For this couple, planning to move back to their rambler home in Arlington after living overseas for few years, they were ready to get rid of clutter, clean up their grown-up kids’ boxes, and transform their home into their dream home for their golden years. The old home included a box-like 8 feet x 10 feet kitchen, no family room, three small bedrooms and two back to back small bathrooms. The laundry room was located in a small dark space of the unfinished basement. This home is located in a cul-de-sac, on an uphill lot, of a very secluded neighborhood with lots of new homes just being built around them. The couple consulted an architectural firm in past but never were satisfied with the final plans. They approached Michael Nash Custom Kitchens hoping for fresh ideas. The backyard and side yard are wooded and the existing structure was too close to building restriction lines. We developed design plans and applied for special permits to achieve our client’s goals. The remodel includes a family room, sunroom, breakfast area, home office, large master bedroom suite, large walk-in closet, main level laundry room, lots of windows, front porch, back deck, and most important than all an elevator from lower to upper level given them and their close relative a necessary easier access. The new plan added extra dimensions to this rambler on all four sides. Starting from the front, we excavated to allow a first level entrance, storage, and elevator room. Building just above it, is a 12 feet x 30 feet covered porch with a leading brick staircase. A contemporary cedar rail with horizontal stainless steel cable rail system on both the front porch and the back deck sets off this project from any others in area. A new foyer with double frosted stainless-steel door was added which contains the elevator. The garage door was widened and a solid cedar door was installed to compliment the cedar siding. The left side of this rambler was excavated to allow a storage off the garage and extension of one of the old bedrooms to be converted to a large master bedroom suite, master bathroom suite and walk-in closet. We installed matching brick for a seam-less exterior look. The entire house was furnished with new Italian imported highly custom stainless-steel windows and doors. We removed several brick and block structure walls to put doors and floor to ceiling windows. A full walk in shower with barn style frameless glass doors, double vanities covered with selective stone, floor to ceiling porcelain tile make the master bathroom highly accessible. The other two bedrooms were reconfigured with new closets, wider doorways, new wood floors and wider windows. Just outside of the bedroom, a new laundry room closet was a major upgrade. A second HVAC system was added in the attic for all new areas. The back side of the master bedroom was covered with floor to ceiling windows and a door to step into a new deck covered in trex and cable railing. This addition provides a view to wooded area of the home. By excavating and leveling the backyard, we constructed a two story 15’x 40’ addition that provided the tall ceiling for the family room just adjacent to new deck, a breakfast area a few steps away from the remodeled kitchen. Upscale stainless-steel appliances, floor to ceiling white custom cabinetry and quartz counter top, and fun lighting improved this back section of the house with its increased lighting and available work space. Just below this addition, there is extra space for exercise and storage room. This room has a pair of sliding doors allowing more light inside. The right elevation has a trapezoid shape addition with floor to ceiling windows and space used as a sunroom/in-home office. Wide plank wood floors were installed throughout the main level for continuity. The hall bathroom was gutted and expanded to allow a new soaking tub and large vanity. The basement half bathroom was converted to a full bathroom, new flooring and lighting in the entire basement changed the purpose of the basement for entertainment and spending time with grandkids. Off white and soft tone were used inside and out as the color schemes to make this rambler spacious and illuminated. Final grade and landscaping, by adding a few trees, trimming the old cherry and walnut trees in backyard, saddling the yard, and a new concrete driveway and walkway made this home a unique and charming gem in the neighborhood.

The master bath was part of the additions added to the house in the late 1960s by noted Arizona architect Bennie Gonzales during his period of ownership of the house. Originally lit only by skylights, additional windows were added to balance the light and brighten the space, A wet room concept with undermount tub, dual showers and door/window unit (fabricated from aluminum) complete with ventilating transom, transformed the narrow space. A heated floor, dual copper farmhouse sinks, heated towel rack, and illuminated spa mirrors are among the comforting touches that compliment the space.

Zero Entry Shower includes a bench seat, shower niches, and a fog free mirror for shaving. Fixtures are from the Delta Brilliance Collection in the Champagne Bronze Finish. Photos by Guthmann Construction

Dustin Peck Photography

A luxury aging in place shower with extra space to mange a wheelchair. This amazing shower offers the full bathing experience with confidence along with ADA Accessibility. The shower control was specifically place at a lower level at he entrance before entering the shower. Two tile colors gives a two-toned look and feel.

As a builder of custom homes primarily on the Northshore of Chicago, Raugstad has been building custom homes, and homes on speculation for three generations. Our commitment is always to the client. From commencement of the project all the way through to completion and the finishing touches, we are right there with you – one hundred percent. As your go-to Northshore Chicago custom home builder, we are proud to put our name on every completed Raugstad home.

Photo Credit: Janet Lenzen

Primary and Guest en-suite remodel

La doccia è formata da un semplice piatto in resina bianca e una vetrata fissa. La particolarità viene data dalla nicchia porta oggetti con stacco di materiali e dal soffione incassato a soffitto.

Bob Narod Photographer

Traditional Master Bath Shower

Travertine Lookalike ceramic tile – Gloss on the shower walls and matte on the bathroom floor. Pebble tile on shower floor Linear drain with tile insert Built in shower bench topped with Quartz Arno Knee walls and curb topped with Quartz Arno Hidden shower niches in knee walls so they cannot be seen in the rest of the bathroom. Frameless glass shower enclosure with dual swinging pivot door in champagne bronze. Champagne bronze dual function diverter with handheld shower want. Wood wainscoting surrounding freestanding tub and outside of knee walls. We build a knee wall in from of the freestanding tub and capped with a Quartz Arno ledge to give a place to put your hand as you enter and exit the tub. Deck mounted champagne bronze tub faucet Egg shaped freestanding tub ForeverMark cabinets with a full size pantry cabinet Champagne bronze cabinet hardware Champagne bronze widespread sink faucets Outlets inside (2) vanity drawers for easy access Powered recessed medicine cabinet with outlets inside Sconce lighting between each mirror (2) 4” recessed light above sinks on each vanity Special exhaust fan that is a light, fan, and Bluetooth radio. Oil Rubbed bronze heated towel bar to tight in the original door hardware.