Christopher Mayer
Large trendy porcelain tile and gray floor kitchen photo in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island, white countertops, a single-bowl sink, beige cabinets and paneled appliances

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

This brick and limestone, 6,000-square-foot residence exemplifies understated elegance. Located in the award-wining Blaine School District and within close proximity to the Southport Corridor, this is city living at its finest! The foyer, with herringbone wood floors, leads to a dramatic, hand-milled oval staircase; an architectural element that allows sunlight to cascade down from skylights and to filter throughout the house. The floor plan has stately-proportioned rooms and includes formal Living and Dining Rooms; an expansive, eat-in, gourmet Kitchen/Great Room; four bedrooms on the second level with three additional bedrooms and a Family Room on the lower level; a Penthouse Playroom leading to a roof-top deck and green roof; and an attached, heated 3-car garage. Additional features include hardwood flooring throughout the main level and upper two floors; sophisticated architectural detailing throughout the house including coffered ceiling details, barrel and groin vaulted ceilings; painted, glazed and wood paneling; laundry rooms on the bedroom level and on the lower level; five fireplaces, including one outdoors; and HD Video, Audio and Surround Sound pre-wire distribution through the house and grounds. The home also features extensively landscaped exterior spaces, designed by Prassas Landscape Studio. This home went under contract within 90 days during the Great Recession. Featured in Chicago Magazine: http://goo.gl/Gl8lRm Jim Yochum

This kitchen remodel of a 70’s home reflects the character of the existing home and some design features of that era while giving it a fresh, modern look. The client wanted the remodeled space to blend in with the rest of the home, retaining some of the 1970’s character while including all the best features of today’s kitchens. Removing the wall separating the informal eating area from the family room provided a nice open space allowing for a larger kitchen footprint and plenty of light throughout. A combination of Decor's Dove Wing painted and Natural stained Walnut cabinetry was chosen. The dark walnut, slab lower cabinets unite the kitchen with the darker wood theme found throughout the home, while the white, slim-shaker upper cabinets give the space a light and airy feeling. The beautiful vertical grain of the walnut is the foundation of a theme that is echoed throughout the space: tall & thin vertical lines without bulk or needless ornamentation. The unique design detail gives the kitchen a great balance of depth and character while still brightening the space. Walnut crown molding throughout defines the space and ties everything together. The vertical-set green Japanese tile from Virginia Tile, also characteristic of the 1970’s, serves as the backsplash and fills the range wall. The tall & slim theme is underscored by several design elements from the vertical tile and tall cabinet pulls in matte black from Top Knobs, to the thin quartz countertops, skinny shaker cabinet door style, and tall, slim refrigerator doors, all meant to eliminate excess bulk and lighten up the space. An impressive focal point in this kitchen is the custom walnut reeded hood, designed to reflect a popular 1970’s feature. Narrow walnut shelves below the white upper cabinets near the refrigerator provide a nice surprise to the eye. An extra long island, decked in polished 2cm Corian Quartz countertop in Novello, provides ample seating, storage, and task space, making it an ideal surface for serving, eating, meal prep, gathering, and entertaining. The client desired a long island with comfortable counter seating at one end for a family of five, including space for a baby’s high chair. High-end Bosch appliances and functional storage were also priorities. The dry bar on the opposite wall features additional storage and an Elica beverage refrigerator, framed by tall walnut larder cabinets on each end. The white larder cabinet doors pocket into the sides, revealing beautiful finished walnut interiors. Wall cabinets feature Decor’s integrated under-cabinet lighting, while puck lights illuminate the beverage center counter. This kitchen is bursting with integrated storage. Many deep drawers feature interior double drawers making smaller items more accessible. Decor’s spice drawer to the right of the range keeps spices organized, while divided tray storage on the left of the range keeps these taller items handy. While the design is inspired by the 1970’s, it exemplifies the best of the 2020’s, and the new space is open, bright, and functional for this family with young children.

This brick and limestone, 6,000-square-foot residence exemplifies understated elegance. Located in the award-wining Blaine School District and within close proximity to the Southport Corridor, this is city living at its finest! The foyer, with herringbone wood floors, leads to a dramatic, hand-milled oval staircase; an architectural element that allows sunlight to cascade down from skylights and to filter throughout the house. The floor plan has stately-proportioned rooms and includes formal Living and Dining Rooms; an expansive, eat-in, gourmet Kitchen/Great Room; four bedrooms on the second level with three additional bedrooms and a Family Room on the lower level; a Penthouse Playroom leading to a roof-top deck and green roof; and an attached, heated 3-car garage. Additional features include hardwood flooring throughout the main level and upper two floors; sophisticated architectural detailing throughout the house including coffered ceiling details, barrel and groin vaulted ceilings; painted, glazed and wood paneling; laundry rooms on the bedroom level and on the lower level; five fireplaces, including one outdoors; and HD Video, Audio and Surround Sound pre-wire distribution through the house and grounds. The home also features extensively landscaped exterior spaces, designed by Prassas Landscape Studio. This home went under contract within 90 days during the Great Recession. Featured in Chicago Magazine: http://goo.gl/Gl8lRm Jim Yochum

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

An historic Spanish Colonial residence built in 1925 being redesigned and furnished for a modern-day Southern California family was the challenge. The interiors of the main house needed the backgrounds set and then a timeless collection created for its furnishings. Lifestyle was always a consideration as well as the interiors relating to the strong architecture of the residence. Natural colors such as terra cotta, tans, blues, greens, old red and soft vintage shades were incorporated throughout. Our goal was to maintain the historic character of the residence combining design elements and materials considered classic in Southern California Spanish Colonial architecture. Natural fiber textiles, leathers and woven linens were the predominated upholstery choices. A 7000 square foot basement was added and furnished to provide a gym, Star Wars theater, game areas, spa area and a simulator for indoor golf and other sports. Antiques were selected throughout the world, fine art from major galleries, custom reproductions fabricated in the old-world style. Collectible carpets were selected for the reclaimed hardwood flooring in all the areas. An estancia and garden over the basement were created and furnished with old world designs and materials as reclaimed woods, terra cotta and French limestone flooring.

We transformed a Georgian brick two-story built in 1998 into an elegant, yet comfortable home for an active family that includes children and dogs. Although this Dallas home’s traditional bones were intact, the interior dark stained molding, paint, and distressed cabinetry, along with dated bathrooms and kitchen were in desperate need of an overhaul. We honored the client’s European background by using time-tested marble mosaics, slabs and countertops, and vintage style plumbing fixtures throughout the kitchen and bathrooms. We balanced these traditional elements with metallic and unique patterned wallpapers, transitional light fixtures and clean-lined furniture frames to give the home excitement while maintaining a graceful and inviting presence. We used nickel lighting and plumbing finishes throughout the home to give regal punctuation to each room. The intentional, detailed styling in this home is evident in that each room boasts its own character while remaining cohesive overall.

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

A female mining bee on American plum (Prunus americana). This photo illustrates where mining bee females collect pollen: on the lower part of the hind leg, as well as higher up on the hind leg and the side of the thorax, giving the appearance that pollen is collected in their ‘armpit’.

Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson designed this downtown loft to reflect the homeowners LOVE FOR THE LOFT! With an energetic look on life, this homeowner wanted a high-quality home with casual sensibility. Comfort and easy maintenance were high on the list... Rebecca and her team went to work transforming this 2,000-sq ft. condo in a record 6 months. Contractor Ryan Coats (Earthwood Custom Remodeling, Inc.) lead a team of highly qualified sub-contractors throughout the project and over the finish line. 8" wide hardwood planks of white oak replaced low quality wood floors, 6'8" French doors were upgraded to 8' solid wood and frosted glass doors, used brick veneer and barn wood walls were added as well as new lighting throughout. The outdated Kitchen was gutted along with Bathrooms and new 8" baseboards were installed. All new tile walls and backsplashes as well as intricate tile flooring patterns were brought in while every countertop was updated and replaced. All new plumbing and appliances were included as well as hardware and fixtures. Closet systems were designed by Robeson Design and executed to perfection. State of the art sound system, entertainment package and smart home technology was integrated by Ryan Coats and his team. Exquisite Kitchen Design, (Denver Colorado) headed up the custom cabinetry throughout the home including the Kitchen, Lounge feature wall, Bathroom vanities and the Living Room entertainment piece boasting a 9' slab of Fumed White Oak with a live edge (shown, left side of photo). Paul Anderson of EKD worked closely with the team at Robeson Design on Rebecca's vision to insure every detail was built to perfection. The project was completed on time and the homeowners are thrilled... And it didn't hurt that the ball field was the awesome view out the Living Room window. Earthwood Custom Remodeling, Inc. Exquisite Kitchen Design Rocky Mountain Hardware Tech Lighting - Black Whale Lighting Photos by Ryan Garvin Photography

This Palm Springs inspired, one story, 8,245 sq. ft. modernist “party pad” merges golf and Rat Pack glamour. The net-zero home provides resort-style living and overlooks fairways and water views. The front elevation of this mid-century, sprawling ranch showcases a patterned screen that provides transparency and privacy. The design element of the screen reappears throughout the home in a manner similar to Frank Lloyd Wright’s use of design patterns throughout his homes. The home boasts a HERS index of zero. A 17.1 kW Photovoltaic and Tesla Powerwall system provides approximately 100% of the electrical energy needs. A Grand ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Phil Kean Design Group Designer: Phil Kean Design Group From: Winter Park, Florida

Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson designed this downtown loft to reflect the homeowners LOVE FOR THE LOFT! With an energetic look on life, this homeowner wanted a high-quality home with casual sensibility. Comfort and easy maintenance were high on the list... Rebecca and team went to work transforming this 2,000-sq.ft. condo in a record 6 months. Contractor Ryan Coats (Earthwood Custom Remodeling, Inc.) lead a team of highly qualified sub-contractors throughout the project and over the finish line. 8" wide hardwood planks of white oak replaced low quality wood floors, 6'8" French doors were upgraded to 8' solid wood and frosted glass doors, used brick veneer and barn wood walls were added as well as new lighting throughout. The outdated Kitchen was gutted along with Bathrooms and new 8" baseboards were installed. All new tile walls and backsplashes as well as intricate tile flooring patterns were brought in while every countertop was updated and replaced. All new plumbing and appliances were included as well as hardware and fixtures. Closet systems were designed by Robeson Design and executed to perfection. State of the art sound system, entertainment package and smart home technology was integrated by Ryan Coats and his team. Exquisite Kitchen Design, (Denver Colorado) headed up the custom cabinetry throughout the home including the Kitchen, Lounge feature wall, Bathroom vanities and the Living Room entertainment piece boasting a 9' slab of Fumed White Oak with a live edge. Paul Anderson of EKD worked closely with the team at Robeson Design on Rebecca's vision to insure every detail was built to perfection. The project was completed on time and the homeowners are thrilled... And it didn't hurt that the ball field was the awesome view out the Living Room window. In this home, all of the window treatments, built-in cabinetry and many of the furniture pieces, are custom designs by Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson made specifically for this project. Rocky Mountain Hardware Earthwood Custom Remodeling, Inc. Exquisite Kitchen Design Rugs - Aja Rugs, LaJolla Photos by Ryan Garvin Photography

Super functional mud room! 9 Mountain Road, Wilton NEW PRICE & BEST VALUE IN WILTON! | $1,295,000 | Set high atop a hill, this gorgeous farmhouse colonial offers 4 finished floors of exquisite craftsmanship & custom millwork throughout. Stylishly renovated in 2012, this gracious residence radiates a chic country ambiance throughout a charming sophisticated interior. This sun drenched home offers a private setting, beautifully framed by stone walls & ornamental trees throughout your professionally landscaped property. The exterior also features shingle siding, copper gutters, a brick paver driveway & a beautiful mahogany wrap around porch. This home offers an outstanding open layout, perfect for everyday living as well as entertaining. Enter into your grand 2-story foyer with coffered ceilings & get ready to be impressed! Superior finishes are found throughout, including random width oak floors, air-brushed panels, recessed lighting and built in sound systems. Pass by your formal living & dining room & enter into your spacious family room w/wood beamed ceiling, large stone fireplace & cupola. Off of the family room is your stunning gourmet kitchen, offering Sub-zero & Wolf appliances, large Carrera island & butlers pantry w/2 fridge drawers, warming drawer, sink, dishwasher & subzero wine cooler. Feel right at home in your breakfast nook, which offers great natural light & a perfect spot for informal dining. A bright playroom/library, mud room & oversized 2-car garage completes the first floor. The entertaining extends down to your finished lower level w/home theater, bar, sauna & lounge area with wine room potential. Outdoor entertaining is easy with a built in grill, fridge, in-ground hot tub, sound system, expansive stone patio & level fenced backyard. When its time to relax, your luxurious master suite offers a perfect retreat. The spacious master bedroom features a sitting/dressing area, 3 walk-in closets & double-sided fireplace into your Master Bathroom. The stunning master bath offers vaulted ceilings, surround sound, radiant floors, air bubble tub, huge walk-in shower & 2 vanities. The 2nd level also features 3 additional bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, laundry room & ample closet space throughout. The 3rd level offers a bonus room/en-suite with vaulted ceilings, marble full bath, gas fireplace & lots of natural light and storage. Convenient location; close to it all. School bus stops at the end of the driveway. Only 1 mile to the train station. A truly special home. Not to be missed! Our team delivers a high level of expertise, outstanding service and the Best Results. Call, text, or email Jillian at 203.858.2095 | Jklaff@Jillianklaff.com, or Megan at 918.671.4802 | Megan.donofrio@raveis.com.

We plastered the walls and ceilings throughout this expansive Hill Country home for Baxter Design Group. The plastering and the custom stained beams and woodwork throughout give this home an authentic Old World vibe.

Statuario Honed Marble kitchen with white shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Polished gold Brizo sink faucet with contemporary white farmhouse sink. White subway tile throughout with herringbone pattern in the coffee nook area. Custom dark walnut shelves. Built-in microwave and a large pantry with roll out trays. Pottery barn large glass pendents and recessed lights throughout.

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Kitchen - eclectic kitchen idea in New York

This exclusive guest home features excellent and easy to use technology throughout. The idea and purpose of this guesthouse is to host multiple charity events, sporting event parties, and family gatherings. The roughly 90-acre site has impressive views and is a one of a kind property in Colorado. The project features incredible sounding audio and 4k video distributed throughout (inside and outside). There is centralized lighting control both indoors and outdoors, an enterprise Wi-Fi network, HD surveillance, and a state of the art Crestron control system utilizing iPads and in-wall touch panels. Some of the special features of the facility is a powerful and sophisticated QSC Line Array audio system in the Great Hall, Sony and Crestron 4k Video throughout, a large outdoor audio system featuring in ground hidden subwoofers by Sonance surrounding the pool, and smart LED lighting inside the gorgeous infinity pool. J Gramling Photos