The Tranquility Residence is a mid-century modern home perched amongst the trees in the hills of Suffern, New York. After the homeowners purchased the home in the Spring of 2021, they engaged TEROTTI to reimagine the primary and tertiary bathrooms. The peaceful and subtle material textures of the primary bathroom are rich with depth and balance, providing a calming and tranquil space for daily routines. The terra cotta floor tile in the tertiary bathroom is a nod to the history of the home while the shower walls provide a refined yet playful texture to the room.

This is an example of a small transitional 3/4 bathroom in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and multi-coloured floor.

Long subway tiles cover these shower walls offering a glossy look, with small hexagonal tiles lining the shower niche for some detailing. Photos by Chris Veith

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.

By Thrive Design Group
Mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in Chicago with blue cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain and recessed-panel cabinets.

  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

• Remodeled Eichler bathroom • General Contractor: CKM Construction • Mosiac Glass Tile: Island Stone / Waveline • Shower niche
Small contemporary bathroom in San Francisco with beige cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, green tile, ceramic tile, white walls, a wall-mount sink, solid surface benchtops, a shower curtain, a one-piece toilet, ceramic floors, white floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

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.

Verdigris wall tiles and floor tiles both from Mandarin Stone. Bespoke vanity unit made from recycled scaffold boards and live edge worktop. Basin from William and Holland, brassware from Lusso Stone.

Inspiration for a transitional 3/4 bathroom in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove shower, white tile, subway tile, white walls, slate floors, an undermount sink, black floor and a shower curtain.

Photo by Jordan Powers
Mid-sized transitional 3/4 bathroom in New York with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, white tile, mosaic tile, an undermount sink, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield
Design ideas for a small traditional master bathroom in Denver with brown cabinets, a claw-foot tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, subway tile, white walls, marble benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets.

Photo of a small transitional 3/4 bathroom in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity, slate floors, black floor and a built-in vanity.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

This is an example of a small modern 3/4 bathroom in Nashville with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

This stylish update for a family bathroom in a Vermont country house involved a complete reconfiguration of the layout to allow for a built-in linen closet, a 42" wide soaking tub/shower and a double vanity. The reclaimed pine vanity and iron hardware play off the patterned tile floor and ship lap walls for a contemporary eclectic mix.

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.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Design ideas for a mid-sized bathroom in Houston with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, an alcove shower, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, grey floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.