Beach style light wood floor mudroom photo in New York with gray walls

Wine is one of the few things in life that improves with age. But it can also rapidly deteriorate. The three factors that have the most direct impact on a wine's condition are light, humidity and temperature. Because wine can often be expensive and often appreciate in value, security is another issue. This basement-remodeling project began with ensuring the quality and security of the owner’s wine collection. Even more important, the remodeled basement had to become an inviting place for entertaining family and friends. A wet bar/entertainment area became the centerpiece of the design. Cherry wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances complement the counter tops, which are made with a special composite material and designed for bar glassware - softer to the touch than granite. Unused space below the stairway was turned into a secure wine storage room, and another cherry wood cabinet holds 300 bottles of wine in a humidity and temperature controlled refrigeration unit. The basement remodeling project also includes an entertainment center and cozy fireplace. The basement-turned-entertainment room is controlled with a two-zone heating system to moderate both temperature and humidity. To infuse a nautical theme a custom stairway post was created to simulate the mast from a 1905 vintage sailboat. The mast/post was hand-crafted from mahogany and steel banding.

Inquire About Our Design Services This homeowner loved color. In order to bring in more color, I ditched her yellow and orange walls by painting the room gray, with charcoal trim. I often tell folks in order to pump up the color, we have to bring down the backdrop, and Lori’s condo was my case in point. And then we proceeded with construction. Yep, construction. I had to figure out a way around the awkward floor plan, and where to put that TV. We decided to rebuild her fireplace to house her TV - it was great way to utilize the unused space. Marcel Page

This previously unused breezeway at a family home in CT was renovated into a multi purpose room. It's part family room, office and entertaining space. The redesign and renovation included installing radiant heated tile floors, wet bar, built in office space and shiplap walls. It was decorated with pops of color against the neutral gray cabinets and white shiplap walls. Part sophistication, part family fun while functioning for the whole family.

APD was hired to update the kitchen, living room, primary bathroom and bedroom, and laundry room in this suburban townhome. The design brought an aesthetic that incorporated a fresh updated and current take on traditional while remaining timeless and classic. The kitchen layout moved cooking to the exterior wall providing a beautiful range and hood moment. Removing an existing peninsula and re-orienting the island orientation provided a functional floorplan while adding extra storage in the same square footage. A specific design request from the client was bar cabinetry integrated into the stair railing, and we could not be more thrilled with how it came together! The primary bathroom experienced a major overhaul by relocating both the shower and double vanities and removing an un-used soaker tub. The design added linen storage and seated beauty vanity while expanding the shower to a luxurious size. Dimensional tile at the shower accent wall relates to the dimensional tile at the kitchen backsplash without matching the two spaces to each other while tones of cream, taupe, and warm woods with touches of gray are a cohesive thread throughout.

This project created a great outdoor living space that had been previously unusable. This ranch style farm house was in a valley that had a lot of sun and the wind would blow every afternoon. We installed our solar white cover to knock down the heat of the afternoon sun and the wind wall created a great place to peacefully relax and dine. The dogs love it too. Photo by Doug Woodside, Decks and Patio Covers

This tired, unused San Francisco backyard was transformed into a modern, low-maintenance landscape with site-appropriate plantings enhanced by raised planting beds and a lead-free artificial lawn to replace the existing water-thirsty lawn. I created two separate "rooms" to break up the long narrow yard, and specified full range blue stone for the two small patio areas, connected by a curved pattern of rectangular pavers of the same natural stone. The raised concrete rectangular planting beds were incorporated to bring more movement and interest to the landscape along with gravel bed accents alongside. Some of the existing concrete remained, and was stained with a color to compliment the natural stone. These photos were taken over a three year period. Photos: © Landscape Designer, Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design.

The original kitchen was disjointed and lacked connection to the home and its history. The remodel opened the room to other areas of the home by incorporating an unused breakfast nook and enclosed porch to create a spacious new kitchen. It features stunning soapstone counters and range splash, era appropriate subway tiles, and hand crafted floating shelves. Ceasarstone on the island creates a durable, hardworking surface for prep work. A black Blue Star range anchors the space while custom inset fir cabinets wrap the walls and provide ample storage. Great care was given in restoring and recreating historic details for this charming Foursquare kitchen.

Unusual roof lines often offer unique opportunities. We worked with a client who was dismayed with the layout of her son’s bedroom. We utilized what would have been dead space and created a storage and display solution. She is also considering a built in day bed that we’ve suggested for the recessed area next to the bookcase under the window. - Cheryl Fortner

Elegant dining room photo in Moscow

Our Seattle studio designed this stunning 5,000+ square foot Snohomish home to make it comfortable and fun for a wonderful family of six. On the main level, our clients wanted a mudroom. So we removed an unused hall closet and converted the large full bathroom into a powder room. This allowed for a nice landing space off the garage entrance. We also decided to close off the formal dining room and convert it into a hidden butler's pantry. In the beautiful kitchen, we created a bright, airy, lively vibe with beautiful tones of blue, white, and wood. Elegant backsplash tiles, stunning lighting, and sleek countertops complete the lively atmosphere in this kitchen. On the second level, we created stunning bedrooms for each member of the family. In the primary bedroom, we used neutral grasscloth wallpaper that adds texture, warmth, and a bit of sophistication to the space creating a relaxing retreat for the couple. We used rustic wood shiplap and deep navy tones to define the boys' rooms, while soft pinks, peaches, and purples were used to make a pretty, idyllic little girls' room. In the basement, we added a large entertainment area with a show-stopping wet bar, a large plush sectional, and beautifully painted built-ins. We also managed to squeeze in an additional bedroom and a full bathroom to create the perfect retreat for overnight guests. For the decor, we blended in some farmhouse elements to feel connected to the beautiful Snohomish landscape. We achieved this by using a muted earth-tone color palette, warm wood tones, and modern elements. The home is reminiscent of its spectacular views – tones of blue in the kitchen, primary bathroom, boys' rooms, and basement; eucalyptus green in the kids' flex space; and accents of browns and rust throughout.

Indulge your guests in the plush cooling comfort of our premium cool gel memory foam sofa bed mattress with greater cooling properties and comfort benefits than traditional memory foam. Our cool gel sleeper sofa mattress offers a generous 4.5 inches of luxurious, shape-conforming, cool gel memory foam and high density Plushfoam, made of billions of open-ended cells, resulting in a formula almost three times as dense as regular foam, and guarantees that your guests will not feel any metal bars. When our cool gel memory foam is compressed, the gel beads coalesce, resulting in a smooth shift from viscoelastic (memory foam) properties to pressure-relieving gel properties, offering a luxurious Variable Support Factor. Greater compression brings greater support and the result is superior comfort without the traditional memory foam "bottom-out" under heavy loads on a sofa mattress. Gel foam is used in many products where pressure relief and energy absorption is required. Wrapped in our luxurious breathable cover, our cool gel replacement sofa bed mattress is the perfect solution for a comfortable, cooler night's sleep. Plushbeds Slice of Heaven™ Cool Gel Sofa Mattress comes in the following sizes: Twin (35" x 72") - $299 Twin Wide (38" x 72") - $299 Full (52" x 72") - $349 Full Wide (54" x 72") - $349 Queen (58" x 72") - $379 Queen Wide (60" x 72") - $379 Single (24" x 72") - $269

Custom counter top made of glass and river rock. Clear glass vessel sinks
Bathroom - large transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, glass countertops, multicolored walls and a vessel sink

This Beautiful 5,931 sqft home renovation was completely transformed from a small farm bungalow. This house is situated on a ten-acre property with extensive farmland views with bright open spaces. Custom beam work was done on site to add the “rustic” element to many of the rooms, most specifically the bar area. Custom, site-built shelving and lockers were added throughout the house to accommodate the homeowner’s specific needs. Space saving barn doors add style and purpose to the walk-in closets in the ensuite, which includes walk-in shower, private toilet room, and free standing jet tub; things that were previously lacking. A “great room” was created on the main floor, utilizing the previously unusable living area, creating a space on the main floor big enough for the family to gather, and take full advantage of the beautiful scenery of the acreage.

This master bathroom was once shouting with coral wallpaper, harsh gold accents and an over sized, unused tub. Our client wanted to escape to their master bathroom and feel as if they were in a spa atmosphere. We were able to show our client’s 3D concept renderings to communicate our overall master bathroom design. Using a marble curved basket weave mosaic tile on the floor with a black granite outline and Carrara baseboard, this stunning design began to take place. We selected a solid white, gloss tile for the shower walls so that our tile accent would be the shower focal point. The shower features a curbless entry, linear drain and seamless glass design for the most luxurious shower experience. Since our client had two beautiful chandeliers from her late mother’s home, we incorporated the fixtures into the lighting plan for a touch of sentimental glam. Custom designed vanity cabinets along with a vessel sink and waterfall edge countertop provided a useful yet beautiful accent to this bathroom. Stunning black sconces offer a softer lighting option that is incorporated with new can lights overhead. The finishing touch on this beautiful master bathroom is the custom designed valances above the windows that offer a sleek black accent with a subtle floral print. This beautiful master bathroom was photographed by Michael Hunter Photography.

By taking up space from an unused hallway and powder bath - we created a master bathroom fit for a king and queen!! Not one detail was overlooked; from the marble floors and pebble waterfall to the full body shower and light therapy air spa, this high tech bathroom serves its purpose! John Zawacki Photography

Inquire About Our Design Services This homeowner loved color. In order to bring in more color, I ditched her yellow and orange walls by painting the room gray, with charcoal trim. I often tell folks in order to pump up the color, we have to bring down the backdrop, and Lori’s condo was my case in point. And then we proceeded with construction. Yep, construction. I had to figure out a way around the awkward floor plan, and where to put that TV. We decided to rebuild her fireplace to house her TV - it was great way to utilize the unused space. Marcel Page

Chris and Sofia of Arlington Heights knew when they purchased their home that they would finish the basement. They needed a space for the kids to hang out, for family and friends to stay, and to have a better space for hosting holidays and parties. The dark unfinished space went mostly unused for three years, but once their kids reached the ideal age for use of a well-built basement, they moved ahead with their plan. “The old basement was dark and cold, and the kids came down and played, but they didn’t like it. The new space is like a whole other house, so we have this space for family game nights and for watching games or Super Bowl parties,” Chris said. The couple found Advance Design Studio through a friend who had their entire home renovated by the remodeling company. After the initial meeting and visiting the showroom, Chris and Sofia were positive that Advance Design was the company that could best turn their unfinished basement into a family friendly space for everyone to enjoy. “We really liked the showroom, we liked being able to choose all of those finishes and meet with them in one place,” Chris said. A Custom Space for a Family with Multiple Needs The project began with a fireplace focal point complete with an amazing entertainment wall, a fantastic full kitchen complete with every amenity, and a brand new full bath. The new basement truly has a space for everyone. If the kids want to watch a movie and hang out on the couch they can, if family wants to play games and have a pizza party on the large island they can, and if guests want to stay over night on the pull-out sofa they can enjoy the entire private “suite” complete with a full bath. It is the true definition of a multifunctional basement. The stunning, full kitchen is the highlight of this now bright and airy basement. You walk down the stairs and are immediately impressed with the detailed metal tile work on the ceiling, bringing to mind the classic feel of a comfortable old pub. Cherry Merlot cabinets provide a rich contrast against the soft neutral walls and the contrasting copper tin ceiling tile and backsplash. Rich Santa Cecelia granite countertops pair nicely with timeless stonework on the outer walls. The island is large enough to provide a more than adequate entertaining space, and provides plenty of both seating and storage. The well-appointed kitchen houses a regular size refrigerator, a full size oven for pizza parties and cookie baking anytime, a microwave oven as well as complete sink and trash set up. One could easily do without a home kitchen forever in this generously designed secondary space! The fireplace and buffet wall seating area is the ideal place to watch movies or sporting events. The coordinating stonework on the fireplace flows throughout the basement, and a burnt orange accent wall brings color and warmth to otherwise ordinary basement space. The Elite Merlot media buffet compliments the kitchen as well as provides storage and a unique functional display option, giving this part of the basement a sophisticated, yet functional feel. The full bath is complete with a unique furniture style cherry DuraSupreme vanity and matching custom designed mirror. The weathered look to the cabinets and mirror give the bathroom some earthy texture as does the stone floor in the walk-in shower. Soft blue makes the space a spa-like mini retreat, and the handsome wall to wall tile and granite speak luxury at every corner. Advance Design added clever custom storage spaces to take advantage of otherwise wasted corners. They built a custom mudroom for the kids to house their sports equipment and a handy built in bench area with basket pull outs for a custom home gym. “They were able to custom fit this second mudroom with the lockers and the bench, they were able to custom build that, so the kids could store all of their equipment down here for the sports that they are in,” Chris said. They Got The Amazing Space They Had Envisioned for Years! The basement Chris and Sofia had envisioned had come to life in a few short months of planning, design and construction, just a perfect fit in the summer months. Advance Design Studio was able to design and build a custom, multifunctional space that the whole family can enjoy. “I would recommend Advance Design because of the showroom, because of the cleanliness on the jobsite and the professionalism, combined with Christine’s design side as well as Todd’s builder’s side - it’s nice to have it all together,” reminisced Chris after the project was complete.

This was my favorite aspect of the redesign. We took several negatives and turned them into incredible, showcase features. For example, the current basement has 8 foot high ceilings and is used primarily for storage. Our plan lowers it 4 feet, allowing for an enormous car and art gallery. The walls of the pool are acrylic letting in light and turning this area into a coveted place to entertain. The reflecting pool is approximately 150 feet long and invites people from the house into the yard to enjoy the gardens and the views. There are several unusable acres of hillside. Our plan calls for those to be planted with wine producing grapes with a wine cellar and caves built into the hillside.