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

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom in San Diego with white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, white walls, white floor, a shower curtain, grey benchtops and recessed-panel cabinets.

Small transitional bathroom in Los Angeles with white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, a hinged shower door and recessed-panel cabinets.

Relocating to Portland, Oregon from California, this young family immediately hired Amy to redesign their newly purchased home to better fit their needs. The project included updating the kitchen, hall bath, and adding an en suite to their master bedroom. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining allowed for additional counter space and storage along with improved traffic flow and increased natural light to the heart of the home. This galley style kitchen is focused on efficiency and functionality through custom cabinets with a pantry boasting drawer storage topped with quartz slab for durability, pull-out storage accessories throughout, deep drawers, and a quartz topped coffee bar/ buffet facing the dining area. The master bath and hall bath were born out of a single bath and a closet. While modest in size, the bathrooms are filled with functionality and colorful design elements. Durable hex shaped porcelain tiles compliment the blue vanities topped with white quartz countertops. The shower and tub are both tiled in handmade ceramic tiles, bringing much needed texture and movement of light to the space. The hall bath is outfitted with a toe-kick pull-out step for the family’s youngest member!

A new tub was installed with a tall but thin-framed sliding glass door—a thoughtful design to accommodate taller family and guests. The shower walls were finished in a Porcelain marble-looking tile to match the vanity and floor tile, a beautiful deep blue that also grounds the space and pulls everything together. All-in-all, Gayler Design Build took a small cramped bathroom and made it feel spacious and airy, even without a window!

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Seattle with blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, multi-coloured floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops and recessed-panel cabinets.

Hallway bathroom. Simple clean materials
Design ideas for a small 3/4 bathroom in Denver with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, blue walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a sliding shower screen and white benchtops.

This is an example of a small traditional master bathroom in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a one-piece toilet, white tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Both the master bath and the guest bath were in dire need of a remodel. The guest bath was a much simpler project, basically replacing what was there in the same location with upgraded cabinets, tile, fittings fixtures and lighting. The most dramatic feature is the patterned floor tile and the navy blue painted ship lap wall behind the vanity. The master was another project. First, we enlarged the bathroom and an adjacent closet by straightening out the walls across the entire length of the bedroom. This gave us the space to create a lovely bathroom complete with a double bowl sink, medicine cabinet, wash let toilet and a beautiful shower.

The house's second bathroom was only half a bath with an access door at the dining area. We extended the bathroom by an additional 36" into the family room and relocated the entry door to be in the minor hallway leading to the family room as well. A classical transitional bathroom with white crayon style tile on the walls, including the entire wall of the toilet and the vanity. The alcove tub has a barn door style glass shower enclosure. and the color scheme is a classical white/gold/blue mix.

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.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Patrick Brickman
Design ideas for a large transitional kids bathroom in Charleston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, ceramic tile, pink walls, mosaic tile floors, an integrated sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

We didn’t want the floor to be the cool thing in the room that steals the show, so we picked an interesting color and painted the ceiling as well. This bathroom invites you to look up and down equally.

Mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, gray tile, marble, marble floors, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, blue walls and an undermount sink.

We love this bathroom remodel! While it looks simple at first glance, the design and functionality meld perfectly. The open bathtub/shower combo entice a spa-like setting. Color choices and tile patterns also create a calming effect.

Inspiration for a large contemporary master wet room bathroom in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an alcove tub, grey walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, a sliding shower screen and white benchtops.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Providence with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, green tile, mosaic tile, white walls, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink, solid surface benchtops, beige floor and a sliding shower screen.

Bayside Images
This is an example of a large contemporary master bathroom in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, white tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.