The homeowners wanted a simple, clean, modern bathroom. Sounds straightforward enough. But with a tight budget, a funky layout and a requirement not to move any plumbing, it was more of a puzzle than expected. Good thing we like puzzles! We added a wall to separate the bathroom from the master, installed a ‘tub with a view,’ and put in a free-standing vanity and glass shower to provide a sense of openness. The before pictures don’t begin to showcase the craziness that existed at the start, but we’re thrilled with the finish!

Jeff Roberts
Beach style medium tone wood floor family room photo in Portland Maine

Creating a water feature that looks like it was created by nature, not man, is an artful talent. Imagine a backwoods hike. The trail turns to reveal a trickling stream flowing down a hillside that falls over a massive boulder into a laughing pool. That vision is made real with this wonderful natural water feature. Medina, WA.

Sunroom - mid-sized coastal enclosed carpeted and beige floor sunroom idea in Portland Maine with gray walls, no fireplace, no tv and a standard ceiling

Luxury amenities such as custom millwork, motorized blinds, artisan stained glass, marble and stone flooring, and a kicking AV system were added to provide all the creature comforts. In the end, the details and the pieces of the puzzle came succinctly together to create a space worthy of a penthouse skyline view.

Example of a large transitional walk-out dark wood floor and black floor basement design in Indianapolis with gray walls

Fond Du Lac flagstone is puzzle-pieced together as a pool coping and pool deck, with grass as a natural joint.
Pool - backyard stone and custom-shaped pool idea

Handcrafted multi species wooden 3D puzzle

Kitchen view opening onto the Dining Room with the Great Room and Puzzle Room beyond.
Inspiration for a cottage kitchen remodel in Jacksonville

  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

Living room - contemporary formal and open concept carpeted and beige floor living room idea in Miami with gray walls

Greg Premru photography
Living room - coastal living room idea in Boston

The Word Puzzle, Chess and Checkers game boards showcase Tactile Porcelain Enamel Metal™ as both durable wall cladding and interactive play surface. The Word Puzzle, Chess and Checker board graphics were produced with integrated digital ceramics, enabling the game boards to withstand exterior conditions and wear over extended periods of time. Working with the client and the architect, our engineering and manufacturing team also developed unique magnetic game pieces in our Tactile Clear Acrylic™ which feature crisp silk-screened graphics and refined edges to provide an enjoyable, user-friendly gaming experience.

Arts, Crafts and Puzzles Room Custom cabinetry for supplies. Goat hair chair in cheetah pattern

Family room - traditional family room idea in New York

Mike P Kelley, Photographer Jennifer Maxcy, Stylist
Example of a large classic open concept medium tone wood floor dining room design in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Bathroom - bathroom idea in San Francisco

Sunroom day bed, Photo by Michael Partenio
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern medium tone wood floor sunroom remodel in Boston with a standard ceiling

Living room - mid-sized rustic formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and a wall-mounted tv