After Photo. Once upon time, there was a 50-year-old kitchen who was to be banished from the culinary kingdom. Despite several face lifts and cosmetic repairs, it still could not live up to royal standards. Its appliances were ho-hum, storage capacity limited, and counter space non-existent. To make things worse, an undesireable wall separated the kitchen from its long lost love, the dining room. The two spaces were completely estranged from one another, resulting in an awkward situation for the two rooms and the royal family who inhabited them. After years of feeling inadequate for its master, the kitchen was finally rescued from a knight in shining armour named Sir Care Free. The brave and capable hero came galloping into the castle and declared that he could, indeed, grant the kitchen its wish of being beautiful and functional once again. But it was Sir Care Free’s final words that brought the most joy – the kitchen would finally be united with the dining room. Sir Care Free courageously removed the ghastly wall that once stood between the two living spaces. Now restored to its rightful place, the King and the Queen have proclaimed the kitchen as the official heart of the home and lived happily ever after. The end. For your happily ever after, do have Sir Care Free call upon your castle. He and his craftsmen would be delighted to serve you. You may beckon us by telephone at (508) 997-1111 Ext. 102 or by email at info@carefreehomescompany.com.

KITCHEN BEFORE Closed in design Outdated look Inadequate storage
Example of an arts and crafts kitchen design in Other

Will Calhoun - This was an under utilized closet with inadequate storage shelves and a great pile of unorganized items. We put the old Kitchen refrigerator in place and provided lots of useful storage for beverages, paper and other dry goods and gave it a bright coat of paint and a good light. It's now a real asset for a busy household.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

Older homes are notorious for having inadequate closets and California Closets provides the perfect solution to organize all your belongings while creating a beautiful space.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

Starting its life as a dark, walled in space with inadequate cabinetry and multiple awkward components, I knew the only way forward with this penthouse kitchen, was for it to undergo a complete rebuild. The clients were hoping to welcome a child in the years following this renovation, however they love to entertain so also wanted a modern and sophisticated kitchen. Therefore, the task became marrying functional indestructibility with clean, elevated design, resulting in a timeless, architecturally forward kitchen with sensible storage and innovated finishes. The first and most important task when addressing the modernization of this kitchen, was to remove the existing walls that closed off the space. Accomplishing this allowed for a more free-flowing feel and opened the sightline to the rest of the unit. This also invited the opportunity for a new, more welcoming floor plan including the addition of a large island with ample counter space and optional eat-in functionality. In order to maximize functional efficiency and overall aesthetic value, I knew the plumbing required substantial relocation. However, with concrete ceilings and floors, combined with a strata unwilling to allow trenching of the slab, moving the plumbing to the most effective location was no easy feat. Ultimately, I was able to accomplish this by creating a hidden channel inside the cabinetry that allowed the plumbing to be redirected to the ideal location without visible detection. Creatively, I was inspired by the idea of injecting dimension, by way of juxtaposing materials that wouldn’t necessarily be found together in nature, yet worked harmonious when combined. You’ll notice the cabinet fronts are all made of solid Dekton – a manmade stone that while costly, is nearly indestructible. This created the base in which we inset the countertop, backsplash and surround, all made in a wood-like material. As if a huge ice-cream scoop glided into a slab of solid stone, uncovering beautiful layered depths of wood. I worked with a local company to custom manufacture this is a high impact, one-of-a-kind laminate specifically for this project. It’s nonporous, fingerprint resistant and antimicrobial. It offers a matte finish which has a beautiful hand-feel resembling real wood but because it’s manmade, it’s not subjected to the same expansion and contraction of natural wood, making it an exceptional choice for this application. Final details also include a touchless kitchen faucet, integrated appliances, hidden storage, Italian lighting, delicate Australian hardware and smart switches and plugs.

Objectives Having lived with the kitchen as supplied by the builder since buying the property new they had finally had enough of its poor and inadequate design that provided only a basic L shape layout, no dining area and only a single built under oven. At our initial design brief meeting it became clear that the Gardner’s wanted more light in the kitchen, more useable work surface, more storage, high level built in cooking appliances, an island with somewhere to sit and socialise but not to compromise on the aesthetic which was all important. What We Did They liked the whole look of the Second Nature 1909 in frame painted style but were concerned about price. We suggested breaking into the pitched roof and introducing a long bank of Velux’s to create a much lighter, airier feel to the whole room; he also suggested removing the existing radiator and replacing it with a plinth heater thus freeing up an otherwise difficult to use wall. To keep cost down he also suggested using the Second Nature Milbourne painted foil wrapped shaker door in contrasting colour ways shown. The Result We created the desired look but keeping within the budget. As you can see from the photos, the room is much lighter. Testimonial We were planning to renew our kitchen and had already visited some of the usual DIY stores to get ideas and estimates. We then went along to Rugby Fitted Kitchens to see what they could offer and were immediately impressed by the showroom; the variety of kitchen styles and design ideas on display were inspirational and brought the prospect of a new kitchen to life, far better than flicking through brochures. Trevor understood our requirements and guided us through the design process suggesting options for the cupboard configurations and fitments that maximised our storage space, in addition to which the pricing for the Neff appliances was second to none either matching or bettering the best buys I could find online. The installation was expertly undertaken by Daniel & Daniel (yes they really do have the same Christian names!!) and nothing was too much trouble for them. We are absolutely delighted with the finished product and would have no hesitation in recommending RFK to our friends.”

Starting its life as a dark, walled in space with inadequate cabinetry and multiple awkward components, I knew the only way forward with this penthouse kitchen, was for it to undergo a complete rebuild. The clients were hoping to welcome a child in the years following this renovation, however they love to entertain so also wanted a modern and sophisticated kitchen. Therefore, the task became marrying functional indestructibility with clean, elevated design, resulting in a timeless, architecturally forward kitchen with sensible storage and innovated finishes. The first and most important task when addressing the modernization of this kitchen, was to remove the existing walls that closed off the space. Accomplishing this allowed for a more free-flowing feel and opened the sightline to the rest of the unit. This also invited the opportunity for a new, more welcoming floor plan including the addition of a large island with ample counter space and optional eat-in functionality. In order to maximize functional efficiency and overall aesthetic value, I knew the plumbing required substantial relocation. However, with concrete ceilings and floors, combined with a strata unwilling to allow trenching of the slab, moving the plumbing to the most effective location was no easy feat. Ultimately, I was able to accomplish this by creating a hidden channel inside the cabinetry that allowed the plumbing to be redirected to the ideal location without visible detection. Creatively, I was inspired by the idea of injecting dimension, by way of juxtaposing materials that wouldn’t necessarily be found together in nature, yet worked harmonious when combined. You’ll notice the cabinet fronts are all made of solid Dekton – a manmade stone that while costly, is nearly indestructible. This created the base in which we inset the countertop, backsplash and surround, all made in a wood-like material. As if a huge ice-cream scoop glided into a slab of solid stone, uncovering beautiful layered depths of wood. I worked with a local company to custom manufacture this is a high impact, one-of-a-kind laminate specifically for this project. It’s nonporous, fingerprint resistant and antimicrobial. It offers a matte finish which has a beautiful hand-feel resembling real wood but because it’s manmade, it’s not subjected to the same expansion and contraction of natural wood, making it an exceptional choice for this application. Final details also include a touchless kitchen faucet, integrated appliances, hidden storage, Italian lighting, delicate Australian hardware and smart switches and plugs.

If you have a tiled shower area in your home, it’s very likely you’ve experienced problems with the grout becoming excessively dirty and ridden with displeasing black spots of mould. The underlying issue is due to inadequate ventilation which can be a real problem in modern insulated houses and occasionally the grout can get so imbued with contamination that the problem needs to be resolved professionally. In the case of this Ceramic tiled shower area, located at a property in Galgate, Lancashire, mould had turned the grout black and had got into the sealant strip around the base. The property owner had tried using the run-of-the-mill cleaning products you can buy in superstores, but they simply couldn’t get the job done. So, she contacted me to see what could be done. At Tile Doctor, we come across the problem of mouldy shower tiles very often. Excess soaps and shampoos – many of which contain chemicals that harmful to the grout – can quickly build-up if not removed, causing mould and soap scum to emerge quickly, and before you know it, you have a problem like this one. Thankfully, with the right strength product and cleaning methods, mould can be removed quite easily. The cleaning product used here was Tile Doctor Mould Away, which does what it says on the bottle and can quickly remove mould and black spots from grout and silicone. I applied Mould Away to the grout and surrounding Ceramic tiles and left it to dwell for a short period, before starting to clean the affected areas carefully using soft nail brushes and a small amount of water. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat this process several times to achieve the best possible results, but in this case two attempts was all it took to get the grout looking like new once again. Following the cleaning, the area was rinsed thoroughly with water, before bring dried off quickly with a heat gun on a low setting. I then sealed the grout with a single coat of Tile Doctor Wall Grout Sealer, which is a water-based sealer designed to protect against water, oil and acid-based contaminants, and stop them from spoiling the appearance of the grout. It also provides a transparent finish that does not diminish the original colouring of the grout. To add the finishing touches, I polished off the Ceramic tiles as these were already fully glazed and did not require any extra sealer. The before and after photos are a testament to how significantly the condition and appearance of the grout was quickly improved and needless to say, the customer was very satisfied with the result. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Starting its life as a dark, walled in space with inadequate cabinetry and multiple awkward components, I knew the only way forward with this penthouse kitchen, was for it to undergo a complete rebuild. The clients were hoping to welcome a child in the years following this renovation, however they love to entertain so also wanted a modern and sophisticated kitchen. Therefore, the task became marrying functional indestructibility with clean, elevated design, resulting in a timeless, architecturally forward kitchen with sensible storage and innovated finishes. The first and most important task when addressing the modernization of this kitchen, was to remove the existing walls that closed off the space. Accomplishing this allowed for a more free-flowing feel and opened the sightline to the rest of the unit. This also invited the opportunity for a new, more welcoming floor plan including the addition of a large island with ample counter space and optional eat-in functionality. In order to maximize functional efficiency and overall aesthetic value, I knew the plumbing required substantial relocation. However, with concrete ceilings and floors, combined with a strata unwilling to allow trenching of the slab, moving the plumbing to the most effective location was no easy feat. Ultimately, I was able to accomplish this by creating a hidden channel inside the cabinetry that allowed the plumbing to be redirected to the ideal location without visible detection. Creatively, I was inspired by the idea of injecting dimension, by way of juxtaposing materials that wouldn’t necessarily be found together in nature, yet worked harmonious when combined. You’ll notice the cabinet fronts are all made of solid Dekton – a manmade stone that while costly, is nearly indestructible. This created the base in which we inset the countertop, backsplash and surround, all made in a wood-like material. As if a huge ice-cream scoop glided into a slab of solid stone, uncovering beautiful layered depths of wood. I worked with a local company to custom manufacture this is a high impact, one-of-a-kind laminate specifically for this project. It’s nonporous, fingerprint resistant and antimicrobial. It offers a matte finish which has a beautiful hand-feel resembling real wood but because it’s manmade, it’s not subjected to the same expansion and contraction of natural wood, making it an exceptional choice for this application. Final details also include a touchless kitchen faucet, integrated appliances, hidden storage, Italian lighting, delicate Australian hardware and smart switches and plugs.

This kitchen included an odd-sized double-oven with shattered glass and appliance interference, wasted soffit space, inadequate lighting, and more. The client also faced issues with the laundry closet, storage, and countertops. We addressed these concerns by adjusting the layout. Featured changes include an integrated micro-convection double-oven, a counter-depth refrigerator, the removal of soffits, an expanded cabinetry footprint, a built-in laundry, relocating the electrical panel, and adding solid-surface countertops. Design elements include cabinet-mounted remote switches, a built-in wine refrigerator, two-tone cabinetry, all LED lighting, a pull-down swivel faucet, fully functional storage, and virtually seamless countertops. These changes addressed all of the clients’ pain points and improved the kitchen’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetic.

Mudroom — Project Description (Bolton, CT) (Reconfiguration • Custom Storage • Functional Entry Design) The original mudroom layout was cramped and inefficient, offering minimal storage and poor traffic flow. The garage door opened directly into a wall, the single corner closet provided limited accessibility to its sides, and there was no place for shoes, coats, or everyday landing items. The space lacked both organization and visual appeal. Key Issues in the Old Layout Garage door swung into a side wall, restricting movement Small corner closet with poor left/right access and inadequate capacity No dedicated shoe storage No seating or landing surface No mirror, making the space feel smaller and less functional Overall layout did not support daily use or family workflow New Layout & Built-In Storage Solutions The mudroom was completely reconfigured to create a balanced, efficient, and visually cohesive entry zone that supports everyday routines and maximizes available space. Wall-to-Wall Back Closet Full-width custom closet spans the entire back wall Equipped with double pocket doors for effortless access without blocking circulation Interior fitted with coat hanging space and top shelving for seasonal items Full-Height Shoe & Accessory Storage A dedicated tall cabinet provides: Bottom half: organized shoe storage Top half: adjustable shelves for accessories, baskets, or household essentials Built-In Combo Opposite the Closet A custom multifunctional unit includes: Walnut bench top for warmth, texture, and a natural design element Two deep drawers beneath the bench for gloves, hats, pet items, etc. Full-height mirror strategically placed to visually expand the room Open hanging storage for quick-access items Upper enclosed cabinet with adjustable shelving for concealed storage Additional Enhancements The garage door swing was reversed for proper ergonomics and easier entry Added crown molding throughout the space for a cohesive, finished look consistent with the rest of the renovation Upgraded lighting brightens the room and enhances the sense of cleanliness and order

This area of the house enclosed a powder bath, entry closet and pantry closet for the kitchen and seperates the living room from the kitchen side of the main floor. The storage space for the pantry and closet were inadequate and boring so I decided to make them more interesting by making them look like armoires tucked into the wall and wrapped the walls with panels to match. photos by Kimball Ungerman

Tom Arban
Open concept kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, white appliances and an island

Client: Private Architect: Cousins & Cousins Architects Contractor: Romark Projects Ltd Photography: Jack Hobhouse
Inspiration for a small contemporary built-in desk light wood floor and beige floor home office library remodel in London with white walls