Example of a large transitional white two-story brick exterior home design in Houston with a shingle roof

  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

Transforming key spaces in a home can really change the overall look and feel, especially in main living areas such as a kitchen or primary bathroom! Our goal was to create a bright, fresh, and timeless design in each space. We accomplished this by incorporating white cabinetry and by swapping out the small, seemingly useless island for a large and much more functional peninsula. And to transform the primary bathroom into a serene sanctuary, we incorporated a new open and spacious glass shower enclosure as well as a luxurious free-standing soaking tub, perfect for ultimate relaxation.

Wide, new stairway offers entry to game room, family room and home gym.
Basement game room - large contemporary look-out carpeted, white floor and shiplap wall basement game room idea in New York with white walls

carla choy photography
Example of a living room design in San Francisco

One of our favorite parts of the design is the gallery wall that we curated above our staircase. We filled almost every inch of the wall, and that’s the only place we have personal photos in the whole home. Today, it’s full of pictures from our wedding and honeymoon, but over time we can swap the frames out so it’s ever-evolving.

Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and beige floor bathroom idea in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, brown walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops and a hinged shower door

Powder room - small transitional brown tile and beige tile porcelain tile and gray floor powder room idea in Other with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and beige walls

This ocean-front shingled Gambrel style house is home to a young family with little kids who lead an active, outdoor lifestyle. My goal was to create a bespoke, colorful and eclectic interior that looked sophisticated and fresh, but that was tough enough to withstand salt, sand and wet kids galore. The palette of coral and blue is an obvious choice, but we tried to translate it into a less expected, slightly updated way, hence the front door! Liberal use of indoor-outdoor fabrics created a seamless appearance while preserving the utility needed for this full time seaside residence. photo: Michael J Lee Photography

Beach style home design photo in Los Angeles

Photography by Sean Litchfield
Transitional home design photo in Boston

Elizabeth Felicella
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in New York

This project took APD to the Oregon Coast for the remodel of two beach house bathrooms! The primary suite was gutted - removing an unused jetted tub in favor of an expansive corner vanity. The shower was opened up by removing an awkwardly located tall cabinet and by swapping a full height wall in favor for a pony wall with glass above. The bathroom is bathed in natural light via the skylight and frosted casement window. A luxurious shower experience was created with ceiling mount rain shower head, wall mount fixed shower head, hand shower on slider bar, and a modern waterfall slab shower bench with integrated niche. A subtle coastal vibe was created with the blue, white, and sandy gray color palette while artistic light fixtures fixtures, clean lined matte black plumbing, and straight stacked tile infuse modernity. In the hall bathroom, a cohesive design was created with added playfulness from the patterned floor tile!

Shop the Look, See the Photo Tour here: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2017/3/29/denver-tudor-reveal?rq=Denver%20Tudor Watch the Webisode: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2017/3/20/denver-tudor-webisode

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Example of an eclectic dining room design in New York

The centerpiece of the house, into which the new entry leads, and off of which all other entertaining rooms connect, is the Mad-Men-inspired living room, with hideaway bar closet, sassy pop-of-color chairs in sumptuous tangerine velvet, plenty of seating for guests, prominent displays of modern art, and a grand piano upon which to play music of course, as well as against which to lean fabulously, resting one’s elbow, with a drink in one’s other hand. Photo by Eric Rorer

Emerald Homes Mirabella Model at Palmira Golf and Country Club, Bonita Springs FL Interior Design by Janet Graham Baer's Naples and Connie Sherrard Baer's Ft. Myers 2014 www.dougthompson.net Doug Thompson Photography

Family room - 1960s family room idea in Grand Rapids

Large transitional girl medium tone wood floor and brown floor kids' room photo in Los Angeles with pink walls