5 New Kitchens With Special Features Worth Considering
See how pros boost appeal with statement-making tile, stylish storage towers and other remarkable elements
Sometimes all you need is one special feature to take a kitchen from good to great. Of course, determining what that feature is will vary. But to get your creative juices flowing, consider these five fantastic kitchen features that design and remodeling pros used to elevate the overall look and feel of the space.
2. Focal Point Hood
Designer: Ellen McKenna Design
Location: St. George, Utah
Homeowner’s request. “The homeowner wanted a colorful, eclectic space that would be durable and comfortable for a family with four young boys,” designer Ellen McKenna says. “She is a very creative individual and sent me lots of ideas. Together we edited down to the things she loved most.”
Special feature. “The range hood is the wow moment in this kitchen,” McKenna says. “I knew we had to use a different material to break up the blue cabinets, so I designed a custom brass hood to be the focal point of the room. We used subtle brass accents elsewhere to complement the hood and elevate the space.”
Other features. Blue cabinets (Moody Blue by Sherwin-Williams). White zellige backsplash tile. Porcelain countertops. Walnut veneer counter stools.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The island countertop was a bit of a nightmare,” McKenna says. “The fabricator told us they could easily match the pattern we chose as the island was too big for one slab of porcelain. When it was installed, that was not the case. It was three mismatched pieces. We had to select another pattern that was available in book-matched slabs and they replaced them. It was a happy accident as the replacement pattern was much more striking than the first.”
McKenna uses Houzz Pro business software. “I always use Houzz Mood Boards on my projects,” she says. “It’s a great tool to illustrate how different finishes and pieces will look together.”
Range hood: Coppertop Metals; counter stools: Norman in walnut veneer, Rove Concepts; wallpaper: Bequia in Indigo, Lulu and Georgia; project photos: Meagan Larsen
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Designer: Ellen McKenna Design
Location: St. George, Utah
Homeowner’s request. “The homeowner wanted a colorful, eclectic space that would be durable and comfortable for a family with four young boys,” designer Ellen McKenna says. “She is a very creative individual and sent me lots of ideas. Together we edited down to the things she loved most.”
Special feature. “The range hood is the wow moment in this kitchen,” McKenna says. “I knew we had to use a different material to break up the blue cabinets, so I designed a custom brass hood to be the focal point of the room. We used subtle brass accents elsewhere to complement the hood and elevate the space.”
Other features. Blue cabinets (Moody Blue by Sherwin-Williams). White zellige backsplash tile. Porcelain countertops. Walnut veneer counter stools.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The island countertop was a bit of a nightmare,” McKenna says. “The fabricator told us they could easily match the pattern we chose as the island was too big for one slab of porcelain. When it was installed, that was not the case. It was three mismatched pieces. We had to select another pattern that was available in book-matched slabs and they replaced them. It was a happy accident as the replacement pattern was much more striking than the first.”
McKenna uses Houzz Pro business software. “I always use Houzz Mood Boards on my projects,” she says. “It’s a great tool to illustrate how different finishes and pieces will look together.”
Range hood: Coppertop Metals; counter stools: Norman in walnut veneer, Rove Concepts; wallpaper: Bequia in Indigo, Lulu and Georgia; project photos: Meagan Larsen
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3. Countertop Storage Towers
Designer: Nancy Jacobson of Kitchen Design Partners
Location: Wilmette, Illinois
Homeowner’s request. “Our client purchased a stately masonry Prairie-style home built in 1924 and transformed it into an all-electric sustainable home with updated farmhouse style,” designer Nancy Jacobson says. “The kitchen was previously closed off to adjoining rooms. A small addition expanded the kitchen.”
Special feature. “Glass-front cabinets sitting on the counters evoke farmhouse style,” Jacobson says.
Other features. Semicustom cabinets in creamy white. Quarter-sawn white-oak-paneled armoire-style refrigerator. V-groove panels on island. Apron-front island. Energy Star appliances. “American-made quartz countertops were selected for low maintenance and lower carbon footprint than importing stone,” Jacobson says. “The plywood cabinetry was regionally sourced. The homeowner repurposed materials from her old house, and the existing kitchen materials were salvaged and reused by a deconstruction company.”
Designer tip. “Symmetry was of utmost importance, with the kitchen centered on an expansive black trim window and open to the living space,” Jacobson says. “The island and pendants add a balanced focal point.”
The 10 Most Popular New Kitchens Right Now
Designer: Nancy Jacobson of Kitchen Design Partners
Location: Wilmette, Illinois
Homeowner’s request. “Our client purchased a stately masonry Prairie-style home built in 1924 and transformed it into an all-electric sustainable home with updated farmhouse style,” designer Nancy Jacobson says. “The kitchen was previously closed off to adjoining rooms. A small addition expanded the kitchen.”
Special feature. “Glass-front cabinets sitting on the counters evoke farmhouse style,” Jacobson says.
Other features. Semicustom cabinets in creamy white. Quarter-sawn white-oak-paneled armoire-style refrigerator. V-groove panels on island. Apron-front island. Energy Star appliances. “American-made quartz countertops were selected for low maintenance and lower carbon footprint than importing stone,” Jacobson says. “The plywood cabinetry was regionally sourced. The homeowner repurposed materials from her old house, and the existing kitchen materials were salvaged and reused by a deconstruction company.”
Designer tip. “Symmetry was of utmost importance, with the kitchen centered on an expansive black trim window and open to the living space,” Jacobson says. “The island and pendants add a balanced focal point.”
The 10 Most Popular New Kitchens Right Now
4. Statement-Making Backsplash
Designer: Gail Barley Interiors
Location: Orlando, Florida
Homeowners’ request. “The home’s exterior is a Craftsman style, which we wanted to continue inside, but the former New Englander clients also wanted their space to feel very Florida,” designer Gail Barley says. “They requested that their new-build house feel like a lovingly updated home that could have been built a hundred years ago, incorporating features that could be original to an old Florida house.”
Special feature. “The beautiful blue backsplash from Soho Studio gave us the Florida feel, while the handmade look of the tile was in keeping with the homeowners’ desire for a home that didn’t feel too new,” Barley says. “Having the tile go to the ceiling gave the creamy, off-white cabinets contrast and allowed the range wall to feature heavily in the space. Directly opposite is a fireplace wall and a built-in that we felt needed to be balanced by an impactful range wall.”
Other features. “The two decorative pendants pull in that traditional home feeling and provide gorgeous light when illuminated,” Barley says. “The mottled mercury glass and rubbed bronze fixtures feel updated but totally appropriate to an ‘old’ house.”
Designer tip. “As humans, our eyes and brains love symmetry,” Barley says. “By framing the range with two windows, we created wonderful symmetry that is then repeated by the pendants hanging over the island. Three pendants would have destroyed the carefully crafted symmetry of the space, as would an off-center kitchen sink. With a kitchen that was already heavily weighted to one side with the fridge and ovens on one wall, this symmetry kept the room from feeling unbalanced.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When cabinetry was finally going in, we discovered that the spacing of the windows was so tight that we were unable to tile between the cabinetry and the windows as planned,” Barley says. “Instead we had to find a piece of trim that could perfectly bridge the gap but also still look intentional. With the help of our cabinetry company, we found a piece of trim that is totally inconspicuous. By painting it the same color as the windows, it essentially disappears.”
Counter stools: Britt, Four Hands; pendant lights: Bayridge in aged iron, Visual Comfort; fabrics: Spinnaker 3 Chambray (seat covers) and Gadabout 2 in blue and white (window treatments), Stout Textiles; backsplash tile: Serena Sky, 3 by 8 inches, Soho Studio; perimeter countertops: Taj Royale, Caesarstone; cabinet paint: Antique White, Sherwin-Williams
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Designer: Gail Barley Interiors
Location: Orlando, Florida
Homeowners’ request. “The home’s exterior is a Craftsman style, which we wanted to continue inside, but the former New Englander clients also wanted their space to feel very Florida,” designer Gail Barley says. “They requested that their new-build house feel like a lovingly updated home that could have been built a hundred years ago, incorporating features that could be original to an old Florida house.”
Special feature. “The beautiful blue backsplash from Soho Studio gave us the Florida feel, while the handmade look of the tile was in keeping with the homeowners’ desire for a home that didn’t feel too new,” Barley says. “Having the tile go to the ceiling gave the creamy, off-white cabinets contrast and allowed the range wall to feature heavily in the space. Directly opposite is a fireplace wall and a built-in that we felt needed to be balanced by an impactful range wall.”
Other features. “The two decorative pendants pull in that traditional home feeling and provide gorgeous light when illuminated,” Barley says. “The mottled mercury glass and rubbed bronze fixtures feel updated but totally appropriate to an ‘old’ house.”
Designer tip. “As humans, our eyes and brains love symmetry,” Barley says. “By framing the range with two windows, we created wonderful symmetry that is then repeated by the pendants hanging over the island. Three pendants would have destroyed the carefully crafted symmetry of the space, as would an off-center kitchen sink. With a kitchen that was already heavily weighted to one side with the fridge and ovens on one wall, this symmetry kept the room from feeling unbalanced.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When cabinetry was finally going in, we discovered that the spacing of the windows was so tight that we were unable to tile between the cabinetry and the windows as planned,” Barley says. “Instead we had to find a piece of trim that could perfectly bridge the gap but also still look intentional. With the help of our cabinetry company, we found a piece of trim that is totally inconspicuous. By painting it the same color as the windows, it essentially disappears.”
Counter stools: Britt, Four Hands; pendant lights: Bayridge in aged iron, Visual Comfort; fabrics: Spinnaker 3 Chambray (seat covers) and Gadabout 2 in blue and white (window treatments), Stout Textiles; backsplash tile: Serena Sky, 3 by 8 inches, Soho Studio; perimeter countertops: Taj Royale, Caesarstone; cabinet paint: Antique White, Sherwin-Williams
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5. Window Wall
Designers: Bob Chatham Custom Home Design and Designs by Charlotte (interiors)
Builder: Bruce Tew
Location: Ono Island, Orange Beach, Alabama
Homeowners’ request. “These homeowners wanted natural light and to see as much of the view as possible,” home designer Bob Chatham says. “They are located at the mouth of a canal.”
Special feature. “In the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to capture the full view of the water and bring in as much natural light as possible,” Chatham says. “We raised the ceiling height to allow for the statement full wall of windows.”
Other features. Marble countertops. Blue cabinets. High-end commercial-grade stainless steel appliances.
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Designers: Bob Chatham Custom Home Design and Designs by Charlotte (interiors)
Builder: Bruce Tew
Location: Ono Island, Orange Beach, Alabama
Homeowners’ request. “These homeowners wanted natural light and to see as much of the view as possible,” home designer Bob Chatham says. “They are located at the mouth of a canal.”
Special feature. “In the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to capture the full view of the water and bring in as much natural light as possible,” Chatham says. “We raised the ceiling height to allow for the statement full wall of windows.”
Other features. Marble countertops. Blue cabinets. High-end commercial-grade stainless steel appliances.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Designer: Ann Lowengart Interiors
Location: Mill Valley, California
Homeowners’ request. “With one small child and another on the way, the family’s principal request was for this home to feel organic, comfortable, approachable and casual,” designer Ann Lowengart says. “The aesthetic was quiet, modern and minimalist to allow the exterior views to take center stage.”
Special feature. Hand-painted terra-cotta toe-kick tile on the island. “While keeping the materiality quiet and consistent throughout the home, the clients wanted a modern nod to the Mediterranean aesthetic with a subtle addition of pattern and color,” Lowengart says. “We found this fabulous tile, which we customized by softening the blue tones and modifying the white to be a lighter, crisp white to coordinate with the Ann Sacks Idris backsplash tile.”
Other features. Bateig Blue honed limestone countertops and sink. “The kitchen island pendants were a particular feat of engineering and design excellence,” Lowengart says. “These were made by the talented artist Farrah Sit, who customized these to 10 by 15 inches to meet our vision of bringing visual balance between these and our woven fixture at the dining table. They’re hand-thrown porcelain suspended by a twisted rope cord from a satin nickel canopy.”
Designer tip. “When choosing natural stones for the families we design for, we want to be especially cognizant of the potential maintenance and upkeep these may require,” Lowengart says. “We have been using the More AntiEtch products as a sealant on marbles, limestones and other porous natural stones for many years now, which preserve the finish and integrity of the materials with no upkeep required by the homeowners.”
Island tile: Mediterranean 17 in Oxford and Gray, Tabarka Studio; backsplash tile: Idris, Ann Sacks; faucet: gooseneck with metal wheel handle in shiny copper, Waterworks; counter stools: Turah, Caste
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