Search results for "Surprising" in Home Design Ideas

Photography: Werner Straube
Example of a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in Chicago with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv
Example of a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in Chicago with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Revelateur Studio
Example of a trendy wooden l-shaped staircase design in Toronto with wooden risers
Example of a trendy wooden l-shaped staircase design in Toronto with wooden risers

Photography: Carolyn Reyes
Living room - transitional open concept living room idea in Los Angeles
Living room - transitional open concept living room idea in Los Angeles
Find the right local pro for your project

Cecilia Anspach
Large trendy front porch photo in Miami with decking and a roof extension
Large trendy front porch photo in Miami with decking and a roof extension

Show Dad how much you appreciate him by surprising him with an Organized Living freedomRail Garage! Easy to install and strong, solutions securely hold dozens of heavy tools typically found in a garage. Trust us, with an organized garage, there would be a lot more marked off your “to-do” list. See more ways to organize the garage with freedomRail in our image gallery: http://www.organizedliving.com/home/products/freedomrail-garage/inspiration-gallery

An Organic Southwest style wine seller with built-in wine fridge.
Architect: Urban Design Associates, Lee Hutchison
Builder: R-Net Custom Homes
Interior Designer: Bess Jones Interiors
Photography: Dino Tonn

View from the upstairs guest bedroom balcony
Photo by Cecilia Anspach
Large victorian green three-story wood house exterior idea in Cedar Rapids with a hip roof and a shingle roof
Large victorian green three-story wood house exterior idea in Cedar Rapids with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Careful attention to detail required for small garden design also catered to Client's refined tastes. A backyard oasis for Client to spend time with young grandchildren and friends.

Chandelier from Aidan Gray
Photo by Cecilia Anspach
Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized transitional master white tile and marble tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub idea in Cedar Rapids with a hinged shower door and gray walls
Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized transitional master white tile and marble tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub idea in Cedar Rapids with a hinged shower door and gray walls

Upstairs guest bedroom featuring vintage repurposed dresser and pendant flanked by Guildmaster chair. Hardwood floors from Homer Wood. Art work from Wendover Art Group
Photo by Cecilia Anspach

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance.
Photos by Daniel Bosler

 
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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

This is a breakfast area in a colonial style home with an open floor plan. The table is custom-made, reclaimed wood from a barn that was torn down in Lancaster County, PA. The legs were painted gray and red chairs bring energy to the soothing light-filled space. A glass and chrome chandelier adds to the open and airy feel. The gallery wall for child's art is designed to be interchangeable so that pieces can be swapped out as the children get older and want to display new pieces.
Joyce Smith Photography
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