Open format kitchen includes gorgeous custom cabinets, a large underlit island with an induction cooktop and waterfall countertops. Full height slab backsplash and paneled appliances complete the sophisticated design.

The open kitchen is the family gathering space. The banquette fits perfect by the rear facing windows. Flooring is reclaimed and paired with the gray cabinetry and walls to give a soft modern approach alongside the vintage appeal of the subway tiled wall and school house lights.

This one is near and dear to my heart. Not only is it in my own backyard, it is also the first remodel project I've gotten to do for myself! This space was previously a detached two car garage in our backyard. Seeing it transform from such a utilitarian, dingy garage to a bright and cheery little retreat was so much fun and so rewarding! This space was slated to be an AirBNB from the start and I knew I wanted to design it for the adventure seeker, the savvy traveler, and those who appreciate all the little design details . My goal was to make a warm and inviting space that our guests would look forward to coming back to after a full day of exploring the city or gorgeous mountains and trails that define the Pacific Northwest. I also wanted to make a few bold choices, like the hunter green kitchen cabinets or patterned tile, because while a lot of people might be too timid to make those choice for their own home, who doesn't love trying it on for a few days?At the end of the day I am so happy with how it all turned out!

Eye-Land: Named for the expansive white oak savanna views, this beautiful 5,200-square foot family home offers seamless indoor/outdoor living with five bedrooms and three baths, and space for two more bedrooms and a bathroom. The site posed unique design challenges. The home was ultimately nestled into the hillside, instead of placed on top of the hill, so that it didn’t dominate the dramatic landscape. The openness of the savanna exposes all sides of the house to the public, which required creative use of form and materials. The home’s one-and-a-half story form pays tribute to the site’s farming history. The simplicity of the gable roof puts a modern edge on a traditional form, and the exterior color palette is limited to black tones to strike a stunning contrast to the golden savanna. The main public spaces have oversized south-facing windows and easy access to an outdoor terrace with views overlooking a protected wetland. The connection to the land is further strengthened by strategically placed windows that allow for views from the kitchen to the driveway and auto court to see visitors approach and children play. There is a formal living room adjacent to the front entry for entertaining and a separate family room that opens to the kitchen for immediate family to gather before and after mealtime.

Mid-Century Remodel on Tabor Hill This sensitively sited house was designed by Robert Coolidge, a renowned architect and grandson of President Calvin Coolidge. The house features a symmetrical gable roof and beautiful floor to ceiling glass facing due south, smartly oriented for passive solar heating. Situated on a steep lot, the house is primarily a single story that steps down to a family room. This lower level opens to a New England exterior. Our goals for this project were to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating more modern spaces. Our design team worked to envision what Coolidge himself might have designed if he'd had access to modern materials and fixtures. With the aim of creating a signature space that ties together the living, dining, and kitchen areas, we designed a variation on the 1950's "floating kitchen." In this inviting assembly, the kitchen is located away from exterior walls, which allows views from the floor-to-ceiling glass to remain uninterrupted by cabinetry. We updated rooms throughout the house; installing modern features that pay homage to the fine, sleek lines of the original design. Finally, we opened the family room to a terrace featuring a fire pit. Since a hallmark of our design is the diminishment of the hard line between interior and exterior, we were especially pleased for the opportunity to update this classic work.

The clients were involved in the neighborhood organization dedicated to keeping the housing instead of tearing down. They wanted to utilize every inch of storage which resulted in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Cabinetry and counter space work together to create a balance between function and style.

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Portland

Greg Hadley Photography The clients opted to use Ikea glossy white cabinets. Our crew assembled and installed the cabinetry on site. To provide an organic accent, we included walnut doors and open shelves. These pieces were purchased from a company that builds real wood veneer doors that fit over Ikea cabinet boxes. The island is sized to fit the space and provide adequate clearances around it for good traffic flow. The client requested the waterfall feature. The stone tops in the kitchen are Calacatta. Brass lamps above the sink (the original trim around the window was narrower, but once the client found these fixtures, we widened the trim to accommodate the lights.) Glass globe pendants. Brass lamp over built-in table. Glazed white brick subway backsplash tile. Black painted Pella window and door.

This white waterfall countertop edge adds to the modern feel of this island design! Carrying the quartz up the sink and stove wall allowed for the perfect backdrop for the brass and wood open shelving.

Whole-house remodel of a hillside home in Seattle. The historically-significant ballroom was repurposed as a family/music room, and the once-small kitchen and adjacent spaces were combined to create an open area for cooking and gathering. A compact master bath was reconfigured to maximize the use of space, and a new main floor powder room provides knee space for accessibility. Built-in cabinets provide much-needed coat & shoe storage close to the front door. ©Kathryn Barnard, 2014

Small but functional kitchen with windows behind open shelves to let light in. Wood cabinets bring warmth and contrast with the concrete floors. Building design collaborators Graham Baba Architects photos by:Tim Bies

Whimsical floral pattern tile backsplash pulls together the two-toned gray and white cabinetry. The gold faucet dresses up the white apron front sink and compliments the gold hardware on the cabinets. A handy outlet on the end of the peninsula is helpful for plugging in kitchen gadgets and equipment.

Who said that a Burbank bungalow home needs to be doll and old fashioned. In this Burbank remodeling project we took this 1200sq. bungalow home and turned it to a wonderful mixture of European modern kitchen space and calm transitional modern farmhouse furniture and flooring. The kitchen was a true challenge since space was a rare commodity, but with the right layout storage and work space became abundant. A floating 5' long sitting area was constructed and even the back face of the cabinets was used for wine racks. Exterior was updated as well with new black windows, new stucco over layer and new light fixtures all around. both bedrooms were fitted with huge 10' sliding doors overlooking the green backyard.

Large transitional travertine floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Houston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, two islands and white countertops

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands and white countertops

The clients desired an Industrial and Contemporary look for their new kitchen. The original town home kitchen was smaller in size with a larger dining and family room area. Heavily influenced by the feel of New York lofts, the project started with strong and sturdy combination of metals, dark blues, woods, and greys. A softer, matching backsplash was added to balance and create a second focal point in the room. Expansive storage was achieved through multiple ceiling-height cabinets, double-sided island storage, and a sink facing open shelf cabinet. Treve Johnson Photography

The kitchen was at the top of the list for a total overhaul – the worn oak cabinets, dated appliances, and clunky layout all had to go. Removing the decorative soffits allowed us to take the new cabinetry all the way to the ceiling, adding functional storage and visually extending the room’s height. We reconfigured the layout from a modified U to an L-shape which accomplished several things – it opened up the kitchen to the dining room, redirected circulation, and most importantly, created space for an island. A brand new pantry was created for overflow food storage, bulk items, occasional dishware and small appliances, ensuring that our client’s goal of uncluttered countertops was achievable. The finish selections and clean lines give a nod to the home’s mid-century bones. The wood island provides warmth and the light quartz countertops, textured backsplash and white cabinets keep the kitchen feeling light and bright. We opted to install open shelving above the sink which provides display space and needed storage without the bulkiness of an overhead cabinet. The matte black faucet, hardware and decorative pendants add another level of visual interest to the modern kitchen. To unify the kitchen and dining room, we replaced the drab kitchen flooring with select red oak hardwoods that were expertly installed and refinished to match the gorgeous wood flooring throughout the home.

Example of a mid-sized cottage u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, no island and white countertops

Michael J. Lee
Elegant slate floor and gray floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances