Cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Houston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, window backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This home in the Portland hills was stuck in the 70's with cedar paneling and almond laminate cabinets with oak details. (See Before photos) The space had wonderful potential with a high vaulted ceiling that was covered by a low ceiling in the kitchen and dining room. Walls closed in the kitchen. The remodel began with removal of the ceiling and the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. Hardwood flooring was extended into the kitchen. Shaker cabinets with contemporary hardware, modern pendants and clean-lined backsplash tile make this kitchen fit the transitional style the owners wanted. Now, the light and backdrop of beautiful trees are enjoyed from every room.

Inspiration for a timeless master white tile and mosaic tile marble floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Boston with marble countertops and white walls

Example of a large classic freestanding desk porcelain tile and black floor home office library design in New York with beige walls

Elmhurst, IL Residence by Charles Vincent George Architects Photographs by Tony Soluri
Inspiration for a cottage staircase remodel in Chicago

Although the client requested a mostly white home they were really stuck on the idea of a very blue dining room. It is bold and stately in feeling and is a perfect spot for a formal dinner with style.

David Marquardt
Example of a large trendy l-shaped ceramic tile open concept kitchen design in Las Vegas with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, 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

George Oakley
Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in Salt Lake City

Mid-sized country gray two-story wood house exterior idea in Charleston

This is the after photo, we chose a bright red for the front door and stuck with trim color for the shutters. and a medium grey town to break up all the warm tones of the house. I had suggested a lighter grey since the brick takes up half of the house, but the house ended up turning out beautifully.

Chang Kyun Kim
Inspiration for a contemporary white tile and mosaic tile concrete floor alcove shower remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, a console sink, dark wood cabinets and a two-piece toilet

Photography: Christian J Anderson. Contractor & Finish Carpenter: Poli Dmitruks of PDP Perfection LLC.
Mid-sized mountain style l-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor enclosed kitchen photo in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, slate backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Tom Arban Photography Looking for custom steel windows and steel doors? Contact us at www.steelwindowsanddoors.com/contact/ or email info@steelwindowsanddoors.com

Inspiration for a large transitional dark wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in Chicago with white walls

Gibeon Photography
Living room - contemporary living room idea

BTW Images
Inspiration for a timeless formal light wood floor living room remodel in DC Metro with beige walls and no tv

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in San Francisco

Photo Credit: James Ray Spahn
Inspiration for a contemporary two-story brick exterior home remodel in Denver