Kitchen - coastal kitchen idea in Austin

Modern Serenity in Maui
Example of an island style bedroom design in Hawaii with beige walls

Photo by Carolyn Bates
Mid-sized trendy gray two-story wood house exterior photo in Burlington with a shed roof and a metal roof

Photo: Farshid Assassi
Example of a cottage staircase design in Seattle

Erik Grammer Photography - I recently came across a post on Facebook with a photo of an elderly couple with a quote saying "We were born in a time when if something was broken we would fix it, not throw it away..." This quote resonated with me. I found myself thinking of it while working on the same house - for the fourth time. I affectionately call this beautiful Southern California beach house the Humpty Dumpty home. I started a wonderful business relationship with one of my favorite clients back in 2003. Initially, I was called in to "fix" and finish what another designer started. Once completed and with everything just so, the couple unfortunately divorced and amicably divided the art, rugs and furnishings. I was hired for a second time to recreate each room as close as possible to replace all items that were missing. The house was happily restored back to the original design and all was well for a few years. My client relocated to the East Coast for a temporary job assignment and the house was rented to a person (whose name I can't say) from a famous all-girl band. During this time there was a problem with the upstairs laundry room and water damage occurred. I was hired for the third time to help repair and update (ever so slightly) some areas in the house. My client requested to keep the design and feeling of the house intact because he loved it so much. A few years passed before a pipe broke in the master bathroom while the new renter was out of town on vacation. Unfortunately, things like this do happen - and if not attended to quickly, major damage can occur. In this case, nearly the entire house was flooded requiring it to be completely gutted and stripped down to the floorboards and studs. In January of this year, I was hired to help the client, the insurance company, and the contractor put the house back together again. But unlike the Humpty Dumpty story, this house has actually been put back together again - several times over. Although, this house and client have experienced some challenges, I say this is a perfect example of design success. My client has had many opportunities to change and create something new in his environment with every mis-adventure. Instead, he realizes his home is exactly the way he likes it. It has been such an honor to work with this man who is definitive, trusting, and confident enough to create (or re-create) the perfect home that "fits" his personality and lifestyle. Although this Humpty Dumpty home has been good for my business, I hope the next project with this client is to decorate another property - perhaps a New York City Apartment!

© Gibeon Photography
Inspiration for a large rustic gender-neutral medium tone wood floor and brown floor kids' room remodel in Jackson with brown walls

The Art of Turning a House into a Home Remodeling or custom-creating elements of the home to suit the client’s taste is an art – one of which Bentz has delicately mastered. With careful attention to detail, W.A. Bentz Construction can steer any project in the right direction, from complete interior and exterior home renovations to deck or room additions. Each member of the W.A. Bentz Construction team is licensed, insured and experienced at all facets of home renovations. They can advise on a variety of building topics such as: which projects are likely to increase the value of a home; whether or not a building permit is needed; and which design ideas work well for the space. They also take careful precautions throughout the building process to protect the home and ensure maximum security. With over 35 years of experience plus access to a vast network of top subcontractors in the area, Bentz and his team flawless manage each project so that it’s completed on time, on budget, and to the client’s expectations.

Erik Grammer Photography - I recently came across a post on Facebook with a photo of an elderly couple with a quote saying "We were born in a time when if something was broken we would fix it, not throw it away..." This quote resonated with me. I found myself thinking of it while working on the same house - for the fourth time. I affectionately call this beautiful Southern California beach house the Humpty Dumpty home. I started a wonderful business relationship with one of my favorite clients back in 2003. Initially, I was called in to "fix" and finish what another designer started. Once completed and with everything just so, the couple unfortunately divorced and amicably divided the art, rugs and furnishings. I was hired for a second time to recreate each room as close as possible to replace all items that were missing. The house was happily restored back to the original design and all was well for a few years. My client relocated to the East Coast for a temporary job assignment and the house was rented to a person (whose name I can't say) from a famous all-girl band. During this time there was a problem with the upstairs laundry room and water damage occurred. I was hired for the third time to help repair and update (ever so slightly) some areas in the house. My client requested to keep the design and feeling of the house intact because he loved it so much. A few years passed before a pipe broke in the master bathroom while the new renter was out of town on vacation. Unfortunately, things like this do happen - and if not attended to quickly, major damage can occur. In this case, nearly the entire house was flooded requiring it to be completely gutted and stripped down to the floorboards and studs. In January of this year, I was hired to help the client, the insurance company, and the contractor put the house back together again. But unlike the Humpty Dumpty story, this house has actually been put back together again - several times over. Although, this house and client have experienced some challenges, I say this is a perfect example of design success. My client has had many opportunities to change and create something new in his environment with every mis-adventure. Instead, he realizes his home is exactly the way he likes it. It has been such an honor to work with this man who is definitive, trusting, and confident enough to create (or re-create) the perfect home that "fits" his personality and lifestyle. Although this Humpty Dumpty home has been good for my business, I hope the next project with this client is to decorate another property - perhaps a New York City Apartment!

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.

Erik Grammer Photography - I recently came across a post on Facebook with a photo of an elderly couple with a quote saying "We were born in a time when if something was broken we would fix it, not throw it away..." This quote resonated with me. I found myself thinking of it while working on the same house - for the fourth time. I affectionately call this beautiful Southern California beach house the Humpty Dumpty home. I started a wonderful business relationship with one of my favorite clients back in 2003. Initially, I was called in to "fix" and finish what another designer started. Once completed and with everything just so, the couple unfortunately divorced and amicably divided the art, rugs and furnishings. I was hired for a second time to recreate each room as close as possible to replace all items that were missing. The house was happily restored back to the original design and all was well for a few years. My client relocated to the East Coast for a temporary job assignment and the house was rented to a person (whose name I can't say) from a famous all-girl band. During this time there was a problem with the upstairs laundry room and water damage occurred. I was hired for the third time to help repair and update (ever so slightly) some areas in the house. My client requested to keep the design and feeling of the house intact because he loved it so much. A few years passed before a pipe broke in the master bathroom while the new renter was out of town on vacation. Unfortunately, things like this do happen - and if not attended to quickly, major damage can occur. In this case, nearly the entire house was flooded requiring it to be completely gutted and stripped down to the floorboards and studs. In January of this year, I was hired to help the client, the insurance company, and the contractor put the house back together again. But unlike the Humpty Dumpty story, this house has actually been put back together again - several times over. Although, this house and client have experienced some challenges, I say this is a perfect example of design success. My client has had many opportunities to change and create something new in his environment with every mis-adventure. Instead, he realizes his home is exactly the way he likes it. It has been such an honor to work with this man who is definitive, trusting, and confident enough to create (or re-create) the perfect home that "fits" his personality and lifestyle. Although this Humpty Dumpty home has been good for my business, I hope the next project with this client is to decorate another property - perhaps a New York City Apartment!

Completed in mid 2005, this modern, carefully designed vacation home utilizes extensive automation to assure environmental sensitivity. The home uses geothermal systems for heating, and extensive integration for climate modulation in addition to the more expected high-end systems integration features. A detailed design process resulted in hundreds of pages of drawings from our in-house design team. Remote access for service is automated, and full integration is implemented to the HVAC control systems, pool and spa controllers, Litetouch system, security and DVR security camera systems, shades, and audio and video subsystems. We have a carefully machinated process to insure our finished product reflects precisely the programmatic needs of the project and client.

Completed in mid 2005, this modern, carefully designed vacation home utilizes extensive automation to assure environmental sensitivity. The home uses geothermal systems for heating, and extensive integration for climate modulation in addition to the more expected high-end systems integration features. A detailed design process resulted in hundreds of pages of drawings from our in-house design team. Remote access for service is automated, and full integration is implemented to the HVAC control systems, pool and spa controllers, Litetouch system, security and DVR security camera systems, shades, and audio and video subsystems. We have a carefully machinated process to insure our finished product reflects precisely the programmatic needs of the project and client.

Great pools and property deserve beautiful Urns at point. This helps with the flow of the traffic to and from the pool house or main house in addition to adding color when the perennial gardens haven't come in as of yet. This property is in Bedford, New York. Many find rejuvenation and relaxation by vacationing in lavish resorts that offer beautiful atmospheres or surroundings, imagine getting that escape in your own home. This can include walking gardens taking your imagination to places. We offer experiences in our design through accents of moss covered toad stools, crafted areas of flower blooms amongst floor greens leading to layered boulder settings to rest, or extended stone patio areas dressed in overflowing urns and the light sounds of soothing water flow which is then completed with the view from the entertaining outdoor bar of lush lawns spotted with magically shaped White Oaks. These details describe some of which inspire and our customers. Great gardens can do great things for the beholder. We create healthy and sustainable all season environments of fragrance, color and visual depth. We are proud to be Fairfield and Westchester County’s Fine Landscaping and Landscape Maintenance Service Company by providing our clients with over 30 years of what they expect from a quality design, installation and follow-up landscaper. We are fully insured and licensed by the State of Connecticut and the County of Westchester and specialized in servicing the landscape needs of the finest of homes in Greenwich, New Canaan, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Armonk and several other beautiful towns and hamlets surrounding them. We believe that some key characteristics of our business set us apart from other landscapers. The mentality built into our age and experience allows us to serve all landscaping and hardscaping projects— as large as they may get — while also being reliable and responsive. We are a locally owned business which means that each client receives individualized service based on their needs and their landscape’s growing conditions. To minimize the damage done to garden beds and hardscapes (pathways, waterfalls and pools) from other portions of the property’s maintenance, so we offer these services along with the garden servicing plan, entitled The ‘All Scapes’ Maintenance Service Agreement . Please contact us any time of the year. We are always working on something to beautify your world. See us at our website: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com Landscape Design: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com/gallery Landscape Plans: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/design Landscape Consultation: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/consultation Tree installation: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/trees Masonry: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/masonry Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio Bedford Hills Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/BedfordHills New Canaan Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/NewCanaan Fairfield County Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Fairfield Westport Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Westport Greenwich Portfolio: http://www.horticuturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Greenwich Katonah Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Katonah Chappaqua Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Chappaqua Armonk Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Armonk Scardale Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Scardale Pound Ridge Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Landscape Design: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/gallery Landscape Plans: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/design Landscape Consultation: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/consultation Tree installation: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Masonry: See us at our website: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Bedford Hills Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com New Canaan Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Fairfield County Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Westport Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Greenwich Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Katonah Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Chappaqua Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Armonk Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Scardale Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Pound Ridge Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.

Mixing up the flowering urns with green fun species is what adds dimension to your gardens. This property is in Bedford, New York. A little about us: Many find rejuvenation and relaxation by vacationing in lavish resorts that offer beautiful atmospheres or surroundings, imagine getting that escape in your own home. This can include walking gardens taking your imagination to places. We offer experiences in our design through accents of moss covered toad stools, crafted areas of flower blooms amongst floor greens leading to layered boulder settings to rest, or extended stone patio areas dressed in overflowing urns and the light sounds of soothing water flow which is then completed with the view from the entertaining outdoor bar of lush lawns spotted with magically shaped White Oaks. These details describe some of which inspire and our customers. Great gardens can do great things for the beholder. We create healthy and sustainable all season environments of fragrance, color and visual depth. We are proud to be Fairfield and Westchester County’s Fine Landscaping and Landscape Maintenance Service Company by providing our clients with over 30 years of what they expect from a quality design, installation and follow-up landscaper. We are fully insured and licensed by the State of Connecticut and the County of Westchester and specialized in servicing the landscape needs of the finest of homes in Greenwich, New Canaan, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Armonk and several other beautiful towns and hamlets surrounding them. We believe that some key characteristics of our business set us apart from other landscapers. The mentality built into our age and experience allows us to serve all landscaping and hardscaping projects— as large as they may get — while also being reliable and responsive. We are a locally owned business which means that each client receives individualized service based on their needs and their landscape’s growing conditions. To minimize the damage done to garden beds and hardscapes (pathways, waterfalls and pools) from other portions of the property’s maintenance, so we offer these services along with the garden servicing plan, entitled The ‘All Scapes’ Maintenance Service Agreement . Please contact us any time of the year. We are always working on something to beautify your world. See us at our website: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com Landscape Design: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com/gallery Landscape Plans: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/design Landscape Consultation: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/consultation Tree installation: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/trees Masonry: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/masonry Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio Bedford Hills Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/BedfordHills New Canaan Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/NewCanaan Fairfield County Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Fairfield Westport Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Westport Greenwich Portfolio: http://www.horticuturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Greenwich Katonah Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Katonah Chappaqua Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Chappaqua Armonk Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Armonk Scardale Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/portfolio/Scardale Pound Ridge Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Landscape Design: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/gallery Landscape Plans: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/design Landscape Consultation: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com/consultation Tree installation: See us at our website: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Masonry: See us at our website: http://www.horticulaturalsolutionsny.com Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Bedford Hills Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com New Canaan Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Fairfield County Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Westport Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Greenwich Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Katonah Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Chappaqua Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Armonk Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Scardale Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com Pound Ridge Portfolio: http://www.horticulturalsolutionsny.com

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.

To fully enjoy the winter holidays, with all the snow and cold, was the basis for our client’s decision to maintain their Chicago home when they were transferred to the warm and sunny west coast. A trusted caretaker was put in place to oversee and maintain their property; however, even excellent planning sometimes runs off-track. In the midst of winter the caretaker left on a well-planned vacation. The homeowner’s were apprised of dates and, without a worry, everyone went on about their daily routines. That is, until the caretaker returned and found the home in such utter devastation, he could not believe what had happened in such a short amount of time. The ill-timed vacation, planned during what became an extremely cold timeframe, was the home’s undoing. With the heat in the home turned slightly lower, to accommodate the emptiness, paired with the below zero temperatures, the hot water pipe in the main floor Sunroom froze and burst. The gushing, steaming water, unchecked, moved in so many directions, it is difficult to comprehend. As the water soaked through the Sunroom flooring to the walk-out Lower Level Area below, ice blocks were freezing before the water reached the ground; Ice blocks so thick only time and warmer temperatures were able to thaw. Since the heating systems were unaffected, the heat, paired with the steaming moisture, raised the humidity levels in the entire home; what wasn’t wet ultimately became mold covered. The humidity in the home was raised to such a level that window and door seals were compromised and condensation clouded most of the interior glass panes. The Kitchen wood flooring, saturated with water, buckled, causing the cabinets to lift and the granite to crack. The ceiling in the lower level Bar Area fell as the water flooded both the Bar and the adjoining Billiards Room, wreaking havoc on cabinetry, carpet, artwork, etc. After the insurance estimation determined the home was salvageable, the design phase began in earnest headed by LaMantia’s James Campbell, CKD and aided by Katie Suva, CKD, CBD as the guides. After a very long march towards recovery, the home is now back to the pristine beauty it once was.