Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW Like many families with older children, this local Glen Ellyn couple wanted to expand the size of their kitchen while also creating a more open, airy feel for their main level. The home had plenty of space that included a formal living room, formal dining room, family room with eat-in area and kitchen with butler’s pantry. What it didn’t have, was an effortless flow between the areas used daily for cooking, eating and gathering. Additionally, the kitchen had become outdated, feeling dark and dismal, despite the abundance of natural light. Our clients wanted a bright, cheerful interior that would inspire the family to congregate in this part of the house. No easy feat with teenagers. An open floor plan design solved the issues with functionality and circulation, removing the walls that restricted flow and opening up the entry to the dining room. We also eliminated the rarely used butler’s pantry allowing us to expand the kitchen and add a large island for food prep and gathering. To create a sense of symmetry and consistency in the space, a clerestory window was added below the header and framed to match the existing adjacent entry from the living room. Inspired by the owner’s Scottish ancestry, the island cabinetry boasts a beautiful blue hue, paired with stools upholstered in a sprightly plaid. The built-in buffet area provides additional storage, topped with a beautiful wooden top stained to coordinate with the stunning tones of the flooring. The owner’s opted for stainless steel appliances, inspiring the selection of brushed silver light fixtures and polished chrome hardware. Marble-look quartz offered a durable, lightly colored surface to reflect sunlight and enhance the cheer factor. According to this happy family, this uplifting space is now everyone’s favorite place to gather. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more design inspiration go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This contemporary house was designed on a difficult 50’ wide waterfront lot in Middle River. Because the entire site is located in the 100’ flood plain, the house took advantage of the footprint of an existing house to maintain proximity to the waters edge. The house was designed for a couple and their mother, therefore the house was designed with a central stair / elevator core joining separate living pods for the respective families. The stair tower soars above the roofline to create an observation tower allowing 360 degree views of the spectacular surroundings. The first floor containing sleeping areas is elevated a full story above grade, with the living spaces placed on the second floor to take full advantage of the views. The house is designed with sustainable, yet durable, exterior materials which will withstand the harsh waterfront environment. Mitch Allen Photography

Property marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Unique in design, this sizeable brownstone features a beautiful rear bay window that runs 3 of the 4 stories, providing amazing sunlight and extra large rooms. With no detail overlooked, this home offers the highest quality renovations coupled with original restored details. The chef’s kitchen features custom cabinetry, separate Sub Zero refrigerators and freezers, 48” inch Viking stove, oversized granite island and wine bar. The top floor master suite is spacious and luxurious with a dressing room and spectacular marble bath with European walk-in shower and air jet tub. Grand entertaining spaces, five generous bedrooms, a bathroom on every floor, central air, gas fireplace, and the professionally designed outdoor garden & deck put this grand home over the top.

Property marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Unique in design, this sizeable brownstone features a beautiful rear bay window that runs 3 of the 4 stories, providing amazing sunlight and extra large rooms. With no detail overlooked, this home offers the highest quality renovations coupled with original restored details. The chef’s kitchen features custom cabinetry, separate Sub Zero refrigerators and freezers, 48” inch Viking stove, oversized granite island and wine bar. The top floor master suite is spacious and luxurious with a dressing room and spectacular marble bath with European walk-in shower and air jet tub. Grand entertaining spaces, five generous bedrooms, a bathroom on every floor, central air, gas fireplace, and the professionally designed outdoor garden & deck put this grand home over the top.

This contemporary house was designed on a difficult 50’ wide waterfront lot in Middle River. Because the entire site is located in the 100’ flood plain, the house took advantage of the footprint of an existing house to maintain proximity to the waters edge. The house was designed for a couple and their mother, therefore the house was designed with a central stair / elevator core joining separate living pods for the respective families. The stair tower soars above the roofline to create an observation tower allowing 360 degree views of the spectacular surroundings. The first floor containing sleeping areas is elevated a full story above grade, with the living spaces placed on the second floor to take full advantage of the views. The house is designed with sustainable, yet durable, exterior materials which will withstand the harsh waterfront environment. Mitch Allen Photography

This contemporary house was designed on a difficult 50’ wide waterfront lot in Middle River. Because the entire site is located in the 100’ flood plain, the house took advantage of the footprint of an existing house to maintain proximity to the waters edge. The house was designed for a couple and their mother, therefore the house was designed with a central stair / elevator core joining separate living pods for the respective families. The stair tower soars above the roofline to create an observation tower allowing 360 degree views of the spectacular surroundings. The first floor containing sleeping areas is elevated a full story above grade, with the living spaces placed on the second floor to take full advantage of the views. The house is designed with sustainable, yet durable, exterior materials which will withstand the harsh waterfront environment. Mitch Allen Photography

The Fells Point Passive House fulfills the aspirations of a couple dedicated to urban living, resilient design, and environmental stewardship. The development repurposes an underutilized urban lot in Baltimore’s historic Fells Point neighborhood into a home built to the Passive House standard and a separate office unified by a new private garden, as well as two income-generating rental units. The design solution removes the roof of the former garage and warehouse and inserts a two-story ultra high-performance building into the historic shell. A deep “stoop” provides a threshold between the urban street and the private living space. The interior is organized around a core of stairwell, bathroom, and systems which further separates the private living space from the public. Monumental high efficiency triple-pane doors connect the open living space to the new courtyard garden on both levels. The super-insulated, air-tight building enclosure, together with a high efficiency mechanical system and a photovoltaic array, result in a near net-zero home. Plentiful light, natural and reclaimed materials, and outdoor connections support the owner’s conscious lifestyle. Photography: Karl Connolly

This contemporary house was designed on a difficult 50’ wide waterfront lot in Middle River. Because the entire site is located in the 100’ flood plain, the house took advantage of the footprint of an existing house to maintain proximity to the waters edge. The house was designed for a couple and their mother, therefore the house was designed with a central stair / elevator core joining separate living pods for the respective families. The stair tower soars above the roofline to create an observation tower allowing 360 degree views of the spectacular surroundings. The first floor containing sleeping areas is elevated a full story above grade, with the living spaces placed on the second floor to take full advantage of the views. The house is designed with sustainable, yet durable, exterior materials which will withstand the harsh waterfront environment. Mitch Allen Photography

Chapel Avenue came to us as a cramped and outdated kitchen, with a peninsula separating the kitchen from the dining area, making the space seem even smaller than it was. Working with this couple, we soon realized they wanted something fun and eclectic to match their personalities. Bringing three cabinet finishes together in one small space wasn't easy, but unifying the kitchen through countertop materials and hardware made it work. Matt Villano Photography

This contemporary house was designed on a difficult 50’ wide waterfront lot in Middle River. Because the entire site is located in the 100’ flood plain, the house took advantage of the footprint of an existing house to maintain proximity to the waters edge. The house was designed for a couple and their mother, therefore the house was designed with a central stair / elevator core joining separate living pods for the respective families. The stair tower soars above the roofline to create an observation tower allowing 360 degree views of the spectacular surroundings. The first floor containing sleeping areas is elevated a full story above grade, with the living spaces placed on the second floor to take full advantage of the views. The house is designed with sustainable, yet durable, exterior materials which will withstand the harsh waterfront environment. Mitch Allen Photography

This condo in Sterling, VA belongs to a couple about to enter into retirement. They own this home in Sterling, along with a weekend home in West Virginia, a vacation home on Emerald Isle in North Carolina and a vacation home in St. John. They want to use this home as their "home-base" during their retirement, when they need to be in the metro area for business or to see family. The condo is small and they felt it was too "choppy," it didn't have good flow and the rooms were too separated and confined. They wondered if it could have more of an open concept feel but were doubtful due to the size and layout of the home. The furnishings they owned from their previous home were very traditional and heavy. They wanted a much lighter, more open and more contemporary feel to this home. They wanted it to feel clean, light, airy and much bigger then it is. The first thing we tackled was an unsightly, and very heavy stone veneered fireplace wall that separated the family room from the office space. It made both rooms look heavy and dark. We took down the stone and opened up parts of the wall so that the two spaces would flow into each other. We added a view thru fireplace and gave the fireplace wall a faux marble finish to lighten it and make it much more contemporary. Glass shelves bounce light and keep the wall feeling light and streamlined. Custom built ins add hidden storage and make great use of space in these small rooms. Our strategy was to open as much as possible and to lighten the space through the use of color, fabric and glass. New furnishings in lighter colors and soft textures help keep the feeling light and modernize the space. Sheer linen draperies soften the hard lines and add to the light, airy feel. Tinius Photography

MASTER BATH "HER" CUSTOM WALL HUNG CABINETRY IN DARK GREY WITH STAINLESS STEEL HARDWARE.
Large minimalist master gray tile and porcelain tile medium tone wood floor and gray floor freestanding bathtub photo in Tampa with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Minneapolis

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath was hired as the bathroom remodeling contractor for this Delafield master bath and closet. This black and white boho bathrooom has industrial touches and warm wood accents. The original space was like a labyrinth, with a complicated layout of walls and doors. The homeowners wanted to improve the functionality and modernize the space. The main entry of the bathroom/closet was a single door that lead to the vanity. Around the left was the closet and around the right was the rest of the bathroom. The bathroom area consisted of two separate closets, a bathtub/shower combo, a small walk-in shower and a toilet. To fix the choppy layout, we separated the two spaces with separate doors – one to the master closet and one to the bathroom. We installed pocket doors for each doorway to keep a streamlined look and save space. BLACK & WHITE BOHO BATHROOM This master bath is a light, airy space with a boho vibe. The couple opted for a large walk-in shower featuring a Dreamline Shower enclosure. Moving the shower to the corner gave us room for a black vanity, quartz counters, two sinks, and plenty of storage and counter space. The toilet is tucked in the far corner behind a half wall. BOHO DESIGN The design is contemporary and features black and white finishes. We used a white cararra marble hexagon tile for the backsplash and the shower floor. The Hinkley light fixtures are matte black and chrome. The space is warmed up with luxury vinyl plank wood flooring and a teak shelf in the shower. HOMEOWNER REVIEW “Kowalske just finished our master bathroom/closet and left us very satisfied. Within a few weeks of involving Kowalske, they helped us finish our designs and planned out the whole project. Once they started, they finished work before deadlines, were so easy to communicate with, and kept expectations clear. They didn’t leave us wondering when their skilled craftsmen (all of which were professional and great guys) were coming and going or how far away the finish line was, each week was planned. Lastly, the quality of the finished product is second to none and worth every penny. I highly recommend Kowalske.” – Mitch, Facebook Review

This basement remodel held special significance for an expectant young couple eager to adapt their home for a growing family. Facing the challenge of an open layout that lacked functionality, our team delivered a complete transformation. The project's scope involved reframing the layout of the entire basement, installing plumbing for a new bathroom, modifying the stairs for code compliance, and adding an egress window to create a livable bedroom. The redesigned space now features a guest bedroom, a fully finished bathroom, a cozy living room, a practical laundry area, and private, separate office spaces. The primary objective was to create a harmonious, open flow while ensuring privacy—a vital aspect for the couple. The final result respects the original character of the house, while enhancing functionality for the evolving needs of the homeowners expanding family.

Southwest Florida’s hot summers and mild winters, along with amenity-rich communities and beautiful homes, attract retirees from around the world every year. And, it is not uncommon to see these active adults choosing to spend their summers away from Florida, only to return for the fall/winter. For our fabulous clients, that’s exactly what they did. After spending summers in Michigan, and winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, they decided to set down some roots. They purchased a home in Bonita Bay where they had enough space to build a guest suite for an aging parent who needed around the clock care. After interviewing three different contractors, the chose to retain Progressive Design Build’s design services. Progressive invested a lot of time during the design process to ensure the design concept was thorough and reflected the couple’s vision. Options were presented, giving these homeowners several alternatives and good ideas on how to realize their vision, while working within their budget. Progressive Design Build guided the couple all the way—through selections and finishes, saving valuable time and money. When all was said and done, the design plan included a completely remodeled master suite, a separate master suite for the couple’s aging parents, a new kitchen, family room entertainment area, and laundry room. The cozy home was renovated with tiled flooring throughout, with the exception of carpeting in the bedrooms. Progressive Design Build modified some interior walls, created Wainscoted panels, a new home office, and completely painted the home inside and out. This project resulted in the first of four additional projects this homeowner would complete with Progressive Design Build over the next five years. Kitchen: Varying heights and depths breaks up that long wall of DuraSupreme Cabinetry. Includes tumbled marble back splash and radiused island.