Monterey Ranchero hardwood flooring in a kitchen by Hallmark Floors. Rustic contemporary kitchen design with Monterey engineered wood floors. Capture the beauty of hardwood in this open kitchen with a combination of tradition and rustic design. The medium engineered hardwood floors by Hallmark Floors, adds a rustic visual to this beautiful kitchen. Creating a New demand for random width, by using tomorrows technology, has lead to the development of the Monterey Hardwood Collection. Available in maple and hickory, with a combined width of 4”, 6”, and 8” and random lengths up to 6’. Using proprietary Trueslice® technology, Hallmark is producing a very stable 2mm sliced face on a 1/2” thick (total) engineered plank making it simply savvy. www.hallmarkfloors.com

This space was transformed from a long narrow dark dangerous bathroom into a beautiful serene comfortable space.
Small elegant master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile claw-foot bathtub photo in Denver with a vessel sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Soft Shades (Special Aluminum track (top of the line) with velcro attachment (for easy adjustment, cleaning and maintenance - Beaded Chain puller (no dangerous cord)

The home previously had a massive, difficult to maintain pond that was 4-6' deep and a danger to the owners young grandkids. We removed that and added water but in a different configuration. A unique fish totem pole.

Bedroom - transitional carpeted bedroom idea in Phoenix with gray walls

Study room - industrial freestanding desk light wood floor study room idea in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Madeline Tolle
Example of a large classic gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor nursery design in Los Angeles with gray walls

An experienced green builder is always aware of the danger moisture can play on the livability and the durability of a home. A quality bathroom exhaust fan can make all the difference.

  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 homeowner had a long and dangerous stairs from the street level down to the house. We provided strategically placed lighting all the way from the street level down to the bottom patio in front of their home. Not only did it vastly increase safety, but created a wonderfully warm and inviting entrance to their home.

We renovated the existing patio and pool deck, replacing failed concrete slabs and increasing some areas. Added the gravel patio and landscaping. Updated the pool equipment. Replaced railings. Graded and sodded the yard. Renovated patio the was cracking and replaced cracking pool deck that had dangerous loose stones.

Utensil organizer eliminates that dangerous drawer of assorted sharp objects you must blindly sift through to find that one utensil. Cuts down on bandaid inventory.

Aquascape by Blue Creek
Inspiration for a contemporary hillside water fountain landscape in Seattle.

Example of a mountain style front door design in Atlanta with a glass front door

Natural stone slabs create stairways as beautiful as they are practical.
Design ideas for a large eclectic drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard stone landscaping in Denver with a fire pit for spring.

Eliminated old Jacuzzi tub, too hard to enter & dangerous. Created separate water closet with lots of storage. Large walk in shower with all the amenities. Room for island/vanity for make-up. Up dated color pallet.

Example of a mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and gray floor game room design in Orange County with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv