This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

Custom locally built dining table designed by For a family wanting a dramatic entry and dining room, but with requirements that it be an indestructible venue for weekly brunches with guest lists including small children! Our first solution was to create a contrasting border integral to the hardwood floor, in lieu of an area rug. From there, we introduced furniture in resilient materials such as fiberglass chairs and a locally made custom table of Heather's design in reclaimed hardwood, steel and acrylic. Luxurious drapes, dramatic accessories and a chandelier with glimmer added the required panache. Interior design by Heather Garrett Interior Design. Custom original dining table designed by Heather Garrett available through Heather Garrett Interior Design. Contact us for more information. Photography by John Bessler

This warm two-tone kitchen features a movable island and elegant details to create a wonderful kitchen in Willow Glen, California.

Unique Foyer Dome Abstract Ceiling Mural. Created with color tinted plasters and metallic paint glazes for wonderful texture and depth.
Foyer - mid-sized traditional dark wood floor foyer idea in Dallas with gray walls and a metal front door

Before renovating, this bright and airy family kitchen was small, cramped and dark. The dining room was being used for spillover storage, and there was hardly room for two cooks in the kitchen. By knocking out the wall separating the two rooms, we created a large kitchen space with plenty of storage, space for cooking and baking, and a gathering table for kids and family friends. The dark navy blue cabinets set apart the area for baking, with a deep, bright counter for cooling racks, a tiled niche for the mixer, and pantries dedicated to baking supplies. The space next to the beverage center was used to create a beautiful eat-in dining area with an over-sized pendant and provided a stunning focal point visible from the front entry. Touches of brass and iron are sprinkled throughout and tie the entire room together. Photography by Stacy Zarin

Jason Schmidt
Example of a minimalist master white floor freestanding bathtub design in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and white walls

Laundry/Mud Room
Mid-sized elegant l-shaped porcelain tile utility room photo in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

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Large trendy single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Columbus with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Joe Runde
Design ideas for a traditional water fountain landscape in Chicago.

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Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal garden shed remodel in DC Metro

This warm two-tone kitchen features a movable island and elegant details to create a wonderful kitchen in Willow Glen, California.

Photographer: Drew Kelly
Inspiration for a transitional multicolored floor powder room remodel in San Francisco with multicolored walls, a console sink and gray countertops

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Kevin helped these homeowners out with their windows. We replaced the old windows with new ones that block out harmful UV rays and allow natural sunshine in. These windows also cut energy costs down and are durable in the southern heat.

Point West
Inspiration for a coastal guest light wood floor kids' room remodel in Grand Rapids with white walls

Defining a sense of place is a work of art by a team of excellent players(BPC architects and Cross Rip Builders) and the homeowner that bring their clear senses of who they are to the program is exquisitely interpreted here.

Example of a trendy dark wood floor walk-in closet design in Charleston with open cabinets