A narrow work area and enclosed floor plan was impractical for a busy family of four.

Old cabinets, ugly laminate flooring and bulky appliances made this room feel smaller than it really was.

Sleek, glossy white cabinets add a modern touch.

The kitchen has a mix of materials, including stainless steel, enamelled cabinets, ceramic tile and black marble. The 10-foot marble-topped peninsula on the right was a splurge, but worth it. By knocking down the wall above the peninsula — which divided the kitchen from the dining room — the homeowners were able to create an entertaining space, one of the most popular hubs of the house.

See the “before” photo in our Stylish Family Home Makeover gallery, plus other stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Replace outdated architectural details.

A bulky fireplace with a bulging, rounded mantel and a pink and grey granite hearth and surround dated this room and didn’t match up with the homeowners’ vision for their home.

A simple MDF mantel offers an affordable update.

An old Art Deco-style fireplace was replaced with a crisp, white-painted wood mantel and minimalist surround. The new fireplace boasts clean lines that complement the contemporary look of the rest of the house. A glass waterfall coffee table provides a place to rest glasses without blocking the fireplace view.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Clashing colours and patterns are an eyesore.

An awkward layout and crumbling cabinetry mean this kitchen is as disfunctional as it is unfashionable.

Add interest by mixing and matching pieces found on world travels.

A black island provides a furniture-like focal point in this kitchen. Woven stools, kudu horns and a screen made of antique chinoiserie wallpaper also add a global feeling to the space. Pine wood floors look like bare wood when treated to a pickling stain, which helps imbue the space with a sense of airy lightness.

See the before photo plus other stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Red brick-coloured tiles and tatty carpeting on the stairs were just the beginning.

When the homeowners first bought the house, the front hall stank of cigarette smoke and was covered in wallpaper that “looked like the after-effects of a forest fire.”

Update any space by painting out dark woodwork and replacing threadbare stair runners.

Hand-screened wallpaper in a monochromatic print makes a big statement in this front hallway. Painted woodwork instantly refreshes the room, while black stair treads and handrail play up the bold black-and-white colour scheme. A weathered bench and low-hung art create a focal point under the stairs, while mini hexagonal floor tiles add texture.

See the “before” photo in our Stylish Family Home Makeover gallery, plus other stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Poor natural light makes these rooms feel small and depressing.

A choppy layout turns this home into a warren of small, dark rooms.

Add warmth to a contemporary palette with a plethora of natural materials.

Hardware-free walnut cabinetry, soapstone counters and oversized slate floor tiles all have a rich or textural quality that enlivens this space. The island is strictly a workspace, and is full of storage. Radiant-heat flooring keeps the kitchen warm underfoot.

See the before photo, plus other stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Clashing colours and poor use of space marked this bedroom for a mini-renovation.

To transform this unused bedroom into a craft room, designer Kelly Deck removed the dated window valance and wallpaper border, added plenty of storage and decided to lighten up the mustard-yellow wall and ceiling colour.

Designer Kelly Deck makes artful use of a spare room.

A long work table in the middle of this former bedroom allows for various projects to be on-the-go simultaneously. Two rows of upper cabinets keep the striking wallpaper visible while providing closed storage, and a wall-mounted rod and cup system keeps everyday essentials organized and at hand. This room could easily double as a home office, using the table as a spacious desk.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our photo gallery of Bold Renovations, plus see more of Kelly Deck’s Interiors and 26 Happy Yellow Rooms.

At 16-by-16-feet, this kitchen design didn’t make the most of the available space.

Outdated cabinets, peeling faux-wood laminate countertops, zero storage space and a confusing mismash of doors and windows made this busy family kitchen difficult to use.

A growing family gets a smart kitchen design courtesy of Ikea and H&H.

Designer Erin Feasby combined oak-veneer cabinets and glossy white cabinets for a look that is both modern and organic. The original island was moved from the wall and turned into a large 3′ x 8′ island, which accommodates both storage for toys and seating. Glass mosaic tiles add a hit of pattern to the backsplash.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Three years after buying their home, the homeowners were fed up with this kitchen.

With awkward counter space and hardly any storage, this kitchen lacked flow and function. To make matters worse, five layers of old flooring literally elevated the room from the rest of the house.

Savvy storage combines with sophisticated features in this kitchen renovation.

Unnecessary bulkheads were removed to allow for custom-built cabinets that stretch this room’s full nine-foot height. Marble countertops, restaurant-style appliances, tons of storage space and a stainless-steel apron sink elevate the kitchen from serviceable to sophisticated. A chic basketweave tile adds texture and warmth to the backsplash and complements the traditional hexagonal floor tiles perfectly.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

This small space was dated and dark.

An inefficient floor plan makes this lilliputian bathroom impossible to navigate. Floor to ceiling wood panelling enhanced the feeling of being closed in.

From dark and dated to modern and light.

By expanding this bathroom, the homeowners were able to open up the room and make it truly functional. They removed wood-panelled walls in favour of a soothing white palette and replaced the dated flooring with large slate tiles. A chunky, open cherry-stained vanity with a gleaming white CaesarStone countertop makes a stunning focal point in the new space.

See the before photo, plus other stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

Clashing blue cupboards and green walls were the least of this kitchen’s problems.

Old barnboard cabinets, inadequate counterspace and incongruous Spanish-style arched doorways in a cramped space added up to a dysfunctional kitchen.

Custom cabinetry and antique finds restore this kitchen to its 19th-century glory.

The homeowners were able to add square footage to this space by removing false walls and ceilings, uncovering the original stone wall and wooden ceiling in the process. Leaving a space between the tops of the cabinets and the coffered ceiling creates the illusion of extra height, a feeling that is furthered by mounting the island on feet instead of on the floor. The practical wood-look ceramic floor tiles complement the dark wood, and feel authentically French. Antique windows from a neighbouring town enhance the historical feeling.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

And for more beautiful French country interiors, see our photo gallery.