A poorly operating bathroom was creating a negative effect on how it was functioning for Tyrone and Veronica. This 120-square-foot bathroom in Atlanta, GA had problems which needed to be addressed. A leaking, moldy shower stall and a large unused jacuzzi tub were the impetus for this bathroom renovation. The lack of storage in the long narrow double vanity with oversized frameless mirror created yet another problem. Our immediate attention focused on replacing the large double window above the jacuzzi tub with a long narrow 6-foot window. Because the jacuzzi tub was rarely used my clients wanted to remove it; instead, they wanted a 9-foot his and hers double shower. We decided to modify the vanity with a custom-built double vanity with an attached tall linen closet. The linen closet inside the bathroom was then turned it into a shoe closet. There is a lack of storage space in the owner’s suite closet, so we decided to convert the linen closet into a shoe closet.

This Sparta family needed more room to spend time together, and an unfinished basement sat unused below them. Ridgewood Home Construction turned that empty space into a full extension of the home built for the whole family. The finished basement included a bedroom, a full bathroom, a bright living area, and a kitchenette with custom Brighton cabinetry, quartz countertops, a tile backsplash, and island seating. A game room and built-in storage in the family room completed the living space, while custom trim gave the room a finished look throughout. For the family's younger kids, our team turned the space under the stairs into a dedicated craft nook, complete with a chalkboard wall for open-ended play. From framing to final trim, the result is a warm, functional retreat that gives every family member a reason to head downstairs.

The homeowners wanted a social friendly kitchen and dining space. Bel Air Construction’s interior designer took a holistic view of the potential space that might be used to make the space more social friendly. Using the 3D Design/Build process and renderings helped the customer visualize the possibilities and how the main floor of their home could be transformed into one unified social friendly area. A partition wall between the kitchen and the unused dining room was removed allowing the dining to be integrated into the overall space. An oddly placed partition was wall that was used as a utility chase was removed and the plumbing and electrical runs were rerouted. The former half wall between the kitchen and family room was reworked with cabinets added for additional storage and a larger counter top provides seating overlooking the family room The realigned and enlarged island features a cooktop, a contemporary unobtrusive range hood, enhanced storage including drawers, cabinets, functional fillers for spices, an integrated beverage refrigerator and seating.

Before, the kitchen was clustered into one corner and wasted a lot of space. We re-arranged everything to create this more linear layout, creating significantly more storage and a much more functional layout. We removed all the travertine flooring throughout the entrance and in the kitchen and installed new porcelain tile flooring that matched the new color palette. As artists themselves, our clients brought in very creative, hand selected pieces and incorporated their love for flying by adding airplane elements into the design that you see throughout. For the cabinetry, they selected an espresso color for the perimeter that goes all the way to the 10' high ceilings along with marble quartz countertops. We incorporated lift up appliance garage systems, utensil pull outs, roll out shelving and pull out trash for ease of use and organization. The 12' island has grey painted cabinetry with tons of storage, seating and tying back in the espresso cabinetry with the legs and decorative island end cap along with "chicken feeder" pendants they created. The range wall is the biggest focal point with the accent tile our clients found that is meant to duplicate the look of vintage metal pressed ceilings, along with a gorgeous Italian range, pot filler and fun blue accent tile. When re-arranging the kitchen and removing walls, we added a custom stained French door that allows them to close off the other living areas on that side of the house. There was this unused space in that corner, that now became a fun coffee bar station with stained turquoise cabinetry, butcher block counter for added warmth and the fun accent tile backsplash our clients found. We white-washed the fireplace to have it blend more in with the new color palette and our clients re-incorporated their wood feature wall that was in a previous home and each piece was hand selected. Everything came together in such a fun, creative way that really shows their personality and character.

Our clients had enjoyed their home for more than 25 years, but little had changed during that time. They were ready for a full main level renovation. We started by working collaboratively to re-envision the kitchen space to ensure we achieved key goals: open sight lines to the eating area and family room; space for an island with seating; new locations for the range and refrigerator; and removal of an awkward pantry and unused desk. The redesigned space called for removing a load bearing wall to allow space for the island and to repurpose the pantry and desk square footage for wall ovens, refrigerator, and pantry. The clients selected a warm white paint for the perimeter cabinetry (Medallion Cabinetry, White Icing) and balanced the design with a stained cherry island and hood (Medallion Cabinetry, French Roast). The dramatic Cambria Helmsley was chosen for the island countertop, with the serene Silestone Eternal Marfil for the perimeter. The simple subway backsplash ensures the bronze metal tile, laid in a herringbone pattern over the range, is the focal point on the perimeter walls. Bronze accents with the sink (Elkay, Mocha), lighting, cabinetry hardware, and furniture reinforce the warm atmosphere. Our clients chose beautiful, yet durable, Armstrong Alterna luxury vinyl tile in Artisan Forge for the kitchen. For the other spaces — living room, dining room, foyer, family room, office, and powder room — we laid Armstrong Paragon Oak hardwood in Countryside Brown. Final touches included a buffet in the eating area, new hardwood staircase with iron balusters, wool stair runner, two custom area rugs, and new powder room vanity and accessories.

Mike and Michelle of Lake Barrington knew they needed extra space. Their home was becoming too crowded for their family with blossoming teenagers, so a basement renovation offered the perfect solution for more space for the kids and more room to entertain for the adults. “Our project consisted of expanding our laundry room, putting in a first floor wet bar so we had adult space upstairs, while also renovating our basement for a family-friendly and teen-functional area as well,” Michelle says. They found Advance Design Studio through a neighbor who gave a glowing recommendation, giving Michelle and Mike the confidence they needed to move forward with a major home renovation. They felt like they knew Advance Design before they even worked together. When they met with the owner Todd Jurs and designer Nicole Ryan, Mike and Michelle knew they were getting a trustworthy, dependable team that could create the project they had been dreaming about for 7 years. Having virtually no natural light to work with, one of the biggest design challenges was creating a basement that did not feel dark and depressing. The Advance team got to work creating architectural archways and custom detailed dry-stack stone columns artfully designed into the space, adding a dramatic element that made the space feel less like a basement or more like a relaxing family room. Color 3D renderings were created to portray what the space would look like so Mike and Michelle could visualize the space in advance. Detailed trim and crown moldings grace the built in buffet and wet bar making for an amazingly functional space that lacks nothing in style and visual interest. Cherry wood cabinetry by Dura Supreme is featured in the space with a “Cocoa Brown” finish and includes beautiful mirrored glass doors embellished with unique elliptical mullion details. A built-in microwave, dishwasher and mini fridge add practicality to the ample entertainment mecca. An under mounted sink finishes the space joined with a intricate mosaic tile backsplash and “Ventisca Polished” quartz countertops. The basement is absolutely perfect for hosting friends and family with expertly designed key areas such as a game space for the kids, a movie area for the family, an ample workout room with luxurious full bath, and even built in wine storage. The family absolutely loves the new basement living space, and has already enjoyed numerous family movie nights and sleep-overs with friends. While custom cabinets made by Dura Supreme were used to create unique spaces that lived up to Mike and Michelle’s expectations., heated flooring under the 16”x16” “Mongolian Spring” tile was installed giving all tiled areas of the basement a much cozier feel, eliminating that cold hard surface most of us hate in our basements! The new basement must-have requirement list included a new bath space, which was incorporated adjacent to the work out room. The sleek shower door and cabinets in the new bathroom make guests and family feel like they are in an elegant hotel. The new guest bath features 4”x36” “Silver Screen” honed marble tile in a brick pattern on the shower walls and 2”x2” “Chenille” limestone tile in a hexagon mosaic pattern on the shower floor. “I came in with very specific requirements for our three project areas,” Michelle says. “There was not one time that I felt like I was asking for something that was not going to turn out how I anticipated.” Tying in multiple rooms during a renovation if you have can do it makes a lot of sense and saves money in the long run. A fully functional laundry room as well was a must on this family’s wish list. Michelle wanted to add space to the existing cramped and awkward laundry room, and Mike wanted to make sure they could still park a car in the garage. Reconfiguring interior walls required borrowing unused space cleverly from the garage in order to enlarge the laundry room space. Drawers under the stairs added beautiful hidden storage created almost magically out of dead space. White painted Dura Supreme cabinets bring additional light into the small space; while the 16”x16” cleft slate tile flooring provides excellent contrast and the naturally earthy feel Michelle wanted. Quartz countertops with a 3”x12” “Debut Dew” subway tile backsplash add elegance to the now upliftingly bright laundry room. The extra space makes doing laundry much more pleasurable and the added storage is a great for all those little things like winter hats and gloves, umbrellas and the like. “The Advance Design project team was phenomenal to work with,” Michelle says. “They came in, shared the plans with us and walked us through the expectations. We always knew what was coming next.” Converting an existing closet space, the wet bar upstairs was challenging because they wanted a functional area that didn’t look or feel like cabinets just sticking out of a closet. So the Advance team transformed this ordinary closet space into a stunning wet bar that architecturally appears as if it’s always been there. Traditional, elegant hand carved custom molding matching the adjacent fireplace ties the new entertainment bar area in nicely with the existing family room and kitchen area. Featuring a built in wine refrigerator, Dura Supreme cabinetry in deep cherry wood elegantly displays wine bottles and etched glass mullion doors that fill with soft light in the evening hours. Cambria “Windermere” quartz countertops with a sophisticated hammered copper sink and a glimmering backsplash round out the stunning wet bar. Hosting parties and family functions has become much more enjoyable now that they have a dedicated beverage serving area large enough to include hors devours. All three projects were designed and constructed together at the same time, making for a cohesive project that was administered smoothly and easily both for the design team and for the family. Disruption to the home was minimal as each phase was completed in each project conclusively, and design and meeting time for the homeowner was efficient and organized making for an enjoyable process. “Advance Design was great to work with,” Michelle says. “I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a home improvement project. They took the time at the beginning to understand our needs, our budget, and our vision for our home. The field team was great, attentive, on time, cleaned up each day and made the overall experience very positive. We couldn't be happier with the finished product.” With the help of our talented, award winning design team you can create the basement, laundry room, or any other home renovation that you have been dreaming of. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating you home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-836-2600 or schedule an appointment to talk with us about that kitchen remodeling project. Joe Nowak

Former unused dark basement space with a new fresh look.
Basement - eclectic basement idea in Other

A favorite blast from the past for us. We still love the story behind this kitchen and 7 bathrooms! The client's #1 thing she kept saying was I'm so glad I hired you, otherwise I'd have 7 bathrooms that all look exactly the same! :0 We loved the challenge this home brought us as we were first getting our team together. The kitchen which started with red countertops, no breakfast nook- just a sea of unused cabinetry, it was dark, dated and just needed some love and creativity. We gave it just that and loved every minute of working with this adorable family.

While the root of the scope stayed the same - open the kitchen to the dining and living rooms - this project grew into so much more than just reconfiguring spaces. The design team loved the creativity that comes from working with a trusting client and our opportunity to flex our design muscles in the mid century category. The goal was to not be literal with the design style, but to be respectful of the home’s original architecture and features while making it decidedly Pacific Northwest by letting it’s setting in the trees really shine! We doubled the size of the kitchen, taking over an unused second eat-in space that sat immediately next to the homes dining room. We opened the walls between the dining/kitchen/and hallway creating an expansive open feel. Step in pantry closet that was lacking in efficiency and took up precious walk-way space was removed in favor of a custom pantry cabinet with roll-out shelves for easy use. The custom walnut stair railing is a welcomed greeting near the front door and ties all of the spaces together.

Unused attic in a family home turned into 2 addition bedrooms and a much needed bathroom.
Bathroom - mid-sized mid-century modern white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile, white floor and single-sink bathroom idea in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

This old and outdated kitchen was transformed into an open, inviting, modern and functioning space that everyone wants to gather and hang out in. This was achieved by reconfiguring the space, eliminating walls and adding and incorporating the unused dining space. The new kitchen cabinets were done in the Manhattan door from the Kitchen Solvers Classic Collection line in an Alabaster color while the island was done in a black tea color. We next installed a Cambria Quartz countertop in Carrick around the kitchen while the island was done in Minuet. To finish the new look we added a Ceramic white with marble veining backsplash around the kitchen, while around the hood they went with a gray glass backsplash. The two-toned cabinets topped with two beautiful different Cambria quartz and backsplash gave it the added sophistication.

Our client had a very steep rear yard that was virtually unusable, albeit quite large. We were hired to design and build a functional yard utilizing large outcropping boulders to create tiers for family get togethers, planters, and treed areas. The project rounded off with side yard privacy in the form of Columnar Spruce, as well as concrete edging and aggregate bedding for ease of maintenance. What a great project!!

Our clients on this project already had a beautiful home… We just helped them get the living room and kitchen just like they wanted for their new needs. We reconfigured the entire kitchen footprint to get them a bigger work area and moved the pantry to an unused wall in the eat-in area. This allowed us to get them a larger island and much more wall cabinetry. The glass fronts on the upper cabinets, and the puck lights inside, really warmed the kitchen up. In the living room, we added floating shelves with specialty rope lighting along with new base cabinets on both sides of the fireplace. We also were able to provide a new and fresh look on the fireplace tile surround and trim work to the mantle and wall above. These few changes transformed a formal living room into a comfortable destination that they will enjoy forever. Design: Anna Brown Interiors Cabinetry: Barber Cabinet Company Contractor: Andrew Thompson Construction

This project took APD to the Oregon Coast for the remodel of two beach house bathrooms! The primary suite was gutted - removing an unused jetted tub in favor of an expansive corner vanity. The shower was opened up by removing an awkwardly located tall cabinet and by swapping a full height wall in favor for a pony wall with glass above. The bathroom is bathed in natural light via the skylight and frosted casement window. A luxurious shower experience was created with ceiling mount rain shower head, wall mount fixed shower head, hand shower on slider bar, and a modern waterfall slab shower bench with integrated niche. A subtle coastal vibe was created with the blue, white, and sandy gray color palette while artistic light fixtures fixtures, clean lined matte black plumbing, and straight stacked tile infuse modernity. In the hall bathroom, a cohesive design was created with added playfulness from the patterned floor tile!

Walk in shower created by removing unused cultured marble tub. Split level vanities removed and new same height vanities with granite tops installed. Dual shower heads. New lighting and mirrors. Frameless shower glass.

This older couple residing in a golf course community wanted to expand their living space and finish up their unfinished basement for entertainment purposes and more. Their wish list included: exercise room, full scale movie theater, fireplace area, guest bedroom, full size master bath suite style, full bar area, entertainment and pool table area, and tray ceiling. After major concrete breaking and running ground plumbing, we used a dead corner of basement near staircase to tuck in bar area. A dual entrance bathroom from guest bedroom and main entertainment area was placed on far wall to create a large uninterrupted main floor area. A custom barn door for closet gives extra floor space to guest bedroom. New movie theater room with multi-level seating, sound panel walls, two rows of recliner seating, 120-inch screen, state of art A/V system, custom pattern carpeting, surround sound & in-speakers, custom molding and trim with fluted columns, custom mahogany theater doors. The bar area includes copper panel ceiling and rope lighting inside tray area, wrapped around cherry cabinets and dark granite top, plenty of stools and decorated with glass backsplash and listed glass cabinets. The main seating area includes a linear fireplace, covered with floor to ceiling ledger stone and an embedded television above it. The new exercise room with two French doors, full mirror walls, a couple storage closets, and rubber floors provide a fully equipped home gym. The unused space under staircase now includes a hidden bookcase for storage and A/V equipment. New bathroom includes fully equipped body sprays, large corner shower, double vanities, and lots of other amenities. Carefully selected trim work, crown molding, tray ceiling, wainscoting, wide plank engineered flooring, matching stairs, and railing, makes this basement remodel the jewel of this community.

This client’s busy lifestyle includes a pool, preteens and pets which called for a durable and waterproof flooring to run not only through the kitchen but through the entire lower level of their home. We found the perfect flooring product which spurred the new kitchen design. Our clients wanted their builder basic kitchen to have a fresh and updated feel. We started by lowering the bar to create a more open feel to the living room. We transformed their unused desk area into a function wine bar. We removed the original island and designed a larger custom island to incorporate a unique pet feeding area as well as a drawer microwave. New appliances were added throughout as well as painted cabinets, granite countertops and glass subway tile as the backsplash. Extensive lighting upgrades included numerous overhead can lights, pendants over the bar and Adorne under cabinet lighting and electrical system (allows for an uninterrupted backsplash). This beautiful kitchen was photographed by Michael Hunter Photography.

THE SETUP Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes. Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence. Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life. Design Objectives: Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château Add a second oven Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire THE REMODEL Design Challenges: Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it Accommodate for the thickness of the stones Replicating château beam architecture Replicating authentic French-country finishes Find a spot for a new steam oven Design Solutions: Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls Source true reclaimed beams Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven THE RENEWED SPACE Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.” “I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.” And now? “I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”

Landscaping and lightscaping take one lakefront yard from unusable to unforgettable in one hot summer. Photography by Matt Ponstingl, Peaks View Photography.