Bob O'Connor
Trendy kids' room photo in Boston

Elmhurst, IL Residence by Charles Vincent George Architects Photographs by Tony Soluri
Country enclosed kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink and gray cabinets

A central island in the kitchen brings the chef and diners together for casual snacks or elaborate dinners. We partnered with Jennifer Allison Design on this project. Her design firm contacted us to paint the entire house - inside and out. Images are used with permission. You can contact her at (310) 488-0331 for more information.

For this sidewalk and entry decided to start with a white overlay that we stamped to give us a canvas to work with. After that we cut a brick design for a boarder and stained it Sage Green and Sand, for a two tone color effect

Laundry room - coastal laundry room idea in Orange County

The in-law suite kitchen could only be in a small corner of the basement. The kitchen design started with the question: how small can this kitchen be? The compact layout was designed to provide generous counter space, comfortable walking clearances, and abundant storage. The bold colors and fun patterns anchored by the warmth of the dark wood flooring create a happy and invigorating space. SQUARE FEET: 140

Inspiration for a coastal side yard landscaping in New York.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photographer: David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a small transitional dark wood floor dining room remodel in San Francisco

Home design - transitional home design idea in Houston

The in-law suite kitchen could only be in a small corner of the basement. The kitchen design started with the question: how small can this kitchen be? The compact layout was designed to provide generous counter space, comfortable walking clearances, and abundant storage. The bold colors and fun patterns anchored by the warmth of the dark wood flooring create a happy and invigorating space. SQUARE FEET: 140

The impressive floor-to-ceiling hutch cabinet that holds gift wrapping supplies is custom-designed and built by Mosby to fit exact crafting needs. It starts with Wellborn Madison maple cabinets with a white finish, and Cal Crystal Olde World Collection cabinet pulls. Details of ribbon, paper and supplies storage was measured on-site and ingenious carpenter ideas were applied to give them the craft storage they dreamed of. Photo by Toby Weiss

We began by removing the patchwork of “updates” that left a confusing pastiche. At the front of the house, we removed a late addition window and veneer stonework. Starting over now with a clean slate, we chose a color palette of rich charcoal and warm coral-orange. Over the new smooth stucco finish, we built two custom vertical screens with natural cedar to break up the expanse of the front walls and replaced the dated garage door with a stunning cedar door. New concrete planters hold an exotic collection of cactii at the entrance.

  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

The Reade Stripe Duvet is playful and tailored enough for any room in the house. This yarn-dyed design has a twill weave for a soft hand and just the right heft. But we like it best for its clean-cut stripes, a twist on traditional rugby.

Amber works from home and was sacrificing a dining room for her home office. By utilizing the double wide closet space in her guest bedroom, she now walks into her home without the reminder of work, and can have guests over for a meal in her dining room (dining room reveal coming soon). The walls were freshly painted Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams. This gives the room a fresh, clean look and also adds contrast to the beige carpet. Amber had her homework assignments cut out for her as she had to do some major purging in her throw all guest room. Once she started letting go, she was on a roll and continually surprised me as she cleaned out closets throughout the house. One dresser was filled with cds, dvds, books, albums, scrap-booking materials; items taking up precious real estate in her life that she didn't even know were there. There really wasn't a storage problem after-all, she was just holding on to a collection of things that no longer served her. Each time I would visit, and her space would become more open, I could see the weight lifting off her and her self love building. Amber had a recent breakup with her boyfriend and this makeover helped her not only focus on making a home sanctuary for herself, but helped her let go of the pains of the past and focus on the exciting future ahead. At one point when we were moving sofas in the living room (which we will also reveal soon), we found an ex's flip-flop. We were figuratively and literally sweeping away the past. Editing your home and your life makes room for your future; for new people and things. We are so happy to finally reveal the room to you! We can't wait to unveil the rest of Amber's home, once we complete the finishing touches. Challenges: Amber's home was filled with mix-matched furniture from family and college. She had no idea what her decorating style was. After shopping together and exchanging somepinterest boards, I was finally able to get a sense of what she loves. I had to work on a tight budget, which meant really digging out the creativity and utilizing other items in the home. See how I transformed a table from the discard pile into a faux marble bedside table by clicking web link. Amber's dad was able to help with the desk materials and building to cut costs. We wanted to save the closet doors in the event she sold her home or no longer needed an office someday. There wasn't any extra space to store these closet doors, so I used them as a headboard. The only items purchased were: Curtains, Curtain Rod, Bedspread Set, Throw Pillows, 2 Lamps and Paint.

Photography by Michael Alan Kaskel
Inspiration for a country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white backsplash, cement tile backsplash, black appliances, an island and white countertops

Feminine Master bedroom with silver, gray and mercury finishes and a pop of color.
Example of a trendy master laminate floor bedroom design in Dallas with gray walls

Transitional living room photo in Atlanta with a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace