Very Bright Upscale Country Kitchen Photograph by Chipper Hatter.
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New Orleans with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets and an island

Super sleek statement in white. Sophisticated condo with gorgeous views are reflected in this modern apartment accented in ocean blues. Modern furniture , custom artwork and contemporary cabinetry make this home an exceptional winter escape destination. Lori Hamilton Photography Learn more about our showroom and kitchen and bath design: http://www.mingleteam.com

MA Peterson www.mapeterson.com A bright and airy galley kitchen, offering easy pass-through for the family.
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless galley dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white backsplash, white cabinets, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash and no island

Elegant kitchen photo in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Michael J. Lee
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, shaker cabinets and white cabinets

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client wanted a complete update of their kitchen and came to us with several objectives. They wanted a larger island and easier access to the dining room. They also wanted to eliminate the existing cooktop location from the island and make the island larger. Because the existing space was not able to accommodate all those requests, we decided to eliminate the breakfast area and incorporate that space into the kitchen. By eliminating an existing bay window and making the kitchen sink window larger, we were able to make the new layout work without sacrificing any natural light. A French door to the newly added and adjoining sunroom and casual outdoor dining spot still allows for multiple dining options. And by enlarging the opening to the dining room, it allows for easier access to this space on a daily basis versus for special occasions only. The client already had a large desk in the kitchen and spends a lot of time at this area. We were able to make the new desk even larger by moving the refrigerator to another area. The refrigerator is covered in decorative panels so that it blends nicely into the furniture look of the room. The larger island can now seat several people comfortably. The room’s traditional feel was achieved by providing different finishes on the perimeter, island and desk cabinetry. Handmade gray backsplash tile, a combination of soapstone and Carrera marble give the space a classic appeal. Details provide interest – custom glass mullions, decorative wood hood and bronze hardware give the space character and charm. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Interior Design by: Rachel Alcorn Architect: Rick Rearick Contractor: KJN Renovations Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Zarrillo's Handcrafted Custom Cabinets, electric flip up door over sink. refrigerator and recycle center. Best Kitchen Award, multi level island,
Huge elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, multicolored backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Chef's kitchen with white perimeter recessed panel cabinetry. In contrast, the island and refrigerator cabinets are a dark lager color. All cabinetry is by Brookhaven. Kitchen back splash is 3x6 Manhattan Field tile in #1227 Peacock with 4.25x4.25 bullnose in the same color. Niche is 4.25" square Cordoba Plain Fancy fIeld tile in #1227 Peacock with fluid crackle finish and 3.12 square Turkistan Floral Fancy Field tile with 2.25x6 medium chair rail border. Design by Janet McCann. Photo by Mike Kaskel.

  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

Traditional White Kitchen with Hallmark Floors Alta Vista Collection by Kichen Kraft Inc. Engineered hardwood flooring from Hallmark Floors. A Gorgeous Traditional White Kitchen with Hallmark Floors, Historic Oak Floors by Kitchen Kraft Inc. This traditional Kitchen remodel was completed with Hallmark Floors Alta Vista Historic Oak Collection by Kitchen Kraft, Inc or Columbus OH. They did a fantastic job combining the updated fashions of white counter tops to the rustic colored accent of the island. Amazing work. The Alta Vista Historic Oak floors offer a gorgeous contrast to the bright white of all of the other accents within the kitchen. Truly inspiring.

The light gray neutrals add so much more light into this contemporary master bedroom. DiMar Photography
Inspiration for a transitional bedroom remodel in New York with gray walls

We chose cabinetry made from reclaimed barnwood from Country Roads Associates (in Holmes, NY) as well as a copper farmhouse sink to get the farmhouse feel. Adding the brick wall and reclaimed 2" thick barnwood beam shelving further enhanced the rustic nature of the design. The Caspian blue glass tile by Akdo Tile, stainless steel appliances (Viking, Bosch, Liebherrr, Thermador) and thin Dekton (by Cosentino) counter tops lend the contemporary touch. Hafele hardware and interior cabinet lighting also adds a contemporary touch along with the Blum Aventos lift-systems (automatic cabinet doors). Photo by Chris Sanders

White painted wood cabinets and light colored stone countertop help keep the the kitchen bright. Multiple pendent lights and under cabinet lighting are for general as well as task lighting. Large windows at corner bring in lots of natural light. The cat is particularly fond of that spot near the warm oven! David Sloane Photography

European charm meets a fully modern and super functional kitchen. This beautiful light and airy setting is perfect for cooking and entertaining. Wood beams and dark floors compliment the oversized island with farmhouse sink. Custom cabinetry is designed specifically with the cook in mind, featuring great storage and amazing extras. James Kruger, Landmark Photography & Design, LLP. Learn more about our showroom and kitchen and bath design: http://www.mingleteam.com

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and glass tile backsplash

Spring has arrived in the Newtown Bucks County "farmhouse" kitchen. Interior Designer, Nancy Gracia coupled this stunning La Cornue Fe stove with a custom zinc hood. Bardiglio hexagonal marble complement the stainless appliances and serve as a graceful backdrop to the subway marble set in a brick pattern throughout the entire kitchen. Custom beaded inset hand brushed cabinetry is a nice contrast to the thin pine planking flooring. Unlacquered brass hardware and soapstone countertops complete the custom cabinetry. Designed by Nancy Gracia of Bare Root Design Studio. Photography: Yelena Strokin http://www.houzz.com/pro/yelena-strokin/melangery

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients had been in their home since the early 1980’s and decided it was time for some updates. We took on the kitchen, two bathrooms and a powder room. The layout in the kitchen was functional for them, so we kept that pretty much as is. Our client wanted a contemporary-leaning transitional look — nice clean lines with a gray and white palette. Light gray cabinets with a slightly darker gray subway tile keep the northern exposure light and airy. They also purchased some new furniture for their breakfast room and adjoining family room, so the whole space looks completely styled and new. The light fixtures are staggered and give a nice rhythm to the otherwise serene feel. The homeowners were not 100% sold on the flooring choice for little powder room off the kitchen when I first showed it, but now they think it is one of the most interesting features of the design. I always try to “push” my clients a little bit because that’s when things can get really fun and this is what you are paying for after all, ideas that you may not come up with on your own. We also worked on the two upstairs bathrooms. We started first on the hall bath which was basically just in need of a face lift. The floor is porcelain tile made to look like carrera marble. The vanity is white Shaker doors fitted with a white quartz top. We re-glazed the cast iron tub. The master bath was a tub to shower conversion. We used a wood look porcelain plank on the main floor along with a Kohler Tailored vanity. The custom shower has a barn door shower door, and vinyl wallpaper in the sink area gives a rich textured look to the space. Overall, it’s a pretty sophisticated look for its smaller fooprint. 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