Our clients in Tower Lakes, IL, needed more storage and functionality from their kitchen. They were primarily focused on finding the right combination of cabinets, shelves, and drawers that fit all their cookware, flatware, and appliances. They wanted a brighter, bigger space with a natural cooking flow and plenty of storage. Soffits and crown molding needed to be removed to make the kitchen feel larger. Redesign elements included: relocating the fridge, adding a baking station and coffee bar, and placing the microwave in the kitchen island. Advance Design Studio’s Claudia Pop offered functional, creative, and unique solutions to the homeowners’ problems. Our clients wanted a unique kitchen that was not completely white, a balance of design and function. Claudia offered functional, creative, and unique solutions to Chad and Karen’s kitchen design challenges. The first thing to go was soffits. Today, most kitchens can benefit from the added height and space; removing soffits is nearly always step one. Steely gray-blue was the color of choice for a freshly unique look bringing a sophisticated-looking space to wrap around the fresh new kitchen. Cherry cabinetry in a true brown stain compliments the stormy accents with sharp contrasting white Cambria quartz top balancing out the space with a dramatic flair. “We wanted something unique and special in this space, something none of the neighbors would have,” said Claudia. The dramatic veined Cambria countertops continue upward into a backsplash behind three complimentary open shelves. These countertops provide visual texture and movement in the kitchen. The kitchen includes two larder cabinets for both the coffee bar and baking station. The kitchen is now functional and unique in design. “When we design a new kitchen space, as designers, we are always looking for ways to balance interesting design elements with practical functionality,” Claudia said. “This kitchen’s new design is not only way more functional but is stunning in a way a piece of art can catch one’s attention.” Decorative mullions with mirrored inserts sit atop dual sentinel pantries flanking the new refrigerator, while a 48″ dual fuel Wolf range replaced the island cooktop and double oven. The new microwave is cleverly hidden within the island, eliminating the cluttered counter and attention-grabbing wall of stainless steel from the previous space. The family room was completely renovated, including a beautifully functional entertainment bar with the same combination of woods and stone as the kitchen and coffee bar. Mesh inserts instead of plain glass add visual texture while revealing pristine glassware. Handcrafted built-ins surround the fireplace. The beautiful and efficient design created by designer Claudia transitioned directly to the installation team seamlessly, much like the basement project experience Chad and Karen enjoyed previously. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a project small or large,” Karen said. “Everything that was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to its full potential,” Karen said. Our award-winning design team would love to create a beautiful, functional, and spacious place for you and your family. With our “Common Sense Remodeling” approach, the process of renovating your home has never been easier. Contact us today at 847-665-1711 or schedule an appointment.

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Remodel | Troy Thies, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

We had a few problems to solve during the gut remodel of this Midcentury kitchen. First, in order to put the dishwasher next to the sink, we had to move the peninsula to the left a bit. Then we hid the microwave by placing it under the peninsula--no one needs to see a big microwave on the counter! We chose a subtle light fixture with black accents to balance the volume of the larger fixture in the dining room, and to match with the faucet. We kept the pulls modern and simple. Kitchen accessories from West Elm, World Market and Nickey Kehoe, rug by Target. Kitchen and dining room staging by Allison Scheff of Distinctive Kitchens. Photos by Wynne H Earle

An extremely contemporary offer, which conceals the culture and flavour of tradition. Every kitchen is a system providing functions which it is able to satisfy. A suitable space is needed for each of these. Selecting with care allows you to organise the kitchen perfectly according to individual style, to enjoy a kitchen with the very best in terms of USER-FRIENDLINESS.

Eat-in kitchen - l-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen idea in Grand Rapids with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a small transitional galley porcelain tile enclosed kitchen design in Miami with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls and no island

Dale Lang
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped bamboo floor open concept kitchen remodel in Seattle with an island, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

The Pale Moon kitchen has an informal open floor plan, great for entertaining as well as allowing for more natural light throughout the kitchen. The space includes updated yet timeless finishes, and cabinetry in the kitchen is a mix of white for a crisp bright feeling and a dark grey-blue paint for the island to help ground the space. The kitchen consists of 3 zones: the wet bar area (near the dining space) allows guests to help themselves to refreshments from the Monogram beverage center as well as the option for ice from a Monogram ice machine. The secondary cooking area consists of an Advantium oven to help aid the homeowner with speed cooking when time is of the utmost importance. The primary cooking zone is anchored by a Monogram 48″ range with six burners and griddle to ensure the cook can easily whip up large dinners for family and friends. A Monogram dishwasher is nearby for ease of cleanup.

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Mid-sized country l-shaped porcelain tile and white floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This kitchen already has more than you could ask for with the gas cook top, built in oven, dishwasher, french door refrigerator and check out the drawer microwave, what a unique feature!

R.B. Schwarz's client did not want to remove a wall but stay within the 10x11 ft. kitchen footprint in order to preserve the authenticity of the 1930's home. Custom cabinetry allowed for extra storage to be designed into this tiny kitchen. There are spice rack sliders on either side of the oven, bookshelves above the upper cabinets and more corner shelves for this avid baker. Photo Credit: Marc Golub

A mix of contemporary, modern, and mid century design. Natural wood finishes with simple countertop surfaces and stainless steel appliances. Light, open, and clean feel. Elmwood frameless cabinetry. All wood construction cabinets in Walnut with a natural finish. The countertop on the perimeter is Dekton in Zenith with a honed finish. The island is Neolith in Estatuario Silk. Both countertops have a mitered edge finish. The rangetop is a Wolf 48" gas range. The dishwasher is by bosch and this kitchen has two of them. The refrigerator and freezer are Subzero 36" built-in units placed next to each other to make one big component. The hood is by Best and is a 48" Island Hood called Gorgona. The microwave is a microwave drawer by Wolf and is 24". The double oven and the warming drawer are lined up vertically and all 30" by Wolf. The wine refrigerator is an under counter 24" by Subzero. The main sink is Oliveri 33" x 21" single bowl apron sink. There is an instant hot and an instant cold faucet, both by WaterINC. The island sink is by Franke and in the Peak Series. The island sink faucet is by KWC and is a single pull down faucet. The pendant lights over the island are by Niche and are the Modern Stamen Pendants in Smoke. The backsplash is 12" x 12" Koshi tile, with a blend between light grey and white. The wall and ceiling paint colors are by Benjamin Moore and are Chantilly Lace. The trim paint color is Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore. All of the cabinet hardware is by Atlas Homewares. The flooring throughout the great room is by Boen and is a Oak Traditional in Chaletino.

A mix of contemporary, modern, and mid century design. Natural wood finishes with simple countertop surfaces and stainless steel appliances. Light, open, and clean feel. Elmwood frameless cabinetry. All wood construction cabinets in Walnut with a natural finish. The countertop on the perimeter is Dekton in Zenith with a honed finish. The island is Neolith in Estatuario Silk. Both countertops have a mitered edge finish. The rangetop is a Wolf 48" gas range. The dishwasher is by bosch and this kitchen has two of them. The refrigerator and freezer are Subzero 36" built-in units placed next to each other to make one big component. The hood is by Best and is a 48" Island Hood called Gorgona. The microwave is a microwave drawer by Wolf and is 24". The double oven and the warming drawer are lined up vertically and all 30" by Wolf. The wine refrigerator is an under counter 24" by Subzero. The main sink is Oliveri 33" x 21" single bowl apron sink. There is an instant hot and an instant cold faucet, both by WaterINC. The island sink is by Franke and in the Peak Series. The island sink faucet is by KWC and is a single pull down faucet. The pendant lights over the island are by Niche and are the Modern Stamen Pendants in Smoke. The backsplash is 12" x 12" Koshi tile, with a blend between light grey and white. The wall and ceiling paint colors are by Benjamin Moore and are Chantilly Lace. The trim paint color is Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore. All of the cabinet hardware is by Atlas Homewares. The flooring throughout the great room is by Boen and is a Oak Traditional in Chaletino.

A mix of contemporary, modern, and mid century design. Natural wood finishes with simple countertop surfaces and stainless steel appliances. Light, open, and clean feel. Elmwood frameless cabinetry. All wood construction cabinets in Walnut with a natural finish. The countertop on the perimeter is Dekton in Zenith with a honed finish. The island is Neolith in Estatuario Silk. Both countertops have a mitered edge finish. The rangetop is a Wolf 48" gas range. The dishwasher is by bosch and this kitchen has two of them. The refrigerator and freezer are Subzero 36" built-in units placed next to each other to make one big component. The hood is by Best and is a 48" Island Hood called Gorgona. The microwave is a microwave drawer by Wolf and is 24". The double oven and the warming drawer are lined up vertically and all 30" by Wolf. The wine refrigerator is an under counter 24" by Subzero. The main sink is Oliveri 33" x 21" single bowl apron sink. There is an instant hot and an instant cold faucet, both by WaterINC. The island sink is by Franke and in the Peak Series. The island sink faucet is by KWC and is a single pull down faucet. The pendant lights over the island are by Niche and are the Modern Stamen Pendants in Smoke. The backsplash is 12" x 12" Koshi tile, with a blend between light grey and white. The wall and ceiling paint colors are by Benjamin Moore and are Chantilly Lace. The trim paint color is Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore. All of the cabinet hardware is by Atlas Homewares. The flooring throughout the great room is by Boen and is a Oak Traditional in Chaletino.

  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

Voted BEST OF HOUZZ 2015. The mission of Dena Caron Interiors is to create a space that you are proud to call your own. You know what you like or maybe what you don't like. We are here to guide you in the defining, refining and execution of a finished design, that will reflect you at your best. Let's turn up the dial on your style. We provide interior design services and project management. This includes: color consultations, finish selections, space planning, remodeling and new construction planning and consulting, window treatments, furniture selection, accessory placement and procurement, wall and flooring treatment and bid preparation. In addition to my design and project management services, I can also assist clients in purchasing and selecting a "Fixer Upper" or "Unlivable" home and Redefine its Design to suit their needs and budget. Visit my other business Redefined Design, where we see the potential in the homes others have forgotten or wouldn't even consider purchasing. http://www.houzz.com/pro/denacaron/redefined-design

For decades, GE has cultivated a well-deserved reputation as the masters of home appliance design and manufacture. With unmatched quality, durability, and resilience, GE products are designed to last a lifetime. That's what makes them the best. And now, GE brings the Profile series, a collection of products made to meet -- and exceed -- their highest standards for excellence. These top of the line high-end products combine the best in contemporary industrial design with the height of modern engineering and appliance technologies to help transform your whole life. Sporting bold, dramatic lines, stainless steel construction, and some of the most exciting features you'll find anywhere, GE Profile is a profile in wonder.

The sink base features two full extension rollouts that handle trash and recyclables in the front and have divided storage for cleaning supplies in the back. No more getting on your hands and knees to access this cabinet. Idea found in Fine Homebuilding magazine. Small tilt drawer holds sponges. The raised panel, French blue cabinets are finished with a dark brown glazing. These are full overlay doors and drawers, constructed with high precision to maintain a 1/8” gap between every side of a door and drawer. PHOTO CREDIT: John Ray

The true farmhouse kitchen. Mixing bold traditional colours, natural elements, shiplap and wooden beamed ceiling details, all make for the perfectly crafted farmhouse. Layering in a traditional farm house sink, and an industrial inspired metal hood fan adds charm and a curated feel to this traditional space. No compromise spared with storage, function or innovation.