Matthew Niemann Photography
Example of a transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in Austin with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, white countertops, quartz countertops, white cabinets and stone 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

We turned a small unused room in the back of this house into a playroom for young children. Highlights include custom photo wallpaper (which is adhesive backed and can be peeled away without wall damage), a custom book wall and a wall system allowing easy rotation of kids' art. Credit: Maddie G Designs

Tile featured: Sweet Pea-Simple Style in Mint on recycled Polar Ice Terrazzo. This bathroom needed some serious TLC. The vanity looked like it was 15 years old, but it was really only 3 years old. Because the vanity was installed without a proper barrier from the shower, it had extensive water damage on it. We removed the old vanity and the parts of the wall with the mold on it behind it. I also wanted to make sure the new vanity didn’t fall apart, so we opted for one that was lifted off the ground. This leaves less places for water to become trapped. We chose a fun wall tile to keep the moisture under control while also bringing a playful Mid-Century Modern feel to the bathroom. Bathroom total: $3,600.

Tile featured: Sweet Pea-Simple Style in Mint on recycled Polar Ice Terrazzo. This bathroom needed some serious TLC. The vanity looked like it was 15 years old, but it was really only 3 years old. Because the vanity was installed without a proper barrier from the shower, it had extensive water damage on it. We removed the old vanity and the parts of the wall with the mold on it behind it. I also wanted to make sure the new vanity didn’t fall apart, so we opted for one that was lifted off the ground. This leaves less places for water to become trapped. We chose a fun wall tile to keep the moisture under control while also bringing a playful Mid-Century Modern feel to the bathroom. Bathroom total: $3,600.