Free ebook, CREATING THE IDEAL KITCHEN Download now → http://bit.ly/idealkitchen The hall bath for this client started out a little dated with its 1970’s color scheme and general wear and tear, but check out the transformation! The floor is really the focal point here, it kind of works the same way wallpaper would, but -- it’s on the floor. I love this graphic tile, patterned after Moroccan encaustic, or cement tile, but this one is actually porcelain at a very affordable price point and much easier to install than cement tile. Once we had homeowner buy-in on the floor choice, the rest of the space came together pretty easily – we are calling it “transitional, Moroccan, industrial.” Key elements are the traditional vanity, Moroccan shaped mirrors and flooring, and plumbing fixtures, coupled with industrial choices -- glass block window, a counter top that looks like cement but that is actually very functional Corian, sliding glass shower door, and simple glass light fixtures. The final space is bright, functional and stylish. Quite a transformation, don’t you think? Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kat Alves
Large tuscan u-shaped travertine floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Sacramento with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Jeff Herr
Elegant home bar photo in Atlanta

WATCH the time lapse video of this kitchen remodel: https://youtu.be/caemXXlauLU   Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This Glen Ellyn homeowner came to us, frustrated with the layout and size of their current kitchen, looking for help generating ideas for how to maximize functionality within the constraints of the space. After visiting with them and seeing the home’s layout, I realized that looking at the bigger picture of how they used the entire first floor might bring us some dramatic solutions. We ended up flipping the kitchen and family room and taking down the wall separating the two creating one big open floor plan for the family to enjoy. There is still a visual separation between the rooms because of their different lengths and the overall space now relates nicely to the dining room which was also opened up to both rooms. The new kitchen is an L-shaped space that is no longer cramped and small and is truly a cook’s dream. The fridge is on one end, a large cooktop and sink are located along the main perimeter and double ovens located at the end of the “L” complete the layout. Ample work surface along the perimeter and on the large island makes entertaining a breeze. An existing door to the patio remains, floods the room with light and provides easy access to the existing outdoor deck for entertaining and grilling. White cabinetry with quartz countertops, Carrera marble backsplash tile and a contrasting gray island give the space a clean and modern feel. The gray pendant lights and stainless appliances bring a slight industrial feel to the space letting you know that some serious cooking will take place here. Once we had their Dream Kitchen design completed, the homeowners decided to tackle another project at the same time. We made plans to create a master suite upstairs by combining two existing bedrooms into a larger bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet. The existing spaces were not overly large so getting everything on the wish list into the design was a challenge. In the end, we came up with a design that works. The two bedrooms were adjoined, one wall moved back slightly to make for a slightly larger bedroom, and the remaining space was allotted to the new bathroom and a walk in closet. The bathroom consists of a double vanity and a large shower with a barn door shower door. A skylight brings light into the space and helps make it feel larger and more open. The new walk-in closet is accessible through the bathroom, and we even managed to fit in a small entry vestibule that houses some additional storage and makes a nice transition from the hallway. A white vanity, Carrera tops and gray floor tile make for a serene space that feels just right for this home. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Michele Lee Wilson
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts loft-style medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in San Francisco with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Brady Architectural Photography
Example of a large minimalist master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in San Diego with gray walls

This updated Modern Farm House was featured in Remodeling Magazine from James Hardie. Siding & Windows Group remodeled the exterior with James Hardie Siding and Trim in Arctic White and installed Metal Roof. Absolute clean wonderful Remodel, in which the Homeowners couldn't be happier and added their own touched to the landscape, bringing the whole look together. See article here: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/products/exteriors/re-side-revitalizes-120-year-old-plus-summer-cottage

This updated Modern Farmhouse was featured in Remodeling Magazine from James Hardie. Siding & Windows Group remodeled the exterior with James Hardie Siding and Trim in Arctic White and installed Metal Roof. Absolute clean wonderful Remodel, in which the Homeowners couldn't be happier and added their own touched to the landscape, bringing the whole look together. See article here: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/products/exteriors/re-side-revitalizes-120-year-old-plus-summer-cottage

Inspiration for a kitchen remodel in Denver

Originally this side patio was simply a barren cement patch that was cold and uninviting (see the BEFORE picture). It has a basic stone and concrete patio floor, with concrete brick walls. There was some natural bamboo behind the wall, but otherwise no plants. The house sits down in to the property, and to get to the front door you have to descend a steep set of stairs. This patio area is one of the first things people see as they descend the stairs to the front door, so we wanted to make it as inviting and cozy as possible. Plus, with all the natural tree coverage, it's a perfect place during hot days to curl up with a book or glass of wine under the shade. Not wanting to spend money on a massive renovation, the goal was to create a cozy niche for both entertaining guests and personal relaxation, reminiscent of an India-meets-Bali exotic retreat. We created something that was organic and natural looking, in harmony with the relaxed environment of Laguna Beach. To keep it budget friendly - and better for the environment - we also opted for recycled and pre-owned items we found on Craiglist and eBay. I chose to first mask the barren concrete walls with an carved wood screen from India, to add depth and interest. I placed two large daybeds with heavily padded cushions in an “L” shape to entice people to curl up and sink in. Rather than opting for a regular square patio table, I found a one-of-a-kind custom oak tree slab table (a fantastic Craiglist find!) that added a beautiful organic feel. The Moroccan lamp I brought back from one of my trips to Marrakech, and it added the perfect personal touch, in addition to personal sacred objects such as an antique Kwan Yin statue (great eBay find), crystals, and shells found at the beach. Finally, various plants were added — including both a satsuma orange tree and grapefruit tree that add lovely bursts of color when in season. And makes for a great quick snack when lounging about!

Justin Krug Photography
Inspiration for a huge farmhouse open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Portland with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Architect: LM Studio, Los Angeles Interior Designer: Lane McCook & Associates, Los Angeles Landscape Architect: Nikila Rigby Ellis, Los Angeles
Example of a trendy kitchen design in Dallas

Cory Rodeheaver
Mid-sized country l-shaped cork floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Example of a minimalist bathroom design in Austin

Example of a large transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, mosaic tile backsplash and black countertops

  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

Inspiration for a coastal light wood floor and brown floor dining room remodel in Charleston with gray walls

Childrens' room - transitional boy medium tone wood floor and brown floor childrens' room idea in Austin with white walls

Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in DC Metro with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv