Ilona Kalimov
Mid-sized cottage galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

A young family moving from NYC tackled a lightning fast makeover of their new colonial revival home before the arrival of their second child. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and new layout. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by grey glazed rift oak cabinetry on the island. Shiplap paneling on the island and cabinet lend a slightly contemporary edge. White bronze hardware by Schaub & Co. in a contemporary bar shape offer clean lines with some texture in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops in “Alpine Mist” create a harmonious color palette while the pale blue/grey Waterworks backsplash adds a touch of color. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator--Subzero; Ovens--Wolf. Cooktop--Gaggenau. Ventilation—Sirius. Hardware--Schaub & Company. Sink--Kohler Strive. Sink faucet--Rohl. Tile--Waterworks. Stools--Palacek. Flooring—Sota Floors. Window treatments: www.horizonshades.com in “Northbrook Birch.” Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

  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

photograph by Janis Nicolay, interior design by Tanya Schoenroth Design, interior furnishings & decor by Angela Robinson Design, cabinetry fabrication by Van Arbour Design

This traditional master bathroom design in a white and gray color scheme is a bright space with ample storage and a custom shower enclosure. Extra details like a beveled mirror, rectangular undermount sink, and cabinetry details set this design apart. A sparkling chandelier features in the center of the room, and brings a touch of glamor to this bathroom design.

Inspiration for a large contemporary master beige tile beige floor and double-sink freestanding bathtub remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

Bob Blandy, Medallion Services
Mid-sized transitional master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile drop-in bathtub photo with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, a two-piece toilet and yellow walls

Example of a transitional pebble tile floor, multicolored floor and single-sink walk-in shower design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Long subway tiles cover these shower walls offering a glossy look, with small hexagonal tiles lining the shower niche for some detailing. Photos by Chris Veith

A large beautiful bathroom remodel with lots of natural light.
Example of a large transitional master beige tile porcelain tile doorless shower design in Phoenix with an undermount tub, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Mid-sized urban l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large trendy beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile drop-in bathtub design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows master bathroom remodel including halving tub-to-shower conversion, frameless glass shower doors, Alpine granite bench seat, curb cap, and vanity top, 16" x 24" porcelain tile, flat pebble shower floor, vertical accent band on control wall niche back, new cabinets, Kohler Ladena undermount sinks, Kohler faucets, Kohler LED lighted mirrored medicine cabinets, 33" x 8" wood plank tile flooring,

Example of a transitional master gray tile bathroom design in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and marble countertops

Inspiration for a contemporary 3/4 medium tone wood floor, brown floor, single-sink, coffered ceiling and wainscoting toilet room remodel in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Photography by Holloway Productions.
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless l-shaped ceramic tile dedicated laundry room remodel in Birmingham with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, limestone countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Photography: Nat Rea
Example of an ornate dark wood floor kitchen design in Providence with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Gettum Associates, Inc.
Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Indianapolis

Inspiration for a coastal 3/4 white tile and subway tile white floor alcove shower remodel in Orange County with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops