Mike and Anne of Barrington Hills desperately needed to update and renovate both their kid’s hall bath and guest bath, and in their 1980’s home each project presented a different set of unique challenges to overcome. When they set out to identify the right remodeling company to partner with, it was important to find a company that could help them to visualize design solutions for the bath renovations. When they came across Advance Design Studio’s website, they were immediately drawn to the solution-oriented remodeling process and the family friendly company. They say they chose Advance Design because of the integrated approach of “Common Sense Remodeling”, making the design, project management and construction all happen in one place. When they met with Project Designer Michelle Lecinski, they knew they chose the right company. “Michelle’s excellent work on the initial designs made it easy to proceed with Advance Design Studio,” Mike said. Like most homeowners anticipating a big renovation project, they had some healthy fears; with two bathrooms being remodeled at the same time they worried about timeframes and staying within budget. With the help of Michelle, and the “Common Sense” guidelines, they were confident that Advance Design would stay true, orchestrating all the moving parts to stay within both the estimated timeline and budget. The guest bath offered the biggest design challenge. A dormer obstruction made the already cramped shower awkward to access. Mike and Anne also wanted the shower size to be expanded, making it more accommodating. Working with Advance’s construction expert DJ Yurik, Michelle relocated the shower concealing the original dormer and creating a larger, more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing guest shower. The unsightly and not at all user-friendly closet was removed and replaced with elegant White Maple Dura Supreme cabinetry with much improved function featuring dual tall linen cabinets, a special makeup area and two sinks, providing a dual vanity which was extremely important for better guest use. The Fossil Brown quartz countertop is in pleasing contrast to the white cabinetry, and coordinates nicely with the mocha porcelain tile gracing the shower for an accent. The decorative glazed turquoise tile backsplash, tile border, and bottle niche adds a taste of marine green to the room, while marble-looking porcelain tile makes guests feel they are staying in a 5-star hotel. Polished nickel Kohler plumbing fixtures were chosen to add a touch of sophistication. This renovated guest bath is comfortable and elegant, and Anne and Mike’s house guests may never want to leave! “The end result was updated and restyled bathrooms that the client will enjoy and increase the value of their home,” Designer Michelle said. The children’s hall bath had its own set of challenges. The current placement of the sink was not conducive to the best use of the existing space, nor did it allow for any visual interest, something Advance’s designers always work to achieve even within the tight confines of a small bath. Advance removed the linen closet and used the gain in wall space to create a dramatic focal point on the vanity wall. They also took additional space that wasn’t being used for new Storm Gray Dura Supreme tall built-in linen cabinets, creating functional storage space that the former bath lacked. A customized glass splash panel was created for the bath, and the high ceilings with skylights were accented with a custom-made track lighting fixture featuring industrial pipe and cage materials. Authentic cement encaustic tile was used wall to wall surrounding the vanity to create a dramatic and interesting back drop for the new elegant and stately furniture-like double sink wall. Hand-made encaustic tile originated in Western Europe beginning in the 1850’s and reminded Mike and Anne of tile they had seen and loved from their travels overseas. Today, encaustic tile has made a re-appearance in today’s modern bath design with its wide array of appealing patterns and artistic use of color. Oil rubbed bronze Kohler fixtures echo the black accents in the beautiful tile pattern and reflect the matte black of the unique lighting detail. Easy to maintain Blanca Arabescato Quartz countertops add practicality and natural beauty and compliments the warm wood porcelain tile floors. This handsome bath has generated praise from friends and family even before it’s complete unveiling as photos of the space leaked out on social media! It’s not only completely functional to use, but especially pretty to look at. “Advance Design Studio did a terrific job for us. We really appreciated how easy it was to work with them on a complex project of the complete remodeling of two bathrooms. They very capably handled all the details from design, to project management, to construction. It is a great group of people to work with and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them again anytime,” Mike said.

A reclaimed vanity made from old wine staves used to ferment chardonnay was the inspiration for this bath. The walls are clad in whitewashed wood look tile to invoke the feeling of barn board. A semi-recessed cast iron sink and industrial inspired mirror tops off the look.

Designer: Terri Sears Photography: Melissa Mills

For more info on this home such as prices, floor plan, go to www.goldeneagleloghomes.com

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 966-8296. This project shows an master bath and bedroom remodel moving shower to tub area and converting shower to walki-n closet, new frameless vanities, LED mirrors, electronic toilet, and miseno plumbing fixtures and sinks. Shower is 65 x 35 using 12 x 24 porcelain travertine wall tile installed horizontally with aligned tiled and is accented with 9' x 18" herringbone glass accent stripe on the back wall. Walls and shower box are trimmed with Schluter Systems Jolly brushed nickle profile edging. Shower floor is white flat pebble tile. Shower storage consists of a custom 3-shelf shower box with herringbone glass accent. Shelving consists of two Schluter Systems Shelf-N shelves and two Schluter Systems Shelf-E corner shelves. Bathroom floor is 24 x 24 porcelain travvertine installed using aligned joint pattern. 3 1/2" floor tile wall base with Schluter Jolly brushed nickel profile edge also installed. Vanity cabinets are Dura Supreme with white gloss finish and soft-close drawers. A matching 30" x 12" over toilet cabint was installed plus a Endura electronic toilet. Plumbing consists of Misenobrushed nickel shower system with rain shower head and sliding hand-held. Vanity plumbing consists of Miseno brushed nickel single handle faucets and undermount sinks. Vanity Mirrors are Miseno LED 52 x 36 and 32 x 32. 24" barn door was installed at the bathroom entry and bedroom flooring is 7 x 24 LVP.

The remodeled hall bathroom features flat-panel Walnut cabinets, sleek quartz countertops, a terracotta accent wall, and champagne bronze fixtures.

Master bathroom with freestanding shower and built in dressing table and double vanities

With the ultimate flow and functionality of indoor and outdoor entertaining in mind, this dated Mediterranean in Oak Park is transformed into a soiree home. It now features black roofing, black-framed windows, and custom white oak garage doors with a chevron pattern. The newly created pop-out window space creates visual interest, more emphasis, and a welcome focal point. Photographer: Andrew - OpenHouse VC

Little did our homeowner know how much his inspiration for his master bathroom renovation might mean to him after the year of Covid 2020. Living in a land-locked state meant a lot of travel to partake in his love of scuba diving throughout the world. When thinking about remodeling his bath, it was only natural for him to want to bring one of his favorite island diving spots home. We were asked to create an elegant bathroom that captured the elements of the Caribbean with some of the colors and textures of the sand and the sea. The pallet fell into place with the sourcing of a natural quartzite slab for the countertop that included aqua and deep navy blues accented by coral and sand colors. Floating vanities in a sandy, bleached wood with an accent of louvered shutter doors give the space an open airy feeling. A sculpted tub with a wave pattern was set atop a bed of pebble stone and beneath a wall of bamboo stone tile. A tub ledge provides access for products. The large format floor and shower tile (24 x 48) we specified brings to mind the trademark creamy white sand-swept swirls of Caribbean beaches. The walk-in curbless shower boasts three shower heads with a rain head, standard shower head, and a handheld wand near the bench toped in natural quartzite. Pebble stone finishes the floor off with an authentic nod to the beaches for the feet.

The house's second bathroom was only half a bath with an access door at the dining area. We extended the bathroom by an additional 36" into the family room and relocated the entry door to be in the minor hallway leading to the family room as well. A classical transitional bathroom with white crayon style tile on the walls, including the entire wall of the toilet and the vanity. The alcove tub has a barn door style glass shower enclosure. and the color scheme is a classical white/gold/blue mix.

Removed the garden tub and replaced it with this Jetta acrylic free standing tub. Removed the wall separating the shower from the old garden tub and expanded the shower and enclosed it with this frameless shower door. Replaced the old white tile with this porcelain wood grain tile.

Dark Real Wood Vanity, Jarrah Vanity, Jarrah Bathroom Vanity, Concrete and Wood Bathroom, Grey, White Black and Timber Bathroom, Pocket Slider Bathroom Door, Wall Hung Vanity, In Wall Vanity Mixer, Shower Niche, Hexagon Feature Wall, On the Ball Bathrooms, OTB Bathroom, Mundaring Bathroom Renovation

Dawn Smith Photography