Hallway with drop zone built ins, storage bench, coat hooks, shelving. Open to tile laundry room with cabinets and countertop.
Large trendy light wood floor hallway photo in Raleigh with gray walls

Example of a classic u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and white backsplash

  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

1950s entryway photo in Kansas City

Transitional l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Timeless Palm Springs glamour meets modern in Pulp Design Studios' bathroom design created for the DXV Design Panel 2016. The design is one of four created by an elite group of celebrated designers for DXV's national ad campaign. Faced with the challenge of creating a beautiful space from nothing but an empty stage, Beth and Carolina paired mid-century touches with bursts of colors and organic patterns. The result is glamorous with touches of quirky fun -- the definition of splendid living.

Example of a transitional light wood floor kitchen design in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Ed Butera | ibi designs
Example of a large trendy l-shaped porcelain tile and white floor eat-in kitchen design in Miami with stainless steel appliances, an island, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash and black countertops

Inspiration for a large contemporary 3/4 beige tile beige floor bathroom remodel in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, gray countertops and a floating vanity

Relaxation is name of the game in this master bath space surrounded by woods. The design is simple and modern with Asian inspired spa details of cut slate tile imbedded with glass.

Small elegant 3/4 gray tile and subway tile laminate floor, brown floor and single-sink bathroom photo in Orange County with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

© David Bader Photography, Wade Weissmann Architecture, Barenz Builders, i4design
Living room - farmhouse dark wood floor living room idea in Milwaukee with brown walls and a standard fireplace

Example of a large transitional single-wall light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Miami with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Bathroom design using gray tones in Brooklyn, NY. This is not mosaic but actual tile 10"x35"
Example of a mid-sized trendy master gray tile and porcelain tile drop-in bathtub design in New York with a wall-mount sink, tile countertops and gray walls

Ciro Coelho Photography
Example of a trendy concrete patio design in Santa Barbara with a pergola and a fireplace

"big al" cement encaustic tile in federal blue/nautical blue/ white make a fascinating focal point within the clean lines of this updated kitchen by emily henderson. inspired by the grand palace located in Granada Spain, big al, takes this classic arabesque motif and gives it the grandeur befitting of this palatial estate. shop here: https://www.cletile.com/products/big-al-8x8-stock?variant=52702594886

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and solid surface countertops

bathroom floor, beige, cornices & moldings, custom cabinets, elegant antique, luxury interior, modern classics
Inspiration for a timeless white floor and double-sink drop-in bathtub remodel in Dallas with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a built-in vanity

The Mudroom ? With ample storage space for your bookbags, shoes and furry friends ? Cabinet Paint Color: BM Vineland #pikeproperties
Example of a transitional entryway design in Charlotte