Creative shelving above the stairs adds entryway storage in a fresh way.
Example of a small trendy staircase design in Nashville

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Starting out with a project that has good bones is always a bonus as was the case with the project. This young family has a great house on a great street in a great location. The kitchen was a large space with ample room and great view to the backyard. The dated cabinets and large peninsula layout however were not working for them, so they came in looking for a fresh start. Goals for the project included adding a large island with seating for four and a bright, open and cheerful space for daily meals and entertaining. Our clients also wanted to keep the existing breakfast table, but the original space did not allow for an island and breakfast table. Our solution was to create banquette seating which gave us the extra inches necessary to accomplish both. The larger awning window over the kitchen sink allows for ample light in the new space. The wall between the kitchen and family room was partially removed to provide the more open feeling our clients desired. The work triangle is centered on the island which serves as a big open prep space conveniently located across from the large pro style range. The island also houses the microwave and a 2nd oven for larger gatherings. A new counter depth fridge and beverage center provide options for refrigeration. A simple pallet of white cabinetry, Carrera marble countertops and polished nickel fixtures will be a timeless look and provide a lovely backdrop for entertaining and spending time with family. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kitchen - coastal u-shaped kitchen idea in Manchester with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Jessica Delaney http://www.jessicadelaneyphotography.com/

Dining room - coastal medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room idea in New York with gray walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped kitchen design in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photography by Corey Gaff
Example of a mid-sized classic limestone floor entryway design in Minneapolis with white walls

Waypoint Painted Harbor and Homecrest Painted Onyx cabinets, Laza Nuevo Quartz countertops and full height backsplash, custom Copper Range hood, Sharp built-in microwave, 48" gas range, Palmetto Road Solid red oak hardwood 5" x 3/4", champagne bronze faucets, knobs, pulls, and light fixtures...all topped off with LED recess lighting, LED interior cabinet lighting, and LED under-cabinet lighting for the perfect space for the perfect meal for a family dinner

Example of a transitional gray floor and wainscoting single front door design in Milwaukee with beige walls and a dark wood front door

Inspiration for a coastal white three-story exterior home remodel in Other

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional ceramic tile and multicolored floor utility room remodel in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white walls

Photography: Lepere Studio
Alcove bathtub - small contemporary master blue tile porcelain tile alcove bathtub idea in Santa Barbara

Over the Merrimack River and Through the Woods Set back from the road in a picturesque plush green setting flanked by towering 90’ pine trees with seasonal views of the Merrimack River, this 1960’s home was an ideal location to support this amazing kitchen transformation. The privacy, views, peaceful environment and very little traffic provides this family with the lifestyle they’ve grown to love and therefore decided was well worth the investment. Thoughtful space-planning solutions, creative layout and focus on function produced this aesthetically pleasing and sensible design. The homeowners are enjoying their updated, cozy space as if it was there all along. Photo by Eric Roth

Transitional entryway photo in New York

© Sharon Risedorph
Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Example of a huge trendy kitchen design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets and an island

Bruce Buck photographer Kitchen cabinets in pear wood combined with vintage St. Charles metal upper cabinets with clear glass doors. Metal cabinetry was sandblasted and clear finish was applied. Polished Stainless steel was used on appliances with white countertops and glass backsplash.

Example of a large trendy master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor drop-in bathtub design in Austin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls and quartz countertops

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com