These homeowners have been living in their house for a few years and wanted to add some life to their space. Their main goal was to create a modern feel for their kitchen and bathroom. They had a wall between the kitchen and living room that made both rooms feel small and confined. We removed the wall creating a lot more space in the house and the bathroom is something the homeowners loved to brag about because of how well it turned out!

Designed by Banner Day Interiors, these minty green bathroom tiles in a subway pattern add just the right pop of color to this classic-inspired shower. Sample more handmade colors at fireclaytile.com/samples TILE SHOWN 4x8 Tiles in Celadon

By Thrive Design Group

This is the kids bathroom and I wanted it to be playful. Adding geometry and pattern in the floor makes a bold fun statement. I used enhances subway tile with beautiful matte texture in two colors. I tiled the tub alcove dark blue with a full length niche for all the bath toys that accumulate. In the rest of the bathroom, I used white tiles. The custom Lacava vanity with a black open niche makes a strong statement here and jumps off against the white tiles. I converted this bathroom from a shower to a tub to make it a kids bathroom. One of my favourite details here is the niche running the full length of the tub for the unlimited toys kids need to bring with them. The black schluter detail makes it more defined and draws the eye in. When they grow up, this bathroom stays cool enough for teenagers and always fun for guests.

  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

Anna French navy wallcovering in the son’s bath contrasts with white and taupe on the other surfaces.

Chantal Vu

The Carrara marble windowsill ledge creates design touch in the quaint guest bathroom.

Another update project we did in the same Townhome community in Culver city. This time more towards Modern Farmhouse / Transitional design. Kitchen cabinets were completely refinished with new hardware installed. The black island is a great center piece to the white / gold / brown color scheme. The hallway Guest bathroom was partially updated with new fixtures, vanity, toilet, shower door and floor tile. that's what happens when older style white subway tile came back into fashion. They fit right in with the other updates.

White subway tile bathroom

Garden florals and colors were the inspiration for the total renovation and refurnishing of this project. The client wished for a bright and cheerful home to enjoy each day. Each room received fresh appointments and waves of colorful touches in furnishings, art, and window treatments- with plenty of nods to the client’s love for gardening. The bathrooms are the most fun botanical interpretations! The owner’s bath features a Carrera marble shower wall treatment, reminiscent of a sweet flower, along with a foliage-inspired chandelier and wallpaper. The secondary bath is like walking through a colorful rainforest with bold hues extending throughout the room. The plum vanity and Caribbean blue shower accent tile complement the wallpaper perfectly. The entire home flows from room to room with colors that inspire joyful energy. Painted furniture pieces, a multicolored striped settee, and powerful pillow fabrics are just some of the fun items that bring this once understated home into a whole new light!