Ed Ritger Photography
Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry design in San Francisco with blue cabinets, open cabinets, wood countertops and brown countertops

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This radiant home features brilliant natural lighting and sharp color contrast. A bold design for the free-spirited homeowner.
Kitchen - small contemporary l-shaped kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, colored appliances and no island

Transitional kitchen photo in Houston with blue cabinets, white backsplash, an island and white countertops

This house is firmly planted in the Shenandoah Valley, while its inspiration is tied to the owner’s British ancestry and fondness for English country houses. The main level of the house is organized with the living room and the kitchen / dining spaces flanking a center hall and an open staircase (which is open up to the attic level). On the attic level, a roof deck embraces expansive views of the property and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the southeast.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and black floor enclosed kitchen idea in New York with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, an island and black countertops

  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

Beach style kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash and glass tile backsplash

This beautiful Spanish/Mediterranean Modern kitchen features UltraCraft's Stickley door style in Rustic Alder with Natural finish and Lakeway door style in Maple with Blue Ash paint. A celebration of natural light and green plants, this kitchen has a warm feel that shouldn't be missed!

Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse u-shaped light wood floor, yellow floor and exposed beam enclosed kitchen remodel in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, wood backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Eat-in kitchen - transitional galley light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, brick backsplash, an island and white countertops

This 1940's beach cottage has been renovated to include the orginal floors, doors and vintage glass door knobs. The owner collaborated with Terri Dubose @ Woodsman Kitchens and Floors. The combination of navy and white inset furniture grade cabinets with the white marbled quartz top, subway tile, ship lap, shutters and brass accents all complete this classic coastal style.

Built at the turn of the century, this historic limestone’s 4,000 SF interior presented endless opportunities for a spacious and grand layout for a family of five. Modern living juxtaposes the original staircase and the exterior limestone façade. The renovation included digging out the cellar to make space for a music room and play space. The overall expansive layout includes 5 bedrooms, family room, art room and open dining/living space on the parlor floor. This design build project took 12 months to complete from start to finish.

Example of a beach style u-shaped beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Tampa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, blue backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Photography by Corey Gaffer
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Huge transitional l-shaped limestone floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, two islands and white countertops

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, granite backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, gray countertops and blue cabinets

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized contemporary single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, brown backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops