This homeowner came to us with her basic design ready for us to execute for her kitchen, but also asked us to design and update her entry, sunroom and fireplace. Her kitchen was 80’s standard builder grade cabinetry and laminate countertops and she had a knee wall separating her kitchen from the family room. We removed that wall and installed a custom cabinetry buffet to complement the cabinetry of the kitchen, allowing for access from all sides. We removed a desk area in the kitchen and converted it to a closed organization station complete with a charging station for phones and computers. Calcutta Quartzite countertops were used throughout and continued seamlessly up the walls as a backsplash to create a wow factor. We converted a closet into a pantry cabinet, and new stainless appliances, including a microwave drawer completed this renovation. Additionally, we updated her sunroom by removing the “popcorn” textured ceiling and gave it a fresh updated coat of paint. We installed 12x24 tile floor giving the room a simple classic transformation. Finally, we renewed the fireplace area, by building a custom mantle and adding wood paneling and trim to soften the marble fireplace face and a simple coat of paint in the entry and a new chandelier brought a lighter and fresher impact upon entering the home.

Center island with rich, blue Greenfield cabinetry and wood countertop.
Open concept kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with wood countertops, an island, brown countertops, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and colored appliances

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

Ulrich designer: Bonnie Hufnagel, CKD Photography by Peter Rymwid To make this small kitchen work-flow really work and to add storage. The original kitchen had the refrigerator sticking out into the kitchen passage area. We installed a built-in Sub-Zero model that only projected to counter depth, and to install a custom wood panel on it matching the cabinetry. This made the refrigerator look like the cabinets and reduced its visual presence. We also moved the range to the center of the side wall space which provided 4 feet of prep area on either side of the range. The soffits were removed from overhead and the cabinets were brought to the ceiling around the kitchen perimeter to gain more storage space.

Tidiness from messiness. Peace from confusion. Control from chaos. Life is easier (and a whole lot prettier!) in this white and gray Command Center Kitchen.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This gourmet kitchen includes wood burning pizza oven, grill, side burner, egg smoker, sink, refrigerator, trash chute, serving station and more! Photography: Daniel Driensky

Hopkins, MN kitchen remodel by White Birch Design. a design/build/remodel firm serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. To see more examples of our work, visit www.whitebirchdesignllc.com

A wide view of this open-plan kitchen showcases the seamless transition from the dining area to the kitchen island. The modern aesthetic is complemented by the sleek design of the kitchen island, ideal for both cooking and socializing. The natural light pouring in creates an inviting space for gatherings.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This young family moved to a lake community full time during Covid. They then wanted to allow the home to become a true year round home over the former weekend house. They wanted to open up the kitchen to allow views from the sink and new island to the views of the lake outside of the living area. The homeowner also wanted an desk area for herself and a walk in pantry. I also took 10' out of their huge garage area and created a large mudroom and laundry room. The staircase was hidden behind a bookcase wall, not at all ideal with two young children up there. I opened that all up right off of the back end of the kitchen. Their house now flows much better and they love their new spaces!

This beautiful kitchen was updated with new upper cabinets, new brass hardware, and a glass panel pantry door. A fun pop of color was added with a turquoise desk area.

Two structural steel beams were required when the kitchen walls were removed and could not be fully recessed into the ceiling. Rather than concealing them, the beams were clad in dark-stained wood and transformed into a defining architectural feature. Their warmth and contrast balance the white shaker cabinetry, marble slab backsplash and light wood flooring, while an integrated desk and open shelving create a practical workspace at the edge of the kitchen.

A traditional Georgian home receives an incredible transformation with an addition to expand the originally compact kitchen and create a pathway into the family room and dining area, opening the flow of the spaces that allow for fluid movement from each living space for the young family of four. Taking the lead from the client's desire to have a contemporary and edgier feel to their home's very classic facade, House of L worked with the architect's addition to the existing kitchen to design a kitchen that was incredibly functional and gorgeously dramatic, beckoning people to grab a barstool and hang out. Glossy macassar ebony wood is complimented with lacquered white cabinets for an amazing study in contrast. An oversized brushed nickel hood with polished nickel banding makes a presence on the feature wall of the kitchen. Brushed and polished nickel details are peppered in the landscape of this room, including the cabinets in the second island, a storage cabinet and automated hopper doors by Hafele on the refrigeration wall and all of the cabinet hardware, supplied and custom sized by Rajack. White quartz countertops by Hanstone in the Bianco Canvas colorway float on all the perimeter cabinets and the secondary island and creates a floating frame for the Palomino Quartzite that is a highlight in the kitchen and lends an organic feel to the clean lines of the millwork. The backsplash area behind the rangetop is a brick patterned mosaic blend of stone and glass, while surrounding walls have a layered sandstone tile that lend an incredible texture to the room. The light fixture hanging above the second island is by Wells Long and features faceted metal polygons with an amber gold interior. Woven linen drapes at window winks at the warmer tones in the room with a lustrous sheen that catches the natural light filtering in. The rift and sawn cut white oak floors are 8" planks that were fitted and finished on site to match the existing floor in the family and dining rooms. The clients were very clear on the appliances they needed the kitchen to accommodate. In addition to the vast expanses of wall space that were gained with the kitchen addition the larger footprint allowed for two sizeable islands and a host of cooking amenities, including a 48" rangetop, two double ovens, a warming drawer, and a built-in coffee maker by Miele and a 36" Refrigerator and Freezer and a beverage drawer by Subzero. A fabulous stainless steel Kallista sink by Mick De Giulio's series for the company is fitted in the first island which serves as a prep area, flanked by an Asko dishwasher to the right. A Dorenbracht faucet is a strong compliment to the scale of the sink. A smaller Kallista stainless sink is centered in the second island which has a secondary burner by Miele for overflow cooking. Jason Miller, Pixelate

Klopf Architecture’s client, a family of four with young children, wanted to update their recently purchased home to meet their growing needs across generations. It was essential to maintain the mid-century modern style throughout the project but most importantly, they wanted more natural light brought into the dark kitchen and cramped bathrooms while creating a smoother connection between the kitchen, dining and family room. The kitchen was expanded into the dining area, using part of the original kitchen area as a butler's pantry. With the main kitchen brought out into an open space with new larger windows and two skylights the space became light, open, and airy. Custom cabinetry from Henrybuilt throughout the kitchen and butler's pantry brought functionality to the space. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and widening the opening from the dining room to the living room created a more open and natural flow between the spaces. New redwood siding was installed in the entry foyer to match the original siding in the family room so it felt original to the house and consistent between the spaces. Oak flooring was installed throughout the house enhancing the movement between the new kitchen and adjacent areas. The two original bathrooms felt dark and cramped so they were expanded and also feature larger windows, modern fixtures and new Heath tile throughout. Custom vanities also from Henrybuilt bring a unified look and feel from the kitchen into the new bathrooms. Designs included plans for a future in-law unit to accommodate the needs of an older generation. The house is much brighter, feels more unified with wider open site lines that provide the family with a better transition and seamless connection between spaces. This mid-century modern remodel is a 2,743 sf, 4 bedroom/3 bath home located in Lafayette, CA. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf and Angela Todorova Contractor: Don Larwood Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Structural Engineering, Inc. Landscape Designer: n/a Photography ©2018 Scott Maddern Location: Lafayette, CA Year completed: 2018 Link to photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aqxfwk7wdot9jja/AADWuIcsHHE-AGPfq13u5htda?dl=0

Our client was so happy with her kitchen she came back to NJ Kitchens And Baths to help her design her new home office. She needed 2 work areas. Considering the space in the room, I thought it would be a great idea to add a window seat that separated the work areas and create a calming space to relax or read.

This transitional kitchen brings in clean lines, simple cabinets, warm earth tones accents, and lots of function. This kitchen has a small footprint and had very little storage space. Our clients wanted to add more space, somehow, get the most storage possible, make it feel bright and open, have a desk area, and somewhere that could function as a coffee area. By taking out the doorway into the dining room, we were able to extend the cabinetry into the dining room, giving them their desk area as well as storage and a nice area for guests! A custom appliance garage was made that allows you to have all the necessities right at your hands and gives you the ability to close it up and hide all of the appliances. Trash, spice, tray, and drawer pull outs were added for function, as well as 2 lazy susans, wine storage, and deep drawers for pots and pans. The homeowner fell in love with the matte white GE Cafe appliances with the brushed bronze accents, and quite frankly, so did we! Once we found those, we knew we wanted to incorporate that metal throughout the kitchen. New hardwood flooring was installed in the kitchen and finished to match the existing wood in the dining room. We brought the warmth up to eye level with open shelving stained to match. We love creating with our clients, and this kitchen was no exception! We are thrilled with how everything came together.

The functionality of this spacious kitchen is a far cry from its humble beginnings as a lackluster 9 x 12 foot stretch. The exterior wall was blown out to allow for a 10 ft addition. The daring slab of Calacatta Vagli marble with intrepid British racing green veining was the inspiration for the expansion. Spanish Revival pendants reclaimed from a local restaurant, long forgotten, are a pinnacle feature over the island. Reclaimed wood drawers, juxtaposed with custom glass cupboards add gobs of storage. Cabinets are painted the same luxe green hue and the warmth of butcher block counters create a hard working bar area begging for character-worn use. The perimeter of the kitchen features soapstone counters and that nicely balance the whisper of mushroom-colored custom cabinets. Hand-made 4x4 zellige tiles, hung in a running bond pattern, pay sweet homage to the 1950’s era of the home. A large window flanked by antique brass sconces adds bonus natural light over the sink. Textural, centuries-old barn wood surrounding the range hood adds a cozy surprise element. Matte white appliances with brushed bronze and copper hardware tie in the mixed metals throughout the kitchen helping meld the overall dramatic design.

Thse clients came to me for a kitchen refresh. Keeping the existing floor plan but updating as much as possible. After explaining my thoughts, they chose to go with a much larger project. The wall to the garage wash pushed bach 12" to allow for the island to happen. This almost couldn't happen as there is a support post in the garage we had to keep. I designed the last pantry area as on 10" deep, allowing us to conceal that behind the cabinets. Then, we opend up the wall to the dining room to make the rooms one large space. The wall to the family room was also openend up, leaving the half wall to allow for the kitchen eating area. They wanted to incorporate a bar area, without it feeling like a "bar" The fabulous tall custom unit houses their wine collection and then half of the dining room buffet area holds glassware and other bar items. I helped the clients with all of the design choices.We all wanted to keep the space classic, war, functional and with mixed materials. I chose to use the same countertop material for the backsplash, to keep the space feeling as large as possible.