The kids Jack and Jill bath received a full makeover with knotty alder vanities, a Dekton counter top and antique pewter finishes on the plumbing fixtures. The pebble tile left with a natural edge gives this bathroom a cool rustic feel to it. The bath/shower combo is clean and easy to maintain with a striped pattern of flat and wavy tile. The guest bath received a partial black and white update. The shower was in great shape so we chose to keep it and switch the fixtures to matte black. The floor received a patterned tile and a new white vanity cleaned up the space. A matte black metal framed mirror and shelving unit complete the look.

Transforming this small bathroom into a wheelchair accessible retreat was no easy task. Incorporating unattractive grab bars and making them look seamless was the goal. A floating vanity / countertop allows for roll up accessibility and the live edge of the granite countertops make if feel luxurious. Double sinks for his and hers sides plus medicine cabinet storage helped for this minimal feel of neutrals and breathability. The barn door opens for wheelchair movement but can be closed for the perfect amount of privacy.

  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

Achieve a Royalty Look with Calacatta Gold Tiles We all have that dream home we want to have. Better yet, some of us dream of a fantastic renovation of our homes; transforms them into glossy nests we can always be glad to perch in. For those of us who are already on the way to the dream house, you probably are shopping for material to use. So how about we introduce you to the good old Calacatta Gold marble? If you are asking what that is, we can say it’s a unique way of inspiring royalty to your home using tiles. Calacatta Gold is a special stone tile mined in the hearts of Italy, on the Appian Mountains. Ever since it was discovered, it has been heavily used as a floor tile as well as wall tile, creating remarkable artistic visuals with a touch of natural gold in it. Calacatta gold tile also has one unique trait you won’t notice in most tiles; you can easily mix it with other slab colors, specifically gold extra, Calacatta Borghini, Crema and Super Extra. Calacatta gold is also one of the few tiles with a unique pencil vein detail centering the white hue background and grey veins on the tile as well. This is the perfect choice for artistic walls and floors but be sure to use the right slab colors if you want to bring in more colors; if the slab and tile don’t match in color tones then it may affect the overall look of your walls/floors. There are plenty of places in the house you can experiment with the pristine Calacatta gold tile. How about the living room wall that is a background for your TV and home theater system? Calacatta wall tile will create a covetable golden hue that will always shine before you. Moreover, you will definitely fall in love with your walls in the morning, when a streak of sunlight illuminates the golden yellows. Installing the beautiful Calacatta gold tile is a pretty easy job as well. However you just need to be careful to use white thinset instead of grey. White thinsets will absorb the trowel lines whereas grey may leave behind ugly marks which may taint the exquisite nature of the tiles. If you also want your Calacatta floor tile or wall tile to last longer make sure it is properly sealed with grout. You still have that dream home in mind? We already have you covered on the best tiles to you use. Just think Calacatta gold tile all the way, all your friends will definitely take selfies beside your shiny golden walls. http://AllMarbleTiles.com

Chase Daniel chose our 6" Triangles in Frost, Rosemary and Salton Sea to star in his masterbath renovation.
Inspiration for a transitional master multicolored tile, green tile, white tile and ceramic tile shower curtain remodel in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls and an integrated sink

The renovated bath offers a warm, midcentury modern aesthetic, with spa-like amenities. To compensate for the bathroom’s lack of natural light, a central portion of the ceiling was lowered with cove lighting added to create the impression of sunlight filtering down. The technique serves to visually heighten the room and make the ceiling look taller. An open-concept zero-threshold shower visually enlarges the room and physically enlarges the area dedicated to the shower.

The Hall Bathroom in this 1960's home was completely gutted and re-designed. The tub was removed to make room for an enclosed shower and location change for the toilet. This allowed for an oversized custom vanity along the main wall that accomodates 2 undermount sinks with wall mounted faucets. The entire wall above the vanity features 5/8" glass mosaic tile. The floors are 12x24 Carrera Marble to match the vanity top. The shower is finished with a white subway tile and trimmed in matching marble. KateBenjamin Photography

Example of a country multicolored floor powder room design in Chicago with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls and an undermount sink

With no windows or natural light, we used a combination of artificial light, open space, and white walls to brighten this master bath remodel. Over the white, we layered a sophisticated palette of finishes that embrace color, pattern, and texture: 1) long hex accent tile in “lemongrass” gold from Walker Zanger (mounted vertically for a new take on mid-century aesthetics); 2) large format slate gray floor tile to ground the room; 3) textured 2X10 glossy white shower field tile (can’t resist touching it); 4) rich walnut wraps with heavy graining to define task areas; and 5) dirty blue accessories to provide contrast and interest. Photographer: Markert Photo, Inc.

This kitchen is the perfect example of how a space can be contemporary and warm and inviting. We utilized a two-tone cabinetry palette; the perimeter cabinets are a painted white MDF shaker door style and the island cabinetry is an Ethiopia stained raised panel Cherry wood. We brought in a warm-grey toned subway tile backsplash that extends up to the ceiling, and used the same tile to create a herringbone design feature above the range. We used accent tiles to add an extra detail throughout. This two-level counter is perfect for entertaining guests and spacious enough to seat at least four bar stools. Stainless appliances bring a more contemporary feel to the kitchen. Overall, the marriage of various neutral tones and textures creates a cohesive and enticing kitchen.

This guest bath has a light and airy feel with an organic element and pop of color. The custom vanity is in a midtown jade aqua-green PPG paint Holy Glen. It provides ample storage while giving contrast to the white and brass elements. A playful use of mixed metal finishes gives the bathroom an up-dated look. The 3 light sconce is gold and black with glass globes that tie the gold cross handle plumbing fixtures and matte black hardware and bathroom accessories together. The quartz countertop has gold veining that adds additional warmth to the space. The acacia wood framed mirror with a natural interior edge gives the bathroom an organic warm feel that carries into the curb-less shower through the use of warn toned river rock. White subway tile in an offset pattern is used on all three walls in the shower and carried over to the vanity backsplash. The shower has a tall niche with quartz shelves providing lots of space for storing shower necessities. The river rock from the shower floor is carried to the back of the niche to add visual interest to the white subway shower wall as well as a black Schluter edge detail. The shower has a frameless glass rolling shower door with matte black hardware to give the this smaller bathroom an open feel and allow the natural light in. There is a gold handheld shower fixture with a cross handle detail that looks amazing against the white subway tile wall. The white Sherwin Williams Snowbound walls are the perfect backdrop to showcase the design elements of the bathroom. Photography by LifeCreated.

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

This bathroom was completely remodeled with an all white colour scheme complete with a mixture of various marble types. Marble includes a pattern of carra marble, venato marble and callacatta marble. We sourced a home depot white freestanding vanity cabinet and placed a custom made carrara marble counter on top of it with undermount oval sinks. Design by LUX Design in Toronto, Photos by: Lisa Petrole Photography

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Nashville

This Transitional Whole Home Remodel required that the interior of the home be gutted in order to create the open concept kitchen / great room. The floors, walls and roofs were all reinsulated. The exterior was also updated with new stucco, paint and roof. Note the craftsman style front door in black! We also updated the plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The location and size of the new windows were all optimized for lighting. Adding to the homes new look are Louvered Shutters on all of the windows. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their NEW home! The kitchen features white shaker cabinet doors and Torquay Cambria countertops. White subway tile is warmed by the Dark Oak Wood floor. The home office space was customized for the homeowners. It features white shaker style cabinets and a custom built-in desk to optimize space and functionality. The master bathroom features DeWils cabinetry in walnut with a shadow gray stain. The new vanity cabinet was specially designed to offer more storage. The stylistic niche design in the shower runs the entire width of the shower for a modernized and clean look. The same Cambria countertop is used in the bathrooms as was used in the kitchen. "Natural looking" materials, subtle with various surface textures in shades of white and gray, contrast the vanity color. The shower floor is Stone Cobbles while the bathroom flooring is a white concrete looking tile, both from DalTile. The Wood Looking Shower Tiles are from Arizona Tile. The hall or guest bathroom features the same materials as the master bath but also offers the homeowners a bathtub. The laundry room has white shaker style custom built in tall and upper cabinets. The flooring in the laundry room matches the bathroom flooring.

New modern renovation with new Jacuzzi & walking shower. tile on shower walls and floors. tile floor that looks like wood floor.
Large trendy master beige tile and stone tile bathroom photo in Los Angeles with raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink and marble countertops

This penthouse in an industrial warehouse pairs old and new for versatility, function, and beauty. The master bath features dual sinks, cyan blue and dark blue fish scale tile from sink to ceiling between mirrors, and a grey floating vanity. Reflected in the mirrors is the large glass enclosed shower.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.

After completing their kitchen several years prior, this client came back to update their bath shared by their twin girls in this 1930's home. The bath boasts a large custom vanity with an antique mirror detail. Handmade blue glass tile is a contrast to the light coral wall. A small area in front of the toilet features a vanity and storage area with plenty of space to accommodate toiletries for two pre-teen girls. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com