After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

An original 1930’s English Tudor with only 2 bedrooms and 1 bath spanning about 1730 sq.ft. was purchased by a family with 2 amazing young kids, we saw the potential of this property to become a wonderful nest for the family to grow. The plan was to reach a 2550 sq. ft. home with 4 bedroom and 4 baths spanning over 2 stories. With continuation of the exiting architectural style of the existing home. A large 1000sq. ft. addition was constructed at the back portion of the house to include the expended master bedroom and a second-floor guest suite with a large observation balcony overlooking the mountains of Angeles Forest. An L shape staircase leading to the upstairs creates a moment of modern art with an all white walls and ceilings of this vaulted space act as a picture frame for a tall window facing the northern mountains almost as a live landscape painting that changes throughout the different times of day. Tall high sloped roof created an amazing, vaulted space in the guest suite with 4 uniquely designed windows extruding out with separate gable roof above. The downstairs bedroom boasts 9’ ceilings, extremely tall windows to enjoy the greenery of the backyard, vertical wood paneling on the walls add a warmth that is not seen very often in today’s new build. The master bathroom has a showcase 42sq. walk-in shower with its own private south facing window to illuminate the space with natural morning light. A larger format wood siding was using for the vanity backsplash wall and a private water closet for privacy. In the interior reconfiguration and remodel portion of the project the area serving as a family room was transformed to an additional bedroom with a private bath, a laundry room and hallway. The old bathroom was divided with a wall and a pocket door into a powder room the leads to a tub room. The biggest change was the kitchen area, as befitting to the 1930’s the dining room, kitchen, utility room and laundry room were all compartmentalized and enclosed. We eliminated all these partitions and walls to create a large open kitchen area that is completely open to the vaulted dining room. This way the natural light the washes the kitchen in the morning and the rays of sun that hit the dining room in the afternoon can be shared by the two areas. The opening to the living room remained only at 8’ to keep a division of space.

ソルトレイクシティにあるトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれな家事室 (ll型、シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、グレーの壁、無垢フローリング、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、茶色い床、白いキッチンカウンター、壁紙) の写真

シカゴにある小さなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれなランドリークローゼット (木材カウンター、無垢フローリング、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機) の写真

ブリスベンにあるモダンスタイルのおしゃれなランドリールーム (I型、アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、黒いキャビネット、白い壁、コンクリートの床、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、グレーの床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

After removing an old hairdresser's sink, this laundry was a blank slate. Needs; cleaning cabinet, utility sink, laundry sorting. Custom cabinets were made to fit the space including shelves for laundry baskets, a deep utility sink, and additional storage space underneath for cleaning supplies. The tall closet cabinet holds brooms, mop, and vacuums. A decorative shelf adds a place to hang dry clothes and an opportunity for a little extra light. A fun handmade sign was added to lighten the mood in an otherwise solely utilitarian space.

The Utilities Room- Combining laundry, Mudroom and Pantry.
他の地域にある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家事室 (ll型、ドロップインシンク、シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、グレーのキッチンパネル、ガラスタイルのキッチンパネル、白い壁、コンクリートの床、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、白いキッチンカウンター、ターコイズのキャビネット、グレーの床) の写真

フィラデルフィアにある高級な小さなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな洗濯室 (ll型、テラコッタタイルの床、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機) の写真

Adrienne Bizzarri Photography
メルボルンにあるお手頃価格の巨大なビーチスタイルのおしゃれな洗濯室 (I型、アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、白い壁、無垢フローリング、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、茶色い床) の写真

他の地域にある高級な中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれな洗濯室 (L型、アンダーカウンターシンク、シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、グレーの壁、コンクリートの床、上下配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、グレーの床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

Contemporary warehouse apartment in Collingwood. Photography by Shania Shegedyn
メルボルンにあるお手頃価格の小さなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな洗濯室 (I型、シングルシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、グレーのキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、グレーの壁、無垢フローリング、目隠し付き洗濯機・乾燥機、茶色い床、グレーのキッチンカウンター) の写真

Who wouldn't mind doing laundry in such a bright and colorful laundry room? Custom cabinetry allows for creating a space with the exact specifications of the homeowner. From a hanging drying station, hidden litterbox storage, antimicrobial and durable white Krion countertops to beautiful walnut shelving, this laundry room is as beautiful as it is functional. Stephen Allen Photography

Photo Credit: David Cannon; Design: Michelle Mentzer Instagram: @newriverbuildingco
アトランタにある中くらいなカントリー風のおしゃれな家事室 (L型、エプロンフロントシンク、落し込みパネル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、白い壁、コンクリートの床、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、グレーの床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

With a busy working lifestyle and two small children, Burlanes worked closely with the home owners to transform a number of rooms in their home, to not only suit the needs of family life, but to give the wonderful building a new lease of life, whilst in keeping with the stunning historical features and characteristics of the incredible Oast House.

This home is full of clean lines, soft whites and grey, & lots of built-in pieces​. Large entry area with message center, dual closets, custom bench with hooks and cubbies to keep organized. Living room fireplace with shiplap, custom mantel and cabinets, and white brick.

Casey Fry
オースティンにあるラグジュアリーな巨大なカントリー風のおしゃれな家事室 (ll型、アンダーカウンターシンク、青いキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、青い壁、コンクリートの床、左右配置の洗濯機・乾燥機、シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット) の写真

Within the master bedroom was a small entry hallway and extra closet. A perfect spot to carve out a small laundry room. Full sized stacked washer and dryer fit perfectly with left over space for adjustable shelves to hold supplies. New louvered doors offer ventilation and work nicely with the home’s plantation shutters throughout. Photography by Erika Bierman

Within the master bedroom was a small entry hallway and extra closet. A perfect spot to carve out a small laundry room. Full sized stacked washer and dryer fit perfectly with left over space for adjustable shelves to hold supplies. New louvered doors offer ventilation and work nicely with the home’s plantation shutters throughout. Photography by Erika Bierman

My client wanted to be sure that her new kitchen was designed in keeping with her homes great craftsman detail. We did just that while giving her a “modern” kitchen. Windows over the sink were enlarged, and a tiny half bath and laundry closet were added tucked away from sight. We had trim customized to match the existing. Cabinets and shelving were added with attention to detail. An elegant bathroom with a new tiled shower replaced the old bathroom with tub. Ramona d'Viola photographer