Inspiration for a large transitional master bathroom in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an open shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, wood-look tile, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

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

Large transitional master bathroom in Nashville with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a two-piece toilet, black and white tile, marble, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink and quartzite benchtops.

Small eclectic master bathroom in Raleigh with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a bidet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, black floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single 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

Blue coastal retreat
Inspiration for a beach style bathroom in San Diego with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, porcelain tile, blue walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, beige floor, a sliding shower screen, grey benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury bathroom in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Design ideas 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.

Design ideas for 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.

Photo of a large contemporary master bathroom in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, beige floor and white benchtops.

This forever home, perfect for family bonding, and entertaining is a transitional residence that exudes warmth, function and style. This busy family had recently purchased a home that was elegant on the outside, but dated on the inside. Upon a trades referral, they called on Studio Nine to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and reworking existing rooms, resulting in dramatic results. Valerie & Nadia layered the space in warmth and style throughout, creating a balance of functionality & beauty. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

This home built in 2000 was dark and the kitchen was partially closed off. They wanted to open it up to the outside and update the kitchen and entertaining spaces. We removed a wall between the living room and kitchen and added sliders to the backyard. The beautiful Openseas painted cabinets definitely add a stylish element to this previously dark brown kitchen. Removing the big, bulky, dark built-ins in the living room also brightens up the overall space.

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!

The name of the flooring in this guest bath is purely southern, "Buttered Pecan" - we love the name and the geometric look of it! The 1x4 mosaic tile accent wall is beautiful and adds depth to this small space. The color on this vanity is SW Tempe Star and it is gorgeous! Photographer: Michael Hunter Photography

Contractor rearranged some second floor space in this historical home to get a large master bath housing dressing table, tub and shower and a view of long island sound.

Large transitional bathroom in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a double shower, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor and white benchtops.

This master bath was an explosion of travertine and beige. The clients wanted an updated space without the expense of a full remodel. We layered a textured faux grasscloth and painted the trim to soften the tones of the tile. The existing cabinets were painted a bold blue and new hardware dressed them up. The crystal chandelier and mirrored sconces add sparkle to the space. New larger mirrors bring light into the space and a soft linen roman shade with embellished tassel fringe frames the bathtub area. Our favorite part of the space is the well traveled Turkish rug to add some warmth and pattern to the space.

Rebecca Zajac
Inspiration for a country master bathroom in Las Vegas with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, white tile, subway tile, beige walls, ceramic floors, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door and beige benchtops.