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

Photo: Teness Herman © 2015 Houzz
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The kitchen & living room swapped spaces during the renovation & the fireplace was entirely removed in the interest of maximizing floor space. The reconfiguration gave the kitchen much needed breathing room & also accommodated a cozy dining nook. In the renovated family room, a new gas fireplace is flanked by built in bookcases that maximize functional storage and modern style.

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Our clients needed a much larger kitchen to accommodate their growing family and better functionality for their dream culinary haven. They did not give it a moments notice to contact Cathy and Ed at Renovisions who designed and built a few recent projects and they were delighted with the overall experience. A design of an open floor plan in mind with relocated appliances totally transformed this kitchen space. Space was borrowed from the dining room allowing a much needed work flow and eat-in area for their two small children. White painted cabinetry that boasts plenty of storage, deep drawers, pull-out trash drawer provided more functional space and the glass mullion doors created an attractive view. The stainless appliances, including a slim Meile hood, along with the stainless steel decorative diamond pattern backsplash reflected a sleek and contemporary style that the clients love for their transitional style home. Soapstone with white veining countertops compliments the dark wood island with white marble Carrera-look quartz no-maintenance countertops. The warmth of the hardwood flooring is stunning in contrast to the white painted kitchen cabinets and exudes a comfortable and most welcome feel when you enter the space. These homeowners now enjoy more natural light from their existing dining room windows and beautiful views of their gardens from their table. This newly remodeled top notch kitchen is a delight for this homeowner’s top notch culinary skills.

This pool was design partially in the ground with the intention for guest to use the sides of the pool for seating. David Kopfmann, of Yardscapes, has designed many pools and he also liked the idea of the swimmer being at eye level with the person sitting in the chair at the edge of the pool. Mission accomplished, the client loved the idea! The pools exterior is mortared with a limestone to match the house. Travertine was used as the patio surface, along with limestone walls and steps which leads to the upper patio and fire pit area.

The client asked us to do the interior styling for the nursery of her unborn baby. The gender of the baby was going to be a surprise so we styled the room in a way that wood be suitable for either a boy or a girl. We styled the room with furniture, soft furnishings and accessories. We used inviting colours, added cute animal pictures and created a wall mural. When the baby was born (a girl!) some pink accents were added to the scheme.

The 3 bedroom unit above the garage as well as an unseen basement master suite and garden were renovated in this San Francisco home and luxury vacation rental. Photo: Open Homes Photography

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Deep soaker tub was a must for the client. This bath remodel started with the desire for a mini-spa in a small footprint. With concise planning a precious 10 SF was added, ending up with 51 SF. Everything that came into the new space was new, fresh and bold. A soaker tub (22” deep) was a must. A rain shower and a hand shower gave versatile water sprays. Unique accents shine like the embossed paisley low vessel sink. The tile on the floor was bold and accented with penny-rounds in tones of grey for the niche and splash. Other extras; a storage nook was made by cutting into the hall stair cavity, a great place for linens and necessities. General lighting was increased with a larger window, and a great lighted mirror. This small spa is now bold, functional and enjoyed by these busy professionals.

Robbie Holmes Photography
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Taking this outdated and loud space and transforming it in to a serene retreat with pull-out cabinets and a refreshing palette. Dive into this beach-style bathroom transformation where calm meets chic! The corner shower has made way for a spacious design, and those dated green vanities? Swapped for a timelessly elegant vanity, custom cabinetry, and a square tile that raps around this stunning refresh for our wonderful client.

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Example of a bathroom design in DC Metro

Maxine Schnitzer Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in DC Metro

We got to start with the most spacious master suite, essentially the full second floor of a classic Chicago Bungalow. We gutted the bathroom, swapping the huge dated tub for more storage, upgraded the dual pedestal sinks to a custom double vanity, and gave the double shower a makeover, adding a rain head. The renovations continued into the bedroom, office and window seat space with new flooring, lighting, window treatments, furniture and accessories throughout. Photography Ryan McDonald

These homeowners wanted to maintain their home's existing tropical mediterranean vibes, so we enhanced their space with accenting multi-tone pavers. These paving stones are rich in color and texture, adding to the existing beauty of their home. Artificial turf was added in for drought tolerance and low maintenance. Landscape lighting flows throughout the front and the backyard. Lastly, they requested a water feature to be included on their private backyard patio for added relaxation and ambiance.