Charming backyard gathering spot behind a full house remodel and second story addition in the Bryant neighborhood of Seattle. Builder: Blue Sound Construction, Inc. Architect: SHKS Architects Photo: Miranda Estes

Eric Roth Photography
Small elegant medium tone wood floor entryway photo in Boston with green walls

Exterior home idea in Charlotte

Our clients' existing kitchen was too small and claustrophobic for the busy household. We decided to swap the locations of the kitchen and dining room and removed the wall that divided them, allowing for much better flow from one room to the other. We also added more lighting and brighter finishes to give the space a clean and modern appearance. The tile backsplash adds texture and geometric patterns to draw in the eye. The quartz surfaces, hardwood floors, and painted cabinets were installed with durability and resilience in mind. The final product was a much better fit for the needs of the household. It also provided a significant investment into the overall value of their home.

Trendy kitchen photo in Minneapolis

Gray perimeter cabinets with gray accented island
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Denver with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

  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

Photography: Ken Vaughn
Example of a transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub design in Dallas with an undermount sink, marble countertops, gray walls, shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet and white cabinets

This kitchen was transformed to a highly functional and beautiful space while keeping the original footprint primarily intact. White oak cabinets with white uppers are classic and timeless. The GE Cafe white appliances with rose gold finishes add a simple elegance.

Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, beige floor and single-sink bathroom idea in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

The kitchen in this contemporary style home seemed to be an afterthought. While the rest of the house is open and expansive, the kitchen was small and detached, especially for a couple who loves to entertain. The very large and adjacent dining room seemed a more likely location for a kitchen, but they resisted the thought of swapping the two spaces. So their designer created a layout that allowed for a second – and larger – opening to the dining room and the expansive, light-filled living space beyond. A peninsula attaches to the wall that remained between the two openings. There the sink is located so that during food preparation or cleanup there is a view through the windows and the opportunity to socialize with people gathered at the countertop. The seating area is curved to encourage people to gather and chat. The granite countertop choice was a case of love at first sight for this homeowner since it brought his favorite shade of blue into the kitchen. The cooking center is spread out along the wall at the back of the house. There the eye-catching stainless steel hood creates a focal point above the sleek, low-profile cooktop. Glass tile pulls color from the countertops onto the wall where it glimmers in the light. One oven combined with a microwave/convection oven meet their cooking needs and the stainless steel adds brightness to the room. The stainless steel refrigerator is just a few steps away from the work center and the seating area and is easily accessible from other parts of the house. The original kitchen featured only one small window in addition to the sliding glass doors. Since it was almost new and the house had been resided, a second window was joined to the first, and cabinetry beneath them anchors them in the space. A tall pantry cabinet completes the kitchen, providing high quality storage and visual balance in this redesign. Sleek cherry cabinets give this kitchen a decidedly contemporary style. They were stained just enough to add warmth and color and are enhanced with oversized stainless steel pulls. From this redesigned space you can see into the main house and see out through the many windows there. When combined with a new layout that provides better traffic flow, there’s a new feeling of spaciousness to the kitchen. It’s no longer an afterthought. It’s an integral part of this home’s living space, enhancing the home and the lifestyle of its owners. Photography By Scott Sherman

Reclaimed wood wainscoting along the living area and stair walls add texture, tying the relatively narrow room together. The cove light and pendant lights can be controlled by the Phillips Hue app, allowing the owners to remotely adjust their coloration and brightness.

Honey I'm "Honed".... beautiful honed black absolute granite countertops with slab natural maple cabinetry and sleek stainless steel appliances, new usb outlet at desk with fun "Teacher's" Apple Green Accented backsplash

Typical builder closet with fixed rods and shelves, all sprayed the same color as the ceiling and walls.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country gender-neutral carpeted and white floor walk-in closet remodel in Other with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Construction: John Muolo Photographer: Kevin Colquhoun
Example of a mid-sized beach style 3/4 beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile doorless shower design in New York with a drop-in sink, furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and beige walls

Large trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, multicolored backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Dan Hoffman
Dining room - rustic dark wood floor dining room idea in Other

Living room library - small industrial open concept light wood floor living room library idea in Denver with white walls, no fireplace and no tv