A luxurious and accessible bathroom that will enable our clients to Live-in-Place for many years. The design and layout allows for ease of use and room to maneuver for someone physically challenged and a caretaker.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kordsmeier Remodeling With proper grab bars and two options for showering, this set up is much more user friendly for someone in a wheel chair. Having two shower options also helps out if there is a care taker assisting.

We created a clean easy-to-use bathroom, that would allow our client and their caretakers to easily access the Bathroom. Support grab bars were installed to help getting up and down, and we planned an open floor plan to assist with walking aides. The sink was designed to be easily accessible for someone in a wheelchair. You will notice the wall-hung toilet allowing for easy cleaning of the space.

Mid-sized minimalist l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo in Columbus with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, paneled appliances and no island

In choosing modular cooktop units over a full range, Franklin was able to keep the open galley kitchen streamlined in appearance and gain storage space to boot. The commercial grade components sport strong down draft units beneath the burners to eliminate cooking odors, which is a major consideration when designing an open concept space. One of the highlights of the work area is the gleaming stainless backsplash that Franklin designed. "I simply had a large piece of stainless steel bent into shape and attached with industrial grade adhesive," he explains. "Big look, inexpensive price!" The integrated shelf keeps necessities close at hand for easy access during cooking. Cooktop Units: GE Monogram (commercial) Adrienne DeRosa Photography

Example of a bedroom trendy gender-neutral kids' bedroom design in New York with blue walls

Inspiration for a shabby-chic style home design remodel in Boston

Photos by Andrew Giammarco Photography.
Inspiration for a small contemporary one-story and detached wood blue guesthouse remodel in Seattle with a shed roof and a metal roof

Design+Build: EBCON Corporation / Photography: Agnieszka Jakubowicz
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in San Francisco

This walk-in shower combines comfort, safety, and style. The marble-look tile brings in warmth and elegance, while the built-in bench and grab bars make the space easier to use for anyone. Dual shower heads, including a handheld, offer flexibility whether you're rinsing off quickly or enjoying a long soak. The herringbone tile floor adds just the right amount of detail, and the glass walls help the space feel open and inviting.

This client hired us to remodel their kitchen virtually. They were out of the country and needed someone to design and handle the construction process on their behalf. The entire process was done via zoom calls, international texting apps and phone calls.

Creamy handmade tile create a rich feel while keeping the bathroom bright. Roll-under vanity, lowered mirror, and a low medicine cabinet create a wheelchair-friendly space. Photo: Erick Mikiten, AIA

An open concept custom kitchen lives large but the strategic placement of appliances creates a convenient and compact work zone. This distinctly divided yet beautifully merged Glen Ellyn, IL kitchen takes the classic white to another level. The clean lines of the flat panel white cabinetry and polished design are easy on the eyes, complemented by the earth tones found in the subway tile, pendant lighting over the island, and soft seating. This large family can enjoy multiple seating areas, around the island, and at a dedicated space showcasing their impressive farm table. More then ample accessible storage provides enough places to hide any pots, pans and small appliances, while not sacrificing the views and natural light. The midpoint integrated built in Thermador Refrigerator serves as the anchor of the kitchen. Prep areas include miles of quartz counters along with a small but practically placed island sink. The warmth and comfort in this dream kitchen highlights design trends while also fulfilling the client’s request for a kitchen with a family focus.

On this project, our aim was to maximize storage and organization in the pantry for this family of five. This family previously had the common complaint that their pantry was always message and that they could never find what they wanted. To address this, we created provided a large amount of shelving, including key sections that slide out to provide better access to the items in the back. White melamine was used to mange cost and create a clean look.

Kitchen Bases: Full Access, Catalina 275 A, Polo Blue by Benjamin Moore Kitchen Walls: SR Inset, Catalina 275 A, Paint Grade, Glacier Shelves: Full Access, Estridge, Comp. Rift Cut White Oak, Natural

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Outdoor patio with gas fireplace that lives right off the kitchen. Perfect for hosting or being outside privately, as it's secluded from neighbors. Wood floors, cement walls with a cover.

Example of an island style sunroom design in Miami with a standard ceiling