Jen Gramling
Example of a large mountain style master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Denver with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Sliding Gate with Horizontal Slats with Matching Panel and Pedestrian Gate.
Inspiration for a large modern exterior home remodel in Austin

Inspiration for a large contemporary wine cellar remodel in Dallas with storage racks

APD was hired to update the primary bathroom and laundry room of this ranch style family home. Included was a request to add a powder bathroom where one previously did not exist to help ease the chaos for the young family. The design team took a little space here and a little space there, coming up with a reconfigured layout including an enlarged primary bathroom with large walk-in shower, a jewel box powder bath, and a refreshed laundry room including a dog bath for the family’s four legged member!

This is an example of a mid-sized modern shade front yard concrete paver driveway in Seattle.

Example of a large transitional women's dark wood floor walk-in closet design in Montreal with glass-front cabinets and white cabinets

We added a hidden shower niche on the knee wall of the shower enclosure to store most of the bottles. We also strategically placed the shower faucet on this half wall so the homeowner could stand outside the shower to turn the water on and let the water warm up- as opposed to entering the shower, turning the water on and quickly existing without getting wet.

  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

Francis Combes
Alcove bathtub - small contemporary master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove bathtub idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

Kerry Schutz Photography
Design ideas for a transitional backyard landscaping in Bridgeport.

Inspiration for a mediterranean wooden curved staircase remodel in Los Angeles with tile risers

The intricate Carrera and black basketweave tie the spaces together. Gus Cantavero Photography
Elegant home design photo in New York

Building Design, Plans, and Interior Finishes by: Fluidesign Studio I Builder: Structural Dimensions Inc. I Photographer: Seth Benn Photography
Mid-sized elegant master gray tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor double shower photo in Minneapolis with furniture-like cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Huge transitional master beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile double shower photo in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, an undermount tub, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink and white walls

Modern home front entry features a voice over Internet Protocol Intercom Device to interface with the home's Crestron control system for voice communication at both the front door and gate. Signature Estate featuring modern, warm, and clean-line design, with total custom details and finishes. The front includes a serene and impressive atrium foyer with two-story floor to ceiling glass walls and multi-level fire/water fountains on either side of the grand bronze aluminum pivot entry door. Elegant extra-large 47'' imported white porcelain tile runs seamlessly to the rear exterior pool deck, and a dark stained oak wood is found on the stairway treads and second floor. The great room has an incredible Neolith onyx wall and see-through linear gas fireplace and is appointed perfectly for views of the zero edge pool and waterway. The center spine stainless steel staircase has a smoked glass railing and wood handrail. Photo courtesy Royal Palm Properties

Huge mountain style wine cellar photo with display racks

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in New York

Contemporary ranch kitchen features automated lighting control and in-ceiling speakers all controlled by an in-wall touchpanel. Crestron controls all subsystems in this residence. Audio, Video, Lighting, Shades, HVAC

Photo by Shanna Hickman
Transitional master porcelain tile porcelain tile and double-sink freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and flat-panel cabinets