The laundry area features a fun ceramic tile design with open shelving and storage above the machine space.
Small farmhouse l-shaped slate floor and gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, black backsplash, gray walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Try to imagine a stone tile that is as light as a feather, that you can bend, and that can be cut like cork. Our company name blends the words „cork“ and „tile“ and represents our innovative and new product, „Slimstone.“ We have developed a method that allows us to take razor thin slices of slate and mount them onto a cork backing. This process makes Slimstone the thinnest stone tiles on the market. For you, Slimstone represents a creative freedom that you had never dared to imagine. Cortile stands ready to help you choose the tiles the right tiles fo ryou and then will take care of the prouction and distribution. Cortile is also your trusted partner for the proper installation of Slimstone

Photography by Susan Teare
Inspiration for a contemporary mudroom remodel in Burlington

Front shot of restored Normandy Tudor exterior. Walkway, windows, doors, and roofing have all been redone. Architect - Hierarchy Architects + Designers, TJ Costello Photographer - Brian Jordan, Graphite NYC

Patio kitchen - large traditional backyard tile patio kitchen idea in New York with no cover

Mid-sized elegant slate floor laundry room photo in Other with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, blue walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Daniel Feldkamp
Example of a mid-sized minimalist master gray tile and porcelain tile slate floor bathroom design in Columbus with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Large mid-century modern slate floor and beige floor laundry room photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and beige walls

Austin Outdoor Living Group, Noelalee Ragel
Example of a large mountain style backyard stone patio design in Austin with a fire pit and a pergola

Example of a small slate floor and gray floor powder room design in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink and gray countertops

Country master gray floor bathroom photo in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

Powder room - mid-sized 1960s slate floor and gray floor powder room idea in Grand Rapids with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink and quartzite countertops

This is an example of a mid-sized modern partial sun front yard stone landscaping in Chicago.

Ken Vaughan - Vaughan Creative Media
Example of a large classic white two-story brick gable roof design in Dallas

Greg Hubbard Photography
Mountain style slate floor kitchen photo in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

  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

QUARTER design studio
Inspiration for a small coastal master white tile slate floor bathroom remodel in Providence with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Ansel Olson
Large mountain style slate floor and beige floor basement photo in Richmond with beige walls

Small transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile slate floor bathroom photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an integrated sink, solid surface countertops and white countertops