Outdoor lighting that automatically rises slowly at dusk and lighting that illuminates your way through the mud hall and into the kitchen when the garage door opens eliminates driving or walking into dark areas. Lighting controls can easily duplicate the appearance of occupancy in your home while you are away or eliminate a large bank of light switches with a single lighting keypad that controls a large area . . . we are experts in this field.

Small transitional open concept light wood floor family room photo in Charlotte with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

MRSTUDIO
Example of a trendy dark wood floor kitchen design in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white 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

The Majestic Series offers the only truly frameless enclosure in the industry. Our frameless enclosures are designed with solid brass pivot hinges, eliminating bulky metal headers or channels. Custom designs and solid brass construction enable GlassCrafters to extend a full lifetime warranty on the mechanical performance of our pivot hinges and hardware.

We gave these clients plenty of storage space in their open kitchen by installing a large linen closet with a built-in pantry as well as extra large cabinets. We also wanted to give their home a modern and trendy look, so for a contrast to the bright and airy design, we installed dark stained cabinets. Our clients were extremely happy with the end result as well as our ability to work around their busy schedules. Home located in South Loop, Chicago. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who also serve the Chicagoland area and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Evanston, Skokie, Humboldt Park, Wilmette, and all the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/south-loop-kitchen-renovation/

Walk on sunshine with Skyline Floorscapes' Ivory White Oak. This smooth operator of floors adds charm to any room. Its delightfully light tones will have you whistling while you work, play, or relax at home. This amazing reclaimed wood style is a perfect environmentally-friendly statement for a modern space, or it will match the design of an older house with its vintage style. The ivory color will brighten up any room. This engineered wood is extremely strong with nine layers and a 3mm wear layer of White Oak on top. The wood is handscraped, adding to the lived-in quality of the wood. This will make it look like it has been in your home all along. Each piece is 7.5-in. wide by 71-in. long by 5/8-in. thick in size. It comes with a 35-year finish warranty and a lifetime structural warranty. This is a real wood engineered flooring product made from white oak. It has a beautiful ivory color with hand scraped, reclaimed planks that are finished in oil. The planks have a tongue & groove construction that can be floated, glued or nailed down.

Inspiration for a huge contemporary single-wall dark wood floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, black backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and an island

Steve Greenberg
Mudroom - mid-sized craftsman ceramic tile mudroom idea in Boston with blue walls

Design structural beam to eliminate columns
Mid-sized mountain style medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo

RDS
Small elegant gender-neutral medium tone wood floor walk-in closet photo in Portland Maine with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

The entryway leads into the home with soft muted colors on the walls and original wainscot. The unfinished substrate of the staircase had been built originally with incorrect measurements. The stairs had to be completely deconstructed and rebuilt from the ground up. New stair risers and treads coordinate with decorative metal spindles and banisters. The dining room was converted to a home office and updated with fresh paint colors, lighting and the elimination of unutilized French doors. Photo Credit- Sharperphoto

Example of a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

New York baseboard molding is a study of the Art Deco period's regard for classic designs. New York's baseboard profile does not divert the eye: clean, horizontal lines define the contours of the room. This baseboard, with its streamlined designs and zigzag detail, complements any decor and is an ideal choice for any room in your home. Once New York baseboard is installed, the unique baseboard's design eliminates the need for the additional installation of shoe molding

Built-in bunks in the attic loft accomodate the children's slumber parties. Robert Benson Photography
Inspiration for a huge farmhouse master medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Mid-sized trendy light wood floor, white floor and shiplap wall living room photo with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tv stand

In many older homes in Seattle, closet space is in short supply. By opening up one wall in the "master" bedroom of this 1927 home (as shown in one of the project photos), we were able to provide the homeowners with a storage solution that didn't eat into any of the existing floor space. We modified Ikea cabinets to fit under the sloped roof, insulating the exterior wall at the same time. The homeowners were able to customize the interior of the closets to their liking.

Master suite in urban condo remodel. Light hardwood floor and light wood paneling on walls and tub surround. White drop-in soaking tub. Separate shower with light teal mosaic tile walls. Light wood floating vanity with stone counter. Black light fixture with exposed bulb.

View from the bathtub to the double vanities and out towards the bedroom. The shower and toilet are in a separate room behind the viewer. Photos by Brad Dickson