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

Modern custom powder room design
Inspiration for a small modern powder room in Phoenix with black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, limestone, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, black floor, black benchtops and a floating vanity.

This artistic and design-forward family approached us at the beginning of the pandemic with a design prompt to blend their love of midcentury modern design with their Caribbean roots. With her parents originating from Trinidad & Tobago and his parents from Jamaica, they wanted their home to be an authentic representation of their heritage, with a midcentury modern twist. We found inspiration from a colorful Trinidad & Tobago tourism poster that they already owned and carried the tropical colors throughout the house — rich blues in the main bathroom, deep greens and oranges in the powder bathroom, mustard yellow in the dining room and guest bathroom, and sage green in the kitchen. This project was featured on Dwell in January 2022.

The WC was relocated under the stairs where space was maximised with a Barbican sink and wall mounted toilet. Victorian floor tiles work well with a bold black and white wallpaper.

Small guest powder room
Inspiration for a small country powder room in Cincinnati with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, cement tiles, black floor and white benchtops.

Inspiration for a small transitional powder room in Minneapolis with white cabinets, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, black floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity and wallpaper.

This is an example of a small transitional powder room in New York with white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, stone slab, grey walls, a wall-mount sink and black floor.

This is an example of a small country powder room in San Francisco with a two-piece toilet, grey walls, porcelain floors, a pedestal sink and black floor.

Johnathan Mitchell Photography
Design ideas for a small transitional powder room in San Francisco with a two-piece toilet, black tile, porcelain tile, black walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops and black floor.

Туалет с зелеными стенами и графичным полом.
Small contemporary powder room in Saint Petersburg with a one-piece toilet, green walls, ceramic floors and black floor.

Pool bathroom with wall panelling painted in Farrow & Ball "Bancha"
This is an example of a small beach style powder room in New York with white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, beige tile, green walls, marble floors, a wall-mount sink, black floor, white benchtops and panelled walls.

This is an example of a small modern powder room in Boston with open cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, black floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity, coffered and wallpaper.

A quick refresh to the powder bathroom but created a big impact!
Small transitional powder room in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, grey walls, ceramic floors, an integrated sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, white benchtops and a freestanding vanity.

Photo of a small transitional powder room in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, green walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, white benchtops and a freestanding vanity.

Photo of a small modern powder room in New York with open cabinets, a two-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, slate floors, a vessel sink, marble benchtops, black floor and white benchtops.

Powder room with preppy green high gloss paint, pedestal sink and brass fixtures. Flooring is marble basketweave tile.
Small traditional powder room in St Louis with marble floors, black floor, white cabinets, green walls, a pedestal sink, a freestanding vanity and vaulted.

Bel Air - Serene Elegance. This collection was designed with cool tones and spa-like qualities to create a space that is timeless and forever elegant.

Guest shower room and cloakroom, with seating bench, wardrobe and storage baskets leading onto a guest shower room. Matchstick wall tiles and black and white encaustic floor tiles, brushed nickel brassware throughout

Inspiration for a small contemporary powder room in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a one-piece toilet, grey walls, brick floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, black floor, grey benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.