Search results for "Topic" in Home Design Ideas

Upon entering the home from the screened porch, MOSS installed floor to ceiling semi-custom cabinetry to be used as a sort of butler’s pantry to store kitchen items, additional entertainment ware, guests’ coats, cleaning equipment and supplies, and more. The use of the unique green tone was a beautiful touch as the color green is used throughout the home’s updated décor and brings a sense of unity to the overall space. Immediately off the long hallway is the home’s kitchen, which was completely updated. Square footage was not affected but MOSS re-designed the space so that it could be used in a more functional manner. A massive kitchen island with a beautiful soapstone countertop dominates the room. Semi-custom white cabinetry lines the perimeters. New large windows provide an incredible view of the yard. Finally, a seating area with built-ins was added to supply more space for seating and for the dining room table to be moved from the center of the kitchen, previously, to the side. The kitchen also features a beautiful fireplace which had its wooden surround updated. The home’s sunroom, located next to the kitchen, was previously a few feet lower than the rest of the home. To bring a better flow to the space, MOSS raised the entire floor of the room up to meet the rest of the main level. Stunningly, the hardwood floor matches to a “T”. In the home’s living room and office, full wall built-ins were added, allowing the homeowners to display their favorite books on topics ranging from art to history, as well as showcasing statues and art sculptures and other items that are meaningful to their family. The living room fireplace’s stone and wooden surrounds were updated by MOSS as well.

Inspiration for a contemporary beige floor and tray ceiling living room remodel in Miami with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

The Landscape Designer Job Description
Though landscape designer jobs and landscape architect jobs are often tossed around as meaning the same thing, there are a few differences. The landscape designer job description includes:
Using creativity and the beauty of nature to create a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing and functional area. Areas may include personal lawns, parks, highways, walkways, and more.
Planning the finished product, tying in new features with current ones, by sketching it to scale. These drawings will be very detailed, down to the window and door placement on the buildings.
Performing site analyses that include the assessment of current plants, soil conditions, lighting, the view, and architecture style of the house.
The ability to communicate well both with clients and other types of workers (contractors, supervisors, etc) on the landscaping team.
Researching topics such as plants and their ability to survive in an area, guidelines and codes.
Make public presentations when necessary to discuss the project, complete with charts, sketches, and so forth.
Reviewing plans, proposed changes, and any other necessary documents.
Oversees progression of the project to ensure that it is going as planned.
Keeping records, including everything from correspondence to reports.
Find the right local pro for your project

Upon entering the home from the screened porch, MOSS installed floor to ceiling semi-custom cabinetry to be used as a sort of butler’s pantry to store kitchen items, additional entertainment ware, guests’ coats, cleaning equipment and supplies, and more. The use of the unique green tone was a beautiful touch as the color green is used throughout the home’s updated décor and brings a sense of unity to the overall space. Immediately off the long hallway is the home’s kitchen, which was completely updated. Square footage was not affected but MOSS re-designed the space so that it could be used in a more functional manner. A massive kitchen island with a beautiful soapstone countertop dominates the room. Semi-custom white cabinetry lines the perimeters. New large windows provide an incredible view of the yard. Finally, a seating area with built-ins was added to supply more space for seating and for the dining room table to be moved from the center of the kitchen, previously, to the side. The kitchen also features a beautiful fireplace which had its wooden surround updated. The home’s sunroom, located next to the kitchen, was previously a few feet lower than the rest of the home. To bring a better flow to the space, MOSS raised the entire floor of the room up to meet the rest of the main level. Stunningly, the hardwood floor matches to a “T”. In the home’s living room and office, full wall built-ins were added, allowing the homeowners to display their favorite books on topics ranging from art to history, as well as showcasing statues and art sculptures and other items that are meaningful to their family. The living room fireplace’s stone and wooden surrounds were updated by MOSS as well.

I provide organic gardening consulting by e-mail, phone, and text for those wanting to grow food in hot climates.
In-person consulting may be available in Phoenix, Arizona upon inquiry, but photographs may prevent the need.
I now have a blog that is complimentary for customers and loaded with photographs and bite-sized tips--tasty bits of my experience, research, techniques, observations, and more from over the last three years + 2021 of gardening in Phoenix, AZ for helping you to decide what you want help with and to formulate your highest priority questions. The now 200 posts should also reduce the amount of consulting that is needed and get the idea-wheel turning. One blog post contains consulting ideas/topics.
Though set up as a subscription, you can purchase help for only one month by cancelling before renewal if you don't need more. You will receive an automated reminder by e-mail before the renewal date.

I provide organic gardening consulting by e-mail, phone, and text for those wanting to grow food in hot climates.
In-person consulting may be available in Phoenix, Arizona upon inquiry, but photographs may prevent the need.
I now have a blog that is complimentary for customers and loaded with photographs and bite-sized tips--tasty bits of my experience, research, techniques, observations, and more from over the last three years + 2021 of gardening in Phoenix, AZ for helping you to decide what you want help with and to formulate your highest priority questions. The now 200 posts should also reduce the amount of consulting that is needed and get the idea-wheel turning. One blog post contains consulting ideas/topics.
Though set up as a subscription, you can purchase help for only one month by cancelling before renewal if you don't need more. You will receive an automated reminder by e-mail before the renewal date.

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.”

Philharmonic Design House - 2014, The Strands in Dana Point, CA
Master Bedroom, Venetian Plastered Ceiling in "Papyrus" texture
Dana Point, CA
Interior Designer, Beth Whitlinger, www.bwid.com
When the Interior Designer described the wall covering as being a silver leafed pattern along with oodles of sumptuous natural fiber fabrics on the bedding, chairs, and window treatments, this plaster finish came to mind as being the perfect invention of richness and texture to be in relationship with the rhythm of natural linens and silks in this significant House of Design space. The color was chosen to coordinate with the natural stone of the fireplace, the glint and gleam of the burnished cross-hatched Venetian Plaster was meant to support the bling Beth brought into this room through the chandelier and the headboard wall and other more subtle details.
This ceiling finish, so I was told by one of the docents, was one of the top three talked about topics of this magnificent space. I was glad to hear, as this was a finish designed and mixed up in my artist's workshop with the confidence it would do the trick. The overall design was impeccable as delivered by the very talented Beth Whitlinger.
I sincerely hope to perform this finish again and again. It is quite remarkably unique as well as a beautiful backdrop to rich decor.
Please visit our project files for more views of the multitudes of award-winning specialty venetian plasters, Trompe L'oeil, faux finishes, wall glaze, painted furniture and custom art commissions on canvas we have performed over the years.

Philharmonic Design House - 2014, The Strands in Dana Point, CA
Master Bedroom, Venetian Plastered Ceiling in "Papyrus" texture
Dana Point, CA
Interior Designer, Beth Whitlinger, www.bwid.com
Photography by Martin King
When the Interior Designer described the wall covering as being a silver leafed pattern along with oodles of sumptuous natural fiber fabrics on the bedding, chairs, and window treatments, this plaster finish came to mind as being the perfect invention of richness and texture to be in relationship with the rhythm of natural linens and silks in this significant House of Design space. The color was chosen to coordinate with the natural stone of the fireplace, the glint and gleam of the burnished cross-hatched Venetian Plaster was meant to support the bling Beth brought into this room through the chandelier and the headboard wall and other more subtle details.
This ceiling finish, so I was told by one of the docents, was one of the top three talked about topics of this magnificent space. I was glad to hear, as this was a finish designed and mixed up in my artist's workshop with the confidence it would do the trick. The overall design was impeccable as delivered by the very talented Beth Whitlinger.
I sincerely hope to perform this finish again and again. It is quite remarkably unique as well as a beautiful backdrop to rich decor.
Please visit our project files for more views of the multitudes of award-winning specialty venetian plasters, Trompe L'oeil, faux finishes, wall glaze, painted furniture and custom art commissions on canvas we have performed over the years.

Cabinets:
Waypoint Cabinetry | Maple Espresso & Painted Stone
Countertops:
Caeserstone Countertops - Alpine Mist and
Leathered Lennon Granite
Backsplash:
Topcu Wooden White Marble
Plumbing: Blanco and Shocke
Stove and Hood:
Blue Star

Upon entering the home from the screened porch, MOSS installed floor to ceiling semi-custom cabinetry to be used as a sort of butler’s pantry to store kitchen items, additional entertainment ware, guests’ coats, cleaning equipment and supplies, and more. The use of the unique green tone was a beautiful touch as the color green is used throughout the home’s updated décor and brings a sense of unity to the overall space. Immediately off the long hallway is the home’s kitchen, which was completely updated. Square footage was not affected but MOSS re-designed the space so that it could be used in a more functional manner. A massive kitchen island with a beautiful soapstone countertop dominates the room. Semi-custom white cabinetry lines the perimeters. New large windows provide an incredible view of the yard. Finally, a seating area with built-ins was added to supply more space for seating and for the dining room table to be moved from the center of the kitchen, previously, to the side. The kitchen also features a beautiful fireplace which had its wooden surround updated. The home’s sunroom, located next to the kitchen, was previously a few feet lower than the rest of the home. To bring a better flow to the space, MOSS raised the entire floor of the room up to meet the rest of the main level. Stunningly, the hardwood floor matches to a “T”. In the home’s living room and office, full wall built-ins were added, allowing the homeowners to display their favorite books on topics ranging from art to history, as well as showcasing statues and art sculptures and other items that are meaningful to their family. The living room fireplace’s stone and wooden surrounds were updated by MOSS as well.

Upon entering the home from the screened porch, MOSS installed floor to ceiling semi-custom cabinetry to be used as a sort of butler’s pantry to store kitchen items, additional entertainment ware, guests’ coats, cleaning equipment and supplies, and more. The use of the unique green tone was a beautiful touch as the color green is used throughout the home’s updated décor and brings a sense of unity to the overall space. Immediately off the long hallway is the home’s kitchen, which was completely updated. Square footage was not affected but MOSS re-designed the space so that it could be used in a more functional manner. A massive kitchen island with a beautiful soapstone countertop dominates the room. Semi-custom white cabinetry lines the perimeters. New large windows provide an incredible view of the yard. Finally, a seating area with built-ins was added to supply more space for seating and for the dining room table to be moved from the center of the kitchen, previously, to the side. The kitchen also features a beautiful fireplace which had its wooden surround updated. The home’s sunroom, located next to the kitchen, was previously a few feet lower than the rest of the home. To bring a better flow to the space, MOSS raised the entire floor of the room up to meet the rest of the main level. Stunningly, the hardwood floor matches to a “T”. In the home’s living room and office, full wall built-ins were added, allowing the homeowners to display their favorite books on topics ranging from art to history, as well as showcasing statues and art sculptures and other items that are meaningful to their family. The living room fireplace’s stone and wooden surrounds were updated by MOSS as well.

Kunstkammers are on display at the National Museum in Munich and several other major European museums in the region. Measuring in size from diminutive cabinets with just a few drawers to cabinets that fill entire rooms, they date from the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightment. Every noble, titled, learned or moneyed gentleman of the day was an assumed collector of unique and unusual objects. This culturally collective behavior was a favored topic of conversation. Individuals, as well as complete expeditions, were fitted out and sent to remote corners of the globe to collect. Old books were hoarded as well as shells, skulls, ivories, minerals, classical art creations and historical artifacts. Our Kunstkammer Cabinet is multi-functional. Modern collectors don't send out expeditions, preferring to travel and collect the exotica from far away lands themselves. They want a cabinet that not only stores but displays and appeals in its own right. Sliding doors, large and small drawers, pull out shelves. Solid, heavy campaign pulls. Elegant crown molding and base. Everything is right about this cabinet that will be the king of the library, living room or classic office.
Features:
Brass hardware
Sliding glass doors for displaying items
Pull out shelves for extra workspace
Four drawers below--two extra deep to store games, linens, papers
Crown molding at the top and bottom
Shelves have bronze name plates
Sides feature heavy duty handles for easy mobility
Combination of distressed honey and black finish
French finishing
Dimensions:
Overall Height - Top to Bottom: 81 Inches
Overall Width - Side to Side: 48.25 Inches
Overall Depth - Front to Back: 21.25 Inches
Overall Product Weight: 298 Pounds

The pictures show a large Limestone floor laid through much of the ground floor of a property situated on the outskirts of York seventeen years prior.
The owners had three dogs that slept in their own doggy room. The floor in this room was in the worst condition of the five rooms as it had been subject to significant wear and tear. The Limestone tiles looked dull with ingrained dirt and the grout was stained and patchy.
The original tiler had laid the floor well, but he had applied a satin topical sealer to the stone most of which had worn off over the years. A floor like this would need a little maintenance and the sealer reapplying from time to time to maintain it.
I completed a test clean for the client to show them what could be achieved which came out well. Happy with the result they accepted my quote for the restoration work, and we booked in a suitable time to complete the work.
The area was quite large, so I separated the job into rooms and started by protecting the skirtings and woodwork from splashing etc. I decided to do a chemical clean first to remove what was left of the old sealer but more importantly to give the grout a thorough clean which was making the floor look scruffy.
For this I opted to apply a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was left to dwell for a short while and then worked in with a mechanical rotary cleaner. It gets to work on the ingrained dirt and sealer. It should also help to get rid of the doggy smells. This process turns the cleaning solution black and is then extracted using a wet vacuum keeping the mess to a minimum. I paid particular attention to the grout which was deeply discoloured and found that some areas required going over a couple of times to get them clean. I was only just getting started on the cleaning but immediately the floor was looking so much better.
I then deep cleaned the Limestone with a set of diamond burnishing pads, working in sequence from the 400 grit through to 1500 grit. A small amount of water was used to aid the lubrication and after each pad have been over the entire area few times the solution is rinsed off with more water and extracted with the wet vacuum.
The floor came back to almost new and as the client wanted a satin finish, I ended by applying a 3000-grit pad to add a deeper polish to the Limestone. The floor was then left overnight to dry.
The last step of polishing with the 3000-grit pad already leaves the floor quite dry however I always like to check before sealing so just to be sure I took some reading with a damp meter. The readings were fine, so I started applying the first of two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal to finish the floor. This is an impregnating sealer (as opposed to the previous topical sealer) that soaks into the stone protecting it from within but without affecting its appearance. This product was chosen in consultation with the client who was specific about how they wanted to floor to look.
The floor now looked superb. Both the client and l were very pleased with the finished floor and so where the dogs! For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is designed for cleaning polished stone floors like these, it’s a gentle stone cleaner that helps maintain the patina and ideal for this type of floor.
Nigel Stoker
North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor

Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker):
This frequently bi-colored flower makes a dramatic statement in the garden and is an ideal plant for those who are new to gardening. In fact, this plant is so easy to grow it has been described as “tough to kill.” It is fairly drought-resistant, plus hummingbirds and butterflies love it. It is best planted in early spring or late fall.
When in bloom, the blossoms appear a bit like a hot poker or torch and for those feeling a bit of sadness saying good-bye to some of their lawn, note that these plants boast very “grass-like” leaves. This photo is of Vultaggio’s own garden and is courtesy of Sandra Vultaggio.
(Note: the dramatic dark blue/black flowers in the foreground are Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ which bloom from late spring to early autumn.)
So here's to millennials and their commitment to sustainability. If you have any questions on this topic, feel free to contact our office for more ideas.
Monarda (Bee Balm)
1. Native to North America, this beautiful flowering plant is from the mint family. It’s easy to grow, is deer resistant, and attracts pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
It’s tubular flowers come in a variety of colors (pink, white, violet, red) and bloom in high summer through early fall. Bee Balm takes to full sun or light shade, and prefers a well-drained fertile soil. It needs some protection from excess moisture in winter.

Design and Photography by I SPY DIY
Freestanding bathtub - gray tile white floor and single-sink freestanding bathtub idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity
Freestanding bathtub - gray tile white floor and single-sink freestanding bathtub idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity
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