A Naturally Modern Kitchen RemodelModern Kitchen, Chicago

12. Walnut That WowsDesigner: Bobbi Alderfer of Lifestyle Design Location: Sugar Grove, IllinoisSize: 380 square feet (35 square meters); 19 by 20 feetHomeowner’s request. “The home was originally designed by the previous owner to be an homage to the Arts and Crafts style, with stained glass window transoms, lots of dentil wood crown and an abundance of pale birch cabinets that overwhelmed the space,” designer Bobbi Alderfer says. “Our client’s vision was to create a clean, natural look, something that felt fresh and organic and would play nicely with her lovely wooded lot. She wanted a modern look that would also feel warm and inviting. As designers, our goal was to also make the kitchen more functional and to repurpose areas that were awkward and clumsy.”Wood cabinets. Walnut. “Its finish color, construction and simplicity made it the natural choice for this kitchen overhaul,” Alderfer says. Other special features. Painted blue island (Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore), refinished oak hardwood floors with a natural stain that has a touch of gray in it, marble-look quartz countertops. Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid of eliminating room features that are not working well with the design direction,” Alderfer says. “By eliminating a built-in china cabinet, we gained a gorgeous buffet area. By eliminating the awkward built-in banquette unit, we gained a highly functional bar space. And by eliminating wire shelving in the pantry, we were able to install a custom built-in unit that greatly increased the storage capability in the kitchen.”“Uh-oh” moment. “The last appliance to be installed in the kitchen was the exhaust hood,” Alderfer says. “This hood was ordered specifically to our specifications, but when the contractor went to install it, the outside venting did not match up to the hood. Our only alternative was to use the recirculating feature on the hood, which was not making any of us happy, particularly the client. However, our contractor was able to climb into the garage rafters over the adjacent laundry room and was able to move the vent pipe so that the hood could be properly vented. It created a bit of a drywall mess in the laundry, but the client was thrilled with the solution, as were we.”More on Houzz6 Kitchen Makeovers That Benefited From Refaced CabinetsSee How 1 Kitchen Style Works With 5 Types of WoodGet more kitchen design ideasFind a kitchen designer and other professionalsShop for kitchen products

Like the cabinets and the blue island

Walnut cabinets, different color island

combo of painted island and wood cabinets. nice countertop

cabinet color with white subway