Looking into into the kitchen from the adjacent family room. The doors to the patio are just out of view to the left. To the right is the open air atrium. The skylights bring in abundant light, leaving the walls free for a long run of cabinetry. The over-sized island is used for informal meals and homework. The table to the left is used by the parents and two children for dinners and weekend pancakes.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash and marble backsplash

Door Style: Shaker in Maple, Melted Brie Designer: Lorey Cavanaugh at Kitchen and Bath Design and Construction Photographer: Chrissy Racho
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets and slate backsplash

This gray and transitional kitchen remodel bridges the gap between contemporary style and traditional style. The dark gray cabinetry, light gray walls, and white subway tile backsplash make for a beautiful, neutral canvas for the bold teal blue and yellow décor accented throughout the design. Designer Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair did a fabulous job at using grays to create a neutral backdrop to bring out the bright, vibrant colors that the homeowners love so much. This Milwaukee, WI kitchen is the perfect example of Dura Supreme's recent launch of gray paint finishes, it has been interesting to see these new cabinetry colors suddenly flowing across our manufacturing floor, destined for homes around the country. We've already seen an enthusiastic acceptance of these new colors as homeowners started immediately selecting our various shades of gray paints, like this example of “Storm Gray”, for their new homes and remodeling projects! Dura Supreme’s “Storm Gray” is the darkest of our new gray painted finishes (although our current “Graphite” paint finish is a charcoal gray that is almost black). For those that like the popular contrast between light and dark finishes, Storm Gray pairs beautifully with lighter painted and stained finishes. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

A young family moving from NYC tackled a lightning fast makeover of their new colonial revival home before the arrival of their second child. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and new layout. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by grey glazed rift oak cabinetry on the island. Shiplap paneling on the island and cabinet lend a slightly contemporary edge. White bronze hardware by Schaub & Co. in a contemporary bar shape offer clean lines with some texture in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops in “Alpine Mist” create a harmonious color palette while the pale blue/grey Waterworks backsplash adds a touch of color. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator--Subzero; Ovens--Wolf. Cooktop--Gaggenau. Ventilation—Best Cirrus Series CC34IQSB. Hardware--Schaub & Company. Sink--Kohler Strive. Sink faucet--Rohl. Tile--Waterworks Architectonics 3x6 in the dust pressed line, Icewater color. Stools--Palacek. Flooring—Sota Floors. Window treatments: www.horizonshades.com in “Northbrook Birch.” Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

Modern functionality with a vintage farmhouse style makes this the perfect kitchen featuring marble counter tops, subway tile backsplash, SubZero and Wolf appliances, custom cabinetry, white oak floating shelves and engineered wide plank, oak flooring.

The project is located in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The client’s a young family and the husband is a very passionate cook. The kitchen was a gut renovation. The all white kitchen mixes modern and traditional elements with an oversized island, storage all the way around, a buffet, open shelving, a butler’s pantry and appliances that steal the show. Details include: -Subzero refrigerator, Scott custom designed a flip up stainless cabinetry above the side-by-side subzero to create a taller and monolithic look. -The absolute best stone was used- Calacatta Suprema countertops with a honed finish -White cabinetry by Dresner Design private label line with De Angelis -Hardware from Katonah with a burnished nickel finish -Sconces by O’Lampia above the buffet -Backsplash tile is custom dye lot from Artistic Tile, Pratt Larson -Custom sinks by Havens for cleaning fish descaling - Plumbing fixtures from Studio 41- main sink

We feel this is a great example of a beautiful kitchen remodel that did not require down-to-the-studs renovation. The changes to the cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, lighting and hardware completely transformed the look of the room. It’s now a relaxing space our clients love to use and look at from other rooms.Beautiful new cabinetry made the biggest impact on updating the kitchen. The new cabinet doors and drawer fronts are flat panel with beaded Shaker style. Brass hardware and lighting adds warmth to the space. The beautiful new blue backsplash added a relaxing touch to the room. And the custom vent hood and quartzite countertops are also stunners. We were also able to keep elements that the homeowners loved, including their new refinished hardwood floors and wood wrapped kitchen island. Treating this renovation as a refacing saved our clients a lot of money. It was also more sustainable than a full remodel because refacing limited the amount of construction waste generated from the project.

Updated galley kitchen. Modern appliances, traditional meets contemporary.
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Designed by Daniel Altmann of Reico Kitchen & Bath, this Arlington, VA transitional inspired design of the kitchen and butler's pantry features Greenfield Cabinetry in the Jackson inset style door in 2 finishes. The perimeter cabinet features a Glacier finish while the kitchen island and butler's pantry in a Nebula finish. The countertops throughout the space feature engineered stone from Silestone in the color Pearl Jasmine. Kitchen appliances are by KitchenAid. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Committing to a kosher kitchen is quite a daunting undertaking and when you are also taking on a complete remodel, it can be overwhelming. It does not, however, have to be insurmountable. There are many resources to help guide you through the experience. Check out the internet and magazines to guide you. Once you have done the initial research, contact your Rabi with questions and for clarification on a kosher kitchen. Kosher requirements can vary differently between Orthodox, Conservatism, Ultra Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Your Rabi most likely will have a list of rules and guidelines. Also, hire a professional kitchen designer. They will not only be able to design the needs of a kosher kitchen but also make it personal to your needs and beautiful too. If the space and the budget allow, two distinct kitchens within one space is a possibility. A kosher kitchen requires stringent separation of meat and dairy items. Depending on the sect of Judaism you practice ------ Storage: The Storage areas need space for two sets of dishes, pots and pans, flatware, cups and utensils. You can combine the storage areas as long as there is a separation and that you do not mix service ware. A good recommendation is to color code your plates, flatware, table linen, pots. For example, red plates, gold-colored flatware, copper pots for meat items while dairy items have white plates, stainless flatware, stainless pots. You may want to label each area so when you have your new sister-in-law help in the kitchen; everything stays in the correct place. Appliances: When selecting appliances look for the STAR-K logo. This will help you determine to what extent an appliance is Kosher. Some ovens will have Sabbath modes where they will turn on automatically at a predetermined time. Once the oven is open, the oven turns off. Some refrigerators also have Sabbath modes where the ice maker turns off on the Sabbath and back on the following day. One refrigerator is usually sufficient provided all foods stay on the proper container in the proper section of the refrigerator. Having an immaculately clean refrigerator is a must if this is the case. You do not want spills from one food source contaminating food from the other. If you decide on two refrigerators, one can be full size while the other is smaller. A good kitchen designer can help assess your family’s needs to determine which is best for you. Dishwashers cannot be Kosher in most cases. You either need two dishwashers, separate compartment dishwashers as in dishwasher drawers or wash by hand. Look at Fisher Pikel or Kitchen Aid for dishwasher drawers. Each drawer is on separate controls. You can dedicate the top drawer for dairy while the bottom drawer is for meat service ware. If you have space and decide to have two dishwashers, you can get two 24” wide dishwashers. Another option is to have one full size dishwasher and supplement it with a small 18” wide dishwasher. Miele makes an 18” wide dishwasher that is super quiet and cleans dishes very well. You may also opt for a single dishwasher drawer in addition to a full sized dishwasher. A single Microwave oven can be used for milk and meat provided that a complete cover is used around the food. You will also need separate plastic plate’s places on the bottom or glass turn table. Keeping the unit clean is very important. Counter tops: Counter tops may or may not be able to be koshered depending on your sect. Simply having sets of trivets for dairy, meat and pareve (not meat or dairy) will provide adequate separation of foods. Sinks: If you can’t have two separate sinks, include three separate tubs to be places in the sink. Color code the tubs for meat, dairy and pareve. If you have one sink or a single divided sink, you will need to be cautious about splashing, to keep the meat and dairy particulates apart. You will also need space for separate dish cloths or sponges and dish towels. Again, color coding is extremely helpful and highly suggested. Must Haves: ~Storage space for two sets of dishes, flatware, pans bowls ~Color Code and label where appropriate ~Separate burners dedicate for either meat or dairy ~Separate clean up areas ~Clean environment to avoid contamination between meat and dairy ~A space that functions for how you cook ~A space that reflects you Design and remodel by Design Studio West Brady Architectural Photography

Jeff Beene Interior Design by Michelle Dolasinski with Passages Design Inc.
Example of a french country l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Phoenix with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Thse clients came to me for a kitchen refresh. Keeping the existing floor plan but updating as much as possible. After explaining my thoughts, they chose to go with a much larger project. The wall to the garage wash pushed bach 12" to allow for the island to happen. This almost couldn't happen as there is a support post in the garage we had to keep. I designed the last pantry area as on 10" deep, allowing us to conceal that behind the cabinets. Then, we opend up the wall to the dining room to make the rooms one large space. The wall to the family room was also openend up, leaving the half wall to allow for the kitchen eating area. They wanted to incorporate a bar area, without it feeling like a "bar" The fabulous tall custom unit houses their wine collection and then half of the dining room buffet area holds glassware and other bar items. I helped the clients with all of the design choices.We all wanted to keep the space classic, war, functional and with mixed materials. I chose to use the same countertop material for the backsplash, to keep the space feeling as large as possible.

John Evans
Example of a huge classic dark wood floor kitchen design in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, an island and stainless steel appliances

Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, stone tile backsplash, an island, shaker cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Custom maple kitchen in a 1920 Mediterranean Revival designed to coordinate with original butler's pantry. White painted shaker cabinets with statuary marble counters. Glass and polished nickel knobs. Dish washer drawers with panels. Wood bead board backspalsh, paired with white glass mosaic tiles behind sink. Waterworks bridge faucet and Rohl Shaw's Original apron front sink. Tyler Florence dinnerware. Glass canisters from West Elm. Wood and zinc monogram and porcelain blue floral fish from Anthropologie. Basket fromDean & Deluca, Napa. Navy stripe Madeleine Weinrib rug. Illy Espresso machine by Francis Francis. Claudia Uribe

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle. This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen. The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light! Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light. The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room. Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Bob Greenspan
Inspiration for a craftsman medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, blue backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: William Wright
Arts and crafts l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray backsplash