A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio -- Photos: Greg Page Photography
Inspiration for a small craftsman u-shaped light wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, no island and soapstone countertops

Photography by: Tim Lee Cabinetry Design and Kitchen layout by: Kitchens by Deane, Inc General Contractor: Premier Remodeling Architect: Judith Larsen

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   My husband and I had the opportunity to completely gut and remodel a very tired 1950’s Garrison colonial. We knew that the idea of a semi-open floor plan would be ideal for our family. Space saving solutions started with the design of a banquet in the kitchen. The banquet’s focal point is the two stained glass windows on either end that help to capture daylight from the adjoining spaces. Material selections for the kitchen were driven by the desire for a bright, casual and uncomplicated look. The plan began with 3 large windows centered over a white farmhouse sink and overlooking the backyard. A large island acts as the kitchen’s work center and rounds out seating options in the room. White inset cabinetry is offset with a mix of materials including soapstone, cherry butcher block, stainless appliances, oak flooring and rustic white tiles that rise to the ceiling creating a dramatic backdrop for an arched range hood. Multiple mullioned glass doors keep the kitchen open, bright and airy. A palette of grayish greens and blues throughout the house helps to meld the white kitchen and trim detail with existing furnishings. In-cabinet lighting as well as task and undercabinet lighting complements the recessed can lights and help to complete the light and airy look of the space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

For a client with an enthusiastic appreciation of retro design, this sunny ode to kitchens of the past is a cheerful and comforting retreat for today. The client wanted a kitchen that creatively expressed her fun, unconventional taste while providing all the modern conveniences of a contemporary home. Space was borrowed from an existing office to provide more open area and easier navigation in the kitchen. Bright, optimistic yellow sets the tone in the room, with retro-inspired appliances in buttery yellow chosen as key elements of the design. A generous apron-front farm sink gleams with clean white enameled cast iron and is outfitted with a rare retro faucet with spray and scrub brush attachments. Black trim against the yellow ceramic tile countertops defines the kitchen’s lines. Simple maple cabinetry painted white with black ceramic knobs provides a modern level of storage. Playful positioning of contrasting tiles on the floor presents a modern, quirky interpretation of the traditional checkerboard pattern in this classic kitchen with an original point of view.

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.

Features: Custom Wood Hood with Pull Out Spice Racks, Mantel, Motif, and Corbels; Varied Height Cabinetry; Art for Everyday Turned Posts # F-1; Art for Everyday Corbels # CBL-TCY1, Beadboard; Wood Mullion and Clear Beveled Glass Doors; Bar Area; Double Panel Doors; Coffered Ceiling; Enhancement Window; Art for Everyday Mantels # MTL-A1 and # MTL-A0; Desk Area Cabinets- Main Kitchen: Honey Brook Custom in Maple Wood with Seapearl Paint and Glaze; Voyager Full Overlay Door Style with C-2 Lip Cabinets- Island & Bar Area: Honey Brook Custom in Cherry Wood with Colonial Finish; Voyager Full Overlay Door Style with C-2 Lip Countertops- Main Kitchen: Golden Beach Granite with Double Pencil Edge Countertops- Island and Bar Area: Golden Beach Granite with Waterfall Edge Kitchen Designer: Tammy Clark Photograph: Kelly Keul Duer

Kitchen design project. Photos by Nick Marx, www.nickmarx.com
Example of a classic kitchen design in New York with stainless steel appliances

Clean, contemporary white oak slab cabinets with a white Chroma Crystal White countertop. Cabinets are set off with sleek stainless steel handles. The appliances are also stainless steel. The diswasher is Bosch, the refridgerator is a Kenmore professional built-in, stainless steel. The hood is stainless and glass from Futuro, Venice model. The double oven is stainless steel from LG. The stainless wine cooler is Uline. the stainless steel built-in microwave is form GE. The irridescent glass back splash that sets off the floating bar cabinet and surrounds window is Vihara Irridescent 1 x 4 glass in Puka. Perfect for entertaining. The floors are Italian ceramic planks that look like hardwood in a driftwood color. Simply gorgeous. Lighting is recessed and kept to a minimum to maintain the crisp clean look the client was striving for. I added a pop of orange and turquoise (not seen in the photos) for pillows on a bench as well as on the accessories. Cabinet fabricator, Mark Klindt ~ www.creativewoodworks.info

Featuring white painted cabinetry for the perimteter of the space and dark stained island for a contrast, the green backsplash tiles and subtle green countertops add personality to the space. Learn more about the Normandy Remodeling Designer, Vince Weber, who created this kitchen and room addition: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/vince-weber/ To learn more about this award-winning Normandy Remodeling Kitchen, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/blog/2-time-award-winning-kitchen-in-wilmette

This contemporary kitchen balances the lightness of white countertops with the dark chocolate stained rift oak cabinets and a granite slab island that pulls it all together. The clients’ wanted a working kitchen that allows a cook and separate prep cook to work together without interference while keeping the clean lines of the entire space. Upon a closer look it has hidden gems enhancing its efficiency and functionality. The glass tile backsplash not only adds a touch of luster but it easy to clean. Just across the range top is a six inch deep cabinet within reach containing all the necessary spices and oils. Hidden right next to the pantry is a cork board and ironing board making this space both beautiful and mult-ifunctional. The island is a divider to the main living space, a place to store cookbooks and wine bottles, and also provides enough space for guests and a prep area. The bar area boasts a second sink, chilled wine refrigerator and a built in coffee machine so that anyone can obtain their favorite beverage without interfering with the rest of the space. With all of this in view from the main living area it was important that it still maintains the feel of a living space and not just a kitchen. Incorporating cabinets that show the collection of colorful dishes behind reeded glass along with a display shelf above the sink not only prove to be useful but draws the eye to the beauty of the space. This kitchen that is both functional with every square inch and maintains the clients’ desires for honest clean lines creates stunning first impression while also creating an inviting environment.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle. This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen. The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light! Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light. The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room. Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a cottage enclosed kitchen remodel in Austin with stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink and wood countertops

2010 ASID Award Winning Design In this space, our goal was to create a rustic contemporary, dog friendly home that brings the outside in through thoughtfully designed floor plans that lend themselves to entertaining. We had to ensure that the interior spaces relate to the outdoors, combine the homeowners’ two distinct design styles and create sophisticated interior spaces with durable furnishings. To do this, we incorporated a rustic design appeal with a contemporary, sleek furnishings by utilizing warm brown and taupe tones with pops of color throughout. We used wood and stone materials to lend modern spaces warmth and to relate to the outdoors. The floor plans throughout the home ensure that windows and views are focal points and that the rooms are natural conduits to the outdoors whenever doorways are available. For entertaining, we maximized seating throughout the first floor and kept walkways open for ease of flow. Finally, we selected fabrics with extended lifetimes, durability and stain resistance. Special features of the home include, the Marvin Ultimate Lift and Slide doors, which we placed along the dining, kitchen, and family room. These floor-to-ceiling windows recede into the home’s walls and include full screen protection. In addition, the custom designed stairway uses a metal framework to create a sleek, modern feel. The thick wooden steps offer substance and give the staircase a rustic aesthetic. Interior Design & Furniture by Martha O'Hara Interiors Architecture by Eskuche Architecture Built by Denali Custom Homes Photography by Susan Gilmore

kitchendesigns.com Kitchen Designer: Ken Kelly at Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. Interior Designer: Andrew Petronio of K A Design Group
Kitchen - transitional l-shaped kitchen idea in New York with metallic backsplash, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and subway tile backsplash

A recent kitchen and master bath renovation completed by John Kraemer & Sons. Located in St. Paul, MN. Photography: Susan Gilmore
Elegant kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink

Transitional White Kitchen with Soapstone Countertops
Example of a small classic u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, soapstone countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a farmhouse sink, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, an island and green countertops

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in New York with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

This 1920 Craftsman home was remodeled in the early 80’s where a large family room was added off the back of the home. This remodel utilized the existing back porch as part of the kitchen. The 1980’s remodel created two issues that were addressed in the current kitchen remodel: 1. The new family room (with 15’ ceilings) added a very contemporary feel to the home. As one walked from the dining room (complete with the original stained glass and built-ins with leaded glass fronts) through the kitchen, into the family room, one felt as if they were walking into an entirely different home. 2. The ceiling height change in the enlarged kitchen created an eyesore. The designer addressed these 2 issues by creating a galley kitchen utilizing a mid-tone glazed finish on alder over an updated version of a shaker door. This door had wider styles and rails and a deep bevel framing the inset panel, thus incorporating the traditional look of the shaker door in a more contemporary setting. By having the crown molding stained with an espresso finish, the eye is drawn across the room rather than up, minimizing the different ceiling heights. The back of the bar (viewed from the dining room) further incorporates the same espresso finish as an accent to create a paneled effect (Photo #1). The designer specified an oiled natural maple butcher block as the counter for the eating bar. The lighting over the bar, from Rejuvenation Lighting, is a traditional shaker style, but finished in antique copper creating a new twist on an old theme. To complete the traditional feel, the designer specified a porcelain farm sink with a traditional style bridge faucet with porcelain lever handles. For additional storage, a custom tall cabinet in a denim-blue washed finish was designed to store dishes and pantry items (Photo #2). Since the homeowners are avid cooks, the counters along the wall at the cook top were made 30” deep. The counter on the right of the cook top is maple butcher block; the remainder of the countertops are Silver and Gold Granite. Recycling is very important to the homeowner, so the designer incorporated an insulated copper door in the backsplash to the right of the ovens, which allows the homeowner to put all recycling in a covered exterior location (Photo #3). The 4 X 8” slate subway tile is a modern play on a traditional theme found in Craftsman homes (Photo #4). The new kitchen fits perfectly as a traditional transition when viewed from the dining, and as a contemporary transition when viewed from the family room.