This 1910 West Highlands home was so compartmentalized that you couldn't help to notice you were constantly entering a new room every 8-10 feet. There was also a 500 SF addition put on the back of the home to accommodate a living room, 3/4 bath, laundry room and back foyer - 350 SF of that was for the living room. Needless to say, the house needed to be gutted and replanned. Kitchen+Dining+Laundry-Like most of these early 1900's homes, the kitchen was not the heartbeat of the home like they are today. This kitchen was tucked away in the back and smaller than any other social rooms in the house. We knocked out the walls of the dining room to expand and created an open floor plan suitable for any type of gathering. As a nod to the history of the home, we used butcherblock for all the countertops and shelving which was accented by tones of brass, dusty blues and light-warm greys. This room had no storage before so creating ample storage and a variety of storage types was a critical ask for the client. One of my favorite details is the blue crown that draws from one end of the space to the other, accenting a ceiling that was otherwise forgotten. Primary Bath-This did not exist prior to the remodel and the client wanted a more neutral space with strong visual details. We split the walls in half with a datum line that transitions from penny gap molding to the tile in the shower. To provide some more visual drama, we did a chevron tile arrangement on the floor, gridded the shower enclosure for some deep contrast an array of brass and quartz to elevate the finishes. Powder Bath-This is always a fun place to let your vision get out of the box a bit. All the elements were familiar to the space but modernized and more playful. The floor has a wood look tile in a herringbone arrangement, a navy vanity, gold fixtures that are all servants to the star of the room - the blue and white deco wall tile behind the vanity. Full Bath-This was a quirky little bathroom that you'd always keep the door closed when guests are over. Now we have brought the blue tones into the space and accented it with bronze fixtures and a playful southwestern floor tile. Living Room & Office-This room was too big for its own good and now serves multiple purposes. We condensed the space to provide a living area for the whole family plus other guests and left enough room to explain the space with floor cushions. The office was a bonus to the project as it provided privacy to a room that otherwise had none before.

Inspiration for a transitional powder room in Los Angeles with beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, blue walls, an undermount sink, white floor and white benchtops.

Owner's spa-style bathroom with beautiful African Mahogany cabinets
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury 3/4 bathroom in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a corner shower, blue tile, ceramic tile, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white 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

Photography by Michael. J. Lee
Photo of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Boston with an alcove shower, blue tile, mosaic tile, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, white floor and a hinged shower door.

Maggie Hall
Mid-sized transitional bathroom in Boston with a shower/bathtub combo, glass tile, marble floors, a wall-mount sink, an alcove tub, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, white floor, an open shower and blue walls.

This SW Portland Hall bathroom walk-in shower has a large linear shower niche on the back wall.
This is an example of a small traditional 3/4 bathroom in Portland with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, blue walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Inspiration for a mid-sized master bathroom in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, white walls, brick floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Mid-sized traditional kids bathroom in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Beautiful blue and white tiled shower with tile from Wayne Tile in NJ. The accent wall of blue tile at the back wall of the shower add drama to the space. The light chevron floor tile pattern adds subtle interest and contrasts with the dark vanity. The classic white marble countertop is timeless.

Our client asked us to remodel the Master Bathroom of her 1970's lake home which was quite an honor since it was an important and personal space that she had been dreaming about for years. As a busy doctor and mother of two, she needed a sanctuary to relax and unwind. She and her husband had previously remodeled their entire house except for the Master Bath which was dark, tight and tired. She wanted a better layout to create a bright, clean, modern space with Calacatta gold marble, navy blue glass tile and cabinets and a sprinkle of gold hardware. The results were stunning... a fresh, clean, modern, bright and beautiful Master Bathroom that our client was thrilled to enjoy for years to come.

Beach House Port Aransas TX Boys' bathroom
Mid-sized beach style bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove shower, blue tile, ceramic tile, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

Beautiful tlie work is the star in this bathroom, two sizes of hexagon tile are featured. Clean lines and a double sink vanity give ample storage. The shower's glass door is placed seamlessly and has a dramatic effect as you enter.

After
This is an example of a mid-sized modern master bathroom with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, an alcove shower, blue tile, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.

This is an example of a beach style 3/4 bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a corner shower, blue tile, mosaic tile, white walls, an undermount sink, glass benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door and green benchtops.

Anya Phillips
Inspiration for a small traditional bathroom in Denver with blue tile, pink walls, mosaic tile floors, a pedestal sink, white floor and porcelain tile.

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style kids bathroom in Denver with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, subway tile, blue walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Victoria Herr Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary master bathroom in Baltimore with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a double shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, cement tile, blue walls, marble floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Peter Kubilus Photography www.kubilusphoto.com
Photo of a traditional kids bathroom in New York with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, blue tile, white tile, yellow walls, mosaic tile floors, a trough sink and white floor.