13 Ideabooks by Susan Serra, CKD

Adding "soul" to a kitchen interior is the most personal of design missions. It's personal, it's subjective, it's very definition is different for everyone. But, if nothing else, it's a good word to think about in connection with our kitchens, as this...

Kitchen Work Stations come in all shapes, sizes and most of all, functions! It's all about that word, function! Now, that said, function can be expressed in a kitchen design as a general task area or a specific task area, and this is the crux of designing...

I like a small kitchen, I REALLY do. Why? So many reasons. I have experience both living in and designing both large and small kitchens, and I am every bit as comfortable, and in control, in a small kitchen as a big one, in some ways more so. One might...

Here's a little secret about kitchen design, and you didn't hear it from me. Let's just say a little bird told you so. Sometimes -- after all is said and done -- it's not the stain color of the cabinets, or the superstar 8 burner range you special ordered...

A design element that often goes unadorned as a result of being unconsidered, the ceiling of a kitchen or nearby breakfast area can be an unexpected, and creative, focal point. Think of the ceiling in the opposite way as you might otherwise - that...

Dark kitchen cabinetry, deep, rich hues ranging from beyond medium brown to black, have been on the kitchen fashion runway for several years now. Glamour in the kitchen (froufrou chandeliers et al) surely played a part in this movement, and I see more...

The dining area...it sends so many messages, doesn't it? Formality, lack thereof, color, contrast, size, material, shape, comfort, durability, theme, are just some of the decisions we have to make as we consider how to design our dining spaces. My...

An important piece to be aware of in the design process, as we focus on finishes, the warmth or coolness of a material is a factor in the feeling or experience of a kitchen. The experience is different for everyone, therefore, it is a highly personal...

Honestly? Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, finding a place for the microwave drives me crazy! It's not always such an obvious, easy, appliance to place. In fact, I could write a book on placing the microwave alone. First, determine how "much"...

The kitchen window - one of the most important features in our kitchens! Windows are powerful players in the kitchen...they provide light, a connection to the outdoors, a green catalyst to control temperature in the kitchen, depending on the window's...

I don't know about you, but when I think of the "country kitchen" back in the day, I think of hand painted tiles, pine cabinetry, the color yellow, and ok, from the past, ducks and geese motifs! Country kitchens can have a depth of design which can...

Not (by default) a supporting player, the kitchen countertop takes a lead in determining how our kitchen designs will be perceived in terms of color, weight, balance, proportion, scale. The countertop is a player! 12 ways the countertop expresses itself...

What is great about designing color into a kitchen is the vast majority of opportunities one has to live with, and use color. Color can be bold, yet seen only in a few, carefully chosen, design elements. It can be a commitment, as a colorful cabinet or...