How long will it take? And most importantly, will you be happy at the end? We believe we have a unique design service that is perfect for you – fast, affordable, and beautiful. All you need is to choose a design for every room (over 200 designs are already available and we constantly add more), approve the final concept adjusted for your floorplan (exceptionally realistic images) and we will purchase, paint, assemble, mount and stage everything on a turn-key basis under the paradigm of ‘What I See Is What I Get’ within a week or so. Easy, convenient, prompt and amazing! And with financing available, a wonderful room (a living room / dining room, a bedroom, a kid's bedroom), fully designed and furnished, can cost as low as $40 per month with no down payment! For more details please visit www.beauty-on-a-budget.com

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Virginia Street Residence Omaha, NE Paver Designs, LLC This project was built in two stages. The front patio area was finished for a family wedding, and the driveway was added after the wedding. The driveway was excavated to a depth of 16-18 in. and the patio is 12 in. deep. Crushed recycled concrete was used for the base with one inch of paver sand placed on top. After the concrete pavers were laid, another inch of base was added for the concrete paver areas. Three round seats were built next to the water feature and pebble designs were created in the center of each. Columns for the freestanding wall were designed with recessed areas for lights and for use as planters. Three by six inch concrete pavers were cut in half for the triple border in the narrower areas of the patio. The front paver entrance is gently ramped with no step for handicapped accessibility if the need should arise. Probably the most difficult stage of this project was drawing over 20 diverse designs over the winter months and then making a final selection. Using our basement floor as a drawing board, the "Y" shaped designs were drawn on Masonite at appropriate angles and distances so that the mirrored pairs nearly touched, and a template was made from this. After laying the field of concrete pavers, we marked the mosaic areas with the template. These pavers were cut out one at a time. All of the colored pavers were cut into thirds, and then angles were cut to follow curves. The template was moved and traced twelve times; each triple-row design took eight hours to complete, an approximate total time of 96 house (just) for the mosaic patterns. Many additional hours were spent cutting and installing the fish, triple borders, etc. The pavers in the mosaic, as well as the koi and borders, were coated with corresponding colors of sealer. These colors are amazingly rich and bright, well worth the extra time and effort! The two sets of koi are different as our designs are constantly evolving. A color booster in matte finish was applied to the pavers on the driveway.

Immaculate, professional design and modern luxury are uniquely embodied in this five bedroom, 5.5 bath custom built home. A short distance to the shores of Lake Michigan, the Regency Wildwood takes advantage of a wide lot with a matching floor plan. Every detail was carefully selected and quality crafted. Enjoy gatherings in the generously-sized living/dining areas, graced by fireplaces and great views. A four-season room with expansive windows overlooking the terraced backyard provides a retreat for socializing after a business meeting in the richly decorated family office. A dry bar with wine cooler is centrally located for entertaining convenience. Warmer months allow for time on the patio with a built in fire pit, appreciating the great outdoors, no matter what mother nature has in mind. The first floor master suite has a large spa retreat bathroom and generous closet space. Three bedrooms and three full baths on the second floor provide ample space for family in addition to a bonus space ideal for a kid’s TV/playroom or living quarters for an aging parent adjacent to the elevator. Second floor laundry is convenient for Mom. The lower lever houses space for billiards, a game of poker, or movie night, ideal for entertaining. An additional bedroom and full bath give privacy from the main living area to a short-term or long-term visitor or family member.

Create the Home of Your Dreams in three steps and in just about a week. Just choose a design for every room and we will adjust it to your floorpan, as well as provide you with the shopping list and installation details. Then you can DIY or with our help. Easy, convenient, prompt & amazing! And with financing available, it is as low as $40 per month / per room with zero down! Welcome to your new home! We hope this will begin a great chapter in your life and this place will become a true foundation for it. However, now that you have these empty rooms with white walls, what’s next? Will you rent used furniture or spend weeks in furniture stores buying random pieces? Are you going to paint walls and, if so, in which colors? What about rugs, mirrors, curtains or cushions? How much will it cost? How long will it take? And most importantly, will you be happy at the end? We believe we have a unique design service that is perfect for you – fast, affordable, and beautiful. All you need is to choose a design for every room (over 200 designs are already available and we constantly add more), approve the final concept adjusted for your floorplan (exceptionally realistic images) and we will purchase, paint, assemble, mount and stage everything on a turn-key basis under the paradigm of ‘What I See Is What I Get’ within a week or so. Easy, convenient, prompt and amazing! And with financing available, a wonderful room (a living room / dining room, a bedroom, a kid's bedroom), fully designed and furnished, can cost as low as $40 per month with no down payment! For more details please visit www.beauty-on-a-budget.com

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

Create the Home of Your Dreams in three steps and in just about a week. Just choose a design for every room and we will adjust it to your floorpan, as well as provide you with the shopping list and installation details. Then you can DIY or with our help. Easy, convenient, prompt & amazing! And with financing available, it is as low as $40 per month / per room with zero down! Welcome to your new home! We hope this will begin a great chapter in your life and this place will become a true foundation for it. However, now that you have these empty rooms with white walls, what’s next? Will you rent used furniture or spend weeks in furniture stores buying random pieces? Are you going to paint walls and, if so, in which colors? What about rugs, mirrors, curtains or cushions? How much will it cost? How long will it take? And most importantly, will you be happy at the end? We believe we have a unique design service that is perfect for you – fast, affordable, and beautiful. All you need is to choose a design for every room (over 200 designs are already available and we constantly add more), approve the final concept adjusted for your floorplan (exceptionally realistic images) and we will purchase, paint, assemble, mount and stage everything on a turn-key basis under the paradigm of ‘What I See Is What I Get’ within a week or so. Easy, convenient, prompt and amazing! And with financing available, a wonderful room (a living room / dining room, a bedroom, a kid's bedroom), fully designed and furnished, can cost as low as $40 per month with no down payment! For more details please visit www.beauty-on-a-budget.com

Three year old Avery was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer at age two. Her wish through Make a Wish Foundation was to receive a Fairy Garden Playroom for her sister, Maddy and herself. Avery has gone through so very much in her young life and is such a strong, brave little girl. When Make a Wish coordinator, Jenny Hauser contacted Sherri Blum of Jack and Jill Interiors, Inc. to design this very special room for Avery, we jumped on it. Sherri and her assistant, Lisa O’Brien worked for months meticulously planning the space which included a life-like tree, a custom designed reading nook that we now refer to as the “Fairy Fountain”, a dress up corner, play house, tea table complete with tea set, an art station (not seen in the images, as it was back ordered) and a spot for movie viewing. We solicited the extremely talented Patrice Hoban to paint our fairy mural and she really knocked our socks off with the details! She added glitter and gems and the room really came to life with her vision! We thank Cheryl of Sweet Lullaby for designing and donating the sweet curtains and valances, Chris Jones of Kidtropolisbuild.com for designing the Fairy Fountain reading perch, Levels of Discovery for their donation of the tea table and toybox, New Arrivals, Inc for donating the peg hook, and Creative Carpet Design for donating the monogrammed rug. Avery and her family have a long road ahead of them. They will continue treatments at St. Jude Children’s Hospital (to whom Jack and Jill Interiors has donated monthly for about 10 years) and we will continue to love and pray for this wonderful and inspiring family. Please consider donating as well. Thank you!

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

This is a Travertine tiled floor installed at a property in the popular Cheshire town of Wilmslow around 16 years prior. It had previously been maintained by a Tile Doctor colleague about three years ago and the owner was hoping the floor could be given a simple maintenance clean and seal. This is a service we provide as part of an annual maintenance plan, unfortunately after surveying the floor it was clear they had left it far too long, the floor had lost its shine and it would now need to be resurfaced with a set of diamond burnishing pads and then resealed. Naturally burnishing the floor costs more than a simple seal and polish but if you are going to opt for the quicker maintenance plan route it does need to be done at least annually and possibly more frequently if it’s a floor in frequent use such as a kitchen. We agreed a price for the work, and I arranged a time with them to return and renovate the floor. To restore the polished appearance of the Travertine I used a set of four burnishing pads which are applied to the floor with a rotary machine. You start with a coarse 400-grit pad using water to lubricate and running it over each tile at least three times. This first pad cleans up the stone and removes old sealers. This is then followed with the finer 800-grit, 1500-grit and finally a 3000-grit pad. Except for the 3000-grit, each pad is applied with water and the floor is rinsed and the soil extracted afterwards with the wet vacuum. The Grout lines were also deep cleaned with a scrubbing brush and Tile Doctor Pro-Clean tile and grout cleaner. The product really gets to into deep seated dirt and grease which tends to accumulate in the grout. After a final rinse and extraction, the floor was then left to dry off overnight. I returned on the second day and started by checking the floor was dry by taking several moisture readings with a damp meter. The readings were good, so I proceeded to seal the floor using a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. Colour Grow is an ideal sealer for Travertine as it seeps into the pores of the stone enhancing the natural brown colours in the process. It also offers great protection going forward. Whilst I was there I had noticed that one of the doors had scratched the floor, fortunately the polishing process had got the scratches out of the stone but to prevent future scratching I helped them remove the door so a carpenter could shave off a few mm’s from the bottom. My customer left the following feedback: “Second time had Travertine floor restored, cleaned & sealed, the first time was 3 years ago. Great job done then by Simon Bywater. This time Kamila did a really professional job on the kitchen limestone floor. A bit more expensive this time, but a good job was done. Have left instructions for her to contact me in 12 months time for annual maintenance on the same floor, hopefully to prevent restoration being required! Highly recommend the service.” The floor looked great and they should now be able to maintain it in between the maintenance visits, with day to day cleaning using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. Kamila Logonzy East Cheshire Tile Doctor

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Virginia Street Residence Omaha, NE Paver Designs, LLC This project was built in two stages. The front patio area was finished for a family wedding, and the driveway was added after the wedding. The driveway was excavated to a depth of 16-18 in. and the patio is 12 in. deep. Crushed recycled concrete was used for the base with one inch of paver sand placed on top. After the concrete pavers were laid, another inch of base was added for the concrete paver areas. Three round seats were built next to the water feature and pebble designs were created in the center of each. Columns for the freestanding wall were designed with recessed areas for lights and for use as planters. Three by six inch concrete pavers were cut in half for the triple border in the narrower areas of the patio. The front paver entrance is gently ramped with no step for handicapped accessibility if the need should arise. Probably the most difficult stage of this project was drawing over 20 diverse designs over the winter months and then making a final selection. Using our basement floor as a drawing board, the "Y" shaped designs were drawn on Masonite at appropriate angles and distances so that the mirrored pairs nearly touched, and a template was made from this. After laying the field of concrete pavers, we marked the mosaic areas with the template. These pavers were cut out one at a time. All of the colored pavers were cut into thirds, and then angles were cut to follow curves. The template was moved and traced twelve times; each triple-row design took eight hours to complete, an approximate total time of 96 house (just) for the mosaic patterns. Many additional hours were spent cutting and installing the fish, triple borders, etc. The pavers in the mosaic, as well as the koi and borders, were coated with corresponding colors of sealer. These colors are amazingly rich and bright, well worth the extra time and effort! The two sets of koi are different as our designs are constantly evolving. A color booster in matte finish was applied to the pavers on the driveway.

Complete build out and renovation, down to concrete and steel, of upscale three bedroom condominium. This project took approximately 10 months to complete. When the client sold one years later, he tripled the money invested in the renovation. This three bedroom was a total gut, with all custom features, Bosch appliances, air tub with color therapy, custom wood floors and cabinets, Israeli travertine, antiques both Texas, American and French, custom lighting, antique Oriental rugs.

Immaculate, professional design and modern luxury are uniquely embodied in this five bedroom, 5.5 bath custom built home. A short distance to the shores of Lake Michigan, the Regency Wildwood takes advantage of a wide lot with a matching floor plan. Every detail was carefully selected and quality crafted. Enjoy gatherings in the generously-sized living/dining areas, graced by fireplaces and great views. A four-season room with expansive windows overlooking the terraced backyard provides a retreat for socializing after a business meeting in the richly decorated family office. A dry bar with wine cooler is centrally located for entertaining convenience. Warmer months allow for time on the patio with a built in fire pit, appreciating the great outdoors, no matter what mother nature has in mind. The first floor master suite has a large spa retreat bathroom and generous closet space. Three bedrooms and three full baths on the second floor provide ample space for family in addition to a bonus space ideal for a kid’s TV/playroom or living quarters for an aging parent adjacent to the elevator. Second floor laundry is convenient for Mom. The lower lever houses space for billiards, a game of poker, or movie night, ideal for entertaining. An additional bedroom and full bath give privacy from the main living area to a short-term or long-term visitor or family member.