Caroline Johnson
Enclosed kitchen - small contemporary u-shaped enclosed kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic backsplash, metal backsplash, paneled appliances, no island and quartz countertops

Mid-sized elegant l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, beige countertops, a farmhouse sink and quartz countertops

Interior Design: Vani Sayeed Studios Photo Credits: Jared Kuzia Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor kitchen remodel in Boston with marble countertops, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, shaker cabinets, green cabinets and subway tile backsplash

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

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized french country l-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, granite countertops, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and an island

White IKEA Akurum Kitchen Cabinets, IKEA Domsjo Sink, IKEA Nutid Glass Ceramic Cooktop, IKEA Nutid Oven, IKEA Framtid Microwave, Engineered Plank Cork Flooring, LED Undercabinet Lighting, Engineered Quartz Counter top. Photography by Marcy Giannunzio

Photos by Tad Davis
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Photo by Amanda Kirkpatrick
Cottage kitchen photo in Austin

Kitchen - industrial kitchen idea in New York

Reconfiguration of the exising kitchen/living room area yielded a more gracious entertaining space with unobstructed views and natural lighting. The pre-finished flooring is a 5" width plank from Dansk Hardwood: Vintage Birch Hard-scraped Solid in the "Toast" finish with satin sheen. Last I checked, it was discontinued by the manufacturer.

Kitchen - transitional l-shaped kitchen idea in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and window backsplash

The clients were involved in the neighborhood organization dedicated to keeping the housing instead of tearing down. They wanted to utilize every inch of storage which resulted in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Cabinetry and counter space work together to create a balance between function and style.

Photo Credit: Stephen Karlisch
Large beach style l-shaped open concept kitchen photo in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath was the remodeling contractor for this beautiful Waukesha first floor remodel. The homeowners recently purchased the home and wanted to immediately update the space. The old kitchen was outdated and closed off from the great room. The goal was to design an open-concept space for hosting family and friends. LAYOUT The first step was to remove the awkward dining room walls. This made the room feel large and open. We tucked the refrigerator into a wall of cabinets so it didn’t impose. Seating at the island and peninsula makes the kitchen very versatile. DESIGN We created an elegant entertaining space to take advantage of the lake view. The Waukesha homeowners wanted a contemporary design with neutral colors and finishes. They chose soft gray lower cabinets and white upper cabinets. We added texture with wood accents and a herringbone marble backsplash tile. The desk area features a walnut butcher block countertop. We also used walnut for the open shelving, detail on the hood and the legs on the island. CUSTOM CABINETRY Frameless custom cabinets maximize storage in this Waukesha kitchen. The upper cabinets have hidden light rail molding. Angled plug molding eliminates outlets on the backsplash. Drawers in the lower cabinets allow for excellent storage. The cooktop has a functioning top drawer with a hidden apron to hide the guts of the cooktop. The clients also asked for a home office desk area and pantry cabinet.

Example of a large trendy u-shaped beige floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, a peninsula, solid surface countertops, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped porcelain tile and white floor open concept kitchen remodel in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and gray countertops

Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped beige floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, brown backsplash, an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, glass sheet backsplash and a peninsula

Large transitional brown floor and medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Charlotte with white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets and wood countertops

This kitchen was designed by Gail O’Rourke of White Wood Kitchens using Wood Harbor Cabinetry. The design includes a full overlay Maple Chelsea door and Manor Flat drawers. The finish is Sea Clay, a gray that sets off the Wicked White Quartzite Countertops to perfection. This unique kitchen includes a corner cooktop that fits nicely into the shape of the room. There is a subway tile backsplash with a gray accent above the cooktop. The hardware is a decorative glass knob. Builder: Dave Ricardo.