Master Bath with stainless steel soaking tub and wooden tub filler, steam shower with fold down bench, Black Lace Slate wall tile, Slate floor tile, Earth plaster ceiling and upper walls Photo: Michael R. Timmer

A reading nook under the stairs in the family room is a cozy spot to curl up with a book. Expansive views greet you through every tilt & swing triple paned window. Designed to be effortlessly comfortable using minimal energy, with exquisite finishes and details, this home is a beautiful and cozy retreat from the bustle of everyday life. Jen G. Pywell

Calista Chandler Photography
Example of an eclectic kitchen design in San Francisco

When renovating the kitchen cabinets, we opted to replace the profiles and swap out many of the cabinet doors for more useful drawers.
Transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, an island and white countertops

Susie Brenner Photography
Example of a transitional dark wood floor kitchen design in Denver with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This contemporary style kitchen features a two combination finish of white lacquer and a dark grey metallic high gloss. Redl Kitchens 156 Jessop Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7N 1Y4 10341-124th Street Edmonton, AB T5N 3W1 1733 McAra St Regina, SK, S4N 6H5

Guest bathroom with red vanity and shiplap walls. Photographer: Rob Karosis
Large farmhouse white tile slate floor and gray floor freestanding bathtub photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, concrete countertops and black countertops

Kitchen - large traditional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and orange floor kitchen idea in Columbus with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and subway tile backsplash

Laundry room - small farmhouse l-shaped laundry room idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, beige walls and a stacked washer/dryer

  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 door and window swapped places to allow room for a full dining table and seating and better flow.
Mid-sized mountain style medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Sacramento with beige walls and no fireplace

this was a more dated room in the home but the buyers knew they could easily swap out sink basins, paint cabinets, redo the tile surround or swap out the tub or toilet if necessary - and none of it needed to be done right away. Most buyers considered expanding the shower area for the future.

The stable has been repurposed as a pub, featuring the original iron & wood horse stalls. Robert Benson Photography
Example of a large country home bar design in New York

the front garden is maturing and displaying all the purple flowers contrasting with the yellow house - Mexican Sage, Artemesia, Lavender, Little Ollie Dwarf Olive Standards, Ginkgo tree

Kids' study room - study space coastal gender-neutral dark wood floor kids' study room idea in Charleston

The client came to comma design in need of an upgrade to their existing kitchen to allow for more storage and cleaner look. They wanted to swap their laminate bench to a sleek stone bench tops that can provide a luxurious loo to their space. Comma design worked closely with the trades on site to achieve the results.

Make your home more inviting by updating your front door this year! A simple swap can take your entryway from okay to excellent! Visit our website to view Masonite's extensive collection of entry doors.

Photo: Kaia Calhoun © 2017 Houzz
Bedroom - cottage bedroom idea

Bedroom - large transitional master brown floor, medium tone wood floor and exposed beam bedroom idea in Santa Barbara with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace