A beautifully remodeled primary bathroom ensuite inspired by the homeowner’s European travels. This spacious bathroom was dated and had a cold cave like shower. The homeowner desired a beautiful space with a European feel, like the ones she discovered on her travels to Europe. She also wanted a privacy door separating the bathroom from her bedroom. The designer opened up the closed off shower by removing the soffit and dark cabinet next to the shower to add glass and let light in. Now the entire room is bright and airy with marble look porcelain tile throughout. The archway was added to frame in the under-mount tub. The double vanity in a soft gray paint and topped with Corian Quartz compliments the marble tile. The new chandelier along with the chrome fixtures add just the right amount of luxury to the room. Now when you come in from the bedroom you are enticed to come in and stay a while in this beautiful space.

  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.

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.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in tub, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity, a built-in vanity, a shower/bathtub combo and an open shower.

A new tub was installed with a tall but thin-framed sliding glass door—a thoughtful design to accommodate taller family and guests. The shower walls were finished in a Porcelain marble-looking tile to match the vanity and floor tile, a beautiful deep blue that also grounds the space and pulls everything together. All-in-all, Gayler Design Build took a small cramped bathroom and made it feel spacious and airy, even without a window!

Bright and fun bathroom featuring a floating, navy, custom vanity, decorative, patterned, floor tile that leads into a step down shower with a linear drain. The transom window above the vanity adds natural light to the space.

Matthew Niemann Photography www.matthewniemann.com
Inspiration for a transitional master bathroom in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, white walls, an integrated sink, white floor and white benchtops.

His and hers navy blue vanity with gold hardware and polished chrome fixtures. Photo by Normandy Remodeling
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white benchtops, an alcove shower, grey floor and a hinged shower door.

Photo of a large transitional master bathroom in Calgary with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, white benchtops, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, porcelain tile, engineered quartz benchtops, a hinged shower door, a niche and a shower seat.

Leonard Ortiz
Photo of a beach style 3/4 bathroom in Orange County with white walls, mosaic tile floors, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, black and white tile, ceramic tile, an undermount sink, tile benchtops, multi-coloured floor and a hinged shower door.

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.

Photo of a small transitional powder room in Charlotte with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, wood-look tile, an integrated sink, engineered quartz benchtops, brown floor, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Los Angeles with blue cabinets, a curbless shower, marble, blue walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a built-in vanity, white tile and recessed-panel cabinets.

Professional Home Improvement, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia, 2022 Regional CotY Award Winner, Residential Bath Under $25,000
Small transitional bathroom in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white tile, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and planked wall panelling.

The theme for the design of these four bathrooms was Coastal Americana. My clients wanted classic designs that incorporated color, a coastal feel, and were fun. The master bathroom stands out with the interesting mix of tile. We maximized the tall sloped ceiling with the glass tile accent wall behind the freestanding bath tub. A simple sandblasted "wave" glass panel separates the wet area. Shiplap walls, satin bronze fixtures, and wood details add to the beachy feel. The three guest bathrooms, while having tile in common, each have their own unique vanities and accents. Curbless showers and frameless glass opened these rooms up to feel more spacious. The bits of blue in the floor tile lends just the right pop of blue. Custom fabric roman shades in each room soften the look and add extra style.

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 kids bathroom features Brighton Cabinetry with Amesbury door style and a Maple Custom light blue color. The countertops are Twin Arch Millstone quartz.

The "Dream of the '90s" was alive in this industrial loft condo before Neil Kelly Portland Design Consultant Erika Altenhofen got her hands on it. No new roof penetrations could be made, so we were tasked with updating the current footprint. Erika filled the niche with much needed storage provisions, like a shelf and cabinet. The shower tile will replaced with stunning blue "Billie Ombre" tile by Artistic Tile. An impressive marble slab was laid on a fresh navy blue vanity, white oval mirrors and fitting industrial sconce lighting rounds out the remodeled space.