Herringbone brick tile flooring, SW Mount Etna green shiplap, pottery barn vanity, signature hardware faucet, 60" vanity mirror, and striking wallpaper make for a perfect combination in this modern farmhouse powder bath.

  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

Small transitional medium tone wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall powder room photo in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Powder room - mid-sized cottage white tile terra-cotta tile, gray floor and shiplap wall powder room idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Powder room - mid-sized cottage marble floor, white floor and shiplap wall powder room idea in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Example of a small beach style medium tone wood floor and shiplap wall powder room design with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, marble countertops and a built-in vanity

The original floor plan had to be restructured due to design flaws. The location of the door to the toilet caused you to hit your knee on the toilet bowl when entering the bathroom. While sitting on the toilet, the vanity would touch your side. This required proper relocation of the plumbing DWV and supply to the Powder Room. The existing delaminating vanity was also replaced with a Custom Vanity with Stiletto Furniture Feet and Aged Gray Stain. The vanity was complimented by a Carrera Marble Countertop with a Traditional Ogee Edge. A Custom site milled Shiplap wall, Beadboard Ceiling, and Crown Moulding details were added to elevate the small space. The existing tile floor was removed and replaced with new raw oak hardwood which needed to be blended into the existing oak hardwood. Then finished with special walnut stain and polyurethane.

Powder bath with pattern tile, shiplap, Pottery Barn vanity cabinet.
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Inspiration for a small transitional medium tone wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall powder room remodel in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a floating vanity

Example of a trendy light wood floor, shiplap ceiling and shiplap wall powder room design in Atlanta with open cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Mid-sized farmhouse marble floor, white floor and shiplap wall powder room photo in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Powder room - small coastal shiplap wall powder room idea in Other with black cabinets, white walls, a console sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

This coastal farmhouse design is destined to be an instant classic. This classic and cozy design has all of the right exterior details, including gray shingle siding, crisp white windows and trim, metal roofing stone accents and a custom cupola atop the three car garage. It also features a modern and up to date interior as well, with everything you'd expect in a true coastal farmhouse. With a beautiful nearly flat back yard, looking out to a golf course this property also includes abundant outdoor living spaces, a beautiful barn and an oversized koi pond for the owners to enjoy.

Powder room - mid-sized contemporary cement tile floor, multicolored floor and shiplap wall powder room idea in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a floating vanity

Mid-sized cottage blue floor and shiplap wall powder room photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Two walls were taken down to open up the kitchen and to enlarge the dining room by adding the front hallway space to the main area. Powder room and coat closet were relocated from the center of the house to the garage wall. The door to the garage was shifted by 3 feet to extend uninterrupted wall space for kitchen cabinets and to allow for a bigger island.

Powder room with Shiplap for the interior and creative tile for the flooring. There is an arched mirror that matches the cabinets.
Example of a small classic ceramic tile, beige floor and shiplap wall powder room design in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an integrated sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Sleek and sophisticated this powder room is a real showstopper. A floating marble slab sits against black satin shiplap walls that incase the entire space. Brushed copper tapware and a white framed round mirror complete the space

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary beige tile and porcelain tile white floor and shiplap wall powder room remodel in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a two-piece toilet, marble countertops, beige countertops and a built-in vanity