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

Built from the ground up on 80 acres outside Dallas, Oregon, this new modern ranch house is a balanced blend of natural and industrial elements. The custom home beautifully combines various materials, unique lines and angles, and attractive finishes throughout. The property owners wanted to create a living space with a strong indoor-outdoor connection. We integrated built-in sky lights, floor-to-ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings to attract ample, natural lighting. The master bathroom is spacious and features an open shower room with soaking tub and natural pebble tiling. There is custom-built cabinetry throughout the home, including extensive closet space, library shelving, and floating side tables in the master bedroom. The home flows easily from one room to the next and features a covered walkway between the garage and house. One of our favorite features in the home is the two-sided fireplace – one side facing the living room and the other facing the outdoor space. In addition to the fireplace, the homeowners can enjoy an outdoor living space including a seating area, in-ground fire pit and soaking tub.

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

Bruce Cole Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage white tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor and gray floor alcove shower remodel in Other with white walls and a hinged shower door

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

This guest bath has a light and airy feel with an organic element and pop of color. The custom vanity is in a midtown jade aqua-green PPG paint Holy Glen. It provides ample storage while giving contrast to the white and brass elements. A playful use of mixed metal finishes gives the bathroom an up-dated look. The 3 light sconce is gold and black with glass globes that tie the gold cross handle plumbing fixtures and matte black hardware and bathroom accessories together. The quartz countertop has gold veining that adds additional warmth to the space. The acacia wood framed mirror with a natural interior edge gives the bathroom an organic warm feel that carries into the curb-less shower through the use of warn toned river rock. White subway tile in an offset pattern is used on all three walls in the shower and carried over to the vanity backsplash. The shower has a tall niche with quartz shelves providing lots of space for storing shower necessities. The river rock from the shower floor is carried to the back of the niche to add visual interest to the white subway shower wall as well as a black Schluter edge detail. The shower has a frameless glass rolling shower door with matte black hardware to give the this smaller bathroom an open feel and allow the natural light in. There is a gold handheld shower fixture with a cross handle detail that looks amazing against the white subway tile wall. The white Sherwin Williams Snowbound walls are the perfect backdrop to showcase the design elements of the bathroom. Photography by LifeCreated.

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

Girl's Bathroom. Custom designed vanity in blue with glass knobs, bubble tile accent wall and floor, wallpaper above wainscot. photo: David Duncan Livingston

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

Freestanding bathtub - french country 3/4 mosaic tile floor and white floor freestanding bathtub idea in Other with white cabinets, gray walls, a vessel sink and recessed-panel cabinets

Greg Reigler
Mid-sized minimalist master multicolored tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor bathroom photo in Other with distressed cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

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