Modern Beach Retreat designed by Sharon Bonnemazou of Mode Interior Designs. Mudroom with stone flooring.Photo by Collin Miller
Inspiration for a modern light wood floor and beige floor entryway remodel in New York with white walls and a dark wood front door

After replacement of door
Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in Denver

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a rustic gray floor entryway remodel in Seattle with a glass front door

Whittney Parkinson
Inspiration for a mid-sized country medium tone wood floor entryway remodel in Indianapolis with white walls

Example of a small eclectic ceramic tile and gray floor entryway design in Portland with beige walls and a white front door

Inspiration for a small country ceramic tile and brown floor entryway remodel in DC Metro with gray walls and a light wood front door

Entryway - traditional dark wood floor entryway idea in Other with beige walls and a medium wood front door

Entryway - coastal multicolored floor entryway idea in Los Angeles with a glass front door

Inspiration for a coastal beige floor entryway remodel in Wilmington with multicolored walls and a glass front door

With two young boys, our homeowners were quickly outgrowing their home. We worked with them to add enough space for the boys to have their own rooms and a common space to call their own. We enlarged the master suite and added a large balcony to the second floor. We rearranged the kitchen layout to work with the new balcony; creating an indoor/outdoor space. By moving the garage to the edge of the property, we created a natural flow from the house to a now expansive backyard space. Their completely remodeled home now suites their current taste and lifestyle.

Example of a medium tone wood floor entryway design with a white front door

Example of a farmhouse brick floor entryway design in Boston with white walls and a medium wood front door

Example of a mid-sized classic medium tone wood floor entryway design in Atlanta with yellow walls

Alise O'Brien
Inspiration for a country medium tone wood floor entryway remodel in Austin with a medium wood front door

Clean and organized spaces to store all of our clients’ outdoor gear! Bright and airy, integrated plenty of storage, coat and hat racks, and bursts of color through baskets, throw pillows, and accent walls. Each mudroom differs in design style, exuding functionality and beauty. Project designed by Denver, Colorado interior designer Margarita Bravo. She serves Denver as well as surrounding areas such as Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Bow Mar. For more about MARGARITA BRAVO, click here: https://www.margaritabravo.com/

Example of a mid-sized 1960s porcelain tile entryway design in DC Metro with a glass front door

Karen Jackson Photography
Entryway - mid-sized contemporary white floor entryway idea in Seattle with gray walls and a black front door

Inspiration for a mid-sized country light wood floor and yellow floor entryway remodel in Los Angeles with white walls and a white front door