Photography by Nancy Nolan
Bedroom - transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Little Rock with yellow walls

© Lisa Russman Photography
Bathroom - transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile bathroom idea in New York with white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and a hinged shower door

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in DC Metro with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and quartzite countertops

Living room - mid-sized transitional enclosed carpeted and beige floor living room idea in Indianapolis with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Amy Bartlam
Transitional gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor nursery photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Example of a large transitional master white tile porcelain tile, gray floor and single-sink bathroom design in San Diego with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a drop-in sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

Large transitional gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor dressing room photo in Charleston with shaker cabinets and gray cabinets

  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

New butler’s pantry we created after removing the stove and the closet in the old kitchen. // This room makes a big design statement, from the hex tile, Alba Vera marble counters, custom cabinets and pendant light fixtures. // The pendant lights are from Circa Lighting, and match the brass of the drawer and door pulls. // The 3x12 subway tile runs from countertop to the ceiling. // One side of the butler’s pantry features a dish pantry with custom glass-front cabinets and drawer storage. // The other side features the main sink, dishwasher and custom cabinets. This butler’s pantry keeps dirty dishes out of sight from the guests and entertaining area. // Designer refers to it as the jewel of the kitchen

Bedroom - mid-sized transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Chicago with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor walk-in closet remodel in Boston with open cabinets and dark wood cabinets

This master bath was dark and dated. Although a large space, the area felt small and obtrusive. By removing the columns and step up, widening the shower and creating a true toilet room I was able to give the homeowner a truly luxurious master retreat. (check out the before pictures at the end) The ceiling detail was the icing on the cake! It follows the angled wall of the shower and dressing table and makes the space seem so much larger than it is. The homeowners love their Nantucket roots and wanted this space to reflect that.

Inspiration for a transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in Dallas with gray walls

Home office - transitional built-in desk light wood floor, beige floor and wallpaper home office idea in Kansas City with multicolored walls

Example of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, black cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Reach-in closet - small transitional men's carpeted reach-in closet idea in Denver with flat-panel cabinets and gray cabinets

Kitchen - large transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, brown backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, an island and brown countertops

Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized transitional single-wall porcelain tile and white floor dedicated laundry room idea in Orange County with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Columbus with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island