Photo by Molly Winters
Photo of a small traditional bathroom in Austin with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a curbless shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, marble, marble floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.

  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

Jason Miller, Pixelate Ltd.
Inspiration for a small traditional master bathroom in Cleveland with beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, multi-coloured tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, beige floor and a hinged shower door.

Wave tile shower surround with custom glass gradient glass detail. Kate Falconer Photography
Mid-sized beach style bathroom in Other with blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, glass tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink and engineered quartz benchtops.

Built in marble vanity complete with a drop-in sink and deep blue cabinets.
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean kids bathroom in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, terra-cotta floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Expansive country master bathroom in San Francisco with raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, white walls, limestone floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

the client decided to eliminate the bathtub and install a large shower with partial fixed shower glass instead of a shower door
Photo of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an open shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, grey benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a freestanding vanity and decorative wall panelling.

Gorgeous contemporary master bathroom renovation! Everything from the custom floating vanity and large-format herringbone vanity wall to the soaring ceilings, walk-in shower and gold accents speaks to luxury and comfort. Simple, stylish and elegant - total win!!

Small transitional bathroom in Nashville with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, beige tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, beige floor, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Transitional bathroom vanity with polished grey quartz countertop, dark blue cabinets with black hardware, Moen Doux faucets in black, Ann Sacks Savoy backsplash tile in cottonwood, 8"x8" patterned tile floor, and chic oval black framed mirrors by Paris Mirrors. Rain-textured glass shower wall, and a deep tray ceiling with a skylight.

The combination of wallpaper and white metro tiles gave a coastal look and feel to the bathroom
Design ideas for a large beach style kids bathroom in London with grey floor, blue walls, porcelain floors, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, an open shower, a niche, a single vanity, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

A 1946 bathroom was in need of a serious update to accommodate 2 growing teen/tween boys. Taking it's cue from the navy and gray in the Moroccan floor tiles, the bath was outfitted with splashes of antique brass/gold fixtures, Art Deco lighting (DecoCreationStudio) and artwork by Space Frog Designs.

Welcoming powder room with floating sink cabinetry.
This is an example of a transitional powder room in Chicago with blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtops and a floating vanity.

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern master bathroom in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, marble, white walls, marble floors, a console sink, granite benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Photo of a small modern powder room in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, multi-coloured benchtops and a freestanding vanity.

This is an example of a large country 3/4 bathroom in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, beige tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

This master bath design features KraftMaid's Breslin door style in Midnight, Envi Quartz in Statuatio Fiora, Berenson Hardware's Swagger Collection modern brushed gold pulls, and Delta faucets.

This project involved 2 bathrooms, one in front of the other. Both needed facelifts and more space. We ended up moving the wall to the right out to give the space (see the before photos!) This is the kids' bathroom, so we amped up the graphics and fun with a bold, but classic, floor tile; a blue vanity; mixed finishes; matte black plumbing fixtures; and pops of red and yellow.

Contemporary 3/4 bathroom in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, white tile, yellow tile, blue walls, an integrated sink, grey floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.