Mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, light hardwood floors, a drop-in sink, soapstone benchtops, beige floor, a shower curtain and grey walls.

  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

Playing off the grey subway tile in this bathroom, the herringbone-patterned thin brick adds sumptuous texture to the floor. DESIGN High Street Homes PHOTOS Jen Morley Burner Tile Shown: Glazed Thin Brick in Silk, 2x6 in Driftwood, 3" Hexagon in Iron Ore

Bethany Nauert
Inspiration for a mid-sized country bathroom in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, a freestanding tub, white tile, subway tile, an undermount sink, brown cabinets, a curbless shower, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, cement tiles, marble benchtops, black floor and an open shower.

Glenn Layton Homes, LLC, "Building Your Coastal Lifestyle" Jeff Westcott Photography
Design ideas for a large transitional master bathroom in Jacksonville with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor and a hinged shower door.

Design ideas for a country master bathroom in New York with a freestanding tub, gray tile, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and a niche.

This contemporary master bathroom has all the elements of a roman bath—it’s beautiful, serene and decadent. Double showers and a partially sunken Jacuzzi add to its’ functionality. The glass shower enclosure bridges the full height of the angled ceilings—120” h. The floor of the bathroom and shower are on the same plane which eliminates that pesky shower curb. The linear drain is understated and cool. Andrew McKinney Photography

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a corner shower, gray tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Modern Mid-Century style primary bathroom remodeling in Alexandria, VA with walnut flat door vanity, light gray painted wall, gold fixtures, black accessories, subway and star patterned ceramic tiles.

We divided 1 oddly planned bathroom into 2 whole baths to make this family of four SO happy! Mom even got her own special bathroom so she doesn't have to share with hubby and the 2 small boys any more.

Guest Bath
Design ideas for a mid-sized country bathroom in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white tile, terra-cotta tile, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, an alcove shower, grey walls, white floor and a niche.

An expansive traditional master bath featuring cararra marble, a vintage soaking tub, a 7' walk in shower, polished nickel fixtures, pental quartz, and a custom walk in closet

The bathroom in the basement spared no effort to create the kind of space you would be happy to use every day! natural light Tomasz Majcherczyk Photography

This is an example of a small transitional 3/4 bathroom in DC Metro with an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, porcelain tile, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, a shower curtain, grey benchtops, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, white floor and shaker cabinets.

Mid-sized traditional 3/4 bathroom in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, concrete floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and a hinged shower door.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Toronto with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white tile, mosaic tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, marble floors and marble benchtops.

Modern grey bathroom with Carrera marble and glass tile. Please visit our website at www.french-brown.com to see more of our products.
Contemporary master bathroom in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an open shower, gray tile, marble, grey walls, marble floors, a vessel sink, marble benchtops, white floor and an open shower.

This is the Master Bedroom Ensuite. It feature double concrete vessels and a solid oak floating vanity. Two LED backlit mirrors really highlight the texture of these feature tiles.

This bathroom features a striking, sage colored, glass-tiled, shower and brushed gold accents. A mid-century freestanding vanity, hexagon patterned porcelain tile flooring and white and gold drop style pendants add a layer of vintage charm to the space.