Inspiration for a modern kitchen remodel in Detroit with granite countertops, gray backsplash and ceramic backsplash

Photo: Greta Eskridge
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

A beautiful tudor in the Rouken Glen neighborhood of Larchmont New York, in Lower Westchester County New York, had a dated 1950s kitchen. The homeowner, who loves to cook, had huge quantities of cookware and serving pieces, so her new kitchen needed to have lots of storage. However, she also wanted an open feel with minimal upper cabinets. Dearborn Cabinetry worked with architect Zach Schweter to design the new, open layout with a large island with ample seating. Dearborn developed a custom door for this customer who wanted a very clean, shaker style look with minimalist details. Cabinetry color is Benjamin Moore brushed aluminum; countertops are Pietra Cardosa limestone; appliances by Thermador; sink by Shaws (Rohl).c 2013 Dearborn Cabinetry LLC

Example of a mountain style kitchen design in Minneapolis

This home is inspired by the owner’s trips to France and by the early 20th century neo classical architecture of Charles Platt and David Alder. Rigorous attention to proportion, scale and detail bring authenticity to the design. The plan is organized around a central two-story family room. This is a cube of space measuring twenty feet on each side. Living, dining, cooking and circulation spaces form the edges of the light filled core. A terrace and covered porch connect the living areas to the site on the west side where views of Lake Washington, Seattle and the Olympic Mountains are enjoyed. An existing house on the property was dismantled and recycled for second use. The new home features geothermal heating and natural ventilation strategies to reduce dependencies on fossil fuels.

Windows and door panels reaching for the 12 foot ceilings flood this kitchen with natural light. Custom stainless cabinetry with an integral sink and commercial style faucet carry out the industrial theme of the space. Photo by Lincoln Barber

This home is inspired by the owner’s trips to France and by the early 20th century neo classical architecture of Charles Platt and David Alder. Rigorous attention to proportion, scale and detail bring authenticity to the design. The plan is organized around a central two-story family room. This is a cube of space measuring twenty feet on each side. Living, dining, cooking and circulation spaces form the edges of the light filled core. A terrace and covered porch connect the living areas to the site on the west side where views of Lake Washington, Seattle and the Olympic Mountains are enjoyed. An existing house on the property was dismantled and recycled for second use. The new home features geothermal heating and natural ventilation strategies to reduce dependencies on fossil fuels.

Inspiration for a timeless bathroom remodel in Miami

Photo Credit: Neil Landino, Counter Top: Connecticut Stone Calacatta Gold Honed Marble, Kitchen Sink: 39" Wide Risinger Double Bowl Fireclay, Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray 1577, Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove, Kitchen Faucet: Perrin and Rowe Bridge Kitchen Faucet VIDEO BLOG, EPISODE 2 – FINDING THE PERFECT STONE Watch this happy client’s testimonial on how Connecticut Stone transformed her existing kitchen into a bright, beautiful and functional space.Featuring Calacatta Gold Marble and Carrara Marble. Video Link: https://youtu.be/hwbWNMFrAV0

Scott DuBose Photography
Mid-sized minimalist medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and white countertops

The spice cupboard built into the cabinetry around the range cooker is a prime example of how bespoke design can result in optimum storage. The positioning of the spice cupboard makes the contents easily accessible when cooking; as with any kitchen, the main thing to consider is the ergonomics of the room. Simple details like this can make all the difference in terms of how easy the kitchen is to use.

Complete interior renovation of a 1980s split level house in the Virginia suburbs. Main level includes reading room, dining, kitchen, living and master bedroom suite. New front elevation at entry, new rear deck and complete re-cladding of the house. Interior: The prototypical layout of the split level home tends to separate the entrance, and any other associated space, from the rest of the living spaces one half level up. In this home the lower level "living" room off the entry was physically isolated from the dining, kitchen and family rooms above, and was only connected visually by a railing at dining room level. The owner desired a stronger integration of the lower and upper levels, in addition to an open flow between the major spaces on the upper level where they spend most of their time. ExteriorThe exterior entry of the house was a fragmented composition of disparate elements. The rear of the home was blocked off from views due to small windows, and had a difficult to use multi leveled deck. The owners requested an updated treatment of the entry, a more uniform exterior cladding, and an integration between the interior and exterior spaces. SOLUTIONS The overriding strategy was to create a spatial sequence allowing a seamless flow from the front of the house through the living spaces and to the exterior, in addition to unifying the upper and lower spaces. This was accomplished by creating a "reading room" at the entry level that responds to the front garden with a series of interior contours that are both steps as well as seating zones, while the orthogonal layout of the main level and deck reflects the pragmatic daily activities of cooking, eating and relaxing. The stairs between levels were moved so that the visitor could enter the new reading room, experiencing it as a place, before moving up to the main level. The upper level dining room floor was "pushed" out into the reading room space, thus creating a balcony over and into the space below. At the entry, the second floor landing was opened up to create a double height space, with enlarged windows. The rear wall of the house was opened up with continuous glass windows and doors to maximize the views and light. A new simplified single level deck replaced the old one.

Example of a beach style kitchen design in Charleston

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

ChiChi Ubiña
Entryway - mid-sized transitional limestone floor entryway idea in New York with white walls

Holland Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in Seattle

John Granen
Open concept kitchen - small modern galley light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and an island

Mid-sized beach style u-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, white appliances and no island

Photography by Jim Tetro This house, built in the 1960s, sits southfacing on a terrific wooded lot in Bethesda, Maryland. The owners desire a whole-house renovation which would improve the general building fabric and systems, and extend the sense of living out of doors in all seasons. The original sixties-modern character is preserved and the renovation extends the design forward into a contemporary, modern approach. Connections to and through the site are enhanced through the creation of new larger window and door openings. Screened porches and decks perch above the sloped and wooded site. The new kitchen and bathrooms allow for opportunities to feel out-of -doors while preparing, cooking, dining, and bathing. Smart passive strategies guide the environmental choices for this project, including envelope improvements, updated mechanical systems, and on-site stormwater management.