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.

Avesha Michael

Plate 3

We wanted to have a little fun with this kids bathroom. The pattern geometric tile was fun and playful and adds a little flair. In keeping with the geometric theme we added the round mirror and sconces and the square shower head to compliment the floor. A simple vanity highlights the floor and shower pattern tile.

Caleb Vandermeer Photography

The guest bath features floor to ceiling glass tile in a calming sage green, while the freestanding cabinets are a bright white. Behind the freestanding tub teak shutters open to the bathroom's private garden and outdoor shower. The walls are lava rock and the shower head is a custom stone waterfall. The teak mirrors are framed by glass pendants. The gold fixtures add a pop of glamour to the all white vanities and the soft green of the shower. The shower floor is gray pebbles to compliment the gray floor and the lava rock outside in the garden.

Wave tile shower surround with custom glass gradient glass detail. Kate Falconer Photography

Tricia Shay

Photography by Michael J. Lee

Eric Rorer

Art Gray, Art Gray Photography

Beautiful blue tile contemporary bathroom.Our client wanted a serene, calming bathroom. "Zen-like" were her words. Designers: Lauren Jacobsen and Kathy Hartz. Photographer: Terrance Williams

New 4 bedroom home construction artfully designed by E. Cobb Architects for a lively young family maximizes a corner street-to-street lot, providing a seamless indoor/outdoor living experience. A custom steel and glass central stairwell unifies the space and leads to a roof top deck leveraging a view of Lake Washington. ©2012 Steve Keating Photography

This image presents a tranquil corner of a wet room where the sophistication of brown microcement meets the clarity of glass and the boldness of black accents. The continuous microcement surface envelops the space, creating a seamless cocoon that exudes contemporary charm and ease of maintenance. The clear glass shower divider allows the beauty of the microcement to remain uninterrupted, while the overhead shower fixture promises a rain-like experience that speaks to the ultimate in bathroom luxury. A modern, black heated towel rail adds a touch of chic functionality, standing out against the muted tones of the walls and floor. This space is a testament to the beauty of simplicity, where every element serves a purpose, and style is expressed through texture, tone, and the pure pleasure of design finesse.

For this bathroom we took a simple footprint and added some excitement. We did this by custom building a vanity with wood texture and stain, used tiles that mimic the sea and shells but installing tile with gradient tones, texture and movement. The floor tile continues into the shower to expand the room footprint visually.

A bold statement and a warm welcome — that’s the tone our client set for this Guest Bathroom Renovation In Bucktown. The blue labyrinth vanity wallpaper introduces a striking element to the room, boasting bold geometric patterns that elevates the overall design. Secret Silver tiles grace the shower wall, niche, and floor, creating a sophisticated atmosphere with its marble effect and contrasting tones. The gray-painted wall and white ceiling tie everything together to create the perfect balance without overwhelming the space. The space is enhanced with the decorative accent of Newbury Glass Penny Mosaic in the shower floor, giving the bathroom an additional creative expression through its distinctive shape and color. The Shadowbox mirror from Shades of Light features a sleek matte black finish, providing depth in the border for both aesthetic appeal and function. The Industrial Triangle Shade Three Light lights up the vanity, embodying industrial minimalism, making the room burst with light and style. This guest bathroom brought our client's vision to life – a modern and inviting space that is functional at the same time. Project designed by Chi Renovation & Design, a renowned renovation firm based in Skokie. We specialize in general contracting, kitchen and bath remodeling, and design & build services. We cater to the entire Chicago area and its surrounding suburbs, with emphasis on the North Side and North Shore regions. You'll find our work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and all the way up to Lake Forest. For more info about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/