Shale bathroom vanity with large recessed medicine cabinet for storage. Clean Iconic White quartz counter top and wood tile plank flooring. Photos by VLG Photography

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style master bathroom in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Dallas with blue cabinets, blue tile, glass tile, pink walls, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white benchtops, recessed-panel cabinets, a two-piece toilet and grey floor.

  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

transitional bathroom renovation
Photo of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Seattle with blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Photo of a large beach style master bathroom in Orange County with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, blue walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, a niche, a double vanity, a built-in vanity, vaulted and wallpaper.

Great design makes all the difference - bold material choices were just what was needed to give this little bathroom some BIG personality! Our clients wanted a dark, moody vibe, but had always heard that using dark colors in a small space would only make it feel smaller. Not true! Introducing a larger vanity cabinet with more storage and replacing the tub with an expansive walk-in shower immediately made the space feel larger, without any structural alterations. We went with a dark graphite tile that had a mix of texture on the walls and in the shower, but then anchored the space with white shiplap on the upper portion of the walls and a graphic floor tile (with mostly white and light gray tones). This technique of balancing dark tones with lighter tones is key to achieving those moody vibes, without creeping into cavernous territory. Subtle gray/blue/green tones on the vanity blend in well, but still pop in the space, and matte black fixtures add fantastic contrast to really finish off the whole look!

This contemporary bathroom features white marble look porcelain tile, navy blue shaker cabinets, an extra large shower with large subway tile in navy blue with mother of pearl accents.

The newly renovated master bathroom.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Portland Maine with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, brown floor and white benchtops.

Guest bath with tall ceiling, dropped paint line, accent penny tile, decorative pendant, painted shaker style vanity,
Mid-sized modern kids bathroom in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue tile, ceramic tile, blue walls, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops and grey benchtops.

Photo of a large country master bathroom in Other with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Designed by: Katherine Milljour Stel Builders
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style bathroom in San Diego with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, cement tiles, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, black floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Barbara Brown Photography
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Atlanta with blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, multi-coloured tile, porcelain tile, a drop-in sink, quartzite benchtops, white benchtops and flat-panel cabinets.

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master bathroom in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, grey benchtops, a double vanity and a freestanding vanity.

This custom vanity cabinet offers plenty of storage in this space. The paneling is waterproof and adds an exquisite style to this space.
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style master bathroom in Orange County with raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, vinyl floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and planked wall panelling.

The layout in the second-floor bathroom was changed to better accommodate the toilet, tub, and shower. A new vanity was added for more storage and kid delineated space. The crown trim along the vanity wall was part of the existing built in.

Bathroom, glass shower, blue vanity, tile floor, small bath, mosaic tile, lighting, hardware
Small traditional 3/4 bathroom in Columbus with furniture-like cabinets, blue cabinets, a corner shower, multi-coloured tile, mosaic tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, beige floor and a hinged shower door.

Ray Strawbridge Commercial Photography The new bathroom feels like a spa with new custom color cabinets from Showplace with the Pendleton door style.

Photo of a large beach style master bathroom in Orange County with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, a drop-in sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.