Set on a historic street in Logan Square, this brick foursquare home brims with carefully restored original character—lots of woodwork, stained glass, and even its century-old dining room light fixture. Our clients wanted to bring that same richness into their furnishings, creating a design forward family space that could stand up against two young boys and a pooch. Bold choices set the tone: a wallpapered dining room ceiling, a custom upholstered curved sofa, and a sculptural headboard in the primary bedroom. Thoughtful lighting, vintage and custom rugs, and that perfect amount of patina help bridge the gap between old and new. The result is a home that honors its bones while embracing a design forward spirit that doesn't feel too precious.

Haris Kenjar http://www.hariskenjar.com/

Example of a mid-sized transitional 3/4 beige tile and ceramic tile marble floor, multicolored floor, single-sink and wainscoting bathroom design in Seattle with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

Danish carpeted living room photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped concrete floor and gray floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a large transitional light wood floor and brown floor home bar design in Other

© Hester Barnard - http://ctrlcreativestudio.com/
Large trendy two-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Toronto with a shed roof

This 1914 family farmhouse was passed down from the original owners to their grandson and his young family. The original goal was to restore the old home to its former glory. However, when we started planning the remodel, we discovered the foundation needed to be replaced, the roof framing didn’t meet code, all the electrical, plumbing and mechanical would have to be removed, siding replaced, and much more. We quickly realized that instead of restoring the home, it would be more cost effective to deconstruct the home, recycle the materials, and build a replica of the old house using as much of the salvaged materials as we could. The design of the new construction is greatly influenced by the old home with traditional craftsman design interiors. We worked with a deconstruction specialist to salvage the old-growth timber and reused or re-purposed many of the original materials. We moved the house back on the property, connecting it to the existing garage, and lowered the elevation of the home which made it more accessible to the existing grades. The new home includes 5-panel doors, columned archways, tall baseboards, reused wood for architectural highlights in the kitchen, a food-preservation room, exercise room, playful wallpaper in the guest bath and fun era-specific fixtures throughout.

Keith LeBlanc
Mid-sized minimalist backyard deck photo in Boston with no cover

David Lauer Photography
1950s light wood floor great room photo in Denver with white walls

A living room in the Oakland Hills for a family with two young kids. The goal was simple: sophisticated enough for the adults, relaxed enough for real life. Dark painted built-ins anchor the space with quiet drama, while a fuzzy rug, playful organic lighting, and family-friendly fabrics keep it warm, approachable, and never too precious to use.

Primary bathroom renovation in Bay Creek, Cape Charles, Virginia. Designed as a serene coastal retreat, this timeless bathroom features custom white oak vanities, shiplap wall detailing, marble-inspired flooring, and a hand-glazed blue and green tile shower inspired by the surrounding bay. Champagne bronze fixtures add warmth and refinement, while integrated storage enhances everyday functionality. Soft coastal tones, natural materials, and thoughtful details create a relaxing, light-filled space that balances luxury, comfort, and practicality.

Living room - country open concept living room idea in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Farmhouse enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in Atlanta with green walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

mid century modern vintage table, leather chairs, mustard accent chairs, herringbone pattern cow hide rug, brass with clear glass (arms), Century ceiling medallion, giant fiddle fig leaf, Coffered ceilings

Stephen Allen Photography
Mid-century modern formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Orlando with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted 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

Trendy kitchen photo in San Francisco