The basement bathroom had all sorts of quirkiness to it. The vanity was too small for a couple of growing kids, the shower was a corner shower and had a storage cabinet incorporated into the wall that was almost too tall to put anything into. This space was in need of a over haul. We updated the bathroom with a wall to wall shower, light bright paint, wood tile floors, vanity lights, and a big enough vanity for growing kids. The space is in a basement meaning that the walls were not tall. So we continued the tile and the mirror to the ceiling. This bathroom did not have any natural light and so it was important to have to make the bathroom light and bright. We added the glossy tile to reflect the ceiling and vanity lights.

Newly remodeled girls bedroom with wallpaper, closet doors, trim, paint, lighting, and new loop wall to wall carpet. Queen bed with ruffled linen bedding and vintage coverlet. Photo by Emily Kennedy Photography.

This project was completed for clients who wanted a comfortable, accessible 1ST floor bathroom for their grown daughter to use during visits to their home as well as a nicely-appointed space for any guest. Their daughter has some accessibility challenges so the bathroom was also designed with that in mind. The original space worked fairly well in some ways, but we were able to tweak a few features to make the space even easier to maneuver through. We started by making the entry to the shower flush so that there is no curb to step over. In addition, although there was an existing oversized seat in the shower, it was way too deep and not comfortable to sit on and just wasted space. We made the shower a little smaller and then provided a fold down teak seat that is slip resistant, warm and comfortable to sit on and can flip down only when needed. Thus we were able to create some additional storage by way of open shelving to the left of the shower area. The open shelving matches the wood vanity and allows a spot for the homeowners to display heirlooms as well as practical storage for things like towels and other bath necessities. We carefully measured all the existing heights and locations of countertops, toilet seat, and grab bars to make sure that we did not undo the things that were already working well. We added some additional hidden grab bars or “grabcessories” at the toilet paper holder and shower shelf for an extra layer of assurance. Large format, slip-resistant floor tile was added eliminating as many grout lines as possible making the surface less prone to tripping. We used a wood look tile as an accent on the walls, and open storage in the vanity allowing for easy access for clean towels. Bronze fixtures and frameless glass shower doors add an elegant yet homey feel that was important for the homeowner. A pivot mirror allows adjustability for different users. If you are interested in designing a bathroom featuring “Living In Place” or accessibility features, give us a call to find out more. Susan Klimala, CKBD, is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) and particularly enjoys helping her clients with unique needs in the context of beautifully designed spaces. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel

Reminiscent of a villa in south of France, this Old World yet still sophisticated home are what the client had dreamed of. The home was newly built to the client’s specifications. The wood tone kitchen cabinets are made of butternut wood, instantly warming the atmosphere. The perimeter and island cabinets are painted and captivating against the limestone counter tops. A custom steel hammered hood and Apex wood flooring (Downers Grove, IL) bring this room to an artful balance. Project specs: Sub Zero integrated refrigerator and Wolf 36” range Interior Design by Tony Stavish, A.W. Stavish Designs Craig Dugan - Photographer

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2014 Houzz
Dining room - eclectic dining room idea in Dallas

Spacious laundry room with washer/dryer hook ups. Ken Robinson Photography
Home design - small contemporary home design idea in Nashville

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard patio kitchen design in Los Angeles with decking and a roof extension

The upstairs hallway uses clean white trim to tie everything together. John Wilbanks Photography
Hallway - craftsman hallway idea in Seattle

Example of a cottage kitchen design in Portland

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Austin

Photography by: Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

View of hallway leading to the kitchen from the main living space. Arched openings connect the two spaces. The arched opening to the left leads to the powder room and is wrapped in white painted wood trim and casing. Photo by Marcel Page Photography

Kim Jeffery Photographer www.kimjeffery.com
Inspiration for a small transitional beige tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, a one-piece toilet and white walls

KMSalter Design
Single front door - small transitional medium tone wood floor single front door idea in Toronto with gray walls and a gray front door

Absolutely stunning warm wood contemporary kitchen featuring full mirrored tile back splash focal point. Expansive layout with loads of pantry storage and counter top work space. Separate hidden breakfast bar and dinette server.

Powder room - mid-sized transitional ceramic tile and black floor powder room idea in Boston with furniture-like cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, black walls, a console sink, marble countertops and gray countertops

Example of a large arts and crafts u-shaped travertine floor dedicated laundry room design in Portland with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, beige walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray countertops

Close up view of the appliance wall featuring wood panels on the refrigerator with a flush installation. Wall cabinets are counter-standing with glass fronts and X-mullion doors. Interior lighting can be seen on wall cabinets. All cabinets are inset and feature the Alexandria Recessed door style on Maple with an Opaque Putty finish. Flooring by Crossville.