Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients and their three teenage kids had outgrown the footprint of their existing home and felt they needed some space to spread out. They came in with a couple of sets of drawings from different architects that were not quite what they were looking for, so we set out to really listen and try to provide a design that would meet their objectives given what the space could offer. We started by agreeing that a bump out was the best way to go and then decided on the size and the floor plan locations of the mudroom, powder room and butler pantry which were all part of the project. We also planned for an eat-in banquette that is neatly tucked into the corner and surrounded by windows providing a lovely spot for daily meals. The kitchen itself is L-shaped with the refrigerator and range along one wall, and the new sink along the exterior wall with a large window overlooking the backyard. A large island, with seating for five, houses a prep sink and microwave. A new opening space between the kitchen and dining room includes a butler pantry/bar in one section and a large kitchen pantry in the other. Through the door to the left of the main sink is access to the new mudroom and powder room and existing attached garage. White inset cabinets, quartzite countertops, subway tile and nickel accents provide a traditional feel. The gray island is a needed contrast to the dark wood flooring. Last but not least, professional appliances provide the tools of the trade needed to make this one hardworking kitchen. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Custom white grommet bunk beds model white gray bedding, a trundle feature and striped curtains. A wooden ladder offers a natural finish to the bedroom decor around shiplap bunk bed trim. Light gray walls in Benjamin Moore Classic Gray compliment the surrounding color theme while red pillows offer a pop of contrast contributing to a nautical vibe. Polished concrete floors add an industrial feature to this open bedroom space.

Chad Mellon
Beach style 3/4 white tile black floor bathroom photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door

alanBRANDTphotography
Minimalist bathroom photo in Seattle

Substantial stone archways and arched windows lend integrity to this exercise in classicism. White cabinetry adorned with crown molding are anchored by honed black granite. Arched window and glass door cabinets flank the sink. Faucets, hardware, lighting, and leg trim in polished nickel reflect the light.A walk-in pantry and message niche are hidden charms.

A young family moving from NYC tackled a lightning fast makeover of their new colonial revival home before the arrival of their second child. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and new layout. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by grey glazed rift oak cabinetry on the island. Shiplap paneling on the island and cabinet lend a slightly contemporary edge. White bronze hardware by Schaub & Co. in a contemporary bar shape offer clean lines with some texture in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops in “Alpine Mist” create a harmonious color palette while the pale blue/grey Waterworks backsplash adds a touch of color. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator--Subzero; Ovens--Wolf. Cooktop--Gaggenau. Ventilation—Sirius. Hardware--Schaub & Company. Sink--Kohler Strive. Sink faucet--Rohl. Tile--Waterworks. Stools--Palacek. Flooring—Sota Floors. Window treatments: www.horizonshades.com in “Northbrook Birch.” Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A formidable pallet of Asian style plant species along with traditional bamboo construction and meandering stone and gravel pathways.
This is an example of an asian landscaping in San Francisco.

Example of a small classic detached garden shed design in New York

Custom bar cabinet designed to display the ship model built by the client's father. THe wine racking is reminiscent of waves and the ship lap siding adds a nautical flair. Photo: Tracy Witherspoon

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a small transitional living room library remodel in New York with gray walls

Inspiration for a farmhouse limestone floor and brown floor powder room remodel in San Diego with furniture-like cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops and brown countertops

Coming from Minnesota this couple already had an appreciation for a woodland retreat. Wanting to lay some roots in Sun Valley, Idaho, guided the incorporation of historic hewn, stone and stucco into this cozy home among a stand of aspens with its eye on the skiing and hiking of the surrounding mountains. Miller Architects, PC

A Beautiful Arched bridge over your water garden or landscaped pond area offers a multitude of delightful Beautify your summer sunset or winter wonderland, beautiful handcrafted Japanese Garden Bridge for your pond, water garden or landscaped yard, they are waiting for you at www.RedwoodGardenBridges.com 559-325-2597

Shoot2Sell Bella Vista Company This home won the NARI Greater Dallas CotY Award for Entire House $750,001 to $1,000,000 in 2015.
Large tuscan beige two-story stucco exterior home photo in Dallas

This custom walk-in dressing room featured in white painted maple wood and polished brass hardware, delivers tons of functional and accessible space. Interior and under cabinet LED lighting conveniently illuminates your dressing room so you can see your whole wardrobe in full detail. High and low hanging space allows enough room to organize items based on size. Our glass shelving behind glass door inserts provides a great space to store your exclusive handbags. This traditional hutch with mirror backing can be personalized with photos and home décor. Slanted shoe shelves offer tons of room to organize and display your favorite footwear. Center Island with overhanging marble countertop can be a place to relax with extra drawer storage including our felt lined double jewelry drawer. This design also includes tilt-out removable hampers, pants rack, tie rack and accessory rack. transFORM’s custom designed walk-in closets, organize and showcase your belongings, creating your sanctuary to mix and match the perfect ensemble.

This property was completely gutted and redesigned into a single family townhouse. After completing the construction of the house I staged the furniture, lighting and decor. Staging is a new service that my design studio is now offering.

This craftsman beauty is decked out in an array of color. This homes boasts character with the mixture of greys, with the very punchy front door, and a hint of pale blue just under the porch ceilings. This home has a side porch instead of a rear porch. The interior offers open floor plan that is great for entertaining guests. Beautiful custom built cabinetry with a farmhouse style sink. Connie McCoy

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.