Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2017 Houzz
Example of a 1960s exterior home design in New York

Photo: Megan Hansen © 2017 Houzz
Transitional living room photo in San Francisco

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

New View Photography
Family room - mid-sized rustic loft-style medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room idea in Raleigh with a bar, a wall-mounted tv, white walls and no fireplace

This is the "after" shot of the front of a remodel in the Devil's Thumb neighborhood of Boulder. The couple wanted a true Arts and Crafts look.
Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Denver

A Lake Michigan Home gets a Modern Refresh from Dresner Design. Photos by Tony Soluri. This couple moved from Chicago’s Wicker Park to a rural setting but wanted to maintain their modern aesthetic. Scott Dresner of Dresner Design created a light bright clean-lined kitchen perfect for the couple’s need to entertain. Must have’s included a drawer for over sixty spices, storage for three sets of dishes, a coffee bar, and a huge island the couple uses for entertaining. The palette is mostly white to maximize outdoor views. Constraints were plenty both timeline and budgetary. Dresner came up with some creative solutions, which allowed the homeowners to save on cabinetry and materials and splurge on appliances.

Photo: Marni Epstein-Mervis © 2018 Houzz

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Photo: Andrew Snow © 2015 Houzz
Urban kitchen photo in Toronto

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photo: Susan Gilmore Photography
Classic screened-in side porch idea in Minneapolis with a roof extension

Rear view of the patio and pool area featuring the bloack bottom pool and spectacular sculpture designed and crafted by Guy Dill in Venice, California. Builder – GEF Development, Interiors - Ownby Design, Photographer – Thompson Photographic, Sculpture - Guy Dill.

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This stunning outdoor living space is a true backyard retreat. The custom screened porch, designed to look original to the home, exits to a deck and patio, creating smooth transition from home to yard. The wood deck design incorporates an inset hot tub with additional built-in storage. The storage cabinet sits along one side of the hot tub, creating a place to rest food, drinks, or candles while enjoying the water. The outdoor lighting built into the stair risers create a soft, ambient glow while providing a safe environment for people to move about the deck after the sun goes down. The Unilock patio features Holland Stone pavers in Autumn Red and a built-in Brussel Dimensional Stone fire pit in Limestone color. The triangular shape provides a unique look for the wood burning fire pit., and the placement offers warmth and ambiance for anyone in the hot tub or gathered around fire.

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!

This newly-completed home is located in the heart of downtown Boca, just steps from Mizner Park! It’s so much more than a house: it’s the dream home come true for a special couple who poured so much love and thought into each element and detail of the design. Every room in this contemporary home was customized to fit the needs of the clients, who dreamed of home perfect for hosting and relaxing. From the chef's kitchen to the luxurious outdoor living space, this home was a dream come true!