Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle. This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen. The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light! Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light. The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room. Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This 2,000 square foot vacation home is located in the rocky mountains. The home was designed for thermal efficiency and to maximize flexibility of space. Sliding panels convert the two bedroom home into 5 separate sleeping areas at night, and back into larger living spaces during the day. The structure is constructed of SIPs (structurally insulated panels). The glass walls, window placement, large overhangs, sunshade and concrete floors are designed to take advantage of passive solar heating and cooling, while the masonry thermal mass heats and cools the home at night.

ASID Design Excellence First Place Residential – Best Individual Room (Traditional) This dining room was created by Michael Merrill Design Studio from a space originally intended to serve as both living room and dining room - both "formal" in style. Our client loved the idea of having one gracious and warm space based on a Santa Fe aesthetic. Photos © Paul Dyer Photography

This kitchen was updated while bringing in our client’s love for France. We decided the best approach was an updated French feel while modernizing the kitchen with a new layout and sophisticated finishes. New GE Café appliances, granite countertops and custom cabinetry round out this inviting kitchen. Another twist: Moroccan pendant lights to add a touch of glamour to the otherwise neutral room. Take a peek inside…

Mid-sized elegant entryway photo in Boston

Zuri PVC decking installed inside a screen porch. A decking inlay breaks up the long runs of diagonal decking. PVC columns carry the closed gable roof with continuous eyebrow. Wrought iron handrails are installed between the decorative columns.

Combining coastal and organic elements, Adura® "San Luca" luxury vinyl tile delivers a tranquil, relaxed feel with its mix of sublet, sun-bleached hues. Available in a 16" square tile and 3 colors (Wind Drift shown).

This Campbell home underwent a full renovation and addition, expanding the kitchen footprint into the rear yard with a new high ceiling and striking glass wall for an indoor/outdoor feel. The style of the home is Japandi, with soft and warm minimalist design elements throughout.

Huge transitional u-shaped marble floor and white floor eat-in kitchen photo in Nashville with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands and white countertops

Example of a large classic u-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor open concept kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Hamptons-inspired casual/chic restoration of a grand 100-year-old Glenview Craftsman. 4+beds/2baths with breathtaking master suite. High-end designer touches abound! Custom kitchen and baths. Garage, sweet backyard, steps to shopes, eateries, park, trail, Glenview Elementary, and direct carpool/bus to SF. Designed, staged and Listed by The Home Co. Asking $869,000. Visit www.1307ElCentro.com Photos by Marcell Puzsar - BrightRoomSF

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my very favorite parts of the design process is space planning and considering all the possible floor plan solutions at the beginning stages of the project. What works for one person as a solution may not be the best solution for the next. What you think you want going into the process, may change once all the space planning options are considered. This was exactly the case for this family. They thought they really wanted an island configuration. Once we figured out the flow of the work triangle and saw how great a large peninsula would work for the family, we proceeded along those lines. The peninsula not only works great for food prep, it also allows more of a traditional table seating versus an island with everyone lined up in a row — not so great for daily dinner conversation. To the right of that is a counter depth fridge and a speed oven which gives some flexibility with cooking and reheating smaller meals instead of having to heat the entire oven. An induction cooktop with its easy to clean surface keeps the space looking clean and tidy. Induction heats very quickly to high temperatures so is also wonderful to cook on. To the right of cooktop is a long stretch of countertop perfect for prep space. Storage was very important to the homeowners. We took our time discussing where spice pull outs and tray dividers would be located, how the corner storage would be addressed and the location of the other items such as trash and recycling cans. We worked as many drawers as possible into the space, as I always recommend drawers over doors and/or roll outs as they offer the most flexibility and ease of use. Customizing these details is time well spent as having a place for everything and everything in its place, just like Mom said, really is the key to a functional and professionally designed kitchen. The talls and wall cabinets are white acrylic which combined with the white marble look quartz countertops and full height backsplash keep the room feeling light, bright and airy. The wood toned base cabinets are made of a textured laminate that has the look of wood but is a very easy to maintain product. Brushed gold metal on the hardware, faucet and chandelier add a warm touch and ties into the blond maple flooring. The neighboring breakfast room was also remodeled as part of the project and houses a small coffee station. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: Kari Firak For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This walkout home is inviting as your enter through eight foot tall doors. The hardwood floor throughout enhances the comfortable spaciousness this home provides with excellent sight lines throughout the main floor. Feel comfortable entertaining both inside and out with a multi-leveled covered patio connected to a game room on the lower level, or run away to your secluded private covered patio off the master bedroom overlooking stunning panoramas of red cliffs and sunsets. You will never be lacking for storage as this home comes fully equipped with two walk-in closets and a storage room in the basement. This beautifully crafted home was built with your family in mind. Jeremiah Barber

Large Moroccan Fish Scales - 244 Blue Green, 1065 Mint Julep, 32 Canton Jade, 1016 Costa Rica. The dynamic HGTV duo Heather and Brad of Fox Homes brought Minnesota to Palm Springs and created the most picturesque Eichler house we've ever seen. As if the mountain view and crystal blue swimming pool weren't enough, it's filled with beautiful design, furniture, murals, and handmade tile all from Minnesota. Featured on Modernism Week for it's gorgeous Mid-Century Modern design, this stylish house is the ultimate vacation spot. Eichler homes were developed in California by Joseph Eichler starting in the 1950s. These architectural masterpieces are known for their Mid-Century Modern style. Often found in the Bay Area, these houses are full of sleek lines, traditional materials and minimal design. When this style of home is paired with the amazing design eye of Fox Homes, it creates the quintessential “dream home”. https://mercurymosaics.com/blogs/news/palm-springs-eichler-filled-with-tile?_pos=2&_sid=2636bb822&_ss=r

Example of a trendy home design design in Austin

Mid-sized mountain style entryway photo in Denver with a medium wood front door

Inspiration for a craftsman family room remodel in Nashville

David Matero
Small trendy concrete floor entryway photo in Portland Maine with yellow walls

Michael J. Lee Photography
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Boston