A kitchen made to display recipe books, flowers and brightly colored vegetables. We took the sunny, eclectic nature of our client and ran with it, using Lyptus cabinets, rich red oak floors, Copper Meteorite Satin granite countertops, and splashes of color throughout. Photos by Aaron Ziltener

Susie Brenner
Inspiration for a timeless master carpeted bedroom remodel in Denver with beige walls

Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in Denver

Elegant freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Oklahoma City with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Phoenix

This custom roof deck in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood features lightweight aluminum decking, ipe planters, an ipe and metal pergola, and ipe benches with built-in storage under the seats. Few woods can match the natural beauty of ipe (pronounced ee-pey), a hardwood with a 30-year life expectancy. These pictures were taken in early spring, before the leaves have filled out on the trees. Plantings include coralbark maples, hornbeams, pink cherry trees, crape myrtles, and feather grasses. The planters include LED up-lighting and automated drip irrigation lines. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

Large trendy l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops

Inspiration for a kitchen remodel in Grand Rapids

This Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard features an ipe deck, knotty cedar fencing, artificial turf, a cedar pergola with corrugated metal roof, stepping stones, and loose Mexican beach stones. The contemporary outdoor furniture is from Restoration Hardware. Plantings are a lush mix of grasses, cherry trees, bamboo, roses, trumpet vines, variegated irises, hydrangeas, and sky pencil hollies.

The mixture of grey green cabinets with the distressed wood floors and ceilings, gives this farmhouse kitchen a feeling of warmth. Cabinets: Brookhaven and the color is Green Stone Benjamin Moore paint color: There's not an exact match for Green Stone, but Gettysburg Grey, HC 107 is close. Sink: Krauss, model KHF200-30, stainless steel Faucet: Kraus, modelKPF-1602 Hardware: Restoration hardware, Dakota cup and Dakota round knob. The finish was either the chestnut or iron. Windows: Bloomberg is the manufacturer the hardware is from Restoration hardware--Dakota cup and Dakota round knob. The finish was either the chestnut or iron. Floors: European Oak that is wired brushed. The company is Provenza, Pompeii collection and the color is Amiata. Distressed wood: The wood is cedar that's been treated to look distressed! My client is brilliant , so he did some googling (is that a word?) and came across several sites that had a recipe to do just that. He put a steel wool pad into a jar of vinegar and let it sit for a bit. In another jar, he mixed black tea with water. Brush the tea on first and let it dry. Then brush on the steel wool/vinegar (don't forget to strain the wool). Voila, the wood turns dark. Andrew McKinney Photography

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Mid-sized country l-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Beautiful Kitchen backsplash that uses a tumbled 3x6 Picasso Travertine
Beach style l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and travertine backsplash

This Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard features a bluestone patio, knotty cedar fencing, artificial turf, stepping stones, and loose Mexican beach stones. The contemporary outdoor furniture is from Room and Board. Plantings are a lush mix of grasses, cherry trees, trumpet vines, variegated irises, and sky pencil hollies.

Dining room - contemporary medium tone wood floor dining room idea in Denver with white walls

The painted Nantucket beadboard ceiling creates a sharp contrast with richly-stained cherry paneling, fireplace surround, cabinetry and curved beams.
Large elegant enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library photo in Other with blue walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and a wood fireplace surround

This Brooklyn backyard features a blue stone patio, horizontal knotty cedar fencing, custom L-shaped sectional bench, a built-in jacuzzi, and contemporary plantings. The plantings include a hornbeam tree in a black fiberglass cube container, a red weeping Japanese maple, maiden grasses, 'Schip' cherry laurels, and boxwoods. See more of our projects at www.amberfreda.com.

Photo: Amber Frederiksen Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Miami with gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink, an island and solid surface countertops

The goal for this 1939 Tudor-style story-and-a-half home was to create a kitchen that offered the conveniences, storage, and performance of a modern workspace while preserving the warmth, craftsmanship, and vintage charm that made the home special. The client, an avid home cook, wanted the room to feel as though it had always belonged to the house, with thoughtful upgrades that respected the original architecture rather than competing with it. Just as important, she needed a more efficient layout with enough storage for small appliances, so everyday cooking would no longer require carrying items up from the lower level. Several existing conditions shaped the design approach. The kitchen retained original, amber-stained birch woodwork that the client wished to keep, and the compact footprint was interrupted by six doorways and two windows, none of which were to be moved, altered, or replaced. A previous flooring update had left the door casings undercut too short, creating visible gaps where the casing met the floor. The existing vintage 40-inch range also lacked proper ventilation, yet the client wished to accommodate a refrigerator, dishwasher, cooktop, double ovens, built-in microwave, and effective venting above the cooktop into the new kitchen layout. To honor the original millwork, beaded inset-style cherry cabinetry was selected in a soft, hand-rubbed finish that will deepen over time and develop a natural patina. Charcoal-gray soapstone countertops complement the cabinetry while reinforcing the historic character of the home with an organic, timeworn texture. The former breakfast nook was transformed into a butler’s pantry, adding valuable base cabinet storage and expanded work surfaces for frequently used small appliances. Also in the butler’s pantry, a single upper cabinet was paired with open shelves to give an open, airy feeling while adding character and practical storage. A classic single-bowl apron-front workstation sink contributes both period-appropriate character and practical prep and cleanup function. Because the home’s openings were such a defining feature, the design worked within the existing architecture instead of altering it. Custom plinth blocks were created for each doorway to extend the original casing gracefully down to the new natural red oak flooring, resolving the earlier construction issue while adding a detail that feels authentic to the age of the house. Despite the number of door and window openings, the new layout provides a significantly more functional, built-in kitchen with an improved work triangle for serious cooking. Appliance placement was carefully planned to deliver the requested performance without overwhelming the small room. Three cooking functions (double ovens & microwave) were consolidated into one location with a GE Café double oven featuring Advantium Technology, while the client’s compact 31-inch refrigerator was reused to preserve space. A sleek 30-inch induction cooktop provides efficient cooking, and a Vent-A-Hood ARS ductless vent hood supplies needed ventilation without requiring a duct run to the exterior. The finish palette balances richness, texture, and historical sensitivity. A deeply textured navy backsplash tile adds depth and dramatic shadow play against the soapstone, while wallpaper in the back entry echoes the tile’s geometric pattern to visually connect the adjoining spaces. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware and light fixtures enhance the warmth of the cherry cabinetry and complete the antique-inspired feel. Lighting was layered to make the compact kitchen brighter, more useful, and more inviting. Vintage-style semi-flush ceiling fixtures establish the overall tone, while dimmable puck lights highlight select areas and undercabinet task lighting keeps work surfaces well illuminated. The completed kitchen now feels both highly functional and deeply rooted in the home’s history. Rich cherry cabinetry, velvety soapstone, natural red oak flooring, navy tile, bronze accents, and carefully preserved birch trim work together to create a warm, cohesive space that celebrates timeless craftsmanship. By increasing storage, improving workflow, integrating modern appliances, and respecting the Tudor home’s original character, the design achieves the client’s vision: a kitchen that feels personal, practical, historically appropriate, and as though it has always been there.

This Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard features an ipe deck, knotty cedar fencing, artificial turf, a cedar pergola with corrugated metal roof, stepping stones, and loose Mexican beach stones. The contemporary outdoor furniture is from Restoration Hardware. Plantings are a lush mix of grasses, cherry trees, bamboo, roses, trumpet vines, variegated irises, hydrangeas, and sky pencil hollies.