Photography: Rustic White
Inspiration for a transitional powder room remodel in Atlanta

This classic San Francisco backyard was transformed into an inviting and usable outdoor living space. A few steps down lead to a lounging area, featuring drought-friendly and maintenance-free artificial grass as well as a cozy, custom-built natural gas fire pit surrounded by a Redwood bench. Redwood fencing, low-voltage LED landscape lighting, drip irrigation, planting and a water feature completed the space.

Example of a bathroom design in Salt Lake City

geometric tile featuring a grid pattern contrasts with the organic nature of the large-aggregate black and white terrazzo flooring at this custom shower

Decor kitchen cabinets with custom color: Peale Green HC 121 By Benjamin Moore, GE Induction Range, Blanco sink and Stream White granite counters, new red oak floors, white hexagon tiles on the backsplash complement the hexagonal brushed brass hardware.

Large danish open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room library photo in San Diego with white walls

Mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor, brown floor and wainscoting living room library photo in Detroit with black walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Shower curtain - small country master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, white floor and single-sink shower curtain idea in Orlando with gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, quartzite countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

A master bedroom with a deck, dark wood shiplap ceiling, and beachy decor Photo by Ashley Avila Photography
Beach style guest carpeted, gray floor, vaulted ceiling, wood ceiling and wainscoting bedroom photo in Grand Rapids with gray walls

Large transitional light wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and wainscoting enclosed dining room photo in Orange County with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

#02 Statuario Bianco color in Master Bathroom used for Walls, Floors, Shower, & Countertop.
Large minimalist master porcelain tile porcelain tile, double-sink and tray ceiling bathroom photo in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, an undermount sink, tile countertops, a hinged shower door and a built-in vanity

  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

Example of a large transitional galley porcelain tile, multicolored floor and shiplap wall dedicated laundry room design in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, shiplap backsplash, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Covered Patio Addition with animated screen
Large transitional backyard stone patio photo in Dallas with a fireplace and a roof extension

Example of a large minimalist master pink tile and ceramic tile double-sink, terrazzo floor, gray floor and wood ceiling bathroom design in Los Angeles with light wood cabinets, a floating vanity, flat-panel cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, marble countertops, gray countertops and a niche

Spacious nook with built in buffet cabinets and under-counter refrigerator. Beautiful white beams with tongue and groove details.
Mid-sized beach style dark wood floor, beige floor and exposed beam breakfast nook photo in San Francisco with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Tiny master bath has curbless shower with floor-to-ceiling Heath tile. IKEA floating vanity with marble vessel sink, and wall matte black faucet. Vintage mirror from Salvare Goods in LA. Wall niche with marble hex tile. Hanging sconce Kohler matte black shower set. Ceiling fixture from Rejuvenation

Mid-sized transitional backyard stone patio photo in San Francisco with a pergola

Before & After Master Bedroom Makeover From floor to ceiling and everything in between including herringbone tile flooring, shiplap wall feature, and faux beams. This room got a major makeover that was budget-friendly.