A hidden gem tucked away in Atwater Village, the home has been renovated a time or two in ways that obscured its original charms. As is sadly often the case with homes of its era in Los Angeles, the kitchen and bathroom were completely gutted at some point and filled with builder-grade finishes unaligned with the inherent architecture of the home. On such jobs, our modus operandi is to reinfuse the spaces with details that harken back to the very best elements of the home’s original style while weaving in timeless touches of both modern life and the personality of the homeowner. In the bathroom, this method resulted in an eclectic, feminine heart-to-heart between the unruly imperfections of the handmade and the more orderly lines of the meticulously tailored. And what else could come from such a love story but a blue dream of a bathroom fit for a mermaid?

After renovating their neutrally styled master bath Gardner/Fox helped their clients create this farmhouse-inspired master bathroom, with subtle modern undertones. The original room was dominated by a seldom-used soaking tub and shower stall. Now, the master bathroom includes a glass-enclosed shower, custom walnut double vanity, make-up vanity, linen storage, and a private toilet room.

Example of a trendy black and white tile dark wood floor and brown floor powder room design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink and green countertops

Architect: Ted Schultz, Schultz Architecture ( http://www.schultzarchitecture.com/) Contractor: Casey Eskra, Pacific Coast Construction ( http://pcc-sd.com/), Christian Naylor Photography: Chipper Hatter Photography ( http://www.chipperhatter.com/)

Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, gray floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Phoenix with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

mid century modern bathroom design. herringbone tiles, brick wall, cement floor tiles, gold fixtures, round mirror and globe scones. corner shower with subway tiles and penny tiles.

Some clients have such great taste, that it’s easy to help create the kitchen of their dreams. Our client in this case had such passion for the design of her own kitchen that it made it such a fun collaborative experience that you don’t always get with clients. She put her heart and soul into making sure every detail was exactly the way she wanted. This kitchen is only a small piece of a well-appointed home. The 1” thick custom door (from Bilotta’s private custom cabinet collection), traditionally styled, yet not overly so, matches beautifully with the details of the adjacent rooms. The grey colored cabinetry blends with the colors in the adjoining rooms creating the perfect centerpiece. The client chose a massive stone Francois & Co. Toulouse Shelf w/ Concave Stack hood from a dealer in London and had it shipped over on a boat! She selected beautiful “Mother of Pearl” knobs from Anthropologie and adorned select cabinets with them like pieces of jewelry. The naturally pearlescent clay tile, the Quartzite countertops and the lanterns above the island were all chosen to mirror these knobs. The lanterns were also chosen to replicate the movement of the gold pattern in the knobs. The client opted to turn the tile on the diagonal as it felt more fluid and in keeping with the movement in the knobs and lanterns. The stone hood, tile, and quartzite sample coordinated perfectly. The room was equipped with a mix of SubZero Wolf and Miele appliances with a Kohler apron sink. The space of course has the perfect amount of accessories for making it more than just visually appealing – it’s a baker’s dream with a lift up for a frequently used mixer. There’s a built-in paper towel holder and just the right amount of utensil dividers, cutlery dividers, tray dividers, roll-outs and even a secret pantry with matching cabinetry hidden in the corner. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane, CKD & Senior Designer Builder: Rob Norr, Nordic Construction Architect: Brad Demotte Photographer: Anthony Acocella

The master bathroom includes an expansive shower with a built-in skylight. Photo: Tyler Chartier
Walk-in shower - mid-sized contemporary master gray tile and glass tile porcelain tile walk-in shower idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops and beige walls

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

we wanted to preserve the mid-century modern feel (talk about a real flashback!), and boy, do we love the results! This kitchen is another perfect example of a project where we did the “lipstick and make-up” – another term for replacing the more cosmetic features such as countertops, backsplash, and the door and drawer fronts. Even doing so, the resulting kitchen leaves us with a breath of fresh air! To learn more about this space, continue reading below: Cabinetry To start, we removed the soffit in the kitchen making the space look taller. Next, we did not rip out the cabinetry boxes, because we were inspired by the finish and look of what existed. Maintaining the finish of the cabinets helped preserve the retro feel and is a good example of repurposing what you already have! As a result, we replaced the door and drawer fronts with a new slab style in a matching medium stain. In addition to the cabinetry fronts, we installed floating shelves – a perfect spot to display! Countertops For countertops we wanted something light and bright, and also something that would look good with the other finishes. As a result, we kept it simple with a light and bright surface from Caesarstone in the color “Blizzard” Backsplash Now for a little fun and a pop of color, the tile. The tile we selected is fresh, exciting, and also ties everything together giving that mid-century modern feel. In a brick-lay installation, we have a Glazzio Crystile Series, in a 4×12 size, with a finish of Soft Mint. Fixtures and Fittings Completing the space, we finished the cabinetry with U-Turn knob’s on the doors, and U-turn pulls on the drawers. Then from Blanco, we have a Quatrus stainless steel sink and a Culina mini faucet in satin nickel.

A rich grasscloth wallpaper paired with a sleek, Spanish tile perfectly compliments this beautiful, talavera sink.
Powder room - small mediterranean white tile and ceramic tile terra-cotta tile, brown floor and wallpaper powder room idea in San Diego with blue walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops, brown countertops and a floating vanity

A remodeled bathroom featuring a new tiled shower base with heavy duty shower doors that were installed along with a chic gray tile backsplash. A new dark wooden vanity with granite countertops was also added, as well as a complete re-tiling of the whole bathroom floor to match the room’s new and improved look. Project designed by Skokie renovation firm, Chi Renovation & Design. They serve the Chicagoland area, and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/downtown-condo-renovation/

Elegant modern kitchen created by combining custom cabinets, ceasar stone counter tops, Artistic Tile backsplash and Gregorious Pineo LIght Fixture. Custom cabinets all finished by hand with custom color and glaze by Fabian Fine furniture. Photos by Christopher Stark

Richard Leo Johnson Wall Color: Super White - Regal Aqua Velvet, Latex Satin (Benjamin Moore) Wall Tile: 8x12 Silver Dusk Honed Marble from Marble Systems - Skyline Flooring: 3x12 Silver Dusk Honed Marble from Marble Systems - Skyline (water jet into herringbone pattern from 12x24 tiles) Cabinetry: Custom Wood Veneer Cabinetry with Aluminum and Frosted Glass Uppers (Rethink Design Studio, AWD Savannah) Library Ladder: Custom (Rethink Design Studio, AWD Savannah, Pique Studio) Backsplash: Richlite Hardware: Bar Series - Lewis Dolin Appliances: Viking Chandelier: Custom Brass and Blackened Metal Frame with Halogen Bulb (Rethink Design Studio, Pique Studio) Countertop: Richlite Faucet: Waterstone Dining Table: Custom Solid Wood Table with Blackened Metal and Brass Legs (Rethink Design Studio, Pique Studio, Clipper Trading) Dining Chairs: Blu Dot

Bathroom - traditional white tile and subway tile bathroom idea in Los Angeles with dark wood cabinets, white walls and recessed-panel cabinets

This tiny home has a very unique and spacious bathroom. This tiny home has utilized space-saving design and put the bathroom vanity in the corner of the bathroom. Natural light in addition to track lighting makes this vanity perfect for getting ready in the morning. Triangle corner shelves give an added space for personal items to keep from cluttering the wood counter. This contemporary, costal Tiny Home features a bathroom with a shower built out over the tongue of the trailer it sits on saving space and creating space in the bathroom. This shower has it's own clear roofing giving the shower a skylight. This allows tons of light to shine in on the beautiful blue tiles that shape this corner shower. Stainless steel planters hold ferns giving the shower an outdoor feel. With sunlight, plants, and a rain shower head above the shower, it is just like an outdoor shower only with more convenience and privacy. The curved glass shower door gives the whole tiny home bathroom a bigger feel while letting light shine through to the rest of the bathroom. The blue tile shower has niches; built-in shower shelves to save space making your shower experience even better. The frosted glass pocket door also allows light to shine through.

Amy Bartlam
Bathroom - mid-sized blue tile and ceramic tile cement tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile marble floor and white floor bathroom idea in Providence with white cabinets, an undermount sink, marble countertops, gray countertops, white walls and shaker cabinets

John Gruen Photography Contemporary Kitchen with Leicht Kitchen cabinetry. The 2 1/2" thick White Pearl Quartzite wrapped island counter is the focal point of this high end fabulous kitchen