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

Light wood accents help to add interest and warmth to the space. Design and construction by Meadowlark Design+Build. Photography by Sean Carter
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional master bathroom in Detroit with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, a bidet, white tile, subway tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

A mix of blue and white patterns make this a fresh and fun hall bathroom for the family's children.
Inspiration for a small transitional 3/4 bathroom in Chicago with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, subway tile, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, blue floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Oklahoma City with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Upstairs loft bathroom featuring basalt hexagon flooring, a custom inset gray vanity with open storage below, quartz countertops and matte black fixtures.

This is an example of a large traditional kids bathroom in Seattle with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a double shower, an urinal, white tile, subway tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, a trough sink, blue floor, a hinged shower door, a shower seat, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

The exquisite new vanity has a modern farmhouse aesthetic, featuring custom Crystal cabinets in the elegant Regent door style. Painted in a refreshing Parlor Green hue, the cabinets add a touch of timeless charm to the space. Crowned with a luxurious Q Quartz Mara Blanca countertop, the vanity proudly showcases two ALFI farmhouse sinks, further accentuating the farmhouse-inspired design.

Mid-sized modern 3/4 wet room bathroom with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, white tile, subway tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Photo of a kids bathroom in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, an open shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, subway tile, white walls, marble floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain, multi-coloured benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Large modern master bathroom in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Photo of a mid-sized modern master bathroom in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an open shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Ensuite bathroom with medium-light wood cabinetry, black matte hardware and appliances, white counter tops, and black matte metal mirror and pendant.
Design ideas for a mid-sized master bathroom in Sacramento with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, white tile, subway tile, white walls, vinyl floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

This is an example of a transitional bathroom in New York with shaker cabinets, gray tile, subway tile, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, white floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Master Bathroom, post renovation
Photo of a small country bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a shower seat, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and a corner shower.

Master Bathroom, post-renovation
Design ideas for a small country master bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a shower seat, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Design ideas for a large traditional master wet room bathroom in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a freestanding tub, white tile, subway tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Mid-sized country master bathroom in Cincinnati with grey cabinets, a claw-foot tub, a curbless shower, a two-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, ceramic floors, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a laundry, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

  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

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom in Austin with green cabinets, a corner shower, green tile, subway tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, black floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.