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Perched high atop a mountain in Lansing, North Carolina, this home has spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The yard around it, consisting of a steep and rocky slope, immediately drops and experiences other unforgiving conditions, such as harsh sunlight, extreme winds and poor drainage. When the couple who lives here turned to garden designer Jay Sifford for help beautifying the hillside, he embraced the idea of meeting the site’s challenges.
“The biggest challenge was balance. I didn’t want the garden to compete with the mountains. But the garden needed to speak to the mountains and hold its own against them without overpowering them,” Sifford says. The tectonic plates that formed the mountains hundreds of millions of years ago inspired his design, which is composed of stunning mounds of plants, including grasses, shrubs, ground covers, evergreens and perennials.
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This Paradise Valley, Arizona, home had lovely French provincial touches but also some dated details that weighed it down. These included odd clusters of arches, awkwardly proportioned classical columns and chunky faux adobe accents. The homeowners, a couple with a teenager still at home, turned to interior designer Amy Klosterman, with whom they’d collaborated on a previous house, for a whole-home remodel.
The inspiration came from one of Klosterman’s recent projects the couple admired. “I suggested a clean, traditional style with a lighter palette of creams, ivories, taupes and off-black accents,” she says. In the kitchen, the designer replaced the hodgepodge of styles and novelty appliances with streamlined, well-proportioned elements and a refined material palette. The result is a functional, elegant space with a clean-lined look.
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This empty-nest couple in Blacksburg, Virginia, plan to stay in their 1980s hillside home overlooking a golf course for years to come. With those long-term plans, they wanted a primary bathroom that could remain stylish and functional well into the future. But their existing space had a cramped layout with two small vanities on separate walls, cluttered open shelving, a massive step-up tub that ate up floor space and a dark stall shower. A large ceiling beam stretched across the room, further chopping up the space.
One saving grace was a picture window with a beautiful view of the lush landscape. Wanting to preserve that view while creating an airy retreat, the couple turned to Houzz for ideas. They then hired project lead designer Susan Davidson and production manager Logan Lawrence of Blue Ridge Design Build. A new perpendicular beam allowed for a vaulted ceiling that opened up one side of the room. Wood from a yellow birch tree on the family farm inspired the design of rustic details and dual maple vanities with tower storage. An elevated wet-room zone with an open shower and freestanding tub now adds a spa-like touch.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Ian Parrish of Parrish Real Estate Photography
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Size: 137 square feet (13 square meters)
Design-build pros: Susan Davidson and Logan Lawrence of Blue Ridge Design Build
Before: In the former bathroom, a bulky step-up tub with a tiled deck monopolized the floor space. The tub sat beneath a large picture window framing a beautiful view, while the toilet with an upper cabinet occupied the corner to the left. “Everything was broken up,” Lawrence says.
After: The team stripped the bathroom to the studs and removed the existing beam — a pivotal change. “We found out it was structural and consulted with a structural engineer to come in and redesign the ceiling load, and we added a longer perpendicular beam that could be installed flush into the ceiling,” Lawrence says. “This allowed us to vault the ceiling in one half of the bathroom.”
A new wet room on a slightly elevated, curved platform combines an open shower with a freestanding tub. The elevated design helps support a slope in the floor needed to drain water toward the linear drain below the shower fixtures. “Anytime you do an elevated wet room like this, you have a nontraditional floor slope and have to make sure that the water flows back to the shower drain,” Lawrence says. “The small-format tile we used does that well.” The flooring is chocolate-colored hexagonal mosaics with a limestone look and matte finish.
A curve on the elevated section adds a stylish detail. “I was trying to create enough space for the shower and also incorporate the tub,” Davidson says. “I gave them a couple of choices and they chose this S-curve because they liked how it looked.”
Custom wood elements throughout — shelves, a towel and robe rack, a window ledge and the trim framing the updated picture window — were all crafted from a yellow birch tree from the homeowners’ family farm in Floyd, Virginia. “The vision for the whole bathroom was keeping with the natural tones of that wood,” Lawrence says.
Wet-room floor tile: Relic Umber, Vintage Hex collection, Daltile
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A pony wall topped with a tempered glass panel helps keep shower spray contained within the wet room. The large freestanding tub has a smooth, scratch-resistant acrylic surface. “The tub complements the window and size and complements the curve designed into the wet-room floor,” Lawrence says. A brushed nickel floor-mount tub filler ties in with the shower and sink fixture. An energy-efficient picture window preserves the view the homeowners love.
Outside the shower, a sleek one-piece white toilet includes a washlet bidet seat with five spray settings and a nightlight. Its control panel is mounted on the pony wall, next to switches for the shower lights and exhaust fan.
Before and After: 4 Inspiring Bathrooms in 120 to 170 Square Feet
Large 12-by-24-inch beige porcelain tiles with a marble look and matte finish line the wet-room shower walls and the wall behind the tub. “They were going for light and airy,” Davidson says.
The open shower features a 10-inch rain shower head, a handheld shower on a slide bar and a pressure-balanced valve, all in brushed nickel. A matching grab bar adds safety. “The slide bar is also a grab bar here,” Davidson says. “And when needed, they can incorporate a freestanding stool.”
Wall tile: Timeless line in 12×24 Essence Beige, Qualis Ceramica
7 Steps to a Stellar Shower Design
A wraparound corner shower niche is lined with elegant marble and limestone mosaics that blend seamlessly with the wall tile. “It’s not commonly done because it requires some unique framing in the wall,” Lawrence says. “They chose it because they wanted something unique but also something that was hidden out of sight when you walk into the bathroom.”
The pressure-balanced valve and shower diverter is partially visible here on the back of the pony wall. “They wanted to have access to them before they step into the shower,” Davidson says.
Niche tiles: Panaro Blend, Daltile
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Before Photo
Before: The former bathroom had beige tile floors, a combination of white painted and wallpapered walls and two small traditional-style wood vanities placed on different walls. A makeup station without a sink sat along the middle left wall. Open shelving beside one vanity added to the cluttered feel. “Storage was a huge issue for them,” Davidson says.
A stall shower with a curtain was located behind the wall with the open shelves, and a ceiling beam stretched across the width of the room. A mirrored door at the back led to the primary bedroom. A small window on the back left wall offered an opportunity to close it in and create more wall space for an extended vanity.
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After: Removing the small window, the shelving and shower stall allowed for dual maple vanities with tower storage to span the side walls, creating streamlined symmetry. “We were able to get all of their necessities behind closed doors,” Davidson says. The vanities have a wheat-colored finish, modified Shaker-style doors and flat drawer fronts. “They were really trying to match the wood from their family farm,” Davidson says. Each vanity includes a tower with rollouts for added storage. Matte porcelain floor tiles in gray and earth tones bring rich texture and variation.
To offset the removed window, a new skylight trimmed with wood from the farm brings in natural light. “They were really concerned about having enough light,” Davidson says. A space-saving paneled pocket door now connects to the primary bedroom.
Floor tile: Clean Slate in Gray Matte, B&F Ceramics Design Showroom; skylight: Velux; vanities: maple in Shakertown IV in Wheat finish, Great Northern Cabinetry; wall paint: Bone White, Benjamin Moore
The vanities feature faux drawer fronts that flip down to reveal storage trays for easy access to small grooming items and medications. Durable quartz counters and backsplash have an ivory background with warm veining. “We were able to give them a very functional two-person primary bathroom,” Lawrence says.
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When this family purchased a home in California’s Oakland Hills, there wasn’t much in the steeply sloped backyard to encourage spending time outdoors. But what the yard lacked in usable space, it more than made up for in natural beauty, with sweeping views down a hillside of native oaks and redwoods.
Seeing the site’s potential, the homeowners enlisted Barry Sacher, owner of Rock Paper Scissors Landscape, to craft an outdoor retreat that would both serve their family’s needs and work in harmony with the landscape. “Embracing the existing natural landscape drove the design,” Sacher says. “It was and still is the star of the show.”
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A Cary, North Carolina, couple who love to travel wanted their en suite primary bathroom to feel like a luxury hotel with spa-style amenities. Their existing space — with a dark traditional double vanity, separate tub and enclosed shower — was generously sized but lacked the wellness retreat atmosphere they envisioned. To help elevate the design and add modern comforts, they turned to design-build pros Steve Minor and Raul Bautista Perez of Noble Renovation.
The team reworked the old layout and created a modern wet room that combines a state-of-the-art steam shower and an inviting soaking tub, streamlining the footprint and providing a go-to spot for rest and rejuvenation. A larger custom white oak double vanity with a seated makeup station boosts storage while adding warmth and clean lines. A marble accent wall, backlit mirrors and soothing color palette enhance the calm, contemporary feel, giving the couple the next-level retreat they were after.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Bob Fortner Photography
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Size: 248 square feet (23 square meters)
Design-build team: Steve Minor and Raul Bautista Perez of Noble Renovation
Before: The former traditional-style bathroom, with its coffered ceiling and chandelier, felt heavy and disjointed. “There were high and uneven ceilings,” Minor says. “We wanted to create clean lines.”
One wall held a dark double vanity with a granite counter. Another had a drop-in tub with a bulky tiled deck that was difficult to use. To the right of the tub, an enclosed shower had a narrow entrance. A window over the tub covered with film attempted to bring light into the space. “That tub was really too tall for the wife to get in and out of and dominated the bathroom,” Minor says. “The wife wanted a tub that was easy to get in and out of and he wanted a steam shower, so that’s how the design developed.”
Across from the vanity, just out of view on the right, a water closet and a linen closet offered privacy and storage the homeowners wanted to keep but refresh.
After: This photo was taken from about the same angle as the previous one. The team knocked the bathroom back to the studs and updated the electrical and plumbing to accommodate the planned upgrades. It lowered the ceiling from 13 feet to about 11 feet, reducing visual clutter and unifying the space.
The modern wet room features a custom black-tinted tempered glass enclosure with matte black hardware. The lower section is clad in matte wood-look fluted porcelain tiles, creating a soothing atmosphere. Inside the wet room, a black oversize shower panel is mounted on the ceiling. Just outside the entrance, a ceiling-mounted, humidity-sensing exhaust fan helps keep the bathroom comfortable and dry.
The back wall on the left is covered in ivory-toned marble panels with a textured, split-faced surface and interlocking design. A large backlit mirror illuminates the wall, highlighting the texture. “We were trying to add a statement when you walk in,” Minor says. “It also makes the room feel bigger. They love it. It adds a lot of drama.”
The flooring is 12-by-24-inch matte white onyx-look porcelain tiles with Wi-Fi-enabled radiant heat. The paneled door at the back opens to the updated primary closet, packed with storage solutions. “We continued the floor tile in there and it has a heated floor and LED lights,” Minor says. “It has a big window and an island in there as well.”
Accent wall: Splitface collection in Impero Reale, Anatolia
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Slabs of Taj Mahal quartzite create the wet room’s bench top, low-curb entry and tub deck. The same stone is also used for the vanity countertop and backsplash.Wood-look tile: Kenridge Ribbon in Maple Brown, TileBar
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In addition to the rain shower panel, the wet room includes a wall-mounted shower head, handheld sprayer and steam function. The black square with orange circles is the digital touch pad for the steam shower, letting the homeowners set time and temperature. “Our clients didn’t want to have anything lacking as far as luxury goes,” Minor says. “The husband enjoys the rain experience. The wand is nice for bathing or cleaning the glass. This shower has all the push-button features so you can set the temperature and you’re ready to go.”
The ceiling and sides of the bench and tub deck feature the same wood-look fluted tile used on the exterior of the wet room. The flooring and backs of the niches are tumbled mosaic marble stones. “In this bathroom, even the wet-room floor is heated,” Minor says. “The bench area is heated as well.” The walls are clad in the same porcelain tile used for the main bathroom flooring. “We made sure to waterproof every inch of that shower,” Minor adds.
The oval white 6-foot drop-in bathtub has built-in back support and armrests for comfort. A sleek 8-inch matte black tub spout coordinates with a matte black multifunction hand shower with push-button rinsing (not shown). “This tub was dropped 5 inches from the height of the previous tub so it’s very comfortable getting in and out,” Minor says.
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Removing the tub and deck opened up wall space for a longer custom double vanity, finished in white oak veneer with a satin sheen and topped with Taj Mahal quartzite. European-style frameless boxes with thin Shaker drawer fronts have oversize flat black bar pulls in two sizes.
All drawers are fully functional — no false fronts here. The drawers beneath the sinks have U-shaped cutouts to accommodate plumbing, while two others include integrated power outlets for grooming tools. Twin white oval undermount sinks are paired with modern single-lever matte black faucets with graceful curved spouts.
A pair of custom backlit mirrors illuminates the wall and can shift between different colors. The lower-height makeup station offers two drawers, an open cubby and a round upholstered stool the couple already owned. A black iron-and-glass pendant light casts a warm, inviting glow over the space.
Mirrors: Grand Mirrors Eclipse, Evervue; faucets: Vivenis in matte black, Hansgrohe; vanity pulls: Princetonian in flat black, Top Knobs
5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Before Photo
Before: In the original bathroom, a dark double vanity with a granite countertop and traditional-style lighting dated the look and feel. A plain mirror that had previously hung above the vanity had already been removed when this photo was taken. The water closet is visible on the left, with the linen closet door partially seen behind the open door leading to the primary bedroom hallway.
After: Undercabinet LED lighting beneath the double vanity, controlled by a motion sensor, adds a contemporary touch while doubling as a convenient nightlight for late-night trips. A wall niche offers easy access to grooming products and everyday essentials.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A matte black towel warmer with 20 classic straight horizontal bars hangs on the exterior wall of the updated water closet, across from the wet room. “We’re most proud that we really listened to the clients and helped them discover what their vision was,” Minor says. “They had a lot of ideas and blended both of their needs and wants into a high-end space.”
Towel warmer: Jeeves Model D in matte black, Amba Products
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This retired couple in Washington state were ready to trade the cramped, dated kitchen in their 1990s split-level home for something brighter, smarter and more functional. Basic maple cabinets fell short on storage, and a bulky two-tier island made walkways uncomfortably tight. While skylights and a nearby sliding door offered some natural light, the lack of a window left the space feeling dark.
Designer Molly Erin McCabe guided the couple beyond their initial idea of a light refresh to a full remodel that reconfigured appliances, opened up circulation and brought in a garden view. Warm cherry cabinetry now stretches to the ceiling, maximizing storage and beautifully complementing a soft blue backsplash. A sleek single-level island creates better flow, while a new bar area with a beverage fridge improves entertaining.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Iklil Gregg Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A recently retired couple
Location: Kingston, Washington
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters), including a breakfast area
Designer: Molly Erin McCabe of McCabe by Design
Before: This view from the living room shows the former kitchen in the background. While the size of the open layout was adequate, short basic maple cabinets without knobs or pulls offered little storage or style. Granite tile counters and a black tile backsplash paired with a mix of black and stainless steel appliances felt dated. The bulky two-tier island cramped circulation. “It was probably the first thing out of my mouth,” McCabe says. “They didn’t have sufficient aisleways.” A breakfast area with a wood table and chairs and a sliding glass door to a deck connected the kitchen and living room.
After: McCabe removed the dated cabinets, counters, backsplash and most of the appliances, along with the bulky two-tier island. In their place, she added a streamlined single-level island that includes storage and a trash and recycling pullout. “Without the bulk of the larger island, the entire kitchen is safer and more spacious, visually and functionally,” McCabe says.
Frameless cherry cabinets with a warm brown stain extend to the ceiling, maximizing storage. “It was configured for how the clients live and how they cook,” McCabe says. “My objective was to create storage that was inside the kitchen, to minimize trips into the pantry. The cherry also has a richer tone.”
The cabinetry pairs with the existing red oak floor, which was patched with new boards where the island was moved and then refinished with a matte urethane coat. “Because we moved the island, we had to weave in new boards,” McCabe says. “We kept the project cost down by only having to refinish the floor in the kitchen.”
Cabinetry: Bria cabinet line in door style Carson in cherry with Toast stain, Dura Supreme Cabinetry; wall paint: Comfort Gray, Sherwin-Williams
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Before Photo
Before: The blue-and-wood two-tier island with overhang and stools crowded the adjoining breakfast area. The black tile backsplash paired with a black propane cooktop and inefficient downdraft vent made that side of the kitchen feel especially dark. The two fixed skylights were incorporated into the new design.
After: The new island provides a large, uninterrupted surface for meal prep or serving a buffet. Its polished quartz top, also used on the perimeter counters, resists scratches, stains and chips and features a light marbled background with gray swells and charcoal accents. “The light-colored countertops lighten and brighten the kitchen,” McCabe says. The top drawer has a power strip inside. Ash gray knurled bar pulls add a subtle finishing detail to the cabinetry.
A 30-inch built-in induction cooktop in black glass replaces the former propane unit in roughly the same location. It’s paired with a wall-mounted stainless steel hood that improves air quality and helps keep surfaces clean.
For the backsplash, McCabe used handcrafted glazed ceramic blue picket tiles with tonal variation and light gray grout. “The blue tile in the backsplash ties in the blue hue that flows through the home, and the scale of the tile adds interest without creating visual clutter,” she says. A paneled door on the left leads to an existing walk-in pantry.
Backsplash tile: Watercolors picket in Whitney, Lunada Bay Tile; counters: Swanbridge, Cambria; hardware: Amwell in Ash Gray, Top Knobs
Before and After: 4 Appealing Kitchens in 300 Square Feet
Before Photo
Before: This view shows the interior side of the former island, which held a white double-bowl sink, sink cabinet and dishwasher. “There was no space to the right of the sink, which created a hazard,” McCabe says.
A black wall oven and a small black microwave sat next to the refrigerator alongside a short run of cabinetry and counter that ended just before the sliding glass door. “There was about 11 inches or so between the casing of the door and the cabinetry,” McCabe says.
After: McCabe moved the upgraded wall ovens and new refrigerator across the kitchen (see below), which freed up space to relocate the sink and add a vinyl casement window that fills the room with natural light. “This also gives them a direct view of the garden from the sink,” McCabe says.
The new undermount workstation sink in brushed stainless steel features a motion-activated smart pull-down faucet with a spot-resistant finish. “The plumbing from the island was rerouted through the floor joists to that wall,” McCabe says. “There’s a whole floor of the home below. Running the plumbing through the floor joists was instrumental to keep the costs down. The workstation sink effectively creates more counter space and makes food prep a breeze with multiple accessories.”
The couple’s existing top-control stainless steel dishwasher was reinstalled to the right of the sink. A valance above integrates LED pods for task lighting, and the updated plan also includes new ceiling LEDs and glass bulb pendant lights over the breakfast table.
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Before Photo
Before: Across from where the refrigerator and wall ovens were, a short run of cabinetry and counter went largely unused. “The cabinets there were only 21 inches deep instead of 24,” McCabe says. Nearby, a desk area by the dining table often became a dumping ground. “They wanted a beverage center,” McCabe says.
After: McCabe extended the wall behind the refrigerator by 7 inches to group the refrigerator and ovens together. The counter-depth four-door stainless steel fridge, which has a convertible lower right section that can switch between refrigerator and freezer, occupies the space of the former short cabinetry. A stainless steel combination convection microwave and wall oven is adjacent. “The stainless steel finishes on the appliances reflect light and contribute to the lighter, fresher feel of the space,” McCabe says.
The former desk area became a bar, featuring an undercounter beverage refrigerator and cabinets for storing spirits and entertaining supplies. “The beverage fridge and countertop help keep guests close by when entertaining, without making them feel like they are in the way,” McCabe says.
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Before Photo
Before: The former kitchen felt smaller than its actual size due to the shape and placement of the two-tier island (center), which made walkways tight, especially between the island and dining table (bottom right).
The refrigerator and wall ovens (bottom left) were positioned along the exterior wall, while the desk (top right) and a short run of cabinetry and counter (top left) sat across the room. The cooktop was on the left, opposite the island sink.
After: Removing the two-tier island and installing a single-level island improved circulation in the kitchen. Relocating the refrigerator and new wall ovens (top left) and adding a bar area with a beverage refrigerator (top right) made the space more functional. “It’s optimized for entertaining, has better work flow and allows two people to work together safely,” McCabe says.
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These Austin, Texas, homeowners dreamed of a chic, contemporary en suite with natural warmth, but their existing bathroom was anything but. The dated traditional-style space felt cramped and awkward, with a dark vanity, bulky corner shower, decked tub and a confusing maze of doors leading to closets and the bedroom.
To untangle the dysfunction, they hired designer Samantha Bailey, who reimagined the bath as a bright, streamlined retreat. A new wet room with freestanding tub and open shower anchors the space, while a longer white oak double vanity with tower storage lightens the look. Brass and bronze accents, layered neutral tiles and a striking Calacatta Viola marble countertop add texture and richness. Smart reworking of the floor plan improved flow and connection, transforming the primary suite into a stylish, highly functional escape.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Square Foot Photography
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two kids and another on the way
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Design: Samantha Bailey of Samantha Kate Design
Before: The bathroom leaned traditional, with cream-colored walls, beige tile floors and a dark brown double vanity topped in black granite. A bulky corner shower crowded the vanity, making the whole area feel tight and uninviting. “The shower was a funny shape,” Bailey says.
Across the room, a built-in tub with matching dark finishes sat under a window the homeowners hoped to keep. An awkward step-up led to the primary bedroom door. “When we got into construction, the general contractor said we could remove it,” Bailey says.
After: Bailey stripped the bathroom to the studs, removed the awkward step-up and shifted the bedroom door for better flow. (See before-and-after floor plans below.) The built-in tub gave way to a new wet room, where a 67-inch freestanding tub and open shower share a sleek glass enclosure with champagne bronze hardware. “Wet rooms are so space-efficient and give you that wow factor,” Bailey says. Creamy white ceramic tiles cover the walls and arched entry. “I loved their handmade look and the variety of color,” Bailey says.
The tub’s high-gloss acrylic design and wall-mounted bronze filler bring comfort and style. A Calacatta Viola marble shelf and low curb complement the vanity countertop and, paired with a limestone mosaic floor, add texture. The existing window brings in natural light from the wooded lot outside. When the bedroom door is open, more natural light spills into the room, enhancing the bright, airy feel of this rejuvenated retreat.
Wall tile: Cloe in Creme, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; tub: Zoey, Vintage Tub & Bath; tub filler: Broderick, Delta
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Removing the corner shower made room for a longer stained white oak double vanity to the right of the bedroom door, with a tower cabinet taking the shower’s former spot. “We wanted that whole vanity wall to be unique with lots of texture and pattern,” Bailey says. “We added a fluted detail to the toekick that adds another unexpected touch.”
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This view looks toward the bedroom door from the updated closet entrance. The door on the left leads to the water closet. The wet room is on the left. The homeowners were initially concerned the bathroom would feel smaller because of how much the wet room would extend into the floor space. “But because the wet room has that entire glass wall, it didn’t turn out feeling as small as they were concerned it would,” Bailey says.
The floor now consists of sand-colored, large-format (24-by-48-inch) porcelain tiles with almond-colored grout, a matte finish and a limestone look. “We wanted the floor to be the supporting player in the space,” Bailey says.
5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
The vanity top and short backsplash are polished Calacatta Viola marble with bold burgundy veining. “I presented it early in the design, because it would be such a striking look here,” Bailey says. “It was almost like the price didn’t matter, because she had to have it.”
Wall-mounted champagne bronze faucets were also a client must-have, Bailey says. Brass cabinet pulls in two sizes add texture, while bronze and hand-rubbed antique brass sconces flank dark-framed mirrors. The wall behind the mirrors features the same creamy white ceramic tile used in the wet room. “There’s nothing basic about this bathroom,” Bailey says. “All of the details in here are organic-looking, and we wanted to keep the mirrors organic-looking too.”
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The wet room’s shower has two champagne bronze multifunction heads with pressure-balanced valves, plus a niche lined in matching ceramic tile for easy access to products.
A new pocket door opens to the expanded walk-in primary closet, while a slim paneled door behind the shower leads to the water closet. Rotating the toilet footprint 90 degrees made room for the larger closet. “We needed to keep the toilet in place for plumbing purposes but rotated it so we could keep a larger primary closet footprint as well,” Bailey says.
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Before Photo
Before: This floor plan shows the former bathroom layout at the top right. The built-in tub sat in the upper right corner, with the angled shower below it. The bedroom door swung out between the two, while the double vanity was positioned to the left of the shower. The water closet sat to the left of the tub, and two doors on the left opened to separate closets the homeowners wanted to consolidate.
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After: The updated layout merges the tub and shower into a wet room in the former tub’s location. Rotating the toilet created space for a larger primary closet. A new double vanity spans the opposite wall, with a storage tower where the corner shower once stood. A single pocket door on the left connects the bathroom to the spacious walk-in closet. “I’m happy I was able to solve the flow and access issues and give them everything they wanted in their bathroom,” Bailey says.
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These Austin, Texas, homeowners have daughters in elementary and middle schools, and they wanted to create more usable space in their steeply sloped backyard to encourage outdoor play. They also wanted space for entertaining their friends.
José Roberto Corea of Austin Outdoor Design transformed the yard into a series of outdoor rooms featuring a pool, a spa, an outdoor shower, a fire table lounge, a play area, a renovated two-story porch and a pergola-covered dining and grilling area. At the same time, he preserved several existing live oak trees. The result is a cohesive, beautifully terraced modern yard that the whole family and their friends enjoy.
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After living in their Michigan home for about 20 years, these retirees were ready to tackle their dated, cramped kitchen, which was cut off from the dining room by a partition wall. They loved the warmth of the vaulted, stained wood ceiling but wanted a more open, functional space. They turned to designer Oliver McCarthy, who uses Houzz Pro software, for help.
McCarthy removed the partition and expanded the kitchen into the dining room, adding 180 square feet. The new layout accommodates a larger island with seating and storage. Two-tone cabinets in light mocha and earthy gray-brown add depth and maximize storage, while a few glass-front units and a wide gliding window over the farmhouse sink keep the space feeling light. Handy pullouts, a welcoming beverage nook, durable sand-colored porcelain tile flooring and sleek black appliances give the kitchen a sophisticated finish.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Troy VanLangen of Above the Horizon Media
Kitchen of the Week
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Ada, Michigan
Size: 330 square feet (31 square meters)
Designer: Oliver McCarthy of Delight In Designs
Before: The 150-square-foot kitchen, with its dark taupe walls, beige tile flooring and a vaulted stained wood ceiling, felt cramped. A long, narrow island had tight seating on two sides, and short honey oak cabinets offered limited storage. A bulky stainless steel refrigerator jutted past the cabinetry, making the footprint feel even smaller. “The kitchen felt disproportionate to the size and overall layout of the house,” McCarthy says.
The refrigerator and range sat on the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room, with a pass-through awkwardly placed above the range. “That didn’t seem very safe,” McCarthy says. A sink and short run of cabinets lined the adjacent back wall, while the wall on the right held shallow pantry closets. The doorway in the back right corner connects to the garage.
Before Photo
This wider view from the adjoining living room shows how the partition wall closed off the kitchen from the dining room on the left. It also highlights the existing skylight the homeowners wanted to keep. “They were definitely wanting to make the kitchen bigger but weren’t sure how much bigger to go and what to do with the dining room,” McCarthy says.
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After: McCarthy removed everything but the vaulted wood ceiling and skylight. “All the windows on that exterior wall were covered up and patched to make room for the new gliding window we added over the sink,” he says.
Taking down the partition and eliminating the formal dining room increased the size of the kitchen from 150 to 330 square feet. McCarthy says the couple used a previous addition to create a smaller dining and family area. Because most meals are now enjoyed at the new island, losing the formal dining room wasn’t a concern.
The expanded footprint allowed for a spacious island with seating and storage. Perimeter cabinets in light mocha contrast with the island’s earthy brown-gray finish. “When there’s an opportunity to do a two-tone look in this kind of large-sized space, it gives you the chance to do a more statement color for the island and go with a more neutral, timeless color on the perimeter,” McCarthy says.
A bronze-finish linear chandelier over the island coordinates with the island base and oil-rubbed bronze hardware. Tan performance leather swivel stools provide comfortable seating. A black stainless steel French door refrigerator now sits on the sink wall. “With that being the entry point from the garage, it’s a good place for them to unload groceries,” McCarthy says.
He used Houzz Pro to manage the project and create estimates.
Cabinetry: Concord 275 door style in Light Mocha (perimeter) and Urbane Bronze (island), Showplace Cabinetry; cabinetry hardware: Revitalize in oil-rubbed bronze, Amerock Hardware; stools: Russell, Amisco
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The island and perimeter counters are a durable 3-centimeter engineered quartz with a pale ivory background and soft gray and taupe veining. The floor is covered in 12-by-24-inch sand-colored porcelain tiles with medium taupe grout. “In my experience, the lighter your grout, the quicker it’s going to get dirty,” McCarthy says. “And being a larger-format tile, we went with a ⅓ offset brick pattern that eliminates any noticeable bowing or arching in the center of the tile.”
Walls painted a muted warm white (Sanctuary by Sherwin-Williams) with creamy white trim (White Sand by Sherwin-Williams) create a light, cozy backdrop. “The creamy white we used here doesn’t have those yellow undertones that some people don’t like,” McCarthy says.
Flooring: Regency in Sand, 12 by 24 inches, Virginia Tile Co.
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A 30-inch black stainless steel slide-in range with five burners, convection oven and a fingerprint-resistant finish gives the couple plenty of cooking flexibility for everyday meals and busy holidays. A custom oil-rubbed bronze sloped hood with a powerful fan ties in with the room’s other dark finishes. “The details on the vertical portion of the hood tie into the rivets seen on the stools at the island,” McCarthy says.
Illuminated glass-front upper cabinets lighten the range wall and showcase finer glassware and dishes. “Since they have a ton more storage than before, we felt it was a good opportunity to have that open display,” McCarthy says.
Custom hood: Sinda Copper Co.
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Pullouts on either side of the range keep essentials within reach, from canned goods to cooking tools. The pullout to the left contains a knife block and holders for utensils like ladles and spatulas, while the pullout in the foreground of this photo stores baking sheets and pans.
A coffee station to the left of the range hides equipment and supplies behind space-saving bifold doors. The backsplash consists of 2½-by-8-inch cotton white subway tiles with a handmade look, glossy glaze and black grout. “With having black accents everywhere else, it felt like a great chance to highlight an otherwise simple tile,” McCarthy says.
Above the range, a focal-point design of matte ceramic tiles with an aged bronze finish adds texture and depth. “I felt it was a nice accent to break up the space and an opportunity to add a fun or unique element,” McCarthy says.
Tile above range: Jonathan Adler Shelter Island in Aged Bronze, Lunada Bay Tile
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A 33-inch white farmhouse sink includes a basin rack and sound-dampening features. It’s paired with an oil-rubbed bronze pull-down faucet with docking technology and a three-function spray head. Three 13-inch outdoor-style sconces in the same finish brighten the area.
The 8-foot-wide custom gliding window frames backyard views. Its single sash slides horizontally for full ventilation, and the quartz sill matches the counters. “They didn’t want to go with something like a casement window that tends to get dirty during rainy weather,” McCarthy says.
Sconces: Brock in oiled bronze, Capital Lighting; sink: Turino, Kraus; faucet: Bellera in oil-rubbed bronze, Kohler; window: E-Series Gliding Window, Andersen Windows + Doors
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A fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. A deep double pullout for trash and recycling is on the left. “There is also a blind corner cabinet there with a pivoting half-moon double shelf for storing additional canned goods and boxes of dry foods,” McCarthy says.
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The sink side of the island features a 15-inch beverage center, a black stainless microwave drawer with a concealed control panel and multiple drawers for kitchen essentials. “Some of those drawers have a peg system for organizing dishware,” McCarthy says. At the back, a new integrated beverage nook and upgraded pantry closet complete the space.
Microwave drawer: Sharp
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The beverage nook has lighted glass-front upper cabinets with oil-rubbed bronze knobs, an integrated wine rack and a quartz countertop that matches the island and perimeter counters. Lower cabinets with adjustable shelves store liquor bottles and extra glassware. The backsplash echoes the dimensional tiles above the range. “With this new kitchen, I really wanted to focus on function without sacrificing design,” McCarthy says.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Duanesburg, New York
Size: 275 square feet (26 square meters)
Design-build pro: Marianne A. Clifford of Marianne Ashley Designs
Clifford removed the old appliances, cabinets, counters and floor, along with the two-level island, making way for a more than 12-foot-wide, one-level island with seating and storage. “It offers a lot more options on how the island can be used,” she says. The new layout improves sightlines and makes the kitchen feel open and inviting.
The island base and perimeter cabinets are semicustom cherry flat-panels with a natural finish and matte black ledge pulls. “A lot of the woodwork in their home was already cherry, so we wanted to create a unified look,” Clifford says.
The upgraded stainless steel refrigerator stayed in place, while an added open upper cabinet and tall pantry on the side expand storage. “There are hooks inside that pantry cabinet for hanging a step stool and broom,” Clifford says.
Modern counter stools with cognac leather upholstery and curved low backs sit at the island, while contemporary pendant lights with etched opal glass shades and matte black frames hang overhead. The ceiling has new LED recessed lights on dimmers. “This gives them full control,” Clifford says.
Pendant lights: Somerset, Hinkley Lighting; stools: Zion, Ballard Designs
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