Artistic Beach Front Home:

About a decade ago we photographed a beach house along Chicago’s Lake Michigan South Shore, built by Centaur—one of the city’s premier design-build firms. The craftsmanship is meticulous throughout, and the house thoughtfully captures the lakeside atmosphere. Subtle details, like the drag marks in the Venetian plaster ceiling, echo the texture and movement of the shoreline inside the home.

Today we focus on the second-floor home office. The layout features a Jack-and-Jill desk configuration that supports shared work without sacrificing individual space. Contemporary built-in cabinetry provides clean, functional storage while maintaining the room’s refined aesthetic. Bespoke furniture pieces and custom carpets contribute warmth and tailored comfort, and fine art photography anchors the space, adding depth and personality.

This room exemplifies how thoughtful construction and design details translate a beach-side sensibility into an elegant, usable workspace. More images and highlights from this exceptional home to follow.

Contemporary Estate by JMD Builders:

This contemporary estate by JMD Builders is a study in refined craftsmanship and thoughtful detail. Hand-cut plank flooring runs throughout, guiding the eye past bespoke kitchen cabinetry to floor-to-ceiling French doors that fully open onto a spacious stone patio, offering uninterrupted views of the wooded grounds and flowering garden. The great room soars one-and-a-half stories, framed by transom windows that fill the space with daylight and cast a soft, romantic wash in the evening. Custom built display cabinets with backlighting showcase fine wall art, china, and pottery, turning collections into illuminated focal points. Nestled on acres of private grounds, this is a truly unique, finely appointed home — more images from this prestigious property coming soon. 

Country Home Master Bath:

One more today from the Country Home by Gander Builders — the Master Bath. Spacious and eloquent, this suite centers on a generous walk-in shower and the essential slipper tub for soaking and unwinding. Twin vanities flank the room, paired with bespoke cabinetry that balances form and function. Clean lines, warm materials, and thoughtful light create a calm, refined retreat.

Country Home Exerior:

Just a quick exterior shot of another exceptional home by Steve Lecas of Gander Builders. Steve and his team are master craftsmen, building custom, high-end homes across the Midwest for decades. If you’re looking for a top-tier builder, call Steve — the wait is worth it.

Eight Bar Outdoor Cafe:

On a clear autumn day in Chicago we photographed the Eight Bar outdoor café at the Urban Outfitters building. The low-angle sunlight and changing leaves gave the scene warm, textured tones that complemented the café’s contemporary industrial design. We focused on clean compositions that highlight the relationship between the café seating, the building’s brick and metal details, and the surrounding streetscape.

Key images include wide environmental shots showing the café within the Urban Outfitters Building, to highlight the landmark making it easy to identify from the street. Natural light was the primary source, with subtle fill to preserve shadow detail without flattening the scene.

The photographs were used in two magazine advertisements and were featured on the Eight Bar Outdoor Cafe website, throughout the season, helping to communicate a welcoming, autumnal atmosphere that aligned with their subtle branding. 

To see more of our work or to schedule a photoshoot please visit our webiste.

Historic Kitchen Remodel:

When working with a historic home, updates are important — but preserving the original feel, look, and atmosphere is paramount. For homes listed on historic registers, maintaining the appearance of the original spaces is often required. In this kitchen renovation, the builder and their in‑house architect carefully recreated the original cabinetry pattern and aesthetic while discreetly integrating modern hardware and mechanisms.

The team matched profiles, moldings, and finishes so the new work reads as period correct. Modern hinges, pulls, and soft‑closing devices were selected and installed in a way that preserves sightlines and proportions, keeping the visual integrity intact while improving function and longevity. The result is a kitchen that retains its original charm and character — the organ-like rhythm and detailing remain, but the space now performs to contemporary standards.

Achieving this balance is not easy, but it’s well worth the effort: the updated kitchen feels authentic and lived‑in, yet benefits from the ease and reliability of modern fittings. More to come.

Detail Shots:

While an overview image communicates the scope of a project, tighter detail shots often matter more to the artisan. Close images reveal the subtle joinery, finish work, and material transitions that can be lost in a wide-angle view. They celebrate the craftsmanship in fine cabinetry, custom woodworking, flooring, and interior finishes — the things that define quality and character.

Below are detail samples from a remodel by Orren Pickell. What began as a modest mid-century home has been updated throughout while retaining a warm, comfortable feel. These images focus on the precision of millwork, the texture of materials, and the thoughtful design choices that make the space feel both modern and lived-in.

More images from this project coming soon.