Scott DuBose
Example of a transitional kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and matchstick tile backsplash

Example of a classic powder room design in Salt Lake City

Front Concrete landscape steps along with stone entryway steps with modified buttresses. By English Stone
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional front yard stone landscaping in Minneapolis.

Transitional kitchen photo in Minneapolis with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and shaker cabinets

An integrated step ladder hidden behind an unassuming toe kick.
Trendy kitchen photo in Hawaii

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Example of a large cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Boston with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Kitchen by Jinx McDonald Interior Designs
Example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen design in Tampa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a huge trendy single-wall light wood floor kitchen design in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete countertops, an island and gray countertops

Michael deLeon Photography
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, brown backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and stone tile backsplash

Example of an eclectic home design design in Toronto

Example of a transitional open concept and formal light wood floor living room design in San Diego with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Matthew Millman
Inspiration for a large coastal u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink and quartzite countertops

Photo Credit: Nat Rea
Beach style l-shaped open concept kitchen photo in Providence with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and subway tile backsplash

Studio 76 Kitchens & Baths' designer completed this transitional kitchen remodel in white, gray and greige colors. The kitchen features Studio 76 Home frameless cabinetry in white and gray. The appliances are Sub-Zero and Wolf. The kitchen pull-out step stool is from Hideaway Solutions.

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Michael Handrahan Remodeling, Inc. Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography
Example of a large transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Boston with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

A pull out in the island was a great way to keep the stool hidden but still easily accessible. Soft-close slides slip everything right back in without a sound.

48" Wolf Range, (2) 36" Sub Zero's and a large stainless undermount sink and engineered soapstone countertops Cabinetry Designer: Jennifer Howard; Photographer: Mick Hales