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

Design ideas for a small beach style powder room in Philadelphia with furniture-like cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, solid surface benchtops and grey floor.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional powder room in Toronto with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, solid surface benchtops and grey floor.

Photo by Jack Gardner
Photo of a small beach style powder room in Jacksonville with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige tile, pebble tile, grey walls, pebble tile floors, an undermount sink and engineered quartz benchtops.

Design ideas for a small contemporary powder room in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, a pedestal sink, wood benchtops and brown benchtops.

Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts powder room in Oklahoma City with green cabinets, slate floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Wichita with raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, engineered quartz benchtops, multi-coloured benchtops, a freestanding vanity, a two-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, travertine floors, a vessel sink, brown floor and wallpaper.

Design ideas for a beach style powder room in Miami with open cabinets, grey cabinets, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, grey benchtops, a built-in vanity, panelled walls and wallpaper.

Inspiration for a contemporary powder room in Dallas with open cabinets, grey cabinets, green tile, white walls, a wall-mount sink, black floor and a floating vanity.

White and bright combines with natural elements for a serene San Francisco Sunset Neighborhood experience.
Inspiration for a small transitional powder room in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white tile, stone slab, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, white benchtops and a built-in vanity.

Photo of a transitional powder room in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Inspiration for a contemporary powder room in Oklahoma City with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, multi-coloured walls, an undermount sink, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

This fun powder room, with contemporary wallpaper, glossy gray vanity, chunky ceramic knobs, tall iron mirror, smoked glass and brass light, an gray marble countertop, was created as part of a remodel for a thriving young client, who loves pink, and loves to travel! Photography by Michelle Drewes

This powder room is gorgeous
Mid-sized transitional powder room in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, an integrated sink, solid surface benchtops, grey floor and white benchtops.

BATHROOM DESIGN - VANITY, PLUMBING FIXTURES & LIGHTING BY HEIDI PIRON DESIGN.
This is an example of a beach style powder room in New York with louvered cabinets, grey cabinets, grey walls, an undermount sink, grey floor and white benchtops.

Powder room with a twist. This cozy powder room was completely transformed form top to bottom. Introducing playful patterns with tile and wallpaper. This picture shows the ceiling wallpaper. It is colorful and printed. It also shows the bathroom light fixture. Boston, MA.

This is an example of a traditional powder room in Other with dark hardwood floors, brown floor, furniture-like cabinets, green cabinets, multi-coloured walls, a vessel sink and green benchtops.

brass taps, cheshire, chevron flooring, dark gray, elegant, herringbone flooring, manchester, timeless design
Photo of a mid-sized transitional powder room in London with a one-piece toilet, light hardwood floors, limestone benchtops, grey benchtops, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey walls, an undermount sink and beige floor.

This grand 2-story home with first-floor owner’s suite includes a 3-car garage with spacious mudroom entry complete with built-in lockers. A stamped concrete walkway leads to the inviting front porch. Double doors open to the foyer with beautiful hardwood flooring that flows throughout the main living areas on the 1st floor. Sophisticated details throughout the home include lofty 10’ ceilings on the first floor and farmhouse door and window trim and baseboard. To the front of the home is the formal dining room featuring craftsman style wainscoting with chair rail and elegant tray ceiling. Decorative wooden beams adorn the ceiling in the kitchen, sitting area, and the breakfast area. The well-appointed kitchen features stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with decorative crown molding, Hanstone countertops with tile backsplash, and an island with Cambria countertop. The breakfast area provides access to the spacious covered patio. A see-thru, stone surround fireplace connects the breakfast area and the airy living room. The owner’s suite, tucked to the back of the home, features a tray ceiling, stylish shiplap accent wall, and an expansive closet with custom shelving. The owner’s bathroom with cathedral ceiling includes a freestanding tub and custom tile shower. Additional rooms include a study with cathedral ceiling and rustic barn wood accent wall and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The 2nd floor boasts 3 additional bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and a loft that overlooks the living room.