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

Photo of a transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black walls, a side-by-side washer and dryer, black floor and white benchtop.

Photo: A Kitchen That Works LLC
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley utility room in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey walls, concrete floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey splashback, grey floor and grey benchtop.

A mixed use mud room featuring open lockers, bright geometric tile and built in closets.
Design ideas for a large modern u-shaped utility room in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

This contemporary compact laundry room packs a lot of punch and personality. With it's gold fixtures and hardware adding some glitz, the grey cabinetry, industrial floors and patterned backsplash tile brings interest to this small space. Fully loaded with hanging racks, large accommodating sink, vacuum/ironing board storage & laundry shoot, this laundry room is not only stylish but function forward.

Inspiration for a contemporary laundry room in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, grey walls, laminate floors, an integrated washer and dryer, beige floor and black benchtop.

LOUD & BOLD - Custom designed and manufactured kitchen, with a slimline handless detail (shadowline) - Matte black polyurethane - Feature nook area with custom floating shelves and recessed strip lighting - Talostone's 'Super White' used throughout the whole job, splashback, benches and island (80mm thick) - Blum hardware Sheree Bounassif, Kitchens by Emanuel

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Washing, drying, and folding don’t feel like a chore in this gorgeous space! What’s the first place you would remodel in your home?
Inspiration for a single-wall laundry room in Chicago with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, white walls, a stacked washer and dryer, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Complete Accessory Dwelling Unit Build / Closet Stackable Washer and Dryer
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall laundry cupboard in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer, brown floor and white benchtop.

Laundry room including dog bath.
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley utility room in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops, grey splashback, brick splashback, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop, recessed, wallpaper and an utility sink.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional galley dedicated laundry room in Houston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and brown benchtop.

Traditional laundry room with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, grey splashback, timber splashback, a concealed washer and dryer, beige floor, white benchtop and grey walls.

Photo of a small modern u-shaped utility room with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, glass sheet splashback, an integrated washer and dryer and beige benchtop.

Mudroom room featuring gray and white Spanish floor tiles and custom built-in cabinetry.
Design ideas for a small eclectic u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, ceramic floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer and multi-coloured floor.

Ulrike Harbach
Photo of an expansive contemporary l-shaped laundry room in Dortmund with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, timber splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Who says you can't have a laundry/mudroom that has style and function!? We transformed this traditional craftsman style room and turned it into a modern craftsman for this busy family of 4.

Photo of a large contemporary laundry room in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

This dark and cool laundry room is probably a bit different from what you're used to, but it adds a modern touch to the home. Ample cabinetry makes the most of the galley space, ensuring there's plenty of room to fit laundry needs and other household supplies.