The center piece of the master bedroom is the oversized modern painting in hues of orange, blues and the neutrals. The beauty of the "Christopher Guy" bed is its extreme simplicity, tufted white headboard with a hand knotted carved piece. The "Hickory Chair" white nightstands compliment the free flowing lines of the bed. Crystal lamps and chandelier enhance but does not interfere with the design of the room. A "Hickory Chair" loveseat and custom oval ottoman continue with the philosophy of the space. Photography By: Claudia Uribe

  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

Robyn Hayley
Example of a trendy dining room design in Dallas

This 50 square foot bathroom features a corner shower and a "L" shaped furniture styled vanity. LED lighting concealed underneath the vanity is activated by a motion sensor located near the bathroom door. The pocket door entrance into the bathroom eliminates door interference with the nearby frame-less shower enclosure.

Utah Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Space Photo - https://www.kaikenphotography.com/

Large minimalist deck photo in Vancouver

This is an example of a craftsman landscaping in Indianapolis.

This home, set at the end of a long, private driveway, is far more than meets the eye. Built in three sections and connected by two breezeways, the home’s setting takes full advantage of the clean ocean air. Set back from the water on an open plot, its lush lawn is bordered by fieldstone walls that lead to an ocean cove. The hideaway calms the mind and spirit, not only by its privacy from the noise of daily life, but through well-chosen elements, clean lines, and a bright, cheerful feel throughout. The interior is show-stopping, covered almost entirely in clear, vertical-grain fir—most of which was source from the same place. From the flooring to the walls, columns, staircases and ceiling beams, this special, tight-grain wood brightens every room in the home. At just over 3,000 feet of living area, storage and smart use of space was a huge consideration in the creation of this home. For example, the mudroom and living room were both built with expansive window seating with storage beneath. Built-in drawers and cabinets can also be found throughout, yet never interfere with the distinctly uncluttered feel of the rooms. The homeowners wanted the home to fit in as naturally as possible with the Cape Cod landscape, and also desired a feeling of virtual seamlessness between the indoors and out, resulting in an abundance of windows and doors throughout. This home has high performance windows, which are rated to withstand hurricane-force winds and impact rated against wind-borne debris. The 24-foot skylight, which was installed by crane, consists of six independently mechanized shades operating in unison. The open kitchen blends in with the home’s great room, and includes a Sub Zero refrigerator and a Wolf stove. Eco-friendly features in the home include low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets in the bathrooms, and an energy recovery ventilation system, which conditions and improves indoor air quality. Other natural materials incorporated for the home included a variety of stone, including bluestone and boulders. Hand-made ceramic tiles were used for the bathroom showers, and the kitchen counters are covered in granite – eye-catching and long-lasting.

modern farmhouse bathroom
Small 3/4 white tile single-sink bathroom photo in Orange County with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops and a freestanding vanity

Greg Scott Makinen
This is an example of a mid-sized craftsman front porch design in Boise with a roof extension.

The father, son and daughter all enjoyed collaborating on this project but it was the father and son who greatly influenced the feel of the shared living space by creating their very own masculine imprint here. The father did not interfere with choices his children made in their own bedrooms but wanted to make his own mark in the living area by encouraging the use of red colour and the aeroplane engine coffee table.

White porcelain farm style sink dominates your counter. Black granite on white sink snaps the contrast. The cabinetry with light finish doesn't interfere or steal any attention. Beadboard walls continue the Shaker farmhouse style.

Photography Kristin Sjaarda
Example of a dining room design in Toronto

White wooden blinds are very functional for light control and blend in, leaving focus on the Stikwood. Under cabinet lighting is excellent for featuring artwork. I like to place small art pieces against the backsplash to use the light, if it doesn't interfere with function. They give this room personality. Photography by J. Tom Archuleta.

This stylish women's closet features hanging space for clothes and adjacent open shelving in a two-tone Italian woodgrain finish. The custom shelving compartments add character and provide a finished look for this beautifully efficient master walk-in closet.

This 50 square foot bathroom features a corner shower and a "L" shaped furniture styled vanity. LED lighting concealed underneath the vanity is activated by a motion sensor located near the bathroom door. The pocket door entrance into the bathroom eliminates door interference with the nearby frame-less shower enclosure.

View of parkland from deck. Notice how the windows open. The lower panel opens for ventilation and by being lower, does not interfere with view to the outside. Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography LLC

Small modern galley kitchen remodel in a 350 square foot apartment in the East Village, New York City. Kitchen is open to the living room. Custom white gloss cabinets by MyHome. Frosty Carina/Caesarstone counters. White subway tile backsplash. Stainless steel appliances. Bertazzoni 24” oven. Designed, installed and all materials sourced by MyHome.

The large veranda connects to the garage via a covered walkway. Beautiful eggshell pillars and moulding frame the huge sliding patio doors that cover the entire back wall of the home. Ideally situated in Southpark, the Bridge is a scenic gated community consisting of seven custom homesites, each with its own distinctive character. Build a completely custom home or purchase an existing home designed by our award-winning team. In either case, every Chelsea home is constructed to the highest standards and will meet the exacting Diamond level of Environments for Living. Credit: Julie Legge