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.

Vanity with tile wall
This is an example of a traditional master bathroom in Dallas with beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, white tile, gray tile, white walls, a vessel sink and white 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

Small powder room remodel. Added a small shower to existing powder room by taking space from the adjacent laundry area.
Small transitional powder room in Denver with open cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, ceramic tile, blue walls, ceramic floors, an integrated sink, white floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and decorative wall panelling.

Inspiration for a mid-sized kids bathroom in Nashville with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Susan Brenner
Mid-sized country 3/4 bathroom in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, wood benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, brown benchtops, white tile and subway tile.

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.

Beautiful Marble enhances this spectacular compact bathroom in a historic home. Unlacquered brass hardware will patina with time and is true to the character of this vintage dwelling.

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.

We planned a thoughtful redesign of this beautiful home while retaining many of the existing features. We wanted this house to feel the immediacy of its environment. So we carried the exterior front entry style into the interiors, too, as a way to bring the beautiful outdoors in. In addition, we added patios to all the bedrooms to make them feel much bigger. Luckily for us, our temperate California climate makes it possible for the patios to be used consistently throughout the year. The original kitchen design did not have exposed beams, but we decided to replicate the motif of the 30" living room beams in the kitchen as well, making it one of our favorite details of the house. To make the kitchen more functional, we added a second island allowing us to separate kitchen tasks. The sink island works as a food prep area, and the bar island is for mail, crafts, and quick snacks. We designed the primary bedroom as a relaxation sanctuary – something we highly recommend to all parents. It features some of our favorite things: a cognac leather reading chair next to a fireplace, Scottish plaid fabrics, a vegetable dye rug, art from our favorite cities, and goofy portraits of the kids. --- Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, see here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/portfolio/functional-ranch-house-design/

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!

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.

Builder: Watershed Builder Photography: Michael Blevins A large walk-in shower in Charlotte with double shower head, custom shower niche, white running bond pattern wall tile, and light gray hexagon mosaic tile floor

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.

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern master bathroom in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, marble, white walls, marble floors, a console sink, granite benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Navy and white transitional bathroom.
Large transitional powder room in New York with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white tile, marble, grey walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, white benchtops and a built-in vanity.

This project was a joy to work on, as we married our firm’s modern design aesthetic with the client’s more traditional and rustic taste. We gave new life to all three bathrooms in her home, making better use of the space in the powder bathroom, optimizing the layout for a brother & sister to share a hall bath, and updating the primary bathroom with a large curbless walk-in shower and luxurious clawfoot tub. Though each bathroom has its own personality, we kept the palette cohesive throughout all three.

This project was a joy to work on, as we married our firm’s modern design aesthetic with the client’s more traditional and rustic taste. We gave new life to all three bathrooms in her home, making better use of the space in the powder bathroom, optimizing the layout for a brother & sister to share a hall bath, and updating the primary bathroom with a large curbless walk-in shower and luxurious clawfoot tub. Though each bathroom has its own personality, we kept the palette cohesive throughout all three.

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.