Our clients came to us because they were tired of looking at the side of their neighbor’s house from their master bedroom window! Their 1959 Dallas home had worked great for them for years, but it was time for an update and reconfiguration to make it more functional for their family. They were looking to open up their dark and choppy space to bring in as much natural light as possible in both the bedroom and bathroom. They knew they would need to reconfigure the master bathroom and bedroom to make this happen. They were thinking the current bedroom would become the bathroom, but they weren’t sure where everything else would go. This is where we came in! Our designers were able to create their new floorplan and show them a 3D rendering of exactly what the new spaces would look like. The space that used to be the master bedroom now consists of the hallway into their new master suite, which includes a new large walk-in closet where the washer and dryer are now located. From there, the space flows into their new beautiful, contemporary bathroom. They decided that a bathtub wasn’t important to them but a large double shower was! So, the new shower became the focal point of the bathroom. The new shower has contemporary Marine Bone Electra cement hexagon tiles and brushed bronze hardware. A large bench, hidden storage, and a rain shower head were must-have features. Pure Snow glass tile was installed on the two side walls while Carrara Marble Bianco hexagon mosaic tile was installed for the shower floor. For the main bathroom floor, we installed a simple Yosemite tile in matte silver. The new Bellmont cabinets, painted naval, are complemented by the Greylac marble countertop and the Brainerd champagne bronze arched cabinet pulls. The rest of the hardware, including the faucet, towel rods, towel rings, and robe hooks, are Delta Faucet Trinsic, in a classic champagne bronze finish. To finish it off, three 14” Classic Possini Euro Ludlow wall sconces in burnished brass were installed between each sheet mirror above the vanity. In the space that used to be the master bathroom, all of the furr downs were removed. We replaced the existing window with three large windows, opening up the view to the backyard. We also added a new door opening up into the main living room, which was totally closed off before. Our clients absolutely love their cool, bright, contemporary bathroom, as well as the new wall of windows in their master bedroom, where they are now able to enjoy their beautiful backyard!

  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

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.

Transitional bathroom in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, blue tile, white walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Inspiration for a mid-sized country 3/4 bathroom in Dallas with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a corner shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Inspiration for a small contemporary powder room in London with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, blue tile, subway tile, blue walls, porcelain floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, white benchtops and a floating vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional bathroom in Austin with blue cabinets, an open shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, white walls, cement tiles, a wall-mount sink, concrete benchtops, blue floor, an open shower, blue benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Photo of a transitional bathroom in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a curbless shower, blue tile, beige walls, an undermount sink, beige floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

This was a whole home renovation with an addition and was phased over two and a half years. It included the kitchen, living room, primary suite, basement family room and wet bar, plus the addition of his and hers office space, along with a sunscreen. This modern rambler is transitional style at its best!

Design ideas for a transitional kids bathroom in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a shower seat and a built-in vanity.

To accommodate the client’s need for easier personal care, we added a fog-free mirror in the shower and built-in a “beauty bar,’” which included an organized makeup drawer, innovative drawer outlets, and pull-out storage for personal hair care tools, hygiene products, accessories, etc.

Inspiration for a transitional 3/4 bathroom in London with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, blue tile, white tile, an integrated sink, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door, blue benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and vaulted.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Wilmington with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a curbless shower, blue tile, blue walls, an undermount sink, a sliding shower screen, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

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.

Our client wanted an updated transitional look with references to the sea. The design for this bathroom began with the selection of the Kohler Derring Wading Pool sink and Finial Faucet. The Robern medicine cabinet mirror was recessed into the wall and surrounded by glass "swishes" in the same blues as the sink. A modern touch we used is the waterfall edge on both the outside and inside edge of the vanity and the outside of the shower bench. The Quartz is by LG in a retired color, Rafine. Sand colored porcelain wood plank flooring was continued from the rest of the home and gives an organic driftwood like feel to the bath. Hudson Valley lighting sconces are mounted onto the glass backsplash for a modern touch.

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.

This is an example of a large country master bathroom in Charlotte with blue tile, cement tile, beige walls, marble benchtops, brown floor, blue cabinets, dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, grey benchtops and shaker cabinets.

Shower walls - 3x6 Arctic White Subway Tile. Accent wall - Aquatica Summer Time
Design ideas for a small beach style master bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, blue tile, mosaic tile, white walls, an undermount sink, white floor and white benchtops.

This is an example of a contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, glass tile, black walls, a console sink, grey floor, engineered quartz benchtops and beige benchtops.