Our clients were living in a Northwood Hills home in Dallas that was built in 1968. Some updates had been done but none really to the main living areas in the front of the house. They love to entertain and do so frequently but the layout of their house wasn’t very functional. There was a galley kitchen, which was mostly shut off to the rest of the home. They were not using the formal living and dining room in front of your house, so they wanted to see how this space could be better utilized. They wanted to create a more open and updated kitchen space that fits their lifestyle. One idea was to turn part of this space into an office, utilizing the bay window with the view out of the front of the house. Storage was also a necessity, as they entertain often and need space for storing those items they use for entertaining. They would also like to incorporate a wet bar somewhere! We demoed the brick and paneling from all of the existing walls and put up drywall. The openings on either side of the fireplace and through the entryway were widened and the kitchen was completely opened up. The fireplace surround is changed to a modern Emser Esplanade Trail tile, versus the chunky rock it was previously. The ceiling was raised and leveled out and the beams were removed throughout the entire area. Beautiful Olympus quartzite countertops were installed throughout the kitchen and butler’s pantry with white Chandler cabinets and Grace 4”x12” Bianco tile backsplash. A large two level island with bar seating for guests was built to create a little separation between the kitchen and dining room. Contrasting black Chandler cabinets were used for the island, as well as for the bar area, all with the same 6” Emtek Alexander pulls. A Blanco low divide metallic gray kitchen sink was placed in the center of the island with a Kohler Bellera kitchen faucet in vibrant stainless. To finish off the look three Iconic Classic Globe Small Pendants in Antiqued Nickel pendant lights were hung above the island. Black Supreme granite countertops with a cool leathered finish were installed in the wet bar, The backsplash is Choice Fawn gloss 4x12” tile, which created a little different look than in the kitchen. A hammered copper Hayden square sink was installed in the bar, giving it that cool bar feel with the black Chandler cabinets. Off the kitchen was a laundry room and powder bath that were also updated. They wanted to have a little fun with these spaces, so the clients chose a geometric black and white Bella Mori 9x9” porcelain tile. Coordinating black and white polka dot wallpaper was installed in the laundry room and a fun floral black and white wallpaper in the powder bath. A dark bronze Metal Mirror with a shelf was installed above the porcelain pedestal sink with simple floating black shelves for storage. Their butlers pantry, the added storage space, and the overall functionality has made entertaining so much easier and keeps unwanted things out of sight, whether the guests are sitting at the island or at the wet bar! The clients absolutely love their new space and the way in which has transformed their lives and really love entertaining even more now!

This historic, 19th mansion, located in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle, was redesigned to house four modern, luxury condominiums. Photo: Anice Hoachlander www.hdphoto.com

The homeowner wanted to keep the Spanish/Mexican flavor of this 1939 Craftsman bungalow in Point Loma. She was fearless in her color choices for the backsplash to reflect this esthetic. Since the kitchen is open to the dining room and living room, we decided to add the color on the backsplash with neutral white Craftsman style cabinets as the background. Designed By Margaret Dean Brady Architectural Photography

Lisa Konz Photography This was such a fun project working with these clients who wanted to take an old school, traditional lake house and update it. We moved the kitchen from the previous location to the breakfast area to create a more open space floor plan. We also added ship lap strategically to some feature walls and columns. The color palette we went with was navy, black, tan and cream. The decorative and central feature of the kitchen tile and family room rug really drove the direction of this project. With plenty of light once we moved the kitchen and white walls, we were able to go with dramatic black cabinets. The solid brass pulls added a little drama, but the light reclaimed open shelves and cross detail on the island kept it from getting too fussy and clean white Quartz countertops keep the kitchen from feeling too dark. There previously wasn't a fireplace so added one for cozy winter lake days with a herringbone tile surround and reclaimed beam mantle. To ensure this family friendly lake house can withstand the traffic, we added sunbrella slipcovers to all the upholstery in the family room. The back screened porch overlooks the lake and dock and is ready for an abundance of extended family and friends to enjoy this beautiful updated and classic lake home.

Example of a large classic single-wall medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Austin with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Bright and airy cottage great room with natural elements and pops of blue.
Example of a small beach style single-wall vaulted ceiling open concept kitchen design in Orange County with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, terra-cotta backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

This 1956 John Calder Mackay home had been poorly renovated in years past. We kept the 1400 sqft footprint of the home, but re-oriented and re-imagined the bland white kitchen to a midcentury olive green kitchen that opened up the sight lines to the wall of glass facing the rear yard. We chose materials that felt authentic and appropriate for the house: handmade glazed ceramics, bricks inspired by the California coast, natural white oaks heavy in grain, and honed marbles in complementary hues to the earth tones we peppered throughout the hard and soft finishes. This project was featured in the Wall Street Journal in April 2022.

Aidin Foster
Inspiration for a large contemporary single-wall ceramic tile open concept kitchen remodel in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and ceramic backsplash

Eat-in kitchen - small modern single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and medium tone wood cabinets

The walk-through laundry entrance from the garage to the kitchen is both stylish and functional. We created several drop zones for life's accessories and a beautiful space for our clients to complete their laundry.

Photographer: Daniel Contelmo Jr.
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary single-wall marble floor and white floor open concept kitchen idea in Other with granite countertops, an island, an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances

"Gale Force" blue painted cabinets and grey "Morel" stained Hickory cabinets. The elegant "Morel" stain emphasizes the natural Hickory wood grain with a subtle gray tone that beautifully coordinates with the cool, deep blue paint.

Nestled in the white sands of Lido Beach, overlooking a 100-acre preserve of Florida habitat, this Colonial West Indies home celebrates the natural beauty that Sarasota is known for. Inspired by the sugar plantation estates on the island of Barbados, “Orchid Beach” radiates a barefoot elegance. The kitchen is an effortless extension of this style. A natural light filled kitchen extends into the expansive family room, dining room, and foyer all with high coffered ceilings for a grand entertainment space. The front kitchen features a gorgeous custom Downsview wood and stainless-steel hood, quartz countertops and backsplash, spacious curved farmhouse sink, custom walnut cabinetry, 4-person island topped with statement glass pendants. The kitchen expands into an elegant breakfast dinette adorned with a glass chandelier and floor to ceiling windows with view of bayou and terraced pool area. The intricately detailed dome ceiling and surrounding trims compliments the ornate window trims. Behind the main kitchen lies a discrete butler’s kitchen, concealing a coffee bar with antique mirror backsplash, appliance garage, wet bar, pantry storage, multiple ovens, and a sitting area to enjoy a cup of coffee keeping many of the meal prep innerworkings tastefully concealed.

Light filled home in Austin, Texas with organic and neutral pieces to soften the contemporary design. Natural and neutrals to highlight the large open floor plan with unique wallpaper and art accents.

Delpino Custom Homes specializes in luxury custom home builds and luxury renovations and additions in and around Charleston, SC.
Example of a large island style single-wall light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Transformation of traditional honey oak kitchen by moving it to the front of the house, tying in existing honey oak millwork into modern farmhouse feel leaves a well-flowing kitchen for a big family! Custom shiplap hood, white cabinetry, white engineered quartz tops, and white subway tile bring out the oak milllwork and dark oak accents on the cabinetry. Luxury vinyl plank flooring ties all together.

Brittany Fecteau
Large eclectic single-wall gray floor and concrete floor kitchen pantry photo in Manchester with quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white countertops, open cabinets and gray cabinets

This 1910 West Highlands home was so compartmentalized that you couldn't help to notice you were constantly entering a new room every 8-10 feet. There was also a 500 SF addition put on the back of the home to accommodate a living room, 3/4 bath, laundry room and back foyer - 350 SF of that was for the living room. Needless to say, the house needed to be gutted and replanned. Kitchen+Dining+Laundry-Like most of these early 1900's homes, the kitchen was not the heartbeat of the home like they are today. This kitchen was tucked away in the back and smaller than any other social rooms in the house. We knocked out the walls of the dining room to expand and created an open floor plan suitable for any type of gathering. As a nod to the history of the home, we used butcherblock for all the countertops and shelving which was accented by tones of brass, dusty blues and light-warm greys. This room had no storage before so creating ample storage and a variety of storage types was a critical ask for the client. One of my favorite details is the blue crown that draws from one end of the space to the other, accenting a ceiling that was otherwise forgotten. Primary Bath-This did not exist prior to the remodel and the client wanted a more neutral space with strong visual details. We split the walls in half with a datum line that transitions from penny gap molding to the tile in the shower. To provide some more visual drama, we did a chevron tile arrangement on the floor, gridded the shower enclosure for some deep contrast an array of brass and quartz to elevate the finishes. Powder Bath-This is always a fun place to let your vision get out of the box a bit. All the elements were familiar to the space but modernized and more playful. The floor has a wood look tile in a herringbone arrangement, a navy vanity, gold fixtures that are all servants to the star of the room - the blue and white deco wall tile behind the vanity. Full Bath-This was a quirky little bathroom that you'd always keep the door closed when guests are over. Now we have brought the blue tones into the space and accented it with bronze fixtures and a playful southwestern floor tile. Living Room & Office-This room was too big for its own good and now serves multiple purposes. We condensed the space to provide a living area for the whole family plus other guests and left enough room to explain the space with floor cushions. The office was a bonus to the project as it provided privacy to a room that otherwise had none before.