Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Alyssa Kirsten
Open concept kitchen - small contemporary u-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Mid Century Kitchen
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized 1960s u-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor enclosed kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white countertops and no island

A dramatic contrast between Fireclay Tile's handmade white backsplash tiles and moody grey shower tiles takes a stacked pattern from simple to standout in this luxe master bath. FIRECLAY TILE SHOWN 3x9 Shower Tile in Loch Ness 1x4 Shower Pan Tile in Loch Ness 2x6 Backsplash Tile in Tusk DESIGN Everyday Interior Design PHOTOS Kelli Kroneberger Photography

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: William Wright
Arts and crafts l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray 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.

Designer: Jan Kepler; Cabinetry: Plato Woodwork; Counter top: White Pearl Quartzite from Pacific Shore Stones; Counter top fabrication: Pyramid Marble, Santa Barbara; Backsplash Tile: Walker Zanger from C.W. Quinn; Photographs by Elliott Johnson

Example of a transitional dark wood floor kitchen design in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen with black cabinets, white marble countertops, and an island with a walnut butcher block countertop. This modern kitchen is completed with a white herringbone backsplash, farmhouse sink, cement tile island, and leather bar stools.

The Majestic range from Ilve in cobalt blue. The bonnet hood was custom designed to match the range. Cabinets in knotty butternut with antique glass panels, glass cup pulls. The hand painted tile backsplash was custom designed in this color palette of blue, gold, light brown and notes of soft green. Photo by Nancy E. Hill

To create a focal point in the kitchen, Kim Kendall designed a custom hood range to highlight the beautiful inlaid tile backsplash. Mary Parker Architectural Photography

Chris Veith
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The powder room has a beautiful sculptural mirror that complements the mercury glass hanging pendant lights. The chevron tiled backsplash adds visual interest while creating a focal wall.

Winner of "HOME OF THE YEAR 2016" San Diego Home and Garden Lifestyles Magazine featuring this great contemporary kitchen remodel in An Irving Gill renovation near Balboa Park stays true to its historic essence. More about the project. This young couple has a creative back ground, one being an actor and the other being a teacher who inspires others. They now enjoy a new historical home with amazing touches of modern styling and comforts. The home was designed by renowned architect Irving Gill in 1905 and is on the historical register but it only applies to the exterior of the home. The brick pillar is an original feature from the home's turn-of-the-century stove. The window casings were built to replicate the original Douglas Fir windows as seen on Gill's original plans, and all the molding was redone in his signature flush style as well. The central feature in this kitchen is the Yellow Italian Bertazzoni Range with a single herringbone tiled back splash. The cabinetry is a light gray paired perfectly with a dark "graphite" gray island, and industrial vents at the toe kick enhance the overall look. Builder Jon Walsh / Kim Grant Architect Kitchen Design Bonnie Bagley Catlin Handle free Cabinetry Signature Designs Kitchen Bath Cabinetry: Modern Cabinetry Floors: Existing Fir Wood Floors Backsplash: Porcelain Tile Countertops: Quartz

  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

Example of a classic u-shaped enclosed kitchen design in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and no island

Eric Roth
Trendy gray tile bathroom photo in Boston

Valance under range adds a furniture feel. Soffit over hood creates a termination for the tile backsplash in this kitchen with 10' ceilings.
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized traditional medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Backsplash - Lunada Bay Tile - Sumi-e 1 x 4 Mini Brick / Color - Izu Natural Michael Partenio
Eat-in kitchen - coastal eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, glass tile backsplash, granite countertops, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island