Jon Upson
Open concept kitchen - huge coastal u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This spacious kitchen design in Yardley is a bright, open plan space bathed in natural light from the large windows, doors, and skylights. The white perimeter cabinets from Koch and Company are complemented by handmade subway tile and MSI Surfaces Calcatta Venice quartz countertop. The white color scheme is beautifully contrasted by blue island cabinetry with a bi-level countertop and barstool seating. The island also includes a Task Lighting angled power strip, a narrow wine refrigerator, and a white Blanco Siligranit apron front sink with a Riobel Edge faucet and chrome soap dispenser. The kitchen cabinets are accented by Top Knobs Lydia style pulls in chrome. Bosch stainless appliances feature throughout the kitchen, including a microwave drawer and a Bosch stainless chimney hood. Dark hardwood flooring from Meridian brings depth to the style. The natural lighting is complemented by pendant lights from Wage Lighting, undercabinet lighting, and upper glass front cabinets with in cabinet lighting.

Greg Martz, Photographer. Tom Minden, Project Mgr. for Finn Builders. Jack Finn, General Contractor. Dorothy Ledden, Interior Designer. Jonathan Perlstein, Architect, Oasis Architecture.

Creating a space to entertain was the top priority in this Mukwonago kitchen remodel. The homeowners wanted seating and counter space for hosting parties and watching sports. By opening the dining room wall, we extended the kitchen area. We added an island and custom designed furniture-style bar cabinet with retractable pocket doors. A new awning window overlooks the backyard and brings in natural light. Many in-cabinet storage features keep this kitchen neat and organized. Bar Cabinet The furniture-style bar cabinet has retractable pocket doors and a drop-in quartz counter. The homeowners can entertain in style, leaving the doors open during parties. Guests can grab a glass of wine or make a cocktail right in the cabinet. Outlet Strips Outlet strips on the island and peninsula keeps the end panels of the island and peninsula clean. The outlet strips also gives them options for plugging in appliances during parties. Modern Farmhouse Design The design of this kitchen is modern farmhouse. The materials, patterns, color and texture define this space. We used shades of golds and grays in the cabinetry, backsplash and hardware. The chevron backsplash and shiplap island adds visual interest. Custom Cabinetry This kitchen features frameless custom cabinets with light rail molding. It’s designed to hide the under cabinet lighting and angled plug molding. Putting the outlets under the cabinets keeps the backsplash uninterrupted. Storage Features Efficient storage and organization was important to these homeowners. We opted for deep drawers to allow for easy access to stacks of dishes and bowls. Under the cooktop, we used custom drawer heights to meet the homeowners’ storage needs. A third drawer was added next to the spice drawer rollout. Narrow pullout cabinets on either side of the cooktop for spices and oils. The pantry rollout by the double oven rotates 90 degrees. Other Updates Staircase – We updated the staircase with a barn wood newel post and matte black balusters Fireplace – We whitewashed the fireplace and added a barn wood mantel and pilasters.

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

Marcie Fry
Example of an ornate kitchen design in Orlando with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and shaker cabinets

John G Wlbanks Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary galley enclosed kitchen remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and porcelain backsplash

Our client came to us with the vision of sprucing up her outdated builder grade kitchen. The uninteresting space had no resemblance to the rest of the home or the homeowners personality. We had the challenge of blending each to make a functional but lavish kitchen for her and her family to enjoy. Tucked away in the suburbs of New York City, we developed a metropolitan chic concept to present to the homeowner. She feel in love with the theme and off we went. Our design revamped and revitalized the kitchen with a 360 degree turn. The once dull kitchen was brought to life. We added instant style by incorporating jeweled hardware and a decorative glass backsplash to create the perfect space.

Countertop Wood: Zebrawood Construction Style: Flat Grain Countertop Thickness: 1 3/4" Size: 49" x 37 1/4" mitered to 49" x 96 3/4" mitered to 49" x 37 1/4" Countertop Edge Profile: 1/8” Roundover on the top horizontal edges, bottom horizontal edges, and vertical corners Wood Countertop Finish: Durata® Waterproof Permanent Finish in Satin sheen Wood Stain: Natural Wood – No Stain Designer: Karen Kassen, CMKBD, ASID, of Kitchens Unlimited Job: 13823 Countertop Options: Integrated multi-outlet plug strip under the counter overhang Complimentary Countertops: Polished Marble Grothouse also crafted a matching flat grain Zebrawood counter for the Butler’s pantry.

The goal of the project was to update the kitchen and butler's pantry of this over 100 year old house. The kitchen and butler's pantry cabinetry were from different eras and the counter top was disjointed around the existing sink, with an old radiator in the way. The clients were inspired by the cabinetry color in one of our projects posted earlier on Houzz and we successfully blended that with personalized elements to create a kitchen in a style of their own. The butler's pantry behind the range wall with it's lit glass door cabinets matches the kitchen's style and acts as a backdrop for the custom range hood and uniquely tiled wall. We maximized the counter space around the custom Galley sink by replacing the old radiator that was in the way with a toe space heater, and by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher.

The Embassy Row kitchen from Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry adds a beautiful transitional look to your kitchen.
Example of a large transitional u-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen design in Houston with a single-bowl sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Every room flows out through 10 foot French doors, including the taught-style galley kitchen designed to function for a single cook.
Example of an urban l-shaped dark wood floor and black floor kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, multicolored backsplash and matchstick tile backsplash

Mid-sized danish l-shaped medium tone wood floor and orange floor eat-in kitchen photo in Nashville with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Hallmark Floors, Alta Vista , Historic Oak engineered flooring featured in Kitchen Kraft remodel Gorgeous Kitchen Remodel featuring Hallmark Floors Alta Vista Collection, Historic Oak. Project Completed by Kitchen Kraft, Columbus, OH. Photo Credit | John Evans

The architect’s plans had a single island with large windows on both main walls. The one window overlooked the unattractive side of a neighbor’s house while the other was not large enough to see the beautiful large back yard. The kitchen entry location made the mudroom extremely small and left only a few design options for the kitchen layout. The almost 14’ high ceilings also gave lots of opportunities for a unique design, but care had to be taken to still make the space feel warm and cozy. After drawing four design options, one was chosen that relocated the entry from the mudroom, making the mudroom a lot more accessible. A prep island across from the range and an entertaining island were included. The entertaining island included a beverage refrigerator for guests to congregate around and to help them stay out of the kitchen work areas. The small island appeared to be floating on legs and incorporates a sink and single dishwasher drawer for easy clean up of pots and pans.

Door Style: Shaker in Maple, Melted Brie Designer: Lorey Cavanaugh at Kitchen and Bath Design and Construction Photographer: Chrissy Racho
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets and slate backsplash

View of kitchen from eat-in breakfast area.
Example of a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, gray countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

The original kitchen was confined within four walls and our clients were eager to create a more open floor plan to provide more social interaction between the home chef (mom) and the 4 men in her life. By removing walls and borrowing a few extra square feet from the adjacent laundry room we were able to incorporate a 48” refrigerator and range, extra storage, a central island, increased workspaces and banquette seating into this modestly sized kitchen. This project was designed to provide both high function and high style while optimizing the influx of natural light from the enlarged kitchen windows. We maximized the space and created an open floor plan that improved traffic flow between the adjacent rooms. The custom cabinetry, stainless hood, shelves, and the professional faucet gives this rather traditional white kitchen a more modern design sensibility. Photo Credit: Bethany Nauert

John Gillooly/PEI
Example of a classic black floor enclosed kitchen design in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances