A custom home builder in Chicago's western suburbs, Summit Signature Homes, ushers in a new era of residential construction. With an eye on superb design and value, industry-leading practices and superior customer service, Summit stands alone. Custom-built homes in Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Western Springs, and other western suburbs.

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style. "The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals." Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone. Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square. "We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz. "The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests." Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions. "Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting." Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete. At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone. "I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget." "It is truly a paradise," says the client in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style. "The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals." Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone. Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square. "We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz. "The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests." Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions. "Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting." Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete. At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone. "I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget." "It is truly a paradise," says client Carvanna Cloud in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style. "The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals." Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone. Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square. "We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz. "The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests." Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions. "Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting." Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete. At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone. "I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget." "It is truly a paradise," says the client in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

Viking 36" Gas Cooktop - VGC536-6B Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Commercial-Type Cooking Power - Gas 36" wide cooktop -- Six sealed burners with brass flame ports and porcelain/cast-iron caps -- Left front - 18,000 BTU high -- Left rear - 10,000 BTU high -- Center front - 12,000 BTU high -- Center rear - 12,000 BTU high -- Right front - 6,000 BTU high -- Right rear - 8,000 BTU high - Highest combined BTU rating in the industry, featuring sealed burners with brass burner rings in a wide variety of sizes - Powerful 18,000 BTU burner delivers commercial power for high heat sautéing, rapid boiling and quick recovery - Simmer settings on all burners allows low BTU output for heating delicate sauces - EXCLUSIVE SureSpark™ Ignition System ensures automatic ignition/re-ignition should flame extinguish at any time while cooking Safe, Easy Operation - Child proof, push-to-turn metal knobs for safe use - Automatic electric spark ignition means no standing pilot to re-light, waste energy or add extra heat to the kitchen - EXCLUSIVE ScratchSafe™ Grate Design provides ultimate protection from scratches and ensures proper placement of the heavy-duty, porcelain-coated cast iron grates Easy Maintenance and Cleanup - Permanently sealed burners prevent spills from entering burner box - Deep, seamless recessed burner pan retains liquid spills - Updated beveled edge design provides sleek styling and easy cleaning - Durable laser-etched graphics withstand the rigors of regular cleaning - Removable knobs, grates, and burner ports/caps make cleanup easy Replaces Most Ordinary Cooktops - Overall/burner box dimensions designed to fit virtually all 36" wide cooktop cutouts Optional Accessories - Porcelain-coated cast iron wok ring fits securely over grates to accommodate a traditional wok - Portable non-stick cast aluminum griddle fits securely onto grates for griddling or defrosting food Exclusive Finishes - Available in Stainless Steel (SS) Warranty Highlights* - Three-year full - complete unit - Ninety-day full - cosmetic parts such as glass, painted items and decorative items - Five-year limited - surface burners *Warranty valid on Viking products shipped within the United States and products purchased and installed in Mexico and the Caribbean on or after April 1, 2013, excluding Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Model Numbers VGC536-6B - 36" wide cooktops

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Christchurch with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, white appliances and no island

A sleek, clean bar provides food, drinks and TV viewing in the shop area.
Garage - huge rustic attached garage idea in Cedar Rapids

Given his background as a commercial bakery owner, the homeowner desired the space to have all of the function of commercial grade kitchens, but the warmth of an eat in domestic kitchen. Exposed commercial shelving functions as cabinet space for dish and kitchen tool storage. We met the challenge of creating an industrial space, by not doing conventional cabinetry, and adding an armoire for food storage. The original plain stainless sink unit, got a warm wood slab that will function as a breakfast bar. Large scale porcelain bronze tile, that met the functional and aesthetic desire for a concrete floor.

The beautiful quartzite countertops and Japanese linear tile mimic the deep greens in the surrounding foliage. 36" wide grill and storage provide plenty of cooking and staging space. The mobile island, with it's cantilevered countertop, is perfectly stable despite the 225 pound countertop slab. This was achieved with a ballast inside the box combined with the industrial casters that allow the wheels to be pumped up off the deck, providing solid footing for the island. With over 5 square feet of grill surface and a grilling shelf. a full meal can be prepared at one time, ensuring that the cook can spend time with her guests and everyone can sit down and eat together. The dimmable recessed lighting and sconces provide illumination throughout the year that can be tuned to the mood of the party.

The kitchen becomes the home’s central gathering space; from casual meals at the banquette table, to after-school snacks, or entertaining friends around the island, the kitchen accommodates a variety of ways for family and friends to gather around food and drink.

This smaller prep sink in the island will be extremely useful both in everyday life and when entertaining. This prep sink is e-granite and features a Grohe faucet. There is also a push button garbage disposal so all food prep can easily be done here. Photography by Sophia Hronis-Arbis

White oak flooring extends into the kitchen, connecting living, entry, and dining room into a seamless whole. Featuring the beautifully functional BLANCO PRECIS™ multi-level SILGRANIT sink, a Brizo faucet, and an integrated panel Bosch dishwasher, the cleanup area provides occupants with beautiful views of the neighborhood and tree canopy. Looking into the dining and living area, a cooking island, highlighted by a Faber vent hood and a Thermador cooktop, integrates the Richlite paper-composite bar and invites guests to interact socially with the host during food prep and cleanup. The island also provides for multiple traffic flow pathways while giving the cook(s) plenty of space to maneuver. Easy access from the kitchen to the living/dining room as well as to the back bedrooms, highlighted at the end of the hall by an art niche, not only brings the kitchen occupant into the conversation but makes them the center of attention! Photo Credits: Dalton and Melanie Tarver

Photographer: Inua Blevins - Juneau, AK
Eat-in kitchen - country galley bamboo floor eat-in kitchen idea in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

France Larose
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Montreal with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

KItchen remodel with cherry cabinetry and butcherblock island countertop. Part of our Seattle Remodel and Addition on Capitol Hill of a 1904 Dutch Colonial that had been significantly remodeled in 1980, with Miriam Larson of Story Architecture and Photo by Miranda Estes. Winner of a REX Award for Excellence in Remodeling 2023 from the Master Builder’s Association Winner of an Excellence in Remodeling Award for Historic Renovation/Restoration 2023 from the Building Industry Association of Washington

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in Chicago

Entertaining friends and family doesn't work well when rooms are small and closed off. So when our clients decided to remodel, they knew they wanted to open up the space to accommodate large gatherings. Also important were ample storage and quality appliances that would hold up to the demands of cooking creative meals several nights a week. As is sometimes the case with remodeling, solving one problem can create another. Opening up the space involved removing a wall, which sacrificed critical square footage for cabinetry and appliances. We knew the wall needed to come down so we were challenged with making sure every available cabinet space in the kitchen was being utilized as thoughtfully and creatively as possible. A tall pantry was added next to the refrigerator to allow for storage of pots and pans, as well as food, while another pantry in the adjacent dining room housed all dishes and silverware. A small bar area was created in an unused section in the back of the home to store coffee and tea accessories and drinkware. Finally, a small island in the center of the kitchen offered the ideal location for the microwave and most-used pots and pans. With the expanded space, smart use of storage options and top-notch appliances, our clients are enjoying working in their new kitchen and have already hosted a ravioli-making class! Matt Villano Photography

We wanted to create a very clean look with the windows that would also allow the clients to pass food and beverages to the patio outside. We used schluter edging to create a sharp, crisp edge detail. Kate Falconer Photography

Family room project in San Francisco. Photo credit: Dean J. Birinyi.
Example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor family room design in San Francisco with blue walls and a wall-mounted tv