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

Mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and white floor corner shower photo in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door and black countertops

The owners of this small condo came to use looking to add more storage to their bathroom. To do so, we built out the area to the left of the shower to create a full height “dry niche” for towels and other items to be stored. We also included a large storage cabinet above the toilet, finished with the same distressed wood as the two-drawer vanity. We used a hex-patterned mosaic for the flooring and large format 24”x24” tiles in the shower and niche. The green paint chosen for the wall compliments the light gray finishes and provides a contrast to the other bright white elements. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who also serve the Chicagoland area and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Evanston, Humboldt Park, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/noble-square-bathroom/

Shaker Solid | Maple | Sable The stained glass classic craftsman style window was carried through to the two vanity mirrors. Note the unified decorative details of the moulding treatments.

Photography by Andrew Pogue
Mid-sized transitional 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor alcove shower photo in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, a two-piece toilet and white countertops

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90342803/_trid=silc/list/houzz-tour-a-stylish-place-of-her-own

the client decided to eliminate the bathtub and install a large shower with partial fixed shower glass instead of a shower door
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting bathroom remodel in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, gray countertops and a freestanding vanity

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom remodel in Seattle with white walls

the client decided to eliminate the bathtub and install a large shower with partial fixed shower glass instead of a shower door
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting bathroom idea in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and gray countertops

Mid-sized farmhouse white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and white floor alcove shower photo in Richmond with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and marble countertops

Inspiration for a large timeless master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and white floor bathroom remodel in Providence with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Mid-sized danish master white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor and multicolored floor alcove shower photo in Grand Rapids with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, white countertops, medium tone wood cabinets and a hinged shower door

Example of a transitional 3/4 mosaic tile floor, white floor, single-sink and wallpaper bathroom design in Atlanta with multicolored walls and a pedestal sink

http://www.whistlephotography.com/
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids' subway tile and white tile mosaic tile floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.

Bathroom - coastal gray tile mosaic tile floor, white floor, single-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom idea in Boston with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Julia Staples Photography
Inspiration for a timeless blue tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor bathroom remodel in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, white cabinets and gray countertops

Freestanding bathtub - large traditional master subway tile mosaic tile floor freestanding bathtub idea in San Diego with marble countertops and white walls

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.