Example of a farmhouse medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, black backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This large open concept kitchen and dining space was created by removing a load bearing wall between the old kitchen and a porch area. The new porch was insulated and incorporated into the overall space. The kitchen remodel was part of a whole house remodel so new quarter sawn oak flooring, a vaulted ceiling, windows and skylights were added. A large calcutta marble topped island takes center stage. It houses a 5’ galley workstation - a sink that provides a convenient spot for prepping, serving, entertaining and clean up. A 36” induction cooktop is located directly across from the island for easy access. Two appliance garages on either side of the cooktop house small appliances that are used on a daily basis. Honeycomb tile by Ann Sacks and open shelving along the cooktop wall add an interesting focal point to the room. Antique mirrored glass faces the storage unit housing dry goods and a beverage center. “I chose details for the space that had a bit of a mid-century vibe that would work well with what was originally a 1950s ranch. Along the way a previous owner added a 2nd floor making it more of a Cape Cod style home, a few eclectic details felt appropriate”, adds Klimala. The wall opposite the cooktop houses a full size fridge, freezer, double oven, coffee machine and microwave. “There is a lot of functionality going on along that wall”, adds Klimala. A small pull out countertop below the coffee machine provides a spot for hot items coming out of the ovens. The rooms creamy cabinetry is accented by quartersawn white oak at the island and wrapped ceiling beam. The golden tones are repeated in the antique brass light fixtures. “This is the second kitchen I’ve had the opportunity to design for myself. My taste has gotten a little less traditional over the years, and although I’m still a traditionalist at heart, I had some fun with this kitchen and took some chances. The kitchen is super functional, easy to keep clean and has lots of storage to tuck things away when I’m done using them. The casual dining room is fabulous and is proving to be a great spot to linger after dinner. We love it!” Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Sunny Yellow Retro Kitchen remodel. We Designed and laid the floors ourselves!
Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern u-shaped linoleum floor and multicolored floor kitchen remodel in Santa Barbara with white cabinets, laminate countertops, white appliances, shaker cabinets, a double-bowl sink, an island and white countertops

The materials used for this space include white washed brushed oak, taj mahal granite, custom shaker style cabinets, original pine ceiling, slate backsplash, slate & metal mosiac at the island, a custom cast concrete sink, and a Wolf range. | While the flow of the kitchen worked for the family, the focus was on updating the look and feel. The old cabinets were replaced with new shaker-style custom cabinets painted in a soothing grey, to compliment the new white-washed, brushed oak floor. Taj Mahal granite counter tops replaced the old dark ones. The refrigerator was replaced with a wider 48” Sub-Zero. The built-in pantry in the kitchen was replaced, with pull-out shelving specific to the family’s food storage needs. A 48” dual fuel Wolf range replaced the outdated cooktop and oven. The tones of the new slate backsplash and slate and metal mosaic on the face of the island created cohesion between the pine hues of the remaining original ceiling and the new white-washed floor. Task and under bar lighting also brightened the space. The kitchen is finished out with a unique concrete apron sink. Capitalizing on the natural light from the existing skylight and glass doors, the upgraded finishes in the kitchen and living area brightened the space and gave it an up-to-date feel. | Photos by Tre Dunham

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary concrete floor and brown floor great room remodel in Milwaukee with a two-sided fireplace and white walls

Renowned blogger and stylemaker Wit & Delight unveils her new studio space. This studio’s polished, industrial charm is in the details. The room features a navy hexagon tile kitchen backsplash, brass barstools, gold pendant lighting, antique kilim rug, and a waterfall-edge Swanbridge™ island. Handcrafted from start to finish, the Cambria quartz kitchen island creates an inspiring focal point and durable work surface in this creative space.Photographer: 2nd Truth http://www.2ndtruth.com/

warm white oak and blackened oak custom crafted kitchen with zellige tile and quartz countertops.
Inspiration for a large 1950s concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances, an island and gray countertops

For a client with an enthusiastic appreciation of retro design, this sunny ode to kitchens of the past is a cheerful and comforting retreat for today. The client wanted a kitchen that creatively expressed her fun, unconventional taste while providing all the modern conveniences of a contemporary home. Space was borrowed from an existing office to provide more open area and easier navigation in the kitchen. Bright, optimistic yellow sets the tone in the room, with retro-inspired appliances in buttery yellow chosen as key elements of the design. A generous apron-front farm sink gleams with clean white enameled cast iron and is outfitted with a rare retro faucet with spray and scrub brush attachments. Black trim against the yellow ceramic tile countertops defines the kitchen’s lines. Simple maple cabinetry painted white with black ceramic knobs provides a modern level of storage. Playful positioning of contrasting tiles on the floor presents a modern, quirky interpretation of the traditional checkerboard pattern in this classic kitchen with an original point of view.

This open floor kitchen has a mixture of Concrete Counter tops as well as Marble. The range hood is made of a custom plaster. The T&G ceiling with accents of Steel make this room cozy and elegant. The floors were 8 inch planks imported from Europe.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Complete overhaul of the common area in this wonderful Arcadia home. The living room, dining room and kitchen were redone. The direction was to obtain a contemporary look but to preserve the warmth of a ranch home. The perfect combination of modern colors such as grays and whites blend and work perfectly together with the abundant amount of wood tones in this design. The open kitchen is separated from the dining area with a large 10' peninsula with a waterfall finish detail. Notice the 3 different cabinet colors, the white of the upper cabinets, the Ash gray for the base cabinets and the magnificent olive of the peninsula are proof that you don't have to be afraid of using more than 1 color in your kitchen cabinets. The kitchen layout includes a secondary sink and a secondary dishwasher! For the busy life style of a modern family. The fireplace was completely redone with classic materials but in a contemporary layout. Notice the porcelain slab material on the hearth of the fireplace, the subway tile layout is a modern aligned pattern and the comfortable sitting nook on the side facing the large windows so you can enjoy a good book with a bright view. The bamboo flooring is continues throughout the house for a combining effect, tying together all the different spaces of the house. All the finish details and hardware are honed gold finish, gold tones compliment the wooden materials perfectly.

Our clients loved the location of their duplex home with its peak-a-boo ocean view, but their existing kitchen was not suited for their growing family. They wanted a kitchen with a coastal vibe, plenty of storage space, and an eat-in area. We started by bringing the far wall into the kitchen space to accommodate a large panty and communication center for the family. Doing this allowed us to move the refrigerator out of the main traffic area and doubled the amount of storage space. Several new windows were added to bring in natural light. A half wall was moved to allow more countertop area and open up sight lines. The previously awkwardly shaped island was slimmed down to create better flow. There were a few venting challenges to overcome; gas lines and plumbing had to be re-routed without disturbing the unit below. To open up sight lines, soffits were eliminated which allowed the extension of cabinets to the ceiling. To stay within the homeowner’s budget, we match existing scraped flooring by lacing in and repairing patches. The old dining area was too small for table, so we designed and built a custom banquette to maximize the space and take advantage of the outdoor views. The overall space works for family meals as well as entertaining. A light summer palette was used to reflect the shades of the sand, sea and sky. Even though the new kitchen is actually smaller than the original space, its now far more functional and open.

wood counter stools, cottage, crown molding, green island, hardwood floor, kitchen tv, lake house, stained glass pendant lights, sage green, tiffany lights, wood hood

Photo credit to Kate Turpin Zimmerman
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped concrete floor and gray floor kitchen remodel in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

This Wauwatosa Georgian Colonial home was in need of a kitchen remodel to that stayed true to the style of the home while blending in with the other recent updates made to the home. The previous kitchen had a broken stove, inefficient storage, high maintenance finishes, and lacked the simplicity that the clients wanted. Now after the remodel there is improved circulation into the dinette for entertaining family and friends. Lighting was vastly improved and now highlights the coffered ceiling, subway tile backsplash, and cabinetry. The clean look of the full overlay white Plato cabinetry allows for a contrast with the Verde Peacock Lite granite countertops. A 36″ Thermador cooktop and GE appliances provide for an updated stainless look and a kitchen ready for cooking. The Ebony stained maple hardwood flooring adds the final soft touch for an updated kitchen in 2015.

The brick found in the backsplash and island was chosen for its sympathetic materiality that is forceful enough to blend in with the native steel, while the bold, fine grain Zebra wood cabinetry coincides nicely with the concrete floors without being too ostentatious. Photo Credit: Mark Woods

Inspiration for a huge timeless galley open concept kitchen remodel in Kansas City with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inside a classic Portland, Oregon, condo building, Em Shephard, the project manager for Jessica Helgerson Interior Design chose our Badajoz cement tile to cover several floor spaces, including the kitchen, creating a chic, unified and graphic look. Interior Design: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design / Photograph: Lincoln Barbour / Cement Tiles: Granada Tile

Example of a large classic l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in Minneapolis with an island, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash and stainless steel appliances