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

This powder bath from our Tuckborough Urban Farmhouse features a unique "Filigree" linen wall covering with a custom floating white oak vanity. The quartz countertops feature a bold and dark composition. We love the circle mirror that showcases the gold pendant lights, and you can’t beat these sleek and minimal plumbing fixtures!

Il progetto di affitto a breve termine di un appartamento commerciale di lusso. Cosa è stato fatto: Un progetto completo per la ricostruzione dei locali. L'edificio contiene 13 appartamenti simili. Lo spazio di un ex edificio per uffici a Milano è stato completamente riorganizzato. L'altezza del soffitto ha permesso di progettare una camera da letto con la zona TV e uno spogliatoio al livello inferiore, dove si accede da una scala graziosa. Il piano terra ha un ingresso, un ampio soggiorno, cucina e bagno. Anche la facciata dell'edificio è stata ridisegnata. Il progetto è concepito in uno stile moderno di lusso.

古民家ゆえ圧倒的にブラウン系の色調が多いので、トイレ空間だけはホワイトを基調としたモノトーン系のカラースキームとしました。安価なイメージにならないようにと、床・壁ともに外国産のセラミックタイルを貼り、間接照明で柔らかい光に包まれるような照明計画としました。

K様邸のユニットバス・洗面台をタイル張りのクラシカルなデザインにリフォーム。 壁タイルには自然石の美しい模様を再現した「バイオアーチストン」、床タイルには最新のクォーツストン調タイル「カヴァ ダオスタ」を採用。 採石場から切り出したそのままのリアルな質感に加え、模様は今までにないランダムで多彩なバリエーションが展開されます。

広々とした洗面スペース。ホテルライクなオリジナル洗面台。

Builder: Michels Homes Architecture: Alexander Design Group Photography: Scott Amundson Photography

A multi use room - this is not only a powder room but also a laundry. My clients wanted to hide the utilitarian aspect of the room so the washer and dryer are hidden behind cabinet doors.

William Quarles

This home in West Bellevue underwent a dramatic transformation from a dated traditional design to better-than-new modern. The floor plan and flow of the home were completely updated, so that the owners could enjoy a bright, open and inviting layout. The inspiration for this home design was contrasting tones with warm wood elements and complementing metal accents giving the unique Pacific Northwest chic vibe that the clients were dreaming of.

Stunning black and gold powder room Tony Soluri Photography

The picture our clients had in mind was a boutique hotel lobby with a modern feel and their favorite art on the walls. We designed a space perfect for adult and tween use, like entertaining and playing billiards with friends. We used alder wood panels with nickel reveals to unify the visual palette of the basement and rooms on the upper floors. Beautiful linoleum flooring in black and white adds a hint of drama. Glossy, white acrylic panels behind the walkup bar bring energy and excitement to the space. We also remodeled their Jack-and-Jill bathroom into two separate rooms – a luxury powder room and a more casual bathroom, to accommodate their evolving family needs. --- Project designed by Minneapolis interior design studio LiLu Interiors. They serve the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, including Wayzata, Edina, and Rochester, and they travel to the far-flung destinations where their upscale clientele owns second homes. For more about LiLu Interiors, see here: https://www.liluinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.liluinteriors.com/portfolio-items/hotel-inspired-basement-design/