Tying multiple floors together using 6”x36” dark grey wood-looking tile, laid on a staggered patterned worked well with the tile and concrete floors next to it. Two-toned cabinetry of wired brushed hickory with a grey stain wash, combined with maple wood in a dark slate finish is a current trend. Counter tops: combination of splashy granite and white Caesarstone grounded the display. A custom-designed table of ash wood, with heavy distressing and grey washed stain added warmth. Show custom features: Arched glass door cabinets with crown moulding to match. Unique Features: drawer in drawer for pot lids, pull out drawer in toe kick for dog dishes, toe space step stool, swing up mixer shelf, pull out spice storage. Built in Banquette seating with table and docking station for family meals and working. Custom open shelves and wine rack with detailed legs anchor the three sides of the island. Backsplash rail with spice rack, knife and utensil holder add more storage space. A floating soffit matches the shape of island and helps lower the showroom ceiling height to what would be found in a normal home. It includes: pendant lights for the snack bar, chandelier for the table and recess for task lights over the sink. The large triangular shaped island has eleven foot legs. It fills the unusual space and creates three separate areas: a work space, snack bar/room divider and table area.

Grey Giraffe
Example of a trendy side yard concrete patio design in Salt Lake City with a fireplace and no cover

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Alan & Linda Detrick Photography
This is an example of a traditional water fountain landscape in Newark.

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Large modern porcelain tile, gray floor and white two-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Tampa with multicolored walls and a glass front door

Example of a trendy brown two-story glass flat roof design in Austin

Brad Caricofe
Inspiration for a victorian pool remodel in DC Metro

The previously modest entry is now highlighted by an enlarged entry door with exterior lights and a wide stepping stone path. New window openings were delicately created to provide a dynamic composition.

Photo of a mid-sized asian concrete floor and gray floor landscaping in Seattle with a glass front door and gray walls.

Example of a mountain style guest wallpaper kids' room design

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Inspiration for a large transitional three-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Salt Lake City with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Mixing stone and paver colours and textures to create this dynamic patio and stairs with classy curves.
Photo of a victorian landscaping in Toronto.

Multiple step tray ceiling with integral light cove.
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Double shower - mid-sized modern master porcelain tile and beige tile porcelain tile and brown floor double shower idea with multicolored walls and a hinged shower door

Renovating a kitchen in an old house the challenge is always space. This was solved in this case by adding an addition for a bay window and recessed the clean up sink into the space. The window was raised by 10” over the standard height in order to increase natural light. The refrigerator wall was pushed 24” into the adjacent space which created the proper spacing for island and walkways, as well as centering the island on the adjacent dining room. Ample space and symmetry were achieved through this renovation. Richly hued traditional kitchen achieved through warm wood custom cabinetry and multiple levels of light. Under cabinet down lighting as well as recessed task lighting and stepped up ceiling with up lighting all combine to give warm and vibrancy to this historic home. A large center island provides prep space and seating while a bank of natural windows at the sink wall gives ample natural light.

The picture perfect home
Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

  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