Patricia Lee, Tailorly Home LLC Closet Office built by https://www.theoneoffshop.net

  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

The three-level Mediterranean revival home started as a 1930s summer cottage that expanded downward and upward over time. We used a clean, crisp white wall plaster with bronze hardware throughout the interiors to give the house continuity. A neutral color palette and minimalist furnishings create a sense of calm restraint. Subtle and nuanced textures and variations in tints add visual interest. The stair risers from the living room to the primary suite are hand-painted terra cotta tile in gray and off-white. We used the same tile resource in the kitchen for the island's toe kick.

Elegant light wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Houston

SUNDAYS IN PATTON PARK This elegant Hamilton, MA home, circa 1885, was constructed with high ceilings, a grand staircase, detailed moldings and stained glass. The character and charm allowed the current owners to overlook the antiquated systems, severely outdated kitchen and dysfunctional floor plan. The house hadn’t been touched in 50+ years but the potential was obvious. Putting their faith in us, we updated the systems, created a true master bath, relocated the pantry, added a half bath in place of the old pantry, installed a new kitchen and reworked the flow, all while maintaining the home’s original character and charm. Photo by Eric Roth

White sunroom addition with matching shingles. This a-frame sunroom has glass transoms, gable glass, and a glass kneewall, allowing in extra light at the top and bottom.

SUNDAYS IN PATTON PARK This elegant Hamilton, MA home, circa 1885, was constructed with high ceilings, a grand staircase, detailed moldings and stained glass. The character and charm allowed the current owners to overlook the antiquated systems, severely outdated kitchen and dysfunctional floor plan. The house hadn’t been touched in 50+ years but the potential was obvious. Putting their faith in us, we updated the systems, created a true master bath, relocated the pantry, added a half bath in place of the old pantry, installed a new kitchen and reworked the flow, all while maintaining the home’s original character and charm. Photo by Eric Roth

To Inspire Your Home~ Stunning Vintage Chic Desk/Vanity with mirror & accent chair *Redesign Inspiration: A stylish updated look to compliment most home decor. This vintage find would be a great accent piece for bloggers or staging. This find has so many potential just endless... * Hand Finished: Using Annie Sloan Graphite & Old White chalk paint with dark wax. . *Features: Four dovetailed spacious drawers with a classic chic distressing finish. This find top is at a comfortable work height while allowing for plenty of leg room. This stunning find could be used as a hallway piece without the mirror. Measures: 38" w x 18"d x 30 "h without the mirror 59" h with mirror. By; Saunders Design

Our clients came to us with a desire to completely renovate their master bathroom and enlarge the shower. We were able to double the size of the shower in width by taking space from an adjacent room. By not including a shower door, we were able to maximize the full potential of the space. An off set vanity bowl allowed us to provided four functional drawers for plenty of storage. Using a lighter tile in the shower and the floor we were able to create an interesting contrast in the vanity and granite. The bathroom fixtures in the Venetian Bronze was and excellent finish to this elegant master bathroom. Photographer: Ilona Kalimov

Photos by Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS
Example of a small urban master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile walk-in shower design in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, a wall-mount toilet and white walls

Talking about a BIG transformation! This kitchen was spacious but it felt that the area was not being used to its full potential. Removing the entire pantry and oven wall, allowed us to open up the space in order to accommodate a large island and two big pantry cabinets. The cooktop was moved to the perimeter of the kitchen and not only that created a focal point with the beautiful hood and tile work but also freed the large island that now can be used for prep, serve or eat or all of them at the same time. I just love to compare the before and after pictures of this kitchen!

SUNDAYS IN PATTON PARK This elegant Hamilton, MA home, circa 1885, was constructed with high ceilings, a grand staircase, detailed moldings and stained glass. The character and charm allowed the current owners to overlook the antiquated systems, severely outdated kitchen and dysfunctional floor plan. The house hadn’t been touched in 50+ years but the potential was obvious. Putting their faith in us, we updated the systems, created a true master bath, relocated the pantry, added a half bath in place of the old pantry, installed a new kitchen and reworked the flow, all while maintaining the home’s original character and charm. Photo by Eric Roth

SUNDAYS IN PATTON PARK This elegant Hamilton, MA home, circa 1885, was constructed with high ceilings, a grand staircase, detailed moldings and stained glass. The character and charm allowed the current owners to overlook the antiquated systems, severely outdated kitchen and dysfunctional floor plan. The house hadn’t been touched in 50+ years but the potential was obvious. Putting their faith in us, we updated the systems, created a true master bath, relocated the pantry, added a half bath in place of the old pantry, installed a new kitchen and reworked the flow, all while maintaining the home’s original character and charm. Photo by Eric Roth

Emily Minton Redfield
Home studio - mid-sized traditional freestanding desk dark wood floor home studio idea in St Louis with beige walls

Lori Hamilton Photography
Example of a mid-sized classic dark wood floor and red floor hallway design in Miami with blue walls

This Contemporary Cape Cod style vacation home was designed for the tiniest lot. Thorough knowledge of the Municipal Code, and creative design allowed the site its maximum potential and a spacious, expansive feeling home. Exterior Design, Design Development, Variance Permit Documents and Construction Documents by Maureen Dant. Architect of Record, Mark Lyon. Constructed by Ray Bailey Construction.

The goal for this mid-century home was to exploit the best features of the property, taking advantage of views, the dramatic light, the potential for an incredible indoor-outdoor experience and the mid-century bones of the house. When we first visited the property, I was struck by the potential for a beautiful mountain view that was currently cut off by a low ceiling height in the main living area. Raising the roof of the main living area became the largest gesture in our scope of work. The former chopped-up side entry and tiny kitchen were combined to make a long, generous kitchen and built-in banquette. The original rhombus-shaped pool was kept, restored and lined with Ann Sacks tiles. In the center of the action, we conceived a large floating desk surface suspended from a black metal screen to define the space and allow filtered light and views to pass between. The clients were drawn to clean lines, pared-down details and highly disciplined palettes of white, grey and matte black. We generally opted for deep, muted colors balanced with crisp white, adding textures to create patterns with the shifting daylight throughout the house. This soothing collection of finishes playing with light and shadow would achieve a peaceful and elegant home that would stand the test of time and honor the landscape of the surrounding area. ​ Photography: Douglas Friedman

Photography: Ira Montgomery
Example of a transitional living room design in Dallas

Architect: LM Studio, Los Angeles Interior Designer: Lane McCook & Associates, Los Angeles Landscape Architect: Nikila Rigby Ellis, Los Angeles
Example of a trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround