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

Removing a secondary staircase and converting the main floor bath to a powder room allowed for an expanded kitchen for this family of 4. A beamed ceiling brings visual interest and speaks to the era of the home while the warm white cabinetry keeps the space light and bright.

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Austin

Ornamental koi can be a peaceful addition to water gardens, but rarely are they seen cascading down a wall inside the home. In the sunroom of the Adamsleigh Estate in Greensboro, N.C., the koi water feature inspired the colors and mood of the spa-like design and serves as the focal point of the room. The designer, Bradshaw Orrell, created a calm ambiance through the use of a symmetrical layout and a custom designed Sunbrella rug from Colonial Mills which adds a layer of softness to the terracotta floor. Two directional chaises with upholstered cushions in Meridian Frost sit on either side of an upholstered ottoman in Savvy Sunset by Joe Ruggiero. Throw pillows in Spectrum Peacock, Canvas Birdseye and Savvy Sunset reflect the colors of a koi pond and add depth and comfort for lounging. The abundant sunshine reveals the subtle asymmetry of the framed prints flanking the koi while a Sunbrella throw by Textillery Weavers adds a soft touch to this relaxing oasis.

Soft-sage inset cabinetry frames a dual-zone wine and beverage fridge, while an arched niche lined in iridescent hex-mosaic tile and lit glass shelves stages spirits and décor. Fluted pilasters, brass pulls, and under-cabinet stemware racks add refined cottage character. A marble-look quartz counter bridges the bar to the adjacent white-brick fireplace and oak ceiling beams, creating a polished yet relaxed coastal entertaining hub.

360-Vip Photography - Dean Riedel Schrader & Co - Remodeler
Example of a mid-sized eclectic multicolored floor mudroom design in Minneapolis with white walls and a glass front door

Crimsoneyed Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). Photo: Fritz Flohr Reynolds, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

A built-in drop zone bench complete with storage drawers and coat hooks. Kitchen remodeled from start to finish by Village Home Stores.
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Tassel Fern. Photo by Jay Sifford.

Photo by Jocelyn H. Chilvers
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Denver.

Wet bar area for entertaining off the living room. Clean mirrored backsplash, granite countertops, faceted stainless steel drop-in sink. Glass cabinets show off the collection of glasses. From the onset of this custom home design on Canandaigua Lake, our clients knew their desire to be integrated with the lake and its views from as many rooms as possible. Their taste in the classic interior finishes of clean and crisp whites compliment the views we framed throughout. What the photos don’t show is the process of planning this home from razing and rebuilding an existing structure to the extensive planning board meetings for the proposed design goals. This neighborhood has strict zoning laws that make designing a clients wishes and dreams a challenge. We worked intimately with the client and town zoning boards to gain necessary approvals for this custom lake home design. As a result we were able to achieve their desired goals for the design of this house and the development of this property.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Bobcat Lodge- Lake Rabun Be welcomed to this perfect mountain/lake lodge through stone pillars down a driveway of stamped concrete and brick paver patterns to the porte cochere. The design philosophy seen in the home's exterior extends to the interior with 10 fireplaces, the finest materials, and extraordinary craftsmanship. Great Room Enter the striking foyer with the antique heart pine, walnut and bird's-eye maple inlaid pattern that harmonizes with the natural unity of the spacious great room. The visually anchored stone fireplace accented by hand hewn circa 1800 oak beams silhouettes the soft lake views making a dynamic design statement. The great room was designed with togetherness in mind and features high vaulted ceilings, wormy oak flooring with walnut borders, a spacious dining area, a gourmet kitchen and for softer and more intimate moments a keeping room. Kitchen: Wormy chestnut cabinets, Complimenting South American granite countertops Wolf cooktop, double oven Preparation bar Serving Buffet Separate wet bar Walk-in Pantry Laundry Room: entrance off the foyer, wormy chestnut cabinets and South American granite Keeping Room: Nestled off the kitchen area intimately scaled for quieter moments, wormy chestnut ceilings with hand hewn oak beams from Ohio and Pennsylvania, wormy oak flooring accented with walnut and sycamore, and private fireplace Powder Room off foyer Three Master Bedroom Suites: each with its own unique full bathroom and private alcove with masonry wood burning fireplace Master suite on the main floor with full bath enlivened by a fish theme with earthtones and blue accents, a copper soaking tub, large shower and copper sinks Upstairs master suite with wormy oak flooring sits snug above the lake looking through a tree canopy as from a tree house facilitating a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere- full bath features jetted tub, separate shower, large closet, and friendly lizards sitting on copper sinks Terrace Level Master Suite offers trey ceilings, entrance to stone terrace supported by cyprus tree trunks giving the feel of a rainforest floor: Full bath includes double mosaic-raised copper sinks, antler lighting, jetted tub accented with aquatic life tiles and separate water closet This warm and inviting rustic interior perfectly balances the outdoor lake vistas with the comfort of indoor living.moving directly to the outdoor living spaces. A full length deck supported by cyprus trees offers the opportunity for serious entertaining. The stone terrace off the downstairs family room leads directly to the two stall boathouse for lakeside entertaining with its own private fireplace. Terrace Level: 14 foot ceilings, transom windows A master suite A guest room with trey ceilings, wool carpet, and full bath with copper sinks,double vanity and riverock shower Family room with focal stone fireplace, wet bar with wine cooler, separate kitchen with sink, mini refrigerator and built in microwave Wine closet with hand painted plaster finish A full bath for drippy swimmers with oversized river rock shower accented with crayfish and salamander tiles Extras All windows are Loewen windows A ridge vent system Custom design closets Poured foundation for house and boathouse European spruce framing Exterior siding: 1 x 12 pressure treated pine with 1 x 4 batten strips Siding has three coat process of Sikkens stain finish Ten masonry fireplaces Stacked rock from Rocky Gap Virginia Eight foot custom Honduran Pine True plaster walls with three coat process faux finish Locust hand rails for the deck Support cyprus tree trunks from Charleston Outside light fixtures custom made in NY Five hot water heaters, circulating pump Duel fuel heat pump/propane, 1000 gallon buried propane tank, four zone heating system Two laundry rooms All Fireplaces set up for flat screen TV's Adjacent lot available for purchase

Broadleaf stonecrop / Sedum Spathulifolium

Having worked with Rebel on a past project, our Lexington clients felt confident purchasing their new home, knowing that the planned renovations would turn this outdated Colonial into their forever home.Even though this home was just built in 2005, our clients knew it was already due for an update, stylistically and structurally. With expertise in the construction industry herself, the homeowner worked with our design team to create a beautiful blend of her modern and minimalist style and the existing traditional New England colonial style. The heart of the first floor is the kitchen. The existing dark, cherry cabinets were removed to give way to sleek, light cabinetry with a marble backsplash. The new wooden island and the countertops created focal interest, while the island pendant and plastered hood embellished this bright, sun-drenched kitchen. We built an efficient, combined mudroom and laundry room for this growing family of four to meet the need for a dedicated drop zone. Adjacent to the mudroom, we designed a sleek office, which was a must for this client to be able to work from home as a new mom. The family bathroom received a makeover by improving storage space and finishes to give it a modern feel. In the main suite, we created a peaceful oasis where these homeowners can relax after a long day of work. Having lived in the space for a year now, our homeowners have only good things to say about their new and improved spaces.

This room, off of the kitchen, houses chilled wines as well as equipment and accessories for making a perfect cup of coffee. This room is a great place to start and end the day.

The floor transition in a wet room is one of the more technically demanding aspects of the build. The penny tile inside the wet room needs to be sloped correctly without that slope being visible to the eye, which requires careful mud bed work before a single tile is set. The marble or marble-look threshold where the wet room floor meets the main bathroom floor defines the two zones cleanly without a physical barrier. The large format marble tile carrying through the rest of the bathroom is visible here as well, showing how the two flooring materials were planned to complement each other from the beginning rather than selected independently.

The full scope of this Lincoln Park master bathroom remodel is best understood from this angle. The floating vanity zone and the wet room occupy the same open space, separated by the arched fluted glass panel rather than a wall. That single design decision is what makes the room feel as large as it does. Deep emerald green tile in the wet room, marble flooring throughout, and consistent polished nickel hardware create a palette that is bold in the wet room and restrained everywhere else.

The brief was to create a Classic Contemporary Ensuite and Principle bedroom which would be home to a number of Antique furniture items, a traditional fireplace and Classical artwork. We created key zones within the bathroom to make sufficient use of the large space; providing a large walk-in wet-floor shower, a concealed WC area, a free-standing bath as the central focus in symmetry with his and hers free-standing basins. We ensured a more than adequate level of storage through the vanity unit, 2 bespoke cabinets next to the window and above the toilet cistern as well as plenty of ledge spaces to rest decorative objects and bottles. We provided a number of task, accent and ambient lighting solutions whilst also ensuring the natural lighting reaches as much of the room as possible through our design. Our installation detailing was delivered to a very high level to compliment the level of product and design requirements.