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

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.

Hall bath renovation! Mosaics, handmade subway tile and custom drapery all combine for a stunning update that isn’t going anywhere for a long time.
Photo of a small modern kids bathroom in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, glass tile, grey walls, laminate floors, a drop-in sink, quartzite benchtops, brown floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

A new more modern fully tiled shower was installed in place of the soaking tub. Beautiful tile was selected with brass details in the bathroom flooring, marble mosaic for the shower floor, and a fun jade elongated hex tile for the shower walls. This was also designer for an aging client with grab bars.

Navy penny tile is a striking backdrop in this handsome guest bathroom. A mix of wood cabinetry with leather pulls enhances the masculine feel of the room while a smart toilet incorporates modern-day technology into this timeless bathroom. Inquire About Our Design Services http://www.tiffanybrooksinteriors.com Inquire about our design services. Spaced designed by Tiffany Brooks Photo 2019 Scripps Network, LLC.

Guest bath with tall ceiling, dropped paint line, accent penny tile, decorative pendant, painted shaker style vanity,
Mid-sized modern kids bathroom in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue tile, ceramic tile, blue walls, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops and grey benchtops.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Los Angeles with white cabinets, a corner shower, blue tile, blue walls, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a one-piece toilet, beaded inset cabinets, ceramic tile, porcelain floors and an integrated sink.

Blue and white bathroom with fixed glass block window, Starphire glass shower enclosure, shower shelf niche, tiled bench, and recycled glass mosaic tiles. Recyled Glass Mosaic Tile: Elida Ceramica Glass Mosaic Ocean White floor tile: American Olean Chloe Pinwheel Mosaic Subway Tile: American Olean - Profiles 3 x 6 Sink: Kohler Caxton Faucet: Grohe 33 170 Europlus Collection - Single Handle Lavatory Faucet - Modern Theme - Ceramic Disc Valve - Pop-Up Included Paint: Kelly Moore Prairie Day light blue KM3130-1 Glass Block Window: Pacific Glass Block

Design ideas for a small traditional bathroom in Ottawa with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, porcelain tile, blue walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink and quartzite benchtops.

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.

This is an example of a contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Other with an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, blue walls, concrete floors, a wall-mount sink, quartzite benchtops, a hinged shower door and a floating vanity.

Inspiration for a country kids bathroom in Other with medium wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, blue tile, subway tile, quartzite benchtops, a shower curtain, grey benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

This house has two bathrooms — one in the hallway and one in the primary bedroom. For a more comfortable bathroom experience, we installed heated floors on both. This one is the hallway bathroom. We continued the overall blue and gray theme of the house by adding beautiful blue stacked tiles by the shower and dark gray vanity countertops.

This penthouse in an industrial warehouse pairs old and new for versatility, function, and beauty. The master bath features dual sinks, cyan blue and dark blue fish scale tile from sink to ceiling between mirrors, and a grey floating vanity. Reflected in the mirrors is the large glass enclosed shower.

two fish digital
This is an example of a small beach style kids bathroom in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, turquoise cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, porcelain tile, blue walls, limestone floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, beige floor and a shower curtain.

Photo of a large beach style master bathroom in Orange County with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, a drop-in sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

The homeowners wanted a large bathroom that would transport them a world away and give them a spa experience at home. Two vanities, a water closet and a wet room steam shower are tailored to the cosmopolitan couple who lives there.

Inspiration for a large transitional master bathroom in San Diego with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, blue walls, terra-cotta floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, a shower seat, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

New Guest Bath with Coastal Colors
Inspiration for a beach style kids bathroom with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, blue tile, glass sheet wall, grey walls, slate floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, black floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.