The tray ceiling painted in a contrasting color adds interest and a focal point in the master bedroom.
Inspiration for a large timeless master carpeted, brown floor and tray ceiling bedroom remodel in Indianapolis with yellow walls

Primary bedroom at Proper Terrace Penthouse condo. Custom integrated bed. Suspended nightstands. Bed wall in deep wire-brushed white oak with a burned and stained finish.

Living Room with 15' ceilings and Kitchen with 9' ceilings. White Oak floors.
Living room - large contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room idea in Chicago with white walls and no tv

  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

Bathroom - transitional master gray floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Raleigh with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Sleek and organic design with pebbles stone giving a natural look of a river walk running from the inside bathroom to the outdoor shower in a private patio. Design by Luz Marina Selles. Photos by Mike Small Photography.

Salty Lime Veneer gives an artistic yet sophisticated style to this contemporary reach-in closet. With floating shelves, lighting (hanging) rods, pullout bins and shoe storage, this custom closet provides the perfect blend of form and function.

Ashley Batz
Living room - large industrial open concept concrete floor living room idea in San Francisco with multicolored walls, no fireplace and no tv

Scott Johnson
Home office library - mid-sized traditional built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office library idea in Atlanta with a two-sided fireplace and gray walls

Inspiration for a large contemporary master porcelain tile and white floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Santa Barbara with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Example of a mid-sized classic master bathroom design with a two-piece toilet

Client had an existing deck and pergola off of the back of their home that was not properly built in the original construction. This caused sagging of some of the support beams and overall an unsafe structure. In order to give this a thicker and better look, we used 6X6 beams (instead of 4x4's) and properly bolted all members so that the structure did not move.

Rab Photography
Home bar - contemporary light wood floor home bar idea with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash and quartz countertops

Bender was able to take an old, closed in 1927 kitchen and transform it into an open transitional kitchen that functions properly for a 2014 family. Durable and washable cabinets make for ease of use, while sealed marble countertops give this space a luxurious feel. Photo Credit: Jim Fuhrmann

Architect: Sarah Susanka, AIA Photography: Jim Westphalen A seamless flow of overlapping color, textures and patterns guides you from one outdoor space to another. An integrated mix of local stone throughout: Vermont red and green slate patios, fieldstone walls and stepping stone paths, granite boulder sculptures from the land, river rock-lined drip edges. Low sculpted wood-stemmed plants and lush groundcovers, mostly cultivars of indigenous species. Moss-filled joints in the patios, groundcover draping over stone, thyme along edges of walls.

Walk-in shower - small transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor walk-in shower idea in Vancouver with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Beach style master light wood floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with blue walls and no fireplace

Master Bedroom Closet
Walk-in closet - large traditional women's medium tone wood floor walk-in closet idea in Orlando with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Kids' bedroom - bedroom traditional kids' bedroom idea in New York with multicolored walls