These high gloss white cabinets are the perfect compliment to the single bowl sink. The black porcelain tile floor is low maintenance and a great touch to the minimalist look of the space. For more on Normandy Designer Chris Ebert, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/christopher-ebert/

Ken Vaughan
Enclosed kitchen - small southwestern single-wall porcelain tile enclosed kitchen idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Eat-in kitchen - large craftsman light wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

Kitchen - transitional gray floor kitchen idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Beach style light wood floor kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, blue backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, stainless steel countertops and an island

Her contemporary Seattle features a limitless sky and water view. The view inside Leslie’s kitchen was a little different. “Our kitchen was very dated and in need of renovation,” she says. Her 1974 contemporary home is perched on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound, but her dark, cramped kitchen didn’t take advantage of the stellar views. For Leslie and her husband, Peter, the kitchen only allowed one person at a time to cook. This was not like Leslie’s charming cottage. She longed for the welcoming, light filled, open space of her cottage kitchen. But how to bring that feel to a mid-70’s contemporary, especially one that allowed no room for expansion? For Seattle Neil Kelly Design Consultant, Diane Forman, the goal was simple. “How do I translate the crisp, clean, cheering feeling of a Victorian cottage kitchen to a contemporary space?” Diane needed some extra space, and what she found wasn’t much. She found 12 inches of space that was available without infringing on the dining room window nearest the existing kitchen. “The impact of that additional 12 inches was immense in that it opened up storage solutions not previously conceivable,” Diane says. “It made it possible for two people to comfortably occupy and move within that space. Just one foot, that’s all it took,” she says. As their current locations and sizes took full advantage of the view, it made no sense to move the windows, but she still needed to “lighten up” the dark kitchen. “I needed to create a joyously simple, very traditional color palette for a sophisticated contemporary setting,” Diane says. “And I replaced the ubiquitous 1970’s fluorescent light boxes with recessed can lighting, under cabinet task lighting, and some beautiful hand-blown pendant lights placed above the peninsula.” But there was one more hurdle to overcome: Storage. Diane needed to create storage for dishes, pans, spices, wine, trays, cookbooks, small appliances and recycling. And she also had to make space for her client’s crystal collection. “Relocated the display cabinet and adding a new gently curved eating bar accommodates seating for four without intruding on the existing window nearest the kitchen”, Diane says. There are multiple details that add up to a distinctly modern feeling and optimism to the space. And in the long run Leslie and Peter have a kitchen that matches their view. “Diane and I were trying to find a transitional style that would be cottage-like, and also urban modern,” says Leslie. “I think she did a very good job.”

Example of a transitional kitchen design in San Francisco

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in San Francisco

Example of a classic kitchen design in San Francisco

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in San Francisco

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in San Francisco

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in San Francisco

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in San Francisco

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in San Francisco

Example of a classic kitchen design in San Francisco