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

Important: Houzz content often includes “related photos” and “sponsored products.” Products tagged or listed by Houzz are not Gahagan-Eddy product, nor have they been approved by Gahagan-Eddy or any related professionals. Please direct any questions about our work to socialmedia@gahagan-eddy.com. Thank you.

America’s Best Carpet And Tile Location: Memphis, TN, USA We partnered with Coleman & Owen Construction and Michelle Triplett Design on this anything-but-ordinary kitchen backsplash in an East Memphis remodel. Let America’s Best Carpet & Tile help with your kitchen backsplash needs. A member of our design team will come out to view your space and ask questions to understand what you are wanting. Then, together, you will find the inspiration and pick out your materials. Now you're ready for our custom installation team get to work and transform your kitchen!

America’s Best Carpet And Tile Location: Memphis, TN, USA We partnered with Coleman & Owen Construction and Michelle Triplett Design on this anything-but-ordinary kitchen backsplash in an East Memphis remodel. Let America’s Best Carpet & Tile help with your kitchen backsplash needs. A member of our design team will come out to view your space and ask questions to understand what you are wanting. Then, together, you will find the inspiration and pick out your materials. Now you're ready for our custom installation team get to work and transform your kitchen!

America’s Best Carpet And Tile Location: Memphis, TN, USA We partnered with Coleman & Owen Construction and Michelle Triplett Design on this anything-but-ordinary kitchen backsplash in an East Memphis remodel. Let America’s Best Carpet & Tile help with your kitchen backsplash needs. A member of our design team will come out to view your space and ask questions to understand what you are wanting. Then, together, you will find the inspiration and pick out your materials. Now you're ready for our custom installation team get to work and transform your kitchen!

Important: Houzz content often includes “related photos” and “sponsored products.” Products tagged or listed by Houzz are not Gahagan-Eddy product, nor have they been approved by Gahagan-Eddy or any related professionals. Please direct any questions about our work to socialmedia@gahagan-eddy.com. Thank you.

A WIDER PEEK Here's a full view of the new pantry cabinet system. Look at all of that beautiful storage! Complete this easy form and the design consultant serving your area will contact you and answer any questions you may have about your project: https://bit.ly/2QLt79w

Perched on top of Elk Mountain, this mountain modern home offers breathtaking views of Asheville’s skyline. We had the opportunity to furnish this project. Message us with questions about any of the items.

Kurtis Miller Photography, kmpics.com Rustic exterior of charming farmhouse cottage. iron railing, gray on gray. Ship lap log. Dry stacked stone entry way with red front door. Corner stair way entry.

Evan White
Elegant kitchen photo in Boston

This magnificent mountain home had 8 foot ceilings and a tiny kitchen with incredible long range views when we looked at it the first time. The clients first question to me was, what would you do if you could. When I said," the first thing I would do is move the kitchen to the sitting room and raise the ceiling" they asked the contractor," can you do that" Brian Sineath with Sineath Construction of Weaverville North Carolina after evaluating the roof line said, " I think we can" and this picture is the result of that conversation. WWW.bsineath@sineathconstruction.com, Thanks to Heather Allen at Acanthus Interiors of Asheville N.C.. www.heather.acanthusinteriors@yahoo.com,

When full-time Massachusetts residents contemplate building a second home in Telluride, Colorado the question immediately arises; does it make most sense to hire a regionally based Rocky Mountain architect or a sea level architect conveniently located for all of the rigorous collaboration required for successful bespoke home design. Determined to prove the latter true, Siemasko + Verbridge accompanied the potential client as they scoured the undulating Telluride landscape in search of the perfect house site. The selected site’s harmonious balance of untouched meadow rising up to meet the edge of an aspen grove and the opposing 180 degree view of Wilson’s Range spoke to everyone. A plateau just beyond a fork in the meadow provided a natural flatland, requiring little excavation and yet the right amount of upland slope to capture the views. The intrinsic character of the site was only enriched by an elk trail and snake-rail fence. Establishing the expanse of Wilson’s range would be best served by rejecting the notion of selected views, the central sweeping curve of the roof inverts a small saddle in the range with which it is perfectly aligned. The soaring wave of custom windows and the open floor plan make the relatively modest house feel sizable despite its footprint of just under 2,000 square feet. Officially a two bedroom home, the bunk room and loft allow the home to comfortably sleep ten, encouraging large gatherings of family and friends. The home is completely off the grid in response to the unique and fragile qualities of the landscape. Great care was taken to respect the regions vernacular through the use of mostly native materials and a palette derived from the terrain found at 9,820 feet above sea level. Photographer: Gibeon Photography

Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in New York

Teri Fotheringham Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional master white tile and stone tile marble floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Denver with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Kitchen - mid-century modern galley medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel countertops, white backsplash and glass sheet backsplash

The Fontana Bridge residence is a mountain modern lake home located in the mountains of Swain County. The LEED Gold home is mountain modern house designed to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding Appalachian mountain setting. The understated exterior and the thoughtfully chosen neutral palette blend into the topography of the wooded hillside.

Eplans Country House Plan - Four Bedroom Country - 2772 Square Feet and 4 Bedrooms from Eplans - House Plan Code HWEPL73178. Have questions about this plan? Call 1-800-528-8070.

Michael Alan Kaskel

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in San Francisco