Elegant black and silver metallic newly-scaled damask wallpaper updates and creates the backdrop for drama in the Entry. The front doors were painted black, new marble floor tile installed and a contemporary version of a traditional style silver-leafed chandelier completed the stage for the mirrored, black and silver furnishings. Photos by Michael Hunter

The elegant white cabinetry is contrasted by a dark mahogany island. The walls are covered in a herringbone patterned stone mosaic. Photograph © Michael Wilkinson Photography

Michael Terrell
Example of a large classic walk-out carpeted basement design in St Louis

The master bath features a two-person sized shower with adjacent water closet with a large double-sink vanity loaded with storage.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master beige tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

The dining room was formerly the living room. To the left of the fireplace is a set of double glass doors into the office with a new chevron tile floor. The mantel was redesigned to match the more modern vibe of the house. Photography by Michael J. Lefebvre

Example of a classic kitchen design in Milwaukee

  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

Michael J. Lee
Example of a mid-sized transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design in Boston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Michael J Lee
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Boston

Turned an empty, unused formal living room into a hip bourbon bar and library lounge for a couple who relocated to DFW from Louisville, KY. They wanted a place they could entertain friends or just hang out and relax with a cocktail or a good book. We added the wet bar and library shelves, and kept things modern and warm, with a wink to the prohibition era. The formerly deserted room is now their favorite spot. Photos by Michael Hunter Photography

Interior Design Consultant: Gary Cruz, Gary Cruz Studio. Architecture/Interior Design: Amanda Martocchio Architecture + Design LLC. Photography: Michael Moran

Elms Interior Design Photography by Michael J. Lee
Mid-sized transitional boy carpeted, blue floor and vaulted ceiling kids' room photo in Boston with white walls

Interior Design: Liz Stiving-Nicholas Architecture: Estes Twombly Titrington Photographer: Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a coastal bedroom remodel in Boston

Michael J. Lee
Family room - mid-sized transitional enclosed light wood floor family room idea in Boston with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and multicolored walls

Elms Interior Design Photography by Michael J. Lee
Example of a small transitional kids' mosaic tile floor, blue floor and single-sink bathroom design in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops, a floating vanity and an undermount sink

Photography by Michael J. Lee Photography
Kids' room - mid-sized contemporary carpeted and gray floor kids' room idea in Boston with multicolored walls

Elms Interior Design Photography by Michael J. Lee
Example of a small transitional wallpaper powder room design in Boston with blue cabinets, pink walls, a wall-mount sink, concrete countertops, blue countertops and a floating vanity

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in Raleigh

Elms Interior Design Photography by Michael J. Lee
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized transitional light wood floor, wallpaper and beige floor enclosed dining room idea in Boston with blue walls and no fireplace