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

Bathroom - mid-sized cottage master white tile and subway tile cement tile floor and white floor bathroom idea with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Light hardwood floors flow from room to room on the first level. Stained wooden beams contrast beautifully with the crisp white tongue and groove ceiling. The natural light floods this spacious living room and flows into adjoining kitchen and office/homework nook. The massive brick fireplace adds rustic charm and warmth to the crisp interior colors.

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a contemporary gray tile bathroom remodel in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Backyard of a Northern Italian Villa Style home in a gated community called Pelican Crest in the secluded town of Newport Coast. This home is on Pelicans Road which is possibly the most exclusive cul-de-sac of Pelican Crest. The project started in 2006 and was completed by 2008, stone was supplied by one of our middleman local broker at the time. All antique limestone floors were the 'Arcane' Limestone blend which is a Mediterranean Reclaimed Limestone collection that is a few centuries old. This wonderful home has been featured in several media outlets and in both local and national print and digital publications. The home had been sold for about $15,800,000 in May 2013 by its original owners. It is now back on the market for a whooping $20,000,000 as of April 2016 if you like to know! Since 2010 We have seen more than 10 homes valued between $10M to $20M selling in this one gated community all of which contained our stone elements in one capacity or another. For more information about this unique Antique Limestone Floor Collection called the Arcane Limestone please contact our offices at: 212-461-0245 or email us at: sales@ancientsurfaces.com Here's the direct page to this Antique Limestone: http://www.ancientsurfaces.com/Arcane-Stone.html Enjoy!

Haris Kenjar
Coastal white two-story wood exterior home idea in Seattle with a hip roof

Jonathan Reece
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional brown two-story wood gable roof remodel in Portland Maine with a metal roof

Lester O'Malley
Inspiration for a small timeless u-shaped bamboo floor open concept kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls and a peninsula

We created an almost crystalline form that reflected the push and pull of the most important factors on the site: views directly to the NNW, an approach from the ESE, and of course, sun from direct south. To keep the size modest, we peeled away the excess spaces and scaled down any rooms that desired intimacy (the bedrooms) or did not require height (the pool room). Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

The home, designed for an avid sailor, seeks to be compact and efficient like a well-crafted sailboat. It is organized around the idea of a “light box.” This is expressed by a clerestory and light well that expand the spatial volume, engage the sky, and bring landscape into the center of the home. As one light box pushes up the other pushes down to create a dynamic exchange of interior and exterior environments that fill the primary living spaces with daylight and intimacy. Through special opportunities in the zoning code, the clerestory breaks the boundaries of the reduced height limit to introduce spatial variation.

A concealed track and pocket hide the sliding glass doors for a seamless connection to the exterior. Pushing the envelope by incorporating concealed structural steel allowed for a more open, and voluminous space.

Inspiration for a transitional brick patio remodel in Chicago with a roof extension

Design: Dedra Hauser of Enchanted Gardens Photo: Margot Hartford © 2015 Houzz
Design ideas for a craftsman landscaping in San Francisco.

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic laundry room remodel in New York

The home, designed for an avid sailor, seeks to be compact and efficient like a well-crafted sailboat. It is organized around the idea of a “light box.” This is expressed by a clerestory and light well that expand the spatial volume, engage the sky, and bring landscape into the center of the home. As one light box pushes up the other pushes down to create a dynamic exchange of interior and exterior environments that fill the primary living spaces with daylight and intimacy. Through special opportunities in the zoning code, the clerestory breaks the boundaries of the reduced height limit to introduce spatial variation.

Mid-sized country u-shaped concrete floor open concept kitchen photo in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

100 Year Old Home Re-Imagined For Today. Garment Pull Down Rod. Photo by Gage Seaux.
Walk-in closet - mid-sized craftsman gender-neutral light wood floor walk-in closet idea in New Orleans with dark wood cabinets

Mid-sized trendy single-wall concrete floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen photo in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

An updated master bath with hints of traditional styling really helped create the perfect oasis for these empty nesters. A few things on the wish list: a large mirror, and seated vanity space, a new freestanding tub, and a more open shower look with lots of options! Take a look at all of the fun materials that brought this space to life. Cabinetry: Ultracraft, Charlotte door, Maple in Arctic White paint Hardware: Emtek Windsor Crystal Knob, French Antique Counters and backsplash: Cambria quartz, Highgate, 3cm with demi-bullnose edge Sinks: Decolav Andra Oval Semi-Recessed Vitreous China Lavatory in white Faucets, Plumbing fixtures and accessories: Brizo Virage collection in Brilliance Brushed Bronze Tub: Jason Hydrotherapy, Forma collection AD553PX soaking tub Tile floor: main floor is Marble Systems Calacatta Gold honed 12x12 with matching formed base molding; tiled rug is the Calacatta Gold Modern Polished basket weave with a border made of the Allure light 2.75x5.5 pieces Shower/Tub tile: main wall tile is Arizona Tile H-Line Pumice Glossy 4x16 ceramic tile; inserts are Marble Systems Show White polished 1x2 herringbone with the Calacatta Gold 5/8x5/8 staggered mosaic on the shower floor Mirror: custom made by Alamo Glass with a Universal Arquati frame