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 small traditional galley dedicated laundry room in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, white floor and white benchtop.

This is an example of a contemporary galley dedicated laundry room in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

This small garage entry functions as the mudroom as well as the laundry room. The space once featured the swing of the garage entry door, as well as the swing of the door that connects it to the foyer hall. We replaced the hallway entry door with a barn door, allowing us to have easier access to cabinets. We also incorporated a stackable washer & dryer to open up counter space and more cabinet storage. We created a mudroom on the opposite side of the laundry area with a small bench, coat hooks and a mix of adjustable shelving and closed storage. Photos by Spacecrafting Photography

The laundry room was placed between the front of the house (kitchen/dining/formal living) and the back game/informal family room. Guests frequently walked by this normally private area. Laundry room now has tall cleaning storage and custom cabinet to hide the washer/dryer when not in use. A new sink and faucet create a functional cleaning and serving space and a hidden waste bin sits on the right.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Indianapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, brown benchtop and wallpaper.

This full house of a family of six called for a room designated just for laundry.
This is an example of a small midcentury l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, white walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor and white benchtop.

Laundry room designed in small room with high ceiling. This wall unit has enough storage cabinets, foldable ironing board, laminate countertop, hanging rod for clothes, and vacuum cleaning storage.

Photo of a mid-sized modern dedicated laundry room in Other with an undermount sink, granite benchtops, white walls, concrete floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and black benchtop.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country galley utility room in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, terra-cotta floors, a stacked washer and dryer, brown floor and white benchtop.

Sutton Signature from the Modin Rigid LVP Collection: Refined yet natural. A white wire-brush gives the natural wood tone a distinct depth, lending it to a variety of spaces.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country galley dedicated laundry room in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a country u-shaped utility room in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

View of Laundry room with built-in soapstone folding counter above storage for industrial style rolling laundry carts and hampers. Space for hang drying above. Laundry features two stacked washer / dryer sets. Painted ship-lap walls with decorative raw concrete floor tiles. Built-in pull down ironing board between the washers / dryers.

Transitional laundry room with a mudroom included in it. The stackable washer and dryer allowed for there to be a large closet for cleaning supplies with an outlet in it for the electric broom. The clean white counters allow the tile and cabinet color to stand out and be the showpiece in the room!

Photo: S.Lang
Small transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Other with shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor, blue benchtop, grey cabinets, blue walls and a stacked washer and dryer.

The laundry side of the room. Mudroom bench and cabinetry are on the other side out of the frame.
Design ideas for a small country galley utility room in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

VIP Photography
This is an example of a traditional l-shaped utility room in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.