This is an example of a modern bathroom in Sydney.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Barcelona with multi-coloured tile, mosaic tile, porcelain floors, beige floor, a sliding shower screen, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove shower, a wall-mount toilet, an integrated sink, white benchtops, a niche and a double vanity.

Inspiration for a small industrial 3/4 bathroom in Rome with pink tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors and grey floor.

This is an example of a beach style bathroom in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, white walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, grey floor, marble benchtops and white benchtops.

Design ideas for a traditional bathroom in Austin.

Inspiration for a modern bathroom in New York.

Inspiration for a mediterranean bathroom in San Francisco with medium wood cabinets, yellow walls and recessed-panel cabinets.

Inspiration for a bathroom in London.

This is an example of a mediterranean bathroom in Austin.

We love when customers aren't afraid to step a little outside the box and try something bold. This bathroom plays it safe in the shower area and then takes a giant leap to the daring with the vibrant red accent wall and modern toilet. The two looks mesh beautifully to provide a perfect balance that anyone would love. Also, notice the stone shower floor that delights the feet with a welcome massage in the mornings. Truly living the good life!

Sargeant Photographuy
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom in New York.

Photo of a mid-sized country master bathroom in Portland Maine with a claw-foot tub, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, terrazzo floors, a trough sink, solid surface benchtops and red floor.

Photo of a contemporary bathroom in Moscow.

Photo of a contemporary bathroom in Austin.

Hall bathroom for 3 boys to share. Wouldn't be complete without the urinal!
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional kids bathroom in Chicago with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, an alcove shower, an urinal, beige tile, porcelain tile, red walls and porcelain floors.

JG Development, Inc. Hal Kearney, Photographer
Traditional bathroom in Other.

How cool is this? We designed a pull-out tower, in three sections, beside "her" sink, to give the homeowner handy access for her make-up and hair care routine. We even installed the mirror exactly for her height! The sides of the pull-out were done in metal, to maximize the interior width of the shelves, and we even customized it so that the widest items she wanted to store in here would fit on these shelves!

  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

ON-TREND SCALES Move over metro tiles and line a wall with fabulously funky Fish Scale designs. Also known as scallop, fun or mermaid tiles, this pleasing-to-the-eye shape is a Moroccan tile classic that's trending hard right now and offers a sophisticated alternative to metro/subway designs. Mermaids tiles are this year's unicorns (so they say) and Fish Scale tiles are how to take the trend to a far more grown-up level. Especially striking across a whole wall or in a shower room, make the surface pop in vivid shades of blue and green for an oceanic vibe that'll refresh and invigorate. If colour doesn't float your boat, just exchange the bold hues for neutral shades and use a dark grout to highlight the pattern. Alternatively, go to www.tiledesire.com there are more than 40 colours to choose and mix!! Photo Credits: http://iortz-photo.com/