What’s your interpretation of a cottage floor plan? Take a look at this eye-catching home and imagine how you and your family can live your dream in a rustic cottage with all of the modern conveniences. Stone, shake, multiple metal roofs and gables all combine for a truly unique exterior. At almost 3500 square feet, this home is stunning inside and out. Entertaining is a breeze with the open kitchen, dining and great room, as well as on the screen porch with fireplace, cathedral ceiling and grill. A flexible bedroom/study has its own bath and is an ideal guest suite. The master bedroom is positioned in the rear of the home and features a window seat, built-in shelves and a vaulted ceiling. His-and-her walk-in closets and a dressing room add special touches. A luxurious master bath completes the master suite. Downstairs, the basement level includes two guest rooms, each with their own full bath and a wine cellar. A large storage area and rec room complete the basement.

Getting your homeowner's association board to approve your new custom garage doors can seem daunting. Dynamic Garage Door as a custom design and manufacturing firm has come across this situation quite frequently with a phenomenal success approval rate! In order to get approval for your custom garage door approval there are a few basic points you must understand. First off, your HOA is committed to preserving the neighborhood's curb appeal integrity by focusing on the impact your new custom garage doors might have on your house and the houses of your neighbors. It is important to understand that your curb appeal decisions will impact your home and neighborhood alike. Too many companies offer semi-custom wood doors without the true understanding of the client's need and the essence of their home's architectural style. The garage door design you choose needs to comply with neighborhood regulations while complement your home's architecture. At Dynamic Garage Door, our designers are well-rounded in the garage door industry and so we can suggest or develop designs that will reinforce the natural appearance of your home's style. If you can prove to your HOA that you've done your homework and that the garage door design you chose will complement not only your home but the neighborhood you'll be surprised when your proposal is marked with the approval stamp! This garage door is actually a single double-car door not two as it appears. The reason is that this garage used to have two separate doors with a post in the middle. The post in the middle made it difficult to use the garage on a daily basis so the post was removed to facilitate the use of the garage. The HOA wasn't too happy about the removal of the post as it was an essential part of the arches located right above the garage doors. You can clearly see how that would have been disruptive if the homeowner went with a regular wood door and not one custom designed and manufactured by Dynamic Garage Door. This garage door was specifically designed to address the HOA's concern about the center post removal and the effect it would have on the curb appeal of the home with the incomplete double arch look. So we addressed this by crafting the door with a false center post in the middle that was textured and painted the same color of the house to give off that illusion that the post is still there. Overall, it gives the home a complete finished appearance with two independent-looking doors and original post. The homeowner got the entire width of the opening to use at the push of a button so having a larger car won't be a problem anymore. The neighbors are all happy and no one seems to notice the center post is actually fake! Got an interesting garage door project you want our designers to review and price out for you? Give us a call at (855) 343-DOOR

Inspiration for a country white two-story wood and board and batten exterior home remodel in Baltimore with a metal roof

Jennifer and Dan have lived in their Deer Park Illinois home for 15 years, slowly making minor fixes like painting and decorating; but they had a new plan for their kitchen the entire time. An awkwardly placed garage door, and an island cooktop with a terrible downdraft made a full-scale kitchen remodel an absolute must. Jennifer had many ideas in mind and wanted to work with a company that could provide high-end work, while partnering with a designer that would tailor the kitchen to her ideas. She was intrigued by the phrase “Common Sense Remodeling” in Advance Design’s feature she discovered while perusing an issue of the community’s Quintessential Barrington Magazine. Doing further research on the company’s website, as she looked through project profiles and read about Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling” philosophy, she promptly scheduled an appointment to see if the people and ideas she read about were truly who they said they were. The more she read, the more she knew that the “Common Sense” approach to remodeling they described was exactly the type of company she was looking for. The partnership was sealed after an initial consultation with Owner Todd Jurs and Project Designer Michelle Lecinski. They displayed a combination of friendliness, professionalism and respect that was unmatched by any of the other companies Jennifer talked to. She knew that with Advance Design, she would be able to retain the vision that she had in mind with high-quality craftsmanship. “I reached out to Advance Design because of the ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ tagline,” Jennifer said. “That’s what lingered for me”. “Advance Design was the most respectful- of the house and of my design ideas, and the most professional of the handful of companies that looked at my project”. Soon after the meeting Jennifer began working with Michelle on the project design. They quickly developed chemistry. Jennifer loved how Michelle researched and located every detail that Jennifer wanted for the kitchen. Between the two of them, every concept and idea was worked through and perfected. “Jennifer had definite ideas about what she wanted the new kitchen to look like, she just didn’t know how to bring it all together. We worked together really well to make her ideas into the practical reality necessary for a well-functioning kitchen, with the look and feel that she had envisioned”, says Michelle. “Michelle was wonderful in using the CAD system she would show me new drawings every time we changed the layout while working through the design,” Jennifer said. “She was a really wonderful partner in execution, she made sure everything happened quickly and easily.” The finished design drew out elements of Jennifer’s style and personality. The pair call the look “sophisticated farmhouse” to describe the kitchen renovation to family and friends. The result was a beautifully crafted, authentic-feeling space that satisfied Jennifer’s dreams 15 years in the making. The whole project consisted of a kitchen remodel, mudroom upgrade with powder room, and garage entry relocation. “The projects I personally like the best, are the ones that put the client’s dreams on display,” Project Designer Michelle said. “And this is one of those projects.” The main focal point of the kitchen is custom zinc and brass ventilation hood with a vintage sheen, which was hand made to order by a small company in Indiana named Vogler Metalworking. “It’s like sculpture, a true work of art”, says Jennifer. Your eye is immediately drawn towards this elegant yet practical hood that eliminated the home’s downdraft problem and added a striking conversation piece at the same time. The carpenters had to use special gloves when transporting and installing it, so they didn’t smudge it with fingerprints. The beautiful hood centers proudly over the stunning black enamel and brass LaCornue Range. “I had a friend who had a LaCornue range and after learning how easy it was to cook perfect meals, I was convinced I wanted to have one”, says Jennifer. This unique, breathtaking combination anchors the entire kitchen and is apparent immediately as you walk into the great room the surrounds the space. DuraSupreme Crestwood cabinets with a Kendall Panel add function and sophistication. A custom gray paint color paired with a storm blue was developed so that the new kitchen looked like it belonged to the existing space. Unlacquered brass faucets and hardware were important to Jennifer because she wanted the living finishes to age over time. Remarkable brass diamond mesh cabinet door inserts imported from the UK continue to add this one-of-a-kind kitchen renovation; giving it a “you won’t see this everywhere” quality. The use of old railcar flooring for the coffee bar countertop and reclaimed oak for the open shelving gives an authenticity to the space uncommon in kitchens today. Jennifer and Michelle fell in love with the Limestone Grey Stone while they were investigating unique island countertop ideas. They liked the fact that the limestone as a living finish will age and change over time. Calcutta Miel Quartz countertops made for an excellent pairing around the perimeter, as it’s durable and perfect for cooking preparations. A textured white subway tile backsplash that runs to the ceiling keeps your eye moving towards the open shelving, and to the main focal point of the stunning range hood combination. “The kitchen functions beautifully, and it’s gorgeous,” beams Jennifer as she gestures with both hands while smiling ear to ear. “The most important thing was I wanted a kitchen that had a wonderful flow, cooked beautiful meals and was a great gathering place for family and friends, and this space does that perfectly! Beauty wise, it turned out exactly how I had envisioned. I felt the function part was the hardest part, and that was nailed”! Relocating the garage entry to the new mudroom was a huge priority and has finally separated the family’s arriving home functions from their kitchen. Now coats and shoes and bags have their own area for dropping once members arrive home. Matching gray DuraSupreme cabinetry helped create gorgeous, purposeful lockers for the family. A reclaimed vintage sink and custom wall paper were added to the tiny powder room to beautify the once previously only functional space. Advance Design was even able to create a custom space for their dog to sleep while the family is away. “It was unbelievable that a project of this size was completed in such a short time, and I think that’s because of the large amount of planning and preparation that went into it,” Jennifer marveled, “When we started, we were ready, and everything was prepared”. When it came to execution, Project Manager Justin Davis and his crew were quick, accessible, and organized. Projects like this kitchen are typically completed in as little as 8-10 weeks. Jennifer’s kitchen however despite the relocation of some challenging HVAC in a soffit and moving of an exterior door was completed remarkably fast in part because the team was working with an existing tile floor that ran throughout the first floor that the client really loved. “You get to know these people really well because they’re living in your house while you’re living in your house. They were so fast and really good, it didn’t take as long as even planned” reported Jennifer. “I would text Justin and he always responded almost immediately. I got to know all the guys who were working in our house and they were all wonderful people”. Details in a customized kitchen like this one require skill and care from the people who install it. “All the guys on the job were skilled at what the did. I wanted small details like little feet to look like furniture, that is where their carpentry skill came in to make these all perfect”, said Jennifer. “The tile guys were wonderful. They even let me determine how I wanted the texture with the grout to appear for a salt and pepper look; now that is a very skilled trade person making it custom”. In Jennifer’s interview, she continued to reference Advance Design’s “Common Sense Remodeling”, so I took a minute to ask her exactly what that phrase meant to her and how it played out in her experience with her project and the Advance Design team. Here is what she said: “I was intrigued about Common Sense Remodeling and in my head that there would be clear costs and prices, great communication between the design team, the execution team and me”, said Jennifer. They did deliver on that, it was so clear about the cost breakdown, what I could expect from everyone who came to my house, and everything that we had ordered. That to me is the Common Sense”! It’s great to see a client take literally our assertion that a well-planned remodeling project is simply “Common Sense”! She anticipated each step of the way would be clear, concise, and predictable, all the while protecting the outcome due to the careful upfront planning. “Advance Design delivered on their ‘Common Sense Remodeling’ promise,” Jennifer said. “From the design team, to the execution team - everything was straight forward like I imagined. The project turned out exactly how I envisioned, I enjoyed this process and absolutely would recommend Advance Design Studio to anyone.”

Make the most of outdoor living and add a fireplace to your porch so you can enjoy the space year-round! Built by Great Neighborhood Homes, Photography by Troy Thies, Landscaping by Moms Landscaping

PA Landscape Group INC Project Entry: Mountainside Living 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Hardscaping-Residential $120,000&over Award Level: Silver Photo Description: This residence sits on a mountain side, sloping wooded property. Water was an issue flowing down the mountain, so many rocked swales divert the flow. The area which we are presenting is the rear of the house that will be used to entertain family and friends, a place to unwind in the evenings and weekends. We designed the outdoor areas to meet the needs and desires of the owners. When one walks through the breezeway not only to see an expansive valley view, but a relaxing fireplace and living area below where relaxing begins. Walk down the stairway of natural cut stone, you wonder through a landscaped garden onto the living area patio. Looking to your left is the pool with ample hardscape pool deck; large enough for a party or just the intimacy of two. Separating, yet joining the two areas is the grilling island, bar and outdoor wood burning oven. On the other side of the living area we go down a few steps to the raised planters and conservatory/greenhouse where plant are enjoyed from seedling to flower, or one can read a good book. Each area has it’s own personality for conversation or contemplation. The area is surrounded with plantings to provide color or to silhouette on the gray winter sky.

Rachael Stollar
Example of a trendy dark wood floor living room design in New York with beige walls

Example of a large transitional open concept light wood floor, brown floor and exposed beam living room design in Orange County with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv

JPM Construction offers complete support for designing, building, and renovating homes in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and surrounding mid-peninsula areas. With a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and professionalism, our clients can expect premium end-to-end service. The promise of JPM is unparalleled quality both on-site and off, where we value communication and attention to detail at every step. Onsite, we work closely with our own tradesmen, subcontractors, and other vendors to bring the highest standards to construction quality and job site safety. Off site, our management team is always ready to communicate with you about your project. The result is a beautiful, lasting home and seamless experience for you.

CREATE FUNCTIONALITY IN YOUR BACKYARD When living in the city it is hard to find space for everything you want to do in your own backyard. Customize your backyard by creating functional spaces with LandCraft. Depending on your wants, needs, budget and size of backyard, we can get your exactly what you need in your own backyard oasis.

CREATE FUNCTIONALITY IN YOUR BACKYARD When living in the city it is hard to find space for everything you want to do in your own backyard. Customize your backyard by creating functional spaces with LandCraft. Depending on your wants, needs, budget and size of backyard, we can get your exactly what you need in your own backyard oasis.

The best kitchen showroom in your area is closer than you think. The four designers there are some of the most experienced award winning kitchen designers in the Delaware Valley. They design in and sell 6 national cabinet lines. And their pricing for cabinetry is slightly less than at home centers in apples to apples comparisons. Where is this kitchen showroom and how come you don’t remember seeing it when it is so close by? It’s in your own home! Main Line Kitchen Design brings all the same samples you select from when you travel to other showrooms to your home. We make design changes on our laptops in 20-20 CAD with you present usually in the very kitchen being renovated. Understanding what designs will look like and how sample kitchen cabinets, doors, and finishes will look in your home is easy when you are standing in the very room being renovated. Design changes can be emailed to you to print out and discuss with friends and family if you choose. Best of all our design time is free since it is incorporated into the very competitive pricing of your cabinetry when you purchase a kitchen from Main Line Kitchen Design. Finally there is a kitchen business model and design team that carries the highest quality cabinetry, is experienced, convenient, and reasonably priced. Call us today and find out why we get the best reviews on the internet or Google us and check. We look forward to working with you. As our company tag line says: “The world of kitchen design is changing…”

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

41 West Coastal Retreat Series reveals creative, fresh ideas, for a new look to define the casual beach lifestyle of Naples. More than a dozen custom variations and sizes are available to be built on your lot. From this spacious 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom model, to larger 4 and 5 bedroom versions ranging from 3,500 - 10,000 square feet, including guest house options.

Most shades, blinds, shutters or curtains allow some type of light through when they are closed which can be very frustrating, especially if you’re trying to take a nap or enjoying a movie in a home theater. Or with the kids being back in school, it’s sometimes hard to get them to bed early with the evening light shining in the room. We have a solution. That is what blackout window treatments were made for. You can get a variety of products as “blackout”, such as; curtains, shades, blinds, roman shades, honeycomb shades, roller shades, vertical shades, and specialty shades (silhouette, pirouette, luminette). Even certain type of Shutters provide blackout. Blackout window treatments have a variety of benefits than just blocking natural light, which make them a wise choice in any home. At Abda, we have a huge selection of blackout window treatments that block most natural light from entering your window, keeping bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms as dark as you like. With a variety of customizable options, blackout window treatments are available as insulating cellular shades, stylish roller shades and fashionable fabric curtains. Each of these window treatments can be personalized with color and control options perfectly suited to your room and style. We work with clients in the Central Indiana Area. Contact us today to get started on your project. 317-273-8343

Builder & Interior Selections: Kyle Hunt & Partners, Architect: Sharratt Design Company, Landscape Design: Yardscapes, Photography by James Kruger, LandMark Photography

Modern Wall Unit Velvet Composition 915 by Artigian Mobili, Italy. Velvet is a new line of italian wall units and entertainment centers that creates flexible living areas taking into account you individual needs. Smart furniture capable of performing different functions. An abundance of units gives limitless opportunities to realize any project design and adapt to any space. Color is not a problem anymore - each unit can be ordered in ANY RAL COLOR you want! You can select from our pre-designed compositions or build your own according to your scratches and interior project. Base units are covered with extra clear white lacquered glass that can be optionally removed, making the wall unit composition cost less. Please contact our office regarding customization of this wall unit composition. MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: 18 mm thick wooden particles melamine panels The lacquered structures and fronts are made of REAL POLISH SCRATCH PROOF LACQUERING, which is non toxic and non allergic products. The starting price is for the Wall Unit Composition 915 as shown in the main picture in Matt White Lacquer / Gray Oak Finish. Dimensions: Wall Unit: W159.4" x D14.6"/22.3" x H79"

Large trendy two-car garage photo in Los Angeles

Ecosystem Ponds are the crown jewel of the Water Feature world. They soon become the centerpiece of your landscape. These low-maintenance, natural-looking water gardens work with Mother Nature, not against her, to stay clean and clear without using chemicals or UV sterilizers or anything artificial. The key is the symbiotic relationship between the Pond Fish, the beneficial bacteria, and the Aquatic Plants. There is no sound in nature quite as relaxing as moving, falling water. It soothes away your stress at the end of a long day and you instantly start to feel more relaxed. Watching the Koi and other Pond Fish gracefully swimming around and nibbling from the underwater rocks and gravel can be almost hypnotizing. A variety of birds come to drink and bathe in the stream and colorful dragonflies flit here and there on mosquito patrol. Water lilies bloom in almost every color you can imagine and you'll soon see that frogs really DO sit on lily pads! Having one of these Ponds in your landscape is like coming home every day to a private vacation retreat right in your own backyard! Texas Ponds and Water Features creates some of the most beautiful and natural looking Ecosystem Ponds and Water Gardens in the Austin and Central Texas area. We also work in the Houston, Southeast Texas area and almost anywhere in between. Working with only natural stone, our specialists craft waterfalls and ponds that look as if they had been carved by the hand of nature. Our two main pond guys have over 27 years of experience between them. We are at the Master level of Certified Aquascape Contractors--among the best in the world at what we do. Contact us today to get started on your own backyard paradise.