A flawless powder bathroom.⁠

Modern Farmhouse bright and airy, large master bathroom. Marble flooring, tile work, and quartz countertops with shiplap accents and a free-standing bath.

Calm and serene master with steam shower and double shower head. Low sheen walnut cabinets add warmth and color

A transitional primary bath in warm gray and white is inviting bright. Spa like touches add to the elegance and built in fully customized medicine cabinet mirrors keep counters clean. Ceramic floor tile with non slip surface set in a herringbone pattern is timeless. Natural marble wall tile is sophisticated and bright. Counter height vanity creates a clean line and more modern look.

  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

Liadesign

Little did our homeowner know how much his inspiration for his master bathroom renovation might mean to him after the year of Covid 2020. Living in a land-locked state meant a lot of travel to partake in his love of scuba diving throughout the world. When thinking about remodeling his bath, it was only natural for him to want to bring one of his favorite island diving spots home. We were asked to create an elegant bathroom that captured the elements of the Caribbean with some of the colors and textures of the sand and the sea. The pallet fell into place with the sourcing of a natural quartzite slab for the countertop that included aqua and deep navy blues accented by coral and sand colors. Floating vanities in a sandy, bleached wood with an accent of louvered shutter doors give the space an open airy feeling. A sculpted tub with a wave pattern was set atop a bed of pebble stone and beneath a wall of bamboo stone tile. A tub ledge provides access for products. The large format floor and shower tile (24 x 48) we specified brings to mind the trademark creamy white sand-swept swirls of Caribbean beaches. The walk-in curbless shower boasts three shower heads with a rain head, standard shower head, and a handheld wand near the bench toped in natural quartzite. Pebble stone finishes the floor off with an authentic nod to the beaches for the feet.

Interior Design and Styling: Anastasia Reicher Photo: Oksana Guzenko

New double sink vanity, from Elegant Stone and Cabinets in Walnut creek - J & K shaker style cabinets in gray and Calcutta Laza Quartz top, mirrors from BBB, Kohler Purist faucets, and scones from lights.com, flooring from home depot, and hardware pulls are Elements Naples in satin nickel