Photography by Ryan Davis | CG&S Design-Build
Photo of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Austin with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, blue tile, glass tile, blue walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double 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

This is an example of a transitional master bathroom in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, blue tile, subway tile, white walls, a vessel sink, beige floor, multi-coloured benchtops, a double vanity, a built-in vanity, vaulted and wood.

Complete remodel of a hall bathroom. Complete with shiplap on the bottom of the walls with wallpaper on the top half.
Mid-sized modern kids bathroom in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, glass tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a sliding shower screen, beige benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Pratt and Larson Custom 6x6 wall tile
This is an example of a country kids bathroom in San Francisco with blue tile, ceramic tile, brick floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Fantastic project, client, and builder. Could not be happier with this modern beach home. Love the combination of wood, white, and black with beautiful glass accents all throughout.

Grey porcelain tiles and glass mosaics, marble vanity top, white ceramic sinks with black brassware, glass shelves, wall mirrors and contemporary lighting

Photo of a midcentury master bathroom in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, an alcove shower, blue tile, cement tile, porcelain floors, quartzite benchtops, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and a drop-in sink.

Z Collection Candy ceramic tile in ‘Ocean’ is used for the lower half of the walk-in shower and the upper is from Daltile Miramo Fan Mosaic in ‘Aqua’.

Beach style master bathroom in San Diego with shaker cabinets, blue tile, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

A modern master bath gets its allure from the blend of solid and textured tiles placed horizontally across the backsplash and shower wall. Contrasting large format white tiles in the shower keeps the space light and bright. Affordable custom cabinets are achieved with a light wood-tone laminate cabinet.

Photo of a transitional 3/4 bathroom in Dallas with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a shower/bathtub combo, blue tile, marble, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white floor, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Light blue, white and wood guest bathroom. © Cindy Apple Photography
Small transitional 3/4 bathroom in Seattle with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a shower/bathtub combo, blue tile, porcelain tile, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white floor, a sliding shower screen, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Inspiration for a small transitional bathroom in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, wood-look tile, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain, grey benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Master bathroom with freestanding shower and built in dressing table and double vanities
Photo of a large beach style master bathroom in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a corner shower, blue tile, glass sheet wall, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, beige floor, a hinged shower door, multi-coloured benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Renovation of this California casual kids bath. Ocean blue colors accented in the bathroom vanity and the accent tile and niche in the shower. Shower bench and lit medicine cabinets to finish it off!

Every other room in this custom home is flooded with color, but we kept the main suite bright and white to foster maximum relaxation and create a tranquil retreat.

Mid-sized beach style master bathroom in Central Coast with recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, a freestanding tub, blue tile, blue walls, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Countertop: Curava | Seaglass and Quartz | Color: Element Cabinet: J&J Exclusive Amish Kemp Cabinetry | Color: Surf Green Shower Walls: Topcu | Naima Stone Shower Accent: Elysium | Watercolor Green Shower Floor: Stone Mosaics | Pebble Tile | Green & White Shaved Hardware: Top Knobs | Modern Metro | Brushed Nickel