Newly constructed double vanity bath with separate soaking tub and shower for two teenage sisters. Subway tile, herringbone tile, porcelain handle lever faucets, and schoolhouse style light fixtures give a vintage twist to a contemporary bath.

A colorful kids' bathroom holds its own in this mid-century ranch remodel.

Re-imagined master bath with an asian theme, walk in shower, floating vanity and under cabinet lighting.

  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

Built a brand new en-suite to be part of the master bedroom in a large Central London flat. The client had her heart set on pink!

The large bathroom has a double-ended orange clawfoot tub in the center of the room, with a skylight above for stargazing. The vintage chaise longue is recovered in hand-printed fabric by Kathryn M Ireland. The grey double vanity was sourced through Houzz.com, with George Kovacs sconces from Lumens, and mid-century art from Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, interspersed with mounted antlers to keep the desert theme alive. Moroccan style mirrors add the eclectic touch to the room's decor. Photo by Bret Gum for Flea Market Decor Magazine

A primary bathroom with transitional architecture, wainscot paneling, a fresh rose paint color and a new freestanding tub and black shower door are a feast for the eyes.

Designed by Shanae Mobley of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Springfield VA in collaboration with Eagle Innovations, this contemporary bathroom remodel features contemporary bathroom cabinets by Ultracraft Cabinetry in the Apex door style in a painted Pebble Gray finish. The vanity top is Calico White from MSI Q Quartz. The bathroom includes Daltile 12x24 Cove Creek Grey wall tiles and Atlas 12x24 Grespania Tivolo Perla Matte floor tile. Shower floor tiles were provided by others. “The client’s plan was to retire in place, so we focused on updating their bathroom accordingly with a contemporary twist,” said Shanae. “We created easier access to their washer and dryer, which are now in their master bath. We included features like a curbless, doorless shower with a bench, slip resistant tile, grab bars and lighted mirrors.” Added the client, “The hardest part of the project was working the washer and dryer into the layout of the room. We love the curbless, doorless shower entrance. Shanae was very helping in selecting products, designing the shower and creating the room layout.” Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

The renovation of a mid century cottage on the lake, now serves as a guest house. The renovation preserved the original architectural elements such as the ceiling and original stone fireplace to preserve the character, personality and history and provide the inspiration and canvas to which everything else would be added. To prevent the space from feeling dark & too rustic, the lines were kept clean, the furnishings modern and the use of saturated color was strategically placed throughout.

Master Bathroom with flush inset shaker style doors/drawers, shiplap, board and batten.

Master Bathroom with flush inset shaker style doors/drawers, shiplap, board and batten.

A colorful kids' bathroom holds its own in this mid-century ranch remodel.