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 mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile light wood floor bathroom design in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink and soapstone countertops

Master bath and laundry room in one? If it looks like this then YES PLEASE! As usual, all of the digital measuring, fabrication, and installation of the countertops were done by us! The floating vanity includes a waterfall edge detail on both sides and a 4” backsplash. Thanks for the collaboration with Huff Lumber and designer Kristen Danner! @ Pyramid Marble And Granite

Bathroom - mid-sized traditional master mosaic tile floor, black floor and single-sink bathroom idea in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, multicolored countertops and a built-in vanity

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids' white tile and ceramic tile brown floor and single-sink bathroom remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, a drop-in sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

Bathroom/laundry room - mid-sized tropical master beige tile porcelain tile bathroom/laundry room idea in Hawaii with white walls, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an undermount sink and granite countertops

©Tyler Breedwell Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized traditional master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, beige floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom idea in Cincinnati with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door, multicolored countertops and a built-in vanity

treve Johnson Photography
Mid-sized trendy 3/4 blue tile and glass tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor and single-sink bathroom photo in San Francisco with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Dark tile leads the way from the main bath into the spacious main closet and laundry area.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master porcelain tile, black floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom/laundry room remodel in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, black countertops and a floating vanity

2020 New Construction - Designed + Built + Curated by Steven Allen Designs, LLC - 3 of 5 of the Nouveau Bungalow Series. Inspired by New Mexico Artist Georgia O' Keefe. Featuring Sunset Colors + Vintage Decor + Houston Art + Concrete Countertops + Custom White Oak and White Cabinets + Handcrafted Tile + Frameless Glass + Polished Concrete Floors + Floating Concrete Shelves + 48" Concrete Pivot Door + Recessed White Oak Base Boards + Concrete Plater Walls + Recessed Joist Ceilings + Drop Oak Dining Ceiling + Designer Fixtures and Decor.

Masterbath remodel in the West End neighborhood of Winston-Salem.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile porcelain tile, gray floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Other with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Modern bathroom remodel.
Example of a mid-sized minimalist master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, gray floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom design in Chicago with medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops, a built-in vanity and flat-panel cabinets

Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary 3/4 white tile and subway tile wood-look tile floor, brown floor and single-sink bathroom idea in Denver with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink, wood countertops, beige countertops and a built-in vanity

https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/pool-party-bathroom-plans/ Pool house bathroom with open, curbless shower, non-skid tile throughout, rain heads in ceiling, textured architectural wall tile, glass mosaic tile in vanity area, stacked stone in shower, bidet toilet, touchless faucets, in wall medicine cabinet, trough sink, freestanding vanity with drawers and doors, frosted frameless glass panel, heated towel warmer, custom pocket doors, digital shower valve and laundry room attached for ergonomic use.

Example of a mid-sized southwest green tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, gray floor and single-sink bathroom design in DC Metro with a two-piece toilet, a wall-mount sink and brown countertops

Example of a mid-sized trendy 3/4 porcelain tile, black floor and single-sink bathroom design in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Bathroom renovation in a Manhattan loft in the Flatiron neighborhood.
Example of a mid-sized transitional master marble floor, white floor and double-sink bathroom design in New York with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a freestanding vanity

Mid-sized elegant master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor, multicolored floor and single-sink bathroom photo in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, a drop-in sink, quartzite countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Example of a mid-sized transitional master porcelain tile, multicolored floor, double-sink, vaulted ceiling and wallpaper bathroom design in Indianapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, multicolored countertops and a built-in vanity