Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This young family of four came in right after closing on their house and with a new baby on the way. Our goal was to complete the project prior to baby’s arrival so this project went on the expedite track. The beautiful 1920’s era brick home sits on a hill in a very picturesque neighborhood, so we were eager to give it the kitchen it deserves. The clients’ dream kitchen included pro-style appliances, a large island with seating for five and a kitchen that feels appropriate to the home’s era but that also is fresh and modern. They explicitly stated they did not want a “cookie cutter” design, so we took that to heart. The key challenge was to fit in all of the items on their wish given the room’s constraints. We eliminated an existing breakfast area and bay window and incorporated that area into the kitchen. The bay window was bricked in, and to compensate for the loss of seating, we widened the opening between the kitchen and formal dining room for more of an open concept plan. The ceiling in the original kitchen is about a foot lower than the rest of the house, and once it was determined that it was to hide pipes and other mechanicals, we reframed a large tray over the island and left the rest of the ceiling as is. Clad in walnut planks, the tray provides an interesting feature and ties in with the custom walnut and plaster hood. The space feels modern yet appropriate to its Tudor roots. The room boasts large family friendly appliances, including a beverage center and cooktop/double oven combination. Soft white inset cabinets paired with a slate gray island provide a gentle backdrop to the multi-toned island top, a color echoed in the backsplash tile. The handmade subway tile has a textured pattern at the cooktop, and large pendant lights add more than a bit of drama to the room. 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

Continuing the theme, the living room is made up of a red, pink and gray. The Amy Butler area rug sets the stage for a room like no other. Contemporary sofas flank a coffee table by Brent Comber. The contemporary wing-back chairs are covered in French-inspired fabrics. Mexican white pebbles and tiles create an inspired fireplace surround. Photography by John Valls

Large minimalist travertine floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Houston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, two islands and white countertops

**Project Overview** This new construction home built next to a serene lake features a gorgeous, large-scale kitchen that also connects to a bar, home office, breakfast room and great room. The homeowners sought the warmth of traditional styling, updated for today. In addition, they wanted to incorporate unexpected touches that would add personality. Strategic use of furniture details combined with clean lines brings the traditional style forward, making the kitchen feel fresh, new and timeless. **What Makes This Project Unique?* Three finishes, including vintage white paint, stained cherry and textured painted gray oak cabinetry, work together beautifully to create a varied, unique space. Above the wall cabinets, glass cabinets with X mullions add interest and decorative storage. Single ovens are tucked in cabinets under a window, and a warming drawer under one perfectly matches the cabinet drawer under the other. Matching furniture-style armoires flank the wall ovens, housing the freezer and a pantry in one and custom designed large scale appliance garage with retractable doors in the other. Other furniture touches can be found on the sink cabinet and range top cabinet that help complete the look. The variety of colors and textures of the stained and painted cabinetry, custom dark finish copper hood, wood ceiling beams, glass cabinets, wood floors and sleek backsplash bring the whole look together. **Design Challenges* Even though the space is large, we were challenged by having to work around the two doorways, two windows and many traffic patterns that run through the kitchen. Wall space for large appliances was quickly in short supply. Because we were involved early in the project, we were able to work with the architect to expanded the kitchen footprint in order to make the layout work and get appliance placement just right. We had other architectural elements to work with that we wanted to compliment the kitchen design but also dictated what we could do with the cabinetry. The wall cabinet height was determined based on the beams in the space. The oven wall with furniture armoires was designed around the window with the lake view. The height of the oven cabinets was determined by the window. We were able to use these obstacles and challenges to design creatively and make this kitchen one of a kind. Photo by MIke Kaskel

Brandon Barre
Example of a transitional open concept dark wood floor living room design in Toronto with beige walls and a standard fireplace

After losing their family home in the Tubbs fire, our clients were determined to rebuild in a way that honors the place they have called home for most of their lives. Perched on a hill just off-of Mark West Springs Road in Sonoma County wine country, this single-story home, curves around the site in a welcoming gesture. Walking through the house, you discover varied outdoor spaces which echo cozy, light-filled interiors. The design utilizes traditional forms, modern lines and natural materials to create a serene dwelling.

Example of a mid-sized trendy single-wall concrete floor and beige floor utility room design in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer, quartz countertops and white countertops

Inspiration for a large modern l-shaped dark wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, concrete countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and an island

Four kitchens in one, it incorporates a scullery kitchen, baker's kitchen and prep kitchen - so the messy parts of food clean up are tucked away.
Example of a classic kitchen design in Minneapolis

A spacious, light-filled bedroom with blue accents opens on to a small terrace. Michael Moran Otto
Mid-sized trendy master light wood floor bedroom photo in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Custom Double Door - Doors For Builders Inc.

Inspiration for a timeless courtyard patio remodel in San Francisco with a roof extension

Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Holger Obenaus Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless custom-shaped and concrete paver infinity hot tub remodel in Charleston with no cover

Many people can’t see beyond the current aesthetics when looking to buy a house, but this innovative couple recognized the good bones of their mid-century style home in Golden’s Applewood neighborhood and were determined to make the necessary updates to create the perfect space for their family. In order to turn this older residence into a modern home that would meet the family’s current lifestyle, we replaced all the original windows with new, wood-clad black windows. The design of window is a nod to the home’s mid-century roots with modern efficiency and a polished appearance. We also wanted the interior of the home to feel connected to the awe-inspiring outside, so we opened up the main living area with a vaulted ceiling. To add a contemporary but sleek look to the fireplace, we crafted the mantle out of cold rolled steel. The texture of the cold rolled steel conveys a natural aesthetic and pairs nicely with the walnut mantle we built to cap the steel, uniting the design in the kitchen and the built-in entryway. Everyone at Factor developed rich relationships with this beautiful family while collaborating through the design and build of their freshly renovated, contemporary home. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to work with such amazing people, creating inspired spaces that enhance the quality of their lives.

Tom Kessler
Trendy underground concrete floor living room photo in Omaha with beige walls

Mid-sized beach style guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Boston with white walls

Master suite addition to an existing 20's Spanish home in the heart of Sherman Oaks, approx. 300+ sq. added to this 1300sq. home to provide the needed master bedroom suite. the large 14' by 14' bedroom has a 1 lite French door to the back yard and a large window allowing much needed natural light, the new hardwood floors were matched to the existing wood flooring of the house, a Spanish style arch was done at the entrance to the master bedroom to conform with the rest of the architectural style of the home. The master bathroom on the other hand was designed with a Scandinavian style mixed with Modern wall mounted toilet to preserve space and to allow a clean look, an amazing gloss finish freestanding vanity unit boasting wall mounted faucets and a whole wall tiled with 2x10 subway tile in a herringbone pattern. For the floor tile we used 8x8 hand painted cement tile laid in a pattern pre determined prior to installation. The wall mounted toilet has a huge open niche above it with a marble shelf to be used for decoration. The huge shower boasts 2x10 herringbone pattern subway tile, a side to side niche with a marble shelf, the same marble material was also used for the shower step to give a clean look and act as a trim between the 8x8 cement tiles and the bark hex tile in the shower pan. Notice the hidden drain in the center with tile inserts and the great modern plumbing fixtures in an old work antique bronze finish. A walk-in closet was constructed as well to allow the much needed storage space.

Mid-sized trendy multicolored split-level mixed siding house exterior photo with a shed roof and a metal roof