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.

Photos by Langdon Clay

Modern Coastal Bathroom. Polished Calcutta Marble tiles 6 x 12 with a 1 x 6 matte sea glass tile inlay on the walls. The shower floor is a 2 x 2 Calcutta marble mosaic.

This bathroom cabinet has white doors inset in walnut frames for added interest and ties both color schemes together for added cohesion. The vanity tower cabinet is a multi-purpose storage cabinet accessed on all (3) sides. The face is a medicine cabinet and the sides are his and her storage with outlets. This allows for easy use of electric toothbrushes, razors and hairdryers. Below, there are also his and her pull-outs with adjustable shelving to keep the taller toiletries organized and at hand. Can lighting combined with stunning bottle shaped pendants that mimic the tile pattern offer controlled light on dimmers to suit every need in the space. Wendi Nordeck Photography

Photography: Stephani Buchman

Building Design, Plans, and Interior Finishes by: Fluidesign Studio I Builder: Anchor Builders I Photographer: sethbennphoto.com

a bathroom was added between the existing garage and home. A window couldn't be added, so a skylight brings needed sunlight into the space. WoodStone Inc, General Contractor Home Interiors, Cortney McDougal, Interior Design Draper White Photography

award winning builder, double sink, two sinks, framed mirror, luxurious, crystal chandelier, potlight, rainhead, white trim

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

Remodeled by Murphy's Design.

Erica George Dines

1plus1 Design

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