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

Elegant living room photo in St Louis

Six gallery frames that play together nicely. Shown here in Silk White, this grouping is ideal for a child's room. Of course, you'll want to hang them out of reach of curious little hands, but it's nice to know that our heavy duty button hanger is nice & secure. Change the photos whenever you like – in seconds – and store them all in back! This group of six frames holds up to 80 of your favorite photos (or art prints!), so have fun switching things up as they grow! You can set up this gallery - start to finish - faster than you can watch an episode of Dora the Explorer. All you'll need's a hammer (we even supply the tape).

Courtesy Southern Living, a division of Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. Southern Living is a registered trademark and is used with permission. front
Inspiration for a coastal beige one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

This traditional American Craftsman style home is delivered with the highest standard of skill distinctive of every Desert Star Construction home. Architect: Oz Architects Interiors: Oz Architects Landscape Architect: Berghoff Design Group Photography: Mark Boisclair

Colorful plant combinations and groupings along a decomposed pathway in a San Anselmo garden in northern California. Phormiums, native Penstemon, Snow in Summer, Lambs Ears and other colorful plants create a beautiful low-water tapestry of plant groupings. Photo and Design: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Example of a trendy pool design in Phoenix

Exclusively available at Menards, 9286 Carrara Pearl is a clean yet beautifully detailed CustomCraft Countertop™ that will instantly brighten your kitchen, and create an inviting environment. Order a free sample, now. Also a decorative Ogee Edge is the perfect accent to finish off your dream kitchen.

Mid-sized country medium tone wood floor bathroom photo in Charleston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray walls, marble countertops and brown cabinets

Williamson Photography
Kitchen pantry - coastal dark wood floor kitchen pantry idea in Other

Study room - contemporary built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room idea in New York

Cantoni is Designer's Choice for this Palatial Home in South Carolina. Cantoni partners on many projects with architects, interior designers, developers, realtors and others in the trade. The featured project in this eNewsletter is a spectacular example of a recent partnering between Susan Sentell ASID, Beaux Monde, Inc., Cumming, Georgia, and Design Consultant Kohl Sudnikovich of Cantoni Atlanta. While inspired by classic Italian architecture, this palatial home is not in the foothills of Italy’s Apennines but in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina. When we saw the images of this stunning home and what went into planning and executing its interiors, I thought: here’s a perfect illustration of Cantoni’s branding theme: Great Design Is A Way of Life. Design isn’t just something cosmetic, something tacked on, but the very essence of a residence’s personality and of the personality of the people who make the house a home. This sensational South Carolina project is a superb example of Cantoni’s Great Design theme brought to life. According to Kohl, Cantoni’s involvement kicked in when Susan, whom he’d worked with before, contacted him to consult on furniture collections that would help her fulfill her and her client’s overall design theme. Susan says, "This is a 5,800-sq. ft. new construction designed by a prestigious national architectural group. Given the Mediterranean-influenced elevation and the client’s wish for an airy, Italian-contemporary interior treatment I felt Cantoni was the best source for furnishing some of the main rooms. "The theme of our project we called, ‘The Goddess House’ for its ethereal look and feel– open, warm, free, filled with light and natural colors, flowing with sophisticated detail. I felt Cantoni was the right choice to help us carry out the theme. I knew Cantoni not only for its Italian design but for the quality of its products and depth and breadth of its selection. "After creating furniture plans and the overall palette, I contacted Kohl and asked him to consult with us on Cantoni pieces that would realize our plans for the living room, dining room, master bedroom, media room and outdoor. "The finished product is a beautiful example of what you can achieve when the vision of the client and the skills of the design team are in alignment. I think the feeling you get in this home is a manifestation of that harmony.” Thanks so much to Susan for choosing Cantoni and for her client for generously allowing us to show the interiors of the rooms with Cantoni product. And good job Kohl and the Cantoni Atlanta team for your efforts–not the least of which were the logistics involved in delivery and installation, this home being a great distance from Atlanta. Great Design IS a Way of Life. That theme works at many levels: alluding to our clients’ tastes and dreams and sophistication, the product itself, and the creative talents of the designers.

This custom home is derived from Chinese symbolism. The color red symbolizes luck, happiness and joy in the Chinese culture. The number 8 is the most prosperous number in Chinese culture. A custom 8 branch tree is showcased on an island in the pool and a red wall serves as the background for this piece of art. The home was designed in a L-shape to take advantage of the lake view from all areas of the home. The open floor plan features indoor/outdoor living with a generous lanai, three balconies and sliding glass walls that transform the home into a single indoor/outdoor space. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Phil Kean Design Group Designer: Phil Kean Design Group From: Winter Park, Florida

This 1966 contemporary home was completely renovated into a beautiful, functional home with an up-to-date floor plan more fitting for the way families live today. Removing all of the existing kitchen walls created the open concept floor plan. Adding an addition to the back of the house extended the family room. The first floor was also reconfigured to add a mudroom/laundry room and the first floor powder room was transformed into a full bath. A true master suite with spa inspired bath and walk-in closet was made possible by reconfiguring the existing space and adding an addition to the front of the house.

Example of a cottage open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a transitional u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Richmond with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large beach style open concept light wood floor family room design in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a tile fireplace

The client wanted to create a traditional rustic design with clean lines and a feminine edge. She works from her home office, so she needed it to be functional and organized with elegant and timeless lines. In the kitchen, we removed the peninsula that separated it for the breakfast room and kitchen, to create better flow and unity throughout the space.

Photographer: Bob Narod
Example of a large transitional look-out brown floor and laminate floor basement design in DC Metro with multicolored walls