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

Chester Springs New Bar and Basement renovation required moving walls to make room for new 15 foot L-shaped, two level bar. Back 15" inset, dark espresso stained, cherry glass wall cabinets and base cabinets combine with opposing 24" base cabinet housing bar sink, 15" ice maker, 18" dishwasher, 24" wine cooler, and 24" beverage cooler. 800 square feet on travertine flooring ties together a modern feel with stacked stone wall of electric fireplace, bar front, and bar back wall. Vintage Edison hanging bulbs and inset cabinets cause a transitional design. Bathroom boasts a spacious shower with frameless glass enclosure.

Mike Chajecki www.mikechajecki.com

High Pointe Homes

Exposed ceiling painted for industrial feel and allow for full head height in a basement with a low ceiling.

This carefully planned new construction lower level features full design of all Architectural details and finishes throughout with furnishings and styling. The stone wall is accented with Faux finishes throughout and custom drapery overlooking a expansive lake

Hall leading to stack rows for book collection

Antique pool table is the focus of the Basement Game room, with opening into Media room. Game room is 24' x 24' 6" Builder: Calais Custom Homes Photographer:Ashley Randall

A basement bar kitchenette has brightly color lemon yellow and sky blue cement tiles.

The main space. Curtains add privacy and create a sense of playfullness.

The floor joists were left exposed to visually lift the ceiling in this basement remodel. Exposed steel beams and brick help establish the modern/industrial style. Photo by Hart STUDIO LLC

great space to entertain. This dry bar adds needed storage for entertaining in this fabulous basement renovation.

Cork is one of the most popular contemporary flooring choices. It has many advantages – it absorbs sound, insulates from the heat and cold, is fire resistant, anti-allergenic and environmentally conscious, to name just a few. Cork is available in many styles and finishes to give a fresh and novel look to any home. Cork is the perfect choice for a gym –it is hypoallergenic. It provides a soft cushion floor exercise and a mat for yoga yet is tough enough to handle the workload of a weight room. At Flooring Lane our experts are ready to help you find the cork floor that fits your taste and needs.

This carefully planned new construction lower level features full design of all Architectural details and finishes throughout with furnishings and styling. The stone wall is accented with Faux finishes throughout and custom drapery overlooking a expansive lake.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain