Kitchen Potential
Elegant home design photo in Birmingham

Kitchen Potential
Elegant kitchen photo in Birmingham

Kitchen Potential
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Birmingham

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Orange County

The objective was to create a warm neutral space to later customize to a specific colour palate/preference of the end user for this new construction home being built to sell. A high-end contemporary feel was requested to attract buyers in the area. An impressive kitchen that exuded high class and made an impact on guests as they entered the home, without being overbearing. The space offers an appealing open floorplan conducive to entertaining with indoor-outdoor flow. Due to the spec nature of this house, the home had to remain appealing to the builder, while keeping a broad audience of potential buyers in mind. The challenge lay in creating a unique look, with visually interesting materials and finishes, while not being so unique that potential owners couldn’t envision making it their own. The focus on key elements elevates the look, while other features blend and offer support to these striking components. As the home was built for sale, profitability was important; materials were sourced at best value, while retaining high-end appeal. Adaptations to the home’s original design plan improve flow and usability within the kitchen-greatroom. The client desired a rich dark finish. The chosen colours tie the kitchen to the rest of the home (creating unity as combination, colours and materials, is repeated throughout). Photos- Paul Grdina

We created an open concept kitchen with keeping room from a closed off kitchen with tight layout. The oversized island comfortably seats 5 in an L-shaped arrangement. The white shaker style cabinets have a rustic, yet refined farmhouse look that is accentuated by the gorgeous oiled wood counter top. Ample island storage with specialized pull-outs, deep drawers and classic pulls make the island the heart of this home. The chef grade gas cooktop is crowned with a beautiful custom hood with vent insert and roman style brick wall tile with a herringbone pattern accent. The granite counters along the L-shaped outer walls blends the dark and light tones found through the home. A shiny metal farmhouse sink with dimpled texture is centered on the window overlooking the courtyard garden. Unique storage features such as a pull-out recycling center, pet food drawer, coffee station, recessed bread box / appliance garage, spice columns and plastic wrap pull-out provide ease of use and an organizers dream come true. A hidden walk-in pantry is seamlessly integrated into the cabinetry providing a secret reservoir of storage potential. Daylight floods the space and spills into the adjacent family room and formal dining room. Entertaining is easy in this clean crisp new kitchen redesigned for large family gatherings and intimate dinners at home. Photos By: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar remodel in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, mosaic tile backsplash, white countertops, gray cabinets, quartz countertops and gray backsplash

These clients are actually my sister and brother in law! Years ago they were thinking about moving into a larger home because they wanted a bigger kitchen and bathroom. My sister also wanted a lovely dressing room with custom cabinets, drawers, a vanity and jewellery cabinet, along with ample storage for all of her shoes. With the design layout as it was, the functionality of the house did not meet their needs. As an Interior Design Professional with over 10 years of experience in helping homeowners live beautifully, I could definitely see the potential. They loved the Burlington area and I knew that they could have what they desired if only they could see for themselves. So, I talked them into hiring my services and we created a vision with a completely new design plan in 3D. What I created for them vastly exceeded their expectations, and now they extremely happy living in their 'forever home'.

Mahogany and Bronze at the back of the Law Library at the Judicial Center in Denver. "Peaceful Resolution". I wanted to give a wooden waterfall affect as to calm the potential chaos that can be found in law buildings.

These clients are actually my sister and brother in law! Years ago they were thinking about moving into a larger home because they wanted a bigger kitchen and bathroom. My sister also wanted a lovely dressing room with custom cabinets, drawers, a vanity and jewellery cabinet, along with ample storage for all of her shoes. With the design layout as it was, the functionality of the house did not meet their needs. As an Interior Design Professional with over 10 years of experience in helping homeowners live beautifully, I could definitely see the potential. They loved the Burlington area and I knew that they could have what they desired if only they could see for themselves. So, I talked them into hiring my services and we created a vision with a completely new design plan in 3D. What I created for them vastly exceeded their expectations, and now they extremely happy living in their 'forever home'.

Our 4553 sq. ft. model currently has the latest smart home technology including a Control 4 centralized home automation system that can control lights, doors, temperature and more. This potential mother-in-law suite bedroom has a full bathroom within the room and walk in closet.

The painted beadboard paneling provides a traditional look to this custom mud room. Bench seat opens up for hidden storage.
Basement - large traditional basement idea in Boston

Thanks to a design team who are trained to listen and well‐targeted input from the clients we were able to incorporate hidden details guaranteeing the kitchen would be used to its greatest potential. Some of these hidden details include: pocket doors by the T.V. so as not to block the view of the T.V.; pull‐outs above deep pot drawers for lid storage; double layered utensil drawers with custom wood dividers for silverware and utensils; LeMans by Hafele for blind corner storage and a Cervo operated waste receptacle to the left of the sink that makes cleaning up a breeze. The long horizontal stainless steel handles were chosen to emphasize the lines of the kitchen and the stainless appliances. The different but complimentary perimeter and island counters not only add another layer of interest but also act as another warm and inviting design element.

The perfect place to entertain or relax and read a book with natural lighting. Ken Wyner Photography
Inspiration for a small transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library remodel in DC Metro with gray walls and no fireplace

Specialized hardware was used to allow the fully laden bookcases operate as access points to the wine cellar and mechanical room.
Large elegant walk-out basement photo in Boston

The homeowners wanted a lot in this medium-sized bathroom. They requested a stacking washer and dryer, a place for the ironing board, as much storage as possible along with the mandatory toilet, shower and double vanity. A custom unit spans the whole wall, incorporating the washer and dryer unit in with the vanity. The washer and dryer can be hidden when not in use. The pocket doors can be opened and slid back within the unit when in use, so that the doors are out of the way and also allowing for the needed ventilation when the washer and dryer are in use. Pull-out storage beside the washer and dryer holds laundry supplies as well as an ironing board and iron. Quartz countertops and marble floors add to the luxurious look of this space.

Example of a farmhouse home design design in New York

The primary bedroom and bathroom are the showstoppers of this phase! Unused and awkwardly located closets in both the bedroom and bathroom were removed to make way for additional square-footage in the bath and replaced with a sizable and functional reach-in closet in the bedroom. A dated and cramped shower stall was removed in favor for an expansive step in shower spanning the width of the bathroom and a new transom window washes the room in natural light. While the previous bathroom was only able to accommodate a single vanity, the new layout allowed us to create double matching vanities mirrored across from each other - a much appreciated addition for a primary bath. Floating walnut vanities boast impressive storage and are capped with tower cabinets with hidden outlets for charging and storing electronic bathroom tools. While the color palette is restrained - black, white, gray, and brown - the result is a timelessly modern and masculine space that is at once striking and warm. Modern geometric patterns play with each other throughout the material selections.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)