We were thrilled when our former clients called about their primary bathroom remodel. They were so unhappy with the space that they'd resorted to using it as a storage area, and the entire family shared the hallway bathroom. Some of the most notable complaints were that the vanity and closet area had no privacy from the primary bedroom, making the space difficult to use while someone was sleeping. The oversized mirrored closet doors had settled and could hardly be opened and closed. More minor complaints included the lack of double sinks, limited vanity storage, nowhere for dirty laundry, a small shower, and poor lighting overall. We also had a few architectural limitations. The windows in the home had recently been replaced, so we needed to retain their existing locations. Similarly, the toilet line location was very limited in this second-story room, so we needed to work around the current spot. Our final design included a frosted glass door separating the bedroom and bathroom. This allowed for privacy but retained the natural light provided by the windows in both rooms. We also removed the wall separating the shower and toilet area from the vanity; this made both areas feel larger and more cohesive. The closet doors were replaced with new gliding doors that provide easy access to the entire closet. The updated vanity area includes ample drawer storage and a large recessed medicine cabinet. The cabinets are stained oak, providing a warm natural texture to balance the cool-toned manufactured tiles. The inky-blue glass wall tile is a focal point and adds a burst of color to the room. Between the new vanity and shower area is an open storage system for baskets, towel storage, and a laundry hamper. We reconfigured a small closet in the bedroom to create an inviting and large shower. We opted for a full-width shampoo niche along the rear wall with the same accent tile we incorporated into the vanity area. We added a linear shower drain along the same wall to mirror the elongated niche detail. 'Clear hardware' by-pass shower doors that allow the user to reach the shower controls before stepping in. Overall, the space is bright and calm, with just the right amount of bold color and natural textures. We will soon begin remodeling the hallway bath because the entire family is now using this new space!

This Playa Del Rey, CA. design / build project began after our client had a terrible flood ruin her kitchen. In truth, she had been unhappy with her galley kitchen prior to the flood. She felt it was dark and deep with poor air conditioning circulating through it. She enjoys entertaining and hosting dinner parties and felt that this was the perfect opportunity to reimagine her galley kitchen into a space that would reflect her lifestyle. Since this is a condominium, we decided the best way to open up the floorplan was to wrap the counter around the wall into the dining area and make the peninsula the same height as the work surface. The result is an open kitchen with extensive counter space. Keeping it light and bright was important but she also wanted some texture and color too. The stacked stone backsplash has slivers of glass that reflect the light. Her vineyard palette was tied into the backsplash and accented by the painted walls. The floating glass shelves are highlighted with LED lights on a dimmer switch. We were able to space plan to incorporate her wine rack into the peninsula. We reconfigured the HVAC vent so more air circulated into the far end of the kitchen and added a ceiling fan. This project also included replacing the carpet and 12X12 beige tile with some “wood look” porcelain tile throughout the first floor. Since the powder room was receiving new flooring our client decided to add the powder room project which included giving it a deep plum paint job and a new chocolate cherry vanity. The white quartz counter and crystal hardware balance the dark hues in the wall and vanity.

As a manager of a building or property, you quickly learn the art of mediation. One minute you may be working with a vendor to keep the building’s operating system running efficient and smooth; the next moment you may be calming a tenant down after finding the change in the system disrupted his office’s workflow. Give and take; it’s the only way to make sure every day runs perfectly. Overall, you have two goals to strive for in everything you do. 1. Keep the building running properly, upgrading systems as appropriate, and striving to do all you can on a pre-established budget. 2. Keep the building occupants happy, with as little disruption as possible. While some changes are minor, barely registering on a building occupant’s mind, with HVAC challenges, that’s rarely the case. If a HVAC contractor is replacing an air handler, for instance, and disconnects one and moves to the next unit, it may cause major disruptions to sensitive areas of a building. And if the occupant wasn’t prepared for the disruption, you can have a mighty unhappy customer on your hand. Anytime you are working on HVAC projects throughout your building, there are strategies you can put into place to keep things running smooth. Communicate with occupants Communication is key to any good relationship, and as a property manager, this rule is a great place to start. If you will be working with the HVAC equipment, block out the timeframe for work to be done, and understand the potential consequences of the process. Then communicate this process with every point of contact you have throughout the building. The more detail you can provide, the less surprises you’ll have throughout the process. You can also work with your building’s occupants before the process begins, finding out if there are better timeframes than others. Establish a realistic schedule As a property manager, its easy to provide your expectations for the HVAC project at hand, and request that the proposal be written in such a way that work is completed on your timeframe. Unfortunately, many contractors want your business and will agree to anything upfront in order to win the bid, knowing full well the work will take longer than specified. Instead of projecting your timeframes into the proposal process, ask for HVAC project bids to establish realistic schedules of how long the process will take, and what areas of your property will be most effected throughout the schedule. This will help you avoid crises between you and the contractor, and you and your tenants. Plan for the whole system If one small piece of your HVAC system is weak, its easy to fix that one small piece. But how will that impact your overall system? Will it cause weak spots in different parts of the building – maybe a corner office will have reduced air flow, and therefore be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer? When retrofitting new pieces with older existing systems, its easy to reduce the efficiency of your entire system. Before agreeing to certain repairs, make sure you understand how it will impact your entire system overall. An easy way of handling this problem is by working with the same HVAC contractor again and again, He will understand your system’s potential, and know when to make repairs, and when to replace. Have points of contact available for immediate assistance In many cases, problems arise because connections can’t be made. Can the HVAC contractor get a hold or you or another person that can make decisions at a moments notice if a problem arises? Do you have access to decision makers throughout the building that may be impacted by this change? Many projects have been put on hold simply because a person in authority can’t be found to give the go-ahead to move forward. If you have access to these people during the time of the project, you’ll be able to complete the project in record time. Test Finally, if you can test things in stages, or test when the potential for problems is the smallest, you reduce the chances of bigger emergency issues falling into your lap. If you’ll be installing a new terminal unit, can you make the switch on a Saturday morning when the building is largely unoccupied? If you’re replacing a large system, can you replace and test in phases so the entire project isn’t released at once? Most issues can be avoided with just a little strategy from the beginning. If you’ve never had a HVAC maintenance team to help you stay on track with your building’s heating and cooling, now may be the time to find out how easy a team approach makes the process.

This master bath was part of a whole home remodel for a busy young family. They came to Drury with plans already drawn from their architect, but they were unhappy about the layout and wanted to see what could be done. Diana Burton expertly redesigned the space by relocating the vanities to mirror each other, placing the large walk-in shower across from the whirlpool tub, and tucking the toilet into its own water closet in the north corner. Placed on each side of this master bath are large individual his and hers walk-in closets. To add the desired luxurious feel, marble counters top all top surfaces including the back wall of the shower, Nero Marquina marble tiles cover the floor and shower niche, and a mix of eclectic decorative lighting add a final sparkle.

When these Canton, MA homeowners desired to upgrade their childrens’ bathroom, they were referred to Renovisions who were grateful to accept the task. The clients were unhappy with the existing cramped floor plan, lack of storage, old and drafty windows, outdated fixtures and overall lackluster aesthetic. Renovisions designed the new room to not only meet the client’s goals, but exceeded them abundantly. Mobility in the space was limited due to the door swing into the room. Renovisions recommended replacing the currenmt door with a pocket door in an arch-top beaded design to match the nearby bedroom doors, while also upgrading the hallway linen closet with new shelving and same styled door. Renovisions also increased the layout by borrowing space from the adjacent dining room. There is now more room for the handsome, quartered-mahogany wall-hung vanity with linen tower. Since the homeowners requested a contemporary look, the design team focused on choosing more modern products including a soaking tub, minimalistic square designed shower heads, tub filler, single lever faucet and a large rectangular sink. The white quartz countertop with wide veining and waterfall edge, along with the striking larger format subway tile finished with square edge chrome profiles contribute to the clean aethetic and modern appeal. From the sleek porcelain plank floor tile, new double-mulled Marvin casement windows and recessed lighting that provides just the right amount of light, the end result: a one-of-a-kind bathroom, a unique and modern ‘Revitalized Room’.

Customer was unhappy with his existing wood shutters which he felt were giving a dated and generic look. We communicated closely about design, finish, and accessories, and as a result were able to achieve an excellent result in line with his vision and exacting standards.

The owners of this nineteenth century condo had been unhappy with a previous bathroom renovation nearly twenty years before and decided that it was time to do something about it. They asked us to gut the entire room and start over. We began by addressing the functionality of the space. Neither of the homeowners used their bathtub very often, and agreed that a large walk-in shower would provide a better use of space. They preferred the clean lines of a stationary glass panel extending all the way to the ceiling as the only divide between the shower and the room. To provide a curbless shower transition, we flush framed the shower area as low as possible. With an eye to future needs we installed blocking in the wall just outside the shower entrance to someday support a grab bar. Two recessed lights in the shower provide additional lighting, and azure Lucien glass tiles on the shower wall offer a splash of color. A Hans Grohe showerhead with separate hand held unit rounds out the luxurious shower experience. Because the bathroom had not featured enough storage, we replaced an existing pedestal sink with an elegant Duravit wall sink with vanity drawer storage. A tall mirrored Robern medicine cabinet provides additional space for toiletries and bathroom necessities. Vincent Wolf’s elegant Waves in Birch matte tile along one wall, with tall, tapered vanity lights on either side of the medicine cabinet, complete the graceful design of this bathroom. Photo by Shelly Harrison

The wife travels often for business and loves to cook with her daughter when at home. She was desperately unhappy with the old kitchen. The clients report the new design is an “incredibly spacious masterpiece that brings a whole new purpose and meaning to our kitchen. We now have FOUR countertop workspaces when we previously had one cramped and tiny one. We love the clean and simple design, with neutrals and pops of color.”

When these Canton, MA homeowners desired to upgrade their childrens’ bathroom, they were referred to Renovisions who were grateful to accept the task. The clients were unhappy with the existing cramped floor plan, lack of storage, old and drafty windows, outdated fixtures and overall lackluster aesthetic. Renovisions designed the new room to not only meet the client’s goals, but exceeded them abundantly. Mobility in the space was limited due to the door swing into the room. Renovisions recommended replacing the currenmt door with a pocket door in an arch-top beaded design to match the nearby bedroom doors, while also upgrading the hallway linen closet with new shelving and same styled door. Renovisions also increased the layout by borrowing space from the adjacent dining room. There is now more room for the handsome, quartered-mahogany wall-hung vanity with linen tower. Since the homeowners requested a contemporary look, the design team focused on choosing more modern products including a soaking tub, minimalistic square designed shower heads, tub filler, single lever faucet and a large rectangular sink. The white quartz countertop with wide veining and waterfall edge, along with the striking larger format subway tile finished with square edge chrome profiles contribute to the clean aethetic and modern appeal. From the sleek porcelain plank floor tile, new double-mulled Marvin casement windows and recessed lighting that provides just the right amount of light, the end result: a one-of-a-kind bathroom, a unique and modern ‘Revitalized Room’.

Chris was a referral from a very good client and freimd. But until me she had only used, furniture store de orators and was unhappy with the beige results. I suggested we work with and reupholster her existing furniture pieces as I liked the curved lines and the end result is stunning. A lovely shade of blue velvet, for her sofa and white linen for her side chairs add texture and warmth to the space.

This remodel consisted of re-doing a master bathroom and a secondary bath. Our customer was unhappy with the outdated style of the original cabinetry and fixtures in the home. The foundation of this project started with all-wood cabinets from Woodland Cabinetry. We updated the countertops with Diana Royal marble and accented the backsplash with a linear travertine tile from Tar-Mak USA. We tackled the bathtub by removing the outdated oval jet tub and replacing it with a brand new rectangular jetted tub from Mirabelle. We re-built the tub deck to a more appealing size and replaced the tile decking for a slab of marble. Both showers had the enclosures updated with new glass. To finish off the renovation our customer selected the Arendal pull from Top Knobs as her hardware.

The wife travels often for business and loves to cook with her daughter when at home. She was desperately unhappy with the old kitchen. The clients report the new design is an “incredibly spacious masterpiece that brings a whole new purpose and meaning to our kitchen. We now have FOUR countertop workspaces when we previously had one cramped and tiny one. We love the clean and simple design, with neutrals and pops of color.”

This Playa Del Rey, CA. design / build project began after our client had a terrible flood ruin her kitchen. In truth, she had been unhappy with her galley kitchen prior to the flood. She felt it was dark and deep with poor air conditioning circulating through it. She enjoys entertaining and hosting dinner parties and felt that this was the perfect opportunity to reimagine her galley kitchen into a space that would reflect her lifestyle. Since this is a condominium, we decided the best way to open up the floorplan was to wrap the counter around the wall into the dining area and make the peninsula the same height as the work surface. The result is an open kitchen with extensive counter space. Keeping it light and bright was important but she also wanted some texture and color too. The stacked stone backsplash has slivers of glass that reflect the light. Her vineyard palette was tied into the backsplash and accented by the painted walls. The floating glass shelves are highlighted with LED lights on a dimmer switch. We were able to space plan to incorporate her wine rack into the peninsula. We reconfigured the HVAC vent so more air circulated into the far end of the kitchen and added a ceiling fan. This project also included replacing the carpet and 12X12 beige tile with some “wood look” porcelain tile throughout the first floor. Since the powder room was receiving new flooring our client decided to add the powder room project which included giving it a deep plum paint job and a new chocolate cherry vanity. The white quartz counter and crystal hardware balance the dark hues in the wall and vanity.

The wife travels often for business and loves to cook with her daughter when at home. She was desperately unhappy with the old kitchen. The clients report the new design is an “incredibly spacious masterpiece that brings a whole new purpose and meaning to our kitchen. We now have FOUR countertop workspaces when we previously had one cramped and tiny one. We love the clean and simple design, with neutrals and pops of color.”

This Playa Del Rey, CA. design / build project began after our client had a terrible flood ruin her kitchen. In truth, she had been unhappy with her galley kitchen prior to the flood. She felt it was dark and deep with poor air conditioning circulating through it. She enjoys entertaining and hosting dinner parties and felt that this was the perfect opportunity to reimagine her galley kitchen into a space that would reflect her lifestyle. Since this is a condominium, we decided the best way to open up the floorplan was to wrap the counter around the wall into the dining area and make the peninsula the same height as the work surface. The result is an open kitchen with extensive counter space. Keeping it light and bright was important but she also wanted some texture and color too. The stacked stone backsplash has slivers of glass that reflect the light. Her vineyard palette was tied into the backsplash and accented by the painted walls. The floating glass shelves are highlighted with LED lights on a dimmer switch. We were able to space plan to incorporate her wine rack into the peninsula. We reconfigured the HVAC vent so more air circulated into the far end of the kitchen and added a ceiling fan. This project also included replacing the carpet and 12X12 beige tile with some “wood look” porcelain tile throughout the first floor. Since the powder room was receiving new flooring our client decided to add the powder room project which included giving it a deep plum paint job and a new chocolate cherry vanity. The white quartz counter and crystal hardware balance the dark hues in the wall and vanity.

The Master Bathroom was the only room in this lovely Fredericksburg home that needed updating. As the second owners of this property, our clients were unhappy with the contractor grade selections that the original homeowners made in this room. They came to us with a few requests-- they wanted to expand the shower and remove an awkward column between the vanities as well as replace the tile in all the areas. We used Cambria Somerset quartz on the counters because it harmonized nicely with the colors in the mosaic tile accent used in the shower and on the face of the soaking tub. We chose the same Happy Floors Eternity tile in Gold but used various sizes for the floor and in the shower and on the tub deck, which contributed to the relaxing, spa-like atmosphere of the space. A rich and warm earth tone for the walls (Benjamin Moore’s Rich Clay Brown) was the final element in creating a beautiful Master Bathroom to complete an already lovely home.

This remodel consisted of re-doing a master bathroom and a secondary bath. Our customer was unhappy with the outdated style of the original cabinetry and fixtures in the home. The foundation of this project started with all-wood cabinets from Woodland Cabinetry. We updated the countertops with Diana Royal marble and accented the backsplash with a linear travertine tile from Tar-Mak USA. We tackled the bathtub by removing the outdated oval jet tub and replacing it with a brand new rectangular jetted tub from Mirabelle. We re-built the tub deck to a more appealing size and replaced the tile decking for a slab of marble. Both showers had the enclosures updated with new glass. To finish off the renovation our customer selected the Arendal pull from Top Knobs as her hardware.

Example of a transitional living room design in Philadelphia

Chris was a referral from a very good client and freind. Until she met me she had only used, furniture store decorators and was unhappy with the disjointed all beige results. I suggested we work with and reupholster her existing pieces as I liked the quality curved line. As you can see, the end result is stunning. A lovely shade of Blue velvet for her sofa and white linen for her side chairs, with touches of blush and vibrant pinks.