FIRST PLACE 2018 ASID DESIGN OVATION AWARD / MASTER BATH OVER $50,000. In addition to a much-needed update, the clients desired a spa-like environment for their Master Bath. Sea Pearl Quartzite slabs were used on an entire wall and around the vanity and served as this ethereal palette inspiration. Luxuries include a soaking tub, decorative lighting, heated floor, towel warmers and bidet. Michael Hunter

Michael Hsu
Example of a large trendy living room design in Austin

This master bedroom is the picture of tranquility. The cool paint colors along with the marble bathroom and neutral furniture give you the sense of being at the spa. The abstract chocolate and blue rug is the key element that brings all of the components together. The custom window treatments and bedding were created by Custom Interior Solutions especially for this space. Michael Hunter Photography

FIRST PLACE 2018 ASID DESIGN OVATION AWARD / MASTER BATH OVER $50,000. In addition to a much-needed update, the clients desired a spa-like environment for their Master Bath. Sea Pearl Quartzite slabs were used on an entire wall and around the vanity and served as this ethereal palette inspiration. Luxuries include a soaking tub, decorative lighting, heated floor, towel warmers and bidet. Michael Hunter

  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

  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

A coastal kitchen with organic hues and blue accents, creating a welcoming and vibrant space.
Example of a large beach style l-shaped light wood floor and white floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Arched brick ceiling with a custom made light fixture. The owners found the parts for this light fixture over the island and had a local artist create this one of a kind fixture. The table with the seating is made from an old bowling alley lane. The pin placement marks can still be seen on the table top. The table is free standing so it can be moved off the island if desired. A reclaimed scupper box is the transition piece from the range hood to the duct work with red accent paint. Peter Nilson Photography

Grey Crawford
Example of a mid-sized classic master dark wood floor bedroom design in Orange County

Bedroom
Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian master carpeted bedroom remodel in Chicago with blue walls

©2014, MARS Photo and Design/Michael Raffin. All rights reserved.
Example of a huge classic formal and open concept dark wood floor living room design in Detroit with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Michael J. Lee Photography for DESIGN NEW ENGLAND magazine
Inspiration for a large timeless home bar remodel in Boston

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Collaborations with builders on new construction is a favorite part of my job. I love seeing a house go up from the blueprints to the end of the build. It is always a journey filled with a thousand decisions, some creative on-the-spot thinking and yes, usually a few stressful moments. This Naperville project was a collaboration with a local builder and architect. The Kitchen Studio collaborated by completing the cabinetry design and final layout for the entire home. Around the corner is the home office that is painted a custom color to match the cabinetry. The wall of cabinetry along the back of the room features a roll out printer cabinet, along with drawers and open shelving for books and display. We are pretty sure a lot of work must get done in here with all these handy features! If you are building a new home, The Kitchen Studio can offer expert help to make the most of your new construction home. We provide the expertise needed to ensure that you are getting the most of your investment when it comes to cabinetry, design and storage solutions. Give us a call if you would like to find out more! Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Builder: Hampton Homes Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Using ivory stacked stone and sheet rock to cover and create space for the wall mounted TV, the fireplace was transformed from an eyesore to an asset in this ethereal retreat. Luxe Master Bedroom by Dona Rosene Interiors. Photos by Michael Hunter.

This kitchen, designed by Mel Elion, is on display in Bilotta’s Mamaroneck showroom, their headquarters since 1985. It features an inset cabinet in a white paint except for the bar area which is cherry with a stain. The cabinetry is all by Signature Custom Cabinetry. The backsplash is by Artistic Tile – their Coltrane Cream Jazz Glass on the range and sink wall and Foliage Mosaic in Coltrane Cream for the bar area. Perimeter countertops are Taj Mahal and the island is Brazilian Cherry. The sink and faucet are by Franke and appliances are by Viking and Viking Pro. The floor is a reclaimed wood, from Rye Ridge Tile and the wallpaper a recycled grass cloth. All accessories are by Michael Aram. Photographer: Peter Rymwid

Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a timeless dining room remodel in Boston

Michael J. Lee Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

This kitchen just needed a little freshening up. We painted all the cabinetry and replaced bead board on the vent hood and the island with a vertical shiplap application. The island is highlighted by the amazing granite. Photos by Michael Hunter Photography

Shelly Miller Leer
Inspiration for an eclectic home design remodel in Indianapolis