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 mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Seattle with blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops and recessed-panel cabinets.

This one is near and dear to my heart. Not only is it in my own backyard, it is also the first remodel project I've gotten to do for myself! This space was previously a detached two car garage in our backyard. Seeing it transform from such a utilitarian, dingy garage to a bright and cheery little retreat was so much fun and so rewarding! This space was slated to be an AirBNB from the start and I knew I wanted to design it for the adventure seeker, the savvy traveler, and those who appreciate all the little design details . My goal was to make a warm and inviting space that our guests would look forward to coming back to after a full day of exploring the city or gorgeous mountains and trails that define the Pacific Northwest. I also wanted to make a few bold choices, like the hunter green kitchen cabinets or patterned tile, because while a lot of people might be too timid to make those choice for their own home, who doesn't love trying it on for a few days?At the end of the day I am so happy with how it all turned out! --- Project designed by interior design studio Kimberlee Marie Interiors. They serve the Seattle metro area including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Medina, Clyde Hill, and Hunts Point. For more about Kimberlee Marie Interiors, see here: https://www.kimberleemarie.com/

A perfect mix of blue hues and clean white tile make this bathroom a retreat! The addition of the crane wallpaper tied the space together and made this room unique.

Interior: Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn Photography: Michael Alan Kaskel Vanity: Woodland Cabinetry
Photo of a mid-sized tropical master bathroom in Other with beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, ceramic tile, multi-coloured walls, mosaic tile floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

The master bedroom in this cozy home just got it very own bathroom. Custom cabinetry in a Puritan Gray color brings out the blue-green tones of the traditional accent niche tile.

Guest bathroom
Small contemporary kids bathroom in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, yellow tile, ceramic tile, white walls, cement tiles, an integrated sink, engineered quartz benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain, yellow benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Mid-sized country kids bathroom in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, blue floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Inspiration for a small transitional kids bathroom in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, blue floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, a shower/bathtub combo, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, a shower curtain, white benchtops, blue cabinets, white tile, white floor and a single vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional bathroom in Nashville with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity, white tile, subway tile and a niche.

Design ideas for a transitional bathroom in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white tile, subway tile, blue walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

This is an example of a small modern 3/4 bathroom in Nashville with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Guest Bathroom Photo by Dan Arnold
Photo of a small transitional bathroom in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, white walls, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, beige floor, a shower curtain and beige benchtops.

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic 3/4 bathroom in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, multi-coloured walls, porcelain floors, an integrated sink, marble benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Design ideas for a country kids bathroom in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white benchtops, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, grey walls, an undermount sink, multi-coloured floor and a shower curtain.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional master bathroom in Providence with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, marble, blue walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor and a shower curtain.

By Thrive Design Group
Mid-sized transitional bathroom in Chicago with blue cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain and recessed-panel cabinets.