--- title: "Design Inside - Chicago — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/design-inside-chicago-pfvwus-pf~251712816 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~251712816.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Design Inside - Chicago" category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a90307cf0fadadbb_5500-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "910 West Van Buren Street, #240, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States" latitude: 41.8721 longitude: -87.6578 phone: "(773) 304-4133" website: https://DesignInside.com rating: 4.5 review_count: 17 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 337 last_updated: 2026-09-22 --- # Design Inside - Chicago Original Houzz profile: [Design Inside - Chicago](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/design-inside-chicago-pfvwus-pf~251712816) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators - **Location:** Chicago, IL - **Serves:** Chicago, Cicero, Evanston, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Oak Lawn, Berwyn, Oak Park, Park Ridge, Northbrook, Elk Grove Village, Burbank, Chicago Heights, Melrose Park, Maywood, Brookfield, Bridgeview, La Grange, Norridge, Forest Park, Lincolnwood, River Forest, Lyons, Riverside, North Riverside, Stickney, Forest View, Bedford Park, McCook - **Houzz rating:** 4.5 out of 5 (17 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Woman owned - 14 years in business Who are we? Chicago interior designer Kathryn Welsh and business pro Bill Cherne established Design Inside with the goal of making the luxury interior design and remodeling process approachable and fun. We know first-hand that designing, building, and decorating your home can be a daunting task. We are a creative group of Interior Designers in Chicago who are passionate about helping you solve your home design challenges. You should live in a space that you love being in. We will help you to achieve that vision. Our Mission We help you narrow down the thousands of design ideas into one, final plan for your home…so it’s less scary! Your project is unique. We work hard to ensure that we are designing a unique space that is tailor-made for your needs - not copying and pasting a previously used design. You will be guided through the interior design, remodeling, and decorating process. Even the simplest of projects can have issues arise. We have the experience to look down the road to try and avoid those roadblocks, minimizing the impact, in case we do run into an issue. How We Help You By offering a variety of design services we are able to help you with everything from buying the perfect house, selecting paint, remodeling your kitchen, styling or staging your bookshelves, and everything in-between. CHICAGO Phone: 773.304.4133 910 West Van Buren Street, \#240 Chicago, IL 60607 Visits by appointment only, please. CHICAGOLAND Phone: 773.304.4133 224 North Kensington Ave, La Grange, IL 60525 Visits by appointment only, please. ### Services Provided - Interior Design - Kitchen Design - Bathroom Design - Living Room Design - Bedroom Design - Color Consulting - Furniture Selection - Kids Bedroom Design - Dining Room Design - Custom Cabinets - Lighting Design - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Design Consultation - Custom Built-ins - Floor Plans - Playroom Design - Project Management - Custom Furniture - Laundry Room Design - Nursery Design - Custom Blinds & Shades - Art Selection - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Closet Design - Basement Design - Custom Rugs - Custom Fireplace Mantels - Sustainable Design - Home Staging - Downsizing - Holiday Decorating - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Office Design ### Areas Served - Chicago - Cicero - Evanston - Schaumburg - Arlington Heights - Palatine - Oak Lawn - Berwyn - Oak Park - Park Ridge - Northbrook - Elk Grove Village - Burbank - Chicago Heights - Melrose Park - Maywood - Brookfield - Bridgeview - La Grange - Norridge - Forest Park - Lincolnwood - River Forest - Lyons - Riverside - North Riverside - Stickney - Forest View - Bedford Park - McCook ### Typical Job Cost $500 - 50,000 Please visit this website for pricing details: http://designinside.com/pricing/ ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Design Inside - Chicago | | Address | 910 West Van Buren Street, \#240, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States | | Phone | (773) 304-4133 | | Website | https://DesignInside.com | | Followers on Houzz | 337 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/DesignInside - X (Twitter) — https://twitter.com/designinside - LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/company/design-inside-llc/products?trk=tabs\_biz\_product - Blog — https://www.instagram.com/designinside/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Design Inside - Chicago](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/design-inside-chicago-pfvwus-pf~251712816) - **Website:** https://DesignInside.com - **Phone:** (773) 304-4133 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Best of Houzz 2014, 2016 and 2020 Winners - Three-Best Rated Design Firm for Chicago (50-point Inspection) - FresHome Winner - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2020), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 — 17 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Anna Wagler, Oct. 2019** > Design Inside helped us remodel a small office space, taking it from drab to welcoming. Kathryn was a great resource on what to do where to maximize our budget and overall impact. She and her team were great to work with! **★★★★★ — George S, July 2019** > We had a great experience with Design Inside! Our project went from February to July of 2019. Our designer Emmalie was wonderful! She was very accommodating of our schedule and very focused on providing us great direction on all the things we had to make decisions on, and there were a lot of them! She took the time to get to know us and our style and really gave us great direction. Our project was extensive, as we completely renovated a 3 bed 2 bath condo and the only things not touched were the 2 baths (fixtures and tile). Other than those, all paint, lighting, full kitchen (including appliances), and hardwood floors throughout were completely redone. We also liked that they will help you as much or as little as you like. You set the terms of what you would like them to help with. They helped us with all design decisions and their guidance was wonderful! We highly recommend Design Inside! **★★★★★ — Sandra Blakemore, Jan. 2018** > I really enjoyed working with Angela Murphy from Design Inside. I couldn't have completed my bedroom update and kitchen update without Angela. I was really busy with work and it was helpful to have her narrow down the choices for me and give me a professional guidance on how to update and add new selections to my existing decor. I felt she really listened to me and understood my style well. Angela brought a good range of choices for each item I needed. She was great when I had an emergency issue with an appliance. She helped me through the issue during off-hours. Angela completed the project on-time and on-budget. The contractors she used were very professional and perfectionists. I will be working with her again on future projects. **★★★★★ — Rebecca Pinney, Dec. 2017** > We are very pleased with our bathroom remodel. Our original 30 year old guest bath was brought into this century featuring a traditional style with some more modern touches in the tile surround and the mirror. Angie made the process very easy. We will definitely use Design Inside for future design projects. **★★★★★ — User, Nov. 2017** > I highly recommend Design Inside. Kathryn & Bill are extremely professional and easy to work with. I had a very pleasant experience with them and will use Design Inside in the future! **★★★★★ — Mary W, Oct. 2017** > Katy is the perfect mix of practical and design savvy. In our first meeting, Katy helped me where to prioritize my projects for the biggest impact. In addition to directing me on where to invest dollars and where we could save. > > We worked on several areas of my home in tandem...living room, hallway, master bedroom and guest room. Not to mention storage ideas and thoughts on future bathroom projects. The process was seamless and easy. We put a plan together in a few hours and we were off to the races. > > One of the most enjoyable experiences in working with Katy was the ability for me to add my own personal touches along the way. She really adapts to her clients in terms of how involved they would like to be. For me, I had lots of ideas that Katy helped me bring to life, streamline and balance. And she also encouraged me to take chances with paint colors, fabric upholstery choices and more. > > My gallery wall is one of my favorites! I could never have measured and hung with such precision. And my reupholstered hallway bench is one of my favorite stand-out pieces. Thanks Katy! > > I love Katy’s design eye, easy-to-work with attitude and desire to put her client’s style into every choice. My condo is finally a home! Love it! > > I highly recommend working with Design Inside and I plan on doing so for my next projects! **★★★★★ — Dorothy Jackson, July 2017** > We needed to redecorate our living room. My husband found Design Inside on the internet. I was a bit hesitant about finding a decorator that way; but we had a fantastic experience with Emily Barry from Design Inside, and love our "new" room! She is not only a wonderful person, but a good listener and problem solver. Emily won't stop until she finds the option you want. When concerns or problems arose; she not only listened to them attentively, she solved them as quickly as possible. When Emily had a death in the family; one of her colleagues, from Design Inside, stepped in and did a wonderful job. I can't recommend Emily Barry, of Design Inside, highly enough! **★★★★★ — Felisa, July 2017** > I loved working with Katy to redesign my painfully small master bathroom! She was on the ball, organized, and prompt with getting the project started and keeping it going. I was most impressed by her ability to precisely figure out what I meant the space to look and feel like. I don't do "design" talk and she really got to the heart of what I identified as our problems and had great ideas on how to fix them. The best part was that her ideas were not overly complicated, just things I would have never thought. She also didn't bat an eye when I asked her to find more budget friendly options. I will be working with Katy for additional help in other areas of the house and already recommend her without hesitation. **★★★★★ — Erin Metroff, March 2017** > We worked with Design Inside over the course of a year on projects that continued to expand because we were so thrilled with the process, working relationship and outcomes. We used Kathryn's design expertise to remodel our kitchen, first-floor full bathroom, and front porch. > > Working with Design Inside was money well-spent because Kathryn is talented in both technical and creative design. She measured and prepared for every contingency when creating a plan to transform our galley-style kitchen into an expanded and multi-purpose open-concept design that included kitchen, mudroom, and work space. She was efficient in helping us make design choices to update our bathroom, and concise with material recommendations and measurements needed to replace our front porch. > > Kathryn and her team were respectful of our time, budget, and input. Every selection for purchase was presented as a choice, and we knew we were always guided to the best price point. Kathryn recommended when to pay for quality materials, and helped us find savings in other parts of the design to off-set the cost. We are most happy with the selections we would not have made without her involvement. > > We could not have completed our home remodel without Design Inside, and would happily recommend them to anyone looking for guidance on small or large projects! **★ — Hilary, Jan. 2017** > I'm disappointed that I need to leave this review. For the most part we enjoyed working with Design Inside. Kathryn and her team gave us helpful advice on art and picked out nice accent pieces for our condo. The one star is for two main reasons: > > 1\. Poor project management: In 2015 we starting working with Kathryn to design and implement a custom cabinetry project. After blowing past multiple extended deadlines, the project is still not totally finished. We asked to see a breakdown of designer hours to better understand how the price had far surpassed the original estimate. We even discussed getting money back if we learned that we had fact been over billed for designer or vendor error. The company never sent this breakdown. > > 2\. Unresolved damage: We also worked with Design Inside to place some shelves in our master bathroom. One of the shelves was drilled into the wrong tiles because the designer incorrectly marked where it was supposed to go. We get that mistakes happen and we were optimistic that we could find a solution we could live with. We had a conversation with Kathryn about trying an alternate solution but were clear that if this alternative didn't meet our expectations, we would want to explore monetary compensation. When we followed up with the company to implement the alternate solution, we felt pressured into accepting the alternative solution as the final solution. Attempts to have a phone call to clarify the plan were rebuffed by the company and there is still unresolved damage in the bathroom to this day. > > In both these situations we had good conversations with Kathryn that made us feel confident we could find a solution that made both parties happy. Unfortunately after those conversations we were told that Kathryn was out of the office, they didn't know when she would be back, and her associate would handle our concerns. In the course of communicating with her associate Brittany the trust we had the company was destroyed. She never sent the breakdown of hours like we requested and refused to have a phone conversation to clarify the plan for the bathroom. After multiple requests for a phone conversation and trying to call the office, the only phone call we received was from their lawyer. **Comment from Design Inside - Chicago:** > Dear Erin, > > As our company did not have a contract with you, we will not be providing a response to your review. However, the issues you raise in your review are addressed in our response to Sam R., who was our customer. > > Thank you. **★ — Sam, Jan. 2017** > In July of 2015, my girlfriend and I began working with Kathryn Cherne to do a build out of cabinets around our fireplace in our condominium. Originally, the project was supposed to be completed prior to December of 2015. The project was not completed until February of 2017. > > Kathryn originally estimated the project would cost 15-25 hours of designer time. We have now had to pay for over 200 hours of designer time. While not all of these hours were related to the project, they have been the vast majority. We were unable to get clear and accurate billing from Kathryn, even upon request. > > We did have a setback with the fireplace, as we decided to lower it and the stone did not match. Which Kathryn had said may be a possibility - though she thought it unlikely. Kathryn estimated that would take 5 hours of designer time to fix. However, it took significantly longer. > This project is now three times over its monetary budget and four times over its time deadline. To make things worse, Kathryn disappeared near the end of the project and no one was able to tell me when she would be back. The staff at Design Inside was left with minimal information, and we have been unable to reach a solution without Kathryn. Unfortunately, one of the tasks Kathryn said she would complete prior to her disappearance was cleaning up and organizing the billing, so we knew precisely how much was spent on these projects. This was not completed and apparently was not relayed to the Design Inside team. We have some concern that in addition to Kathryn drastically underestimating the time it would take to complete the project, leading to significantly overcharging us, she also has not utilized discounts that were promised on receipts. Moreover, she also raised the prices in January of 2016, and although our project should have been completed by then, charged us at that rate. > > We had also asked Kathryn to help us decide on a location to put up shelves in our tiling on the walls in the master bathroom. Kathryn told the contractor the incorrect location and they drilled into the wall and left us in the lurch as to how we could resolve that issue for some time. > > While Kathryn has done well with some of the design, the implementation, overcharging, under-estimating, and the fact that she has been impossible to reach to deal with expensive mistakes design inside has caused leads me to post this cautionary tale. > > Kathryn had offered no help in processing the billing to make it clearer or providing an explanation for why her costs became so out of control. The billing was basically a collective of a bunch of random charges for a variety of projects on more than twenty or thirty different documents. We requested a breakdown of the costs for the individual project, and we never received it. In fact, that was roughly the time she disappeared. > > On our side, we have begun the process of clarifying her original documentation so we can clearly understand how this project became so out of control. and figuring out what steps are necessary. We have spent the last several months creating documentation of clearer billing so that we can understand where all of the money went and why this project became so expensive and hearing from contractors and building professionals who have echoed that the work that was completed is overpriced. I also have concerned that Kathryn may have requested contractors charge me more than they would have originally quoted based on my exploration into the project. > > There are many designers in Chicago, I believe they would likely treat you better on an individual level and have greater respect for your time and money and thus I would never recommend Design Inside to anyone. **Comment from Design Inside - Chicago:** > Dear Sam, > > We reviewed your comments and find that they portray events quite differently from what actually took place. > > What began in July, 2015 as a single project quickly morphed into 5 different projects involving not only the fireplace cabinets, but the bathroom, porch, master bedroom, and office. In each project, we worked with you and your contractors to make sure the final result was to your satisfaction. Since there were numerous changes to the projects midstream, this was not an easy task to accomplish. Completion of the projects naturally took longer than originally estimated as the scope was constantly expanded. This did not seem to present a problem for you as you did not express any concern and routinely paid our invoices as they were submitted to you. > > With regard to the bathroom shelf, we have offered numerous alternatives to resolve the issue of the misplaced shelf. Instead of reviewing the options and working with us to correct the problem (to which there is a quite simple solution), you became abusive with our staff. After repeated efforts on our part to make you happy, including financial compensation in addition to relocating the shelf, you responded with threats and harassing phone calls. You also now demand a return of the payments you made to us over the last 18 months for work completely unrelated to the shelf. > > We note that your girlfriend, Erin, also posted a negative review when our agreement was with you. We also notice a pattern in your review history. You have only left negative reviews of the companies with which you have dealt. There is not a single positive review associated with your account. > > While we look forward to an amicable resolution, we had no choice but to turn the matter over to our attorneys. We could not allow you to continue to intimidate our employees. We hope that you will review the options we have previously presented to you and contact our attorneys to resolve the issue. **★★★★★ — plgraves56, June 2015** > We needed design help with a condo in the West Loop. We found Design Inside and Courtney helped us with color selection, furniture and finishes. She was especially helpful with artwork and accessories. We were very pleased with the result! Courtney was a pleasure to work with, and Design Inside is a great choice for contemporary design. > Pete and Ann G. ## Selected projects - [The Interior Design Team](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/the-interior-design-team-pj-vj~6457097) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: Who are we? We are a creative group of Interior Designers in Chicago who are passionate about helping you solve your home design challenges. You should live in a space that you love being in. We will help you to achieve that vision. - [Sophisticated Master Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sophisticated-master-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~2822606) - Location: La Grange, IL - Photos: 4 - Description: When we were asked by this couple in our hometown of La Grange, IL to help design their new bathroom, we jumped at the opportunity. The house was built back in the ’80s and the upstairs bathroom hadn’t had a full remodel in many years. It was about time for a refresh. - [Modern Logan Square, Chicago Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-logan-square-chicago-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~2797719) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 4 - Description: Guest Bathrooms are a great place to show off some style. Check out the photos from a recent rustic modern bathroom remodeling project in Chicago. - [Classic Chicago Kitchen Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/classic-chicago-kitchen-remodel-pj-vj~2790199) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 7 - Description: This couple with a baby on the way brought our team of interior designers in Chicago on board when they wanted a complete kitchen remodel for their single-family home located in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. When we first met, they had a small galley style kitchen with a somewhat small adjoining family room. Instead of keeping the existing floorplan, we decided to knock down some walls and open up the space to create a larger kitchen, entryway, and craft area. See more photos at: ht… - [Modern and Sophisticated Chicago Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-and-sophisticated-chicago-condo-pj-vj~2029590) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 7 - Description: When this customer hired Design Inside, the South Loop Chicago Condo already had a great 2 bedroom, 2 Bathroom floor plan and stunning views of Lake Michigan. We helped with selecting sophisticated pieces of furniture, artwork and accessories for the Living Room, Family Room and Master Bedroom to help finish off the entire space and create one cohesive design. - [Lincoln Park (Chicago) Kitchen Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-park-chicago-kitchen-renovation-pj-vj~50154) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 8 - Description: Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath townhome built in the 90’s was begging for some updates. The kitchen had great appliances and was fairly new but, the euro-modern, glossy cabinets and stainless steel hood didn’t fit the design aesthetic of the customer or the home. The space was ill-used, with a strange open area. It was time for a change. - [Rustic Modern Living Room & Dining Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rustic-modern-living-room-and-dining-room-pj-vj~1179303) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: Love vintage lofts but don’t know how to take the large space and carve out a living room and dining room? Check out the photos from our most recent project in Chicago. - [Midcentury Modern Chicago Living Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/midcentury-modern-chicago-living-room-pj-vj~1013203) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: View the photos of this refined Mid-Century inspired living room in the heart of the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. - [Modern Chicago Master Bedroom Interior Design Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-chicago-master-bedroom-interior-design-project-pj-vj~889590) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: See more photos at: http://designinsidechicago.com/portfolio-item/museum-district-chicago-modern-master-bedroom/ High above the city streets of Chicago is this beautiful and relaxing modern master bedroom suite that we designed for one of our clients. - [Eat In Kitchen Interior Design Project in Chicago](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eat-in-kitchen-interior-design-project-in-chicago-pj-vj~878636) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: See more photos at: http://designinsidechicago.com/portfolio-item/transitional-university-village-kitchen-eating-area/ This family in Chicago had a beautiful kitchen and family room area yet the corner of they had limited space for a typical kitchen table and chairs. To address this issue, our interior design team designed a booth with plenty of seating for the family. - [Chicago Nursery for Twin Babies](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chicago-nursery-for-twin-babies-pj-vj~702453) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: Find our more at: http://designinsidechicago.com/portfolio-item/transitional-chicago-nursery-for-twins/ View photos of the transitional nursery we designed for this downtown Chicago couple with twins and discover tips and tricks for designing your own nursery. - [Chicago Wet Bar Interior Design Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chicago-wet-bar-interior-design-project-pj-vj~613657) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - [Traditional Lincoln Park, Chicago Master Bedroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-lincoln-park-chicago-master-bedroom-pj-vj~560984) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This soothing traditional Master Bedroom offers a retreat from the hustle of city life in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. - [Chicago Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chicago-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~417661) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 4 - [Lake View, Chicago Transitional Living Room & Dining Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lake-view-chicago-transitional-living-room-and-dining-room-pj-vj~415522) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 7 - Description: After purchasing a beautiful single family home in Chicago, this family needed help decorating it. See how we helped decorate the living and dining room. - [Transitional Lincoln Park, Chicago Master Bath Design Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/transitional-lincoln-park-chicago-master-bath-design-project-pj-vj~413666) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 8 - Description: Master bathroom renovation project in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. See more photos at: http://designinsidechicago.com/portfolio-item/transitional-lincoln-park-chicago-master-bathroom/ - [Rustic Modern Living Room and Dining Room Interior Design Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rustic-modern-living-room-and-dining-room-interior-design-project-pj-vj~412069) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 12 - Description: We were hired by this customer in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago to help furnish his living room and dining room. We also assisted with selecting a new kitchen backsplash and refinishing the stairwell to give it a more modern and masculine feel. - [Transitional Chicago Living and Dining Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/transitional-chicago-living-and-dining-room-pj-vj~386483) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 6 - Description: Got a Chicago condo where the living and dining room are in the same space? See how we designed two independent rooms only by using furniture and rugs. See more photos at: http://designinsidechicago.com/post/transitional-ravenswood-living-dining-room/ - [Logan Square, Chicago Transitional Master Bedroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/logan-square-chicago-transitional-master-bedroom-pj-vj~359867) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 4 - Description: Is 9' x 11' enough room for a master bedroom? See how we utilized every inch of this space to create a comfortable master bedroom for this Chicago couple. - [Chicago Family Room Art & Accessory Design Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chicago-family-room-art-and-accessory-design-project-pj-vj~350221) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 2 [See all 32 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/design-inside-chicago-pfvwus-pf~251712816) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/71515609/list/wish-list) — 9 ideas - [Girl's Bedroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/70735160/list/girl-s-bedroom) — 1 idea - [Bedrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24165662/list/bedrooms) — 2 ideas - [Design Inside New Office Planning](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25067429/list/design-inside-new-office-planning) — 17 ideas - [Home Office Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16002541/list/home-office-ideas) — 1 idea - [Storage Solutions](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6567546/list/storage-solutions) — 1 idea - [designinside's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4968437/list/designinside-s-ideas) — 8 ideas [See all 7 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/designinside) ## Community Q&A **Q: CALLING ALL HONEST, TALENTED HOUZZERS!** *(in Design Dilemma)* CAN ANYONE SOLVE THIS? Here is a full bathroom in my home that really serves as a POWDER ROOM. I want to INSTALL NEW FLOORING. I am willing to paint walls and cabinets , if necessary. Everything else stays. Floor leading into bathroom is medium brown, hand scraped, custom hardwood. A: I agree with The Cook's Kitchen. When removing tile your surrounding base trim (at least the quarter round shoe), toilet and tub, etc. are at a small risk since you have to hammer and scrape to get the tile out. It's a messy job. As long as your contractor tapes off the tub and cabinets and uses cardboard or something similar to protect the surfaces, you should be able to minimize the damage. **Q: Ensuite Layout Options -- Which would you prefer?** *(in Polls)* Hi everyone! I'm in the planning stages for adding an ensuite to my Master bedroom and I currently have four options on the table. First off, here is the general proposed layout of the bedroom/ensuite: I have provided a rough sketch and description of each ensuite option below. Please note that narrowing the ensuite will allow my master bedroom to be slightly wider (and this is indicated in the descriptions). Do you guys have thoughts on these layouts? Which would you prefer (and why)? A: I think option \#1 with a slightly larger bathroom, a frameless glass shower door with a small curb would be the ideal solution. Showers that are curbless or don't have a door "look" amazing! But, water gets everywhere! Especially, in situations where you have a smaller shower. Adding a rain shower or two will only add more water to the mix. There is a reason that showers like this in Europe and Australia have floor drains in the main part of the bathroom. **Q: Anyone have subway tile in their shower?** *(in Cleaning Tips)* I'm wondering if anyone has subway tile in their shower? We have a 46" wide shower. I picked out that larger gray piece (pic below), but my husband prefers it in subway tile size. Is it a BIG mistake trying to keep all of that grout clean?!? My husband is afraid bigger tile wont look right since the shower isn't that big. I also picked carrara marble basketweave for the shower floor...is that a big mistake, too? Is it a lot of upkeep and cleaning? The square tile is the floor we currently have in the bathroom, but in 12x12. A: We have done subway tile on our own bathroom and many bathrooms for our design customers. My recommendation is to keep the grout lines as tiny as possible. I prefer to butt the tiles up to each other and use a darker grey or black tile. I've also used black slate floor tiles for the shower floor and have had few issues with cleaning it or maintaining it. Like a previous commenter said, make sure that you leave the shower door open and that you have a great exhaust fan sized properly for your bathroom and that vents outside (not in your attic). Letting the moisture linger is the quickest way to attract mold, milew, etc. If you haven't picked an exhaust fan, here is a quick guide: http://designinside.com/picking-the-proper-exhaust-fan-for-your-bathroom-renovation/ **Q: Need help for how to repair basement leak in cinder block wall** *(in Basements)* We own a newly-constructed (in 2015-16) house that was built with one wall that was used from a previous house's foundation. The old foundation wall, cinder block, is about 50-60 years old. About 8 months into our living in the house, the wall began leaking. There are 3-4 pinhole sized leaks 1/3 of the way up the wall, and some seepage along the seam where the wall meets the floor. It's not leaking excessively, and mostly when there is extreme rainfall (mainly occurred back in the spring soon after a great deal of snow melted). We are working with the builder on getting this problem fixed. Since the house was built on a partly pre-existing foundation, we have only 1 year of workmanship warranty on the house. We have the following options: 1\. (builder's preferred option): drill holes in the cinderblock and fill the walls with concrete, just above where the pin hole leaks were occurring. 2\. install a drain system around the perimeter of the cinderblock basement area and lead this to sump pump 3\. install a track system epoxy'ed to the floor (I've seen them referred to as a 'beaver system') lead this to sump pump. We've been able to find a lot of information on option \#2, which seems to be a preferred or more typical method, but not so much on options \#1 and \#3. Builder proposed and is willing to do option 1, and says he's willing to pay for a part of option 3. We want a long term solution, but understand that the leak is fairly small at present. Water seems to be diverting away from the house properly otherwise; gutters and downspouts are all working very well as reported from a few contractors and our gutter cleaners. Has anyone had a good or bad experience with the injecting cinder block with cement option or beaver track system? A: We have seen solutions that use epoxy to fill the holes. If you have a large portion of the wall exposed and are planning on finishing off the space, installing an interior drain tile system may be the most cost-effective route. The best solution though is to fix the issue from the outside. Unfortunately, this is probably the most expensive route and will cause you to dig up around your foundation and may require the removal of any landscaping, porches, decks, etc. In my own home from the 1930s with a cinder block foundation, I chose the interior drain tile solution. It's been dry for 4 years and we have now finished off the space with drywall and flooring. Here is a good article from US Waterproofing, a local Chicago waterproofing company. We used them for our house and they have great blog posts explaining the common basement seepage issues: http://www.uswaterproofing.com/learning-center/basement-crack-repair-6-things-you-need-to-know **Q: Art above sofa too high? And help with rest of the wall** *(in Design Dilemma)* We finally hung this boatwood art piece on our wall and I'm afraid it's too high. Any advice? 10 ft high ceiling. We have a narrow table between the sofa and the wall and was thinking of putting a lantern, family pictures or a long basket on it. I'm also stuck on what to do with the wall above the table/lamp. Other picture shows main wall in our great room. Ignore the cords - we just bought longer cables so we can hide them thanks for any help here! A: I would recommend the art be hung 10" above the sofa table. It is ok (in fact great!) to have a layered look with your decor. So the lantern/basket/etc. will look wonderful layered in front of the art. You don't need any other art or decor on that wall, as it's good to have some blank space for the eyes to rest. This will also allow the other art to stand out, instead of detracting from it. Good luck! **Q: floor plans opinion / help** *(in Design Dilemma)* we are building a new small home ( appx 1500 sqf ) on a hill and would love to hear others opinion on our floor plans! due to the land topography ( 40 feet upslope ) we have decide its best for the side of the house to face the views and have the door on the other side of the house we came up with couple of floor plans and would love to know what others think we are very open to any changes; room sizes / bath sizes / layout change etc ... let us know what you think! A: I'm partial to Plan B. However, I suggest moving the closet door in the East (top) bedroom, to the other end. This way The headboard can be on the back (East) wall and you'll still have plenty of room to move around the bed and access the closet. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-22.*