Mountain style formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in Kansas City with beige walls and a stone fireplace

Tucked neatly into an existing bay of the barn, the open kitchen is a comfortable hub of the home. Rather than create a solid division between the kitchen and the children's TV area, Franklin finished only the lower portion of the post-and-beam supports. The ladder is one of the original features of the barn that Franklin could not imagine ever removing. Cleverly integrated into the support post, its original function allowed workers to climb above large haystacks and pick and toss hay down a chute to the feeding area below. Franklin's children, 10 and 14, also enjoy this aspect of their home. "The kids and their friends run, slide, climb up the ladder and have a ton of fun," he explains, "It’s a barn! It is a place to share with friends and family." Adrienne DeRosa Photography

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.

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.

The owners of this traditional rambler in Reston wanted to open up their main living areas to create a more contemporary feel in their home. Walls were removed from the previously compartmentalized kitchen and living rooms. Ceilings were raised and kept intact by installing custom metal collar ties. Hickory cabinets were selected to provide a rustic vibe in the kitchen. Dark Silestone countertops with a leather finish create a harmonious connection with the contemporary family areas. A modern fireplace and gorgeous chrome chandelier are striking focal points against the cobalt blue accent walls.

The existing kitchen was separated from the family room by a 17’ long bookcase. It was the first thing you saw upon entering and it hid much of the light and views to the backyard making the space feel claustrophobic. The laundry room was part of the kitchen space without any attempt to conceal the washer and dryer. Removing the long bookcase opened the opportunity to add counter stools in the kitchen and decided to align a target wall opposite the front door to help maintain some division within the main space while creating a space for the refrigerator. This also allowed us to create an open laundry room concept that would be hidden from view from all other areas. We kept the industrial feel of the exposed building materials, which we complimented with textured melamine slab doors for the new kitchen cabinets. We maintained the galley set up but defined the kitchen from the utility area by changing both thickness and color of the countertop materials. Because the back of the house is mainly windows, there was very little wall space for upper cabinets and everyday dish storage. We designed a custom ceiling hung shelf system that floats in front of the windows, and is mostly out of view from the sitting area. Tall cabinets are installed along the only available wall to support both kitchen and laundry room functions. We used cable lighting threaded through the beams which really punctuates the industrial aesthetic.

Cure Design Group (636) 294-2343 https://curedesigngroup.com/ First things first…this renovation was certainly a labor of love for everyone involved, from our amazing clients, to the contractors, vendors and us, this project consumed all of us and the outcome is more than Gorgeous. This contemporary home is nestled back in a a great area of St Louis County. A brick ranch with contemporary touches…once adorned glass blocked bar and stairwell, a tiny galley kitchen and a remodeled garage that once housed their “dining and hearth room” but no one ever used that space. CURE Senior Designer, Cori Dyer took this space, completely and brilliantly re worked the configuration and entire floor plan and layout. Tearing out the dividing wall from the kitchen and what was once the garage, allowed the new kitchen layout to be flipped to the now long perpendicular wall, and created an open mega kitchen with great natural light, double islands, eat in kitchen and seating area, bar and open the great room. You can stand among the space at any point and are able to take in the entire view. Creating an uber chic space doesn’t happen on its own…it takes intricate design, research and planning. Custom made cabinets, a double island featuring two surfaces a butcher block and unforgettable marble. This clean color palette plays well with the new custom furniture in the great room, creating a seating area that sparks conversations.

Matte black kitchen counters made of Honed Petit Granite and a blackened steel backsplash provide a sleek low-maintenance space for food preparation. Dan Arnold Photo

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.

A well thought out kitchen design that lends itself to everyday living and entertaining. Learn more about our showroom and kitchen and bath design: http://www.mingleteam.com

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

The client’s coastal New England roots inspired this Shingle style design for a lakefront lot. With a background in interior design, her ideas strongly influenced the process, presenting both challenge and reward in executing her exact vision. Vintage coastal style grounds a thoroughly modern open floor plan, designed to house a busy family with three active children. A primary focus was the kitchen, and more importantly, the butler’s pantry tucked behind it. Flowing logically from the garage entry and mudroom, and with two access points from the main kitchen, it fulfills the utilitarian functions of storage and prep, leaving the main kitchen free to shine as an integral part of the open living area. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Royal Oaks Design Designer: Kieran Liebl From: Oakdale, Minnesota

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

This beautifully crafted Scandinavian kitchen remodel blends the warmth of white oak shaker cabinets with the sleek elegance of a quartzite island, creating a space that feels fresh yet timeless. Brass hardware, a farmhouse sink, and a custom range hood add character, while panel-ready appliances and a full-height backsplash keep the look seamless. The open plan layout offers a bright, airy atmosphere, enhanced by natural wood tones, pendant lighting, and light flooring. A central island with seating invites casual dining and conversation, making this kitchen as functional as it is welcoming—perfect for cooking, gathering, and everyday living.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Breckenridge Ski Home Remodel included the addition of 3000 square feet including this kitchen. Part of an open floor plan, the kitchen included Vittoria Regia Granite, Glass Mosaic Tile Back Splash, Knotty Alder Shaker Cabinetry, reclaimed oak hardwood floors, Kohler Plumbing and GE Profile Appliances Design and Build by Trilogy Partners, Design and Architecture by Stais Architects and Trilogy Partners.

Welcome home to the Remington. This breath-taking two-story home is an open-floor plan dream. Upon entry you'll walk into the main living area with a gourmet kitchen with easy access from the garage. The open stair case and lot give this popular floor plan a spacious feel that can't be beat. Call Visionary Homes for details at 435-228-4702. Agents welcome!

This home is casual and welcoming yet completely pulled together with an elevated coastal style. The open floor plan has a large kitchen with two islands, a breakfast nook and a great room with fireplace and built-ins. There is a 3 season porch off the kitchen with a fireplace, dining area and sitting area. The X-detail is repeated in the stair railing, kitchen island and cabinetry, and primary bedroom cabinets. The high ceilings are highlighted with beams and shiplap and the wide oak wood floors warm up the mostly white interior. The furnishings are coastal as well with various shades of blue used throughout. Unique lighting, gold tone plumbing fixtures and hardware are used to warm up the spaces. Outdoor spaces include a covered seating area, pool, hot tub and outdoor kitchen.

CREATING A CONNECTION. We drastically improved the spatial and visual flow of the first-floor space. Removing some walls allowed for integration of the kitchen and living and dining rooms, resulting in a large, open layout. Photography by Anice Hoachlander