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

Salvaged chestnut creates a dramatic organic backsplash in this family, friendly euro-country kitchen. Seude finish soapstone quartz countertops add refinement and the warm shaker cabinets add a touch of classic country design. Glass front cabinets and a beverage center at the 'butler's pantry' create visual interest and functionality for a busy family. The horizontal picket tile backsplash is an effective counterpoint to the chestnut and its gloss finish is the perfect accent to the dark matte countertops. A large peninsula adds functional seating and serving space for entertaining. It's a light, bright and modern kitchen for a family living in their forever home.

This beautiful kitchen was renovated by one of our customers here in Vancouver. It features our taupe arabesque glass mosaic tile as the backsplash.
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Vancouver with gray backsplash and glass tile backsplash

This remodel went from a tiny corner bathroom, to a charming full master bathroom with a large walk in closet. The Master Bathroom was over sized so we took space from the bedroom and closets to create a double vanity space with herringbone glass tile backsplash. We were able to fit in a linen cabinet with the new master shower layout for plenty of built-in storage. The bathroom are tiled with hex marble tile on the floor and herringbone marble tiles in the shower. Paired with the brass plumbing fixtures and hardware this master bathroom is a show stopper and will be cherished for years to come. Space Plans & Design, Interior Finishes by Signature Designs Kitchen Bath. Photography Gail Owens

Photography: Christian Garibaldi
Bathroom - large traditional master stone tile and white tile marble floor bathroom idea in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

A modern, bright and white galley kitchen with large wooden island and a tile backsplash wall. The pantry and sink are to the side, making the kitchen a place for the family to spend. A new interpretation of utilitarian farm structures. This mountain modern home sits in the foothills of North Carolina and brings a distinctly modern element to a rural working farm. It got its name because it was built to structurally support a series of hammocks that can be hung when the homeowners family comes for extended stays biannually. The hammocks can easily be taken down or moved to a different location and allows the home to hold many people comfortably under one roof. 2016 Todd Crawford Photography

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.

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Architect: Becker Henson Niksto General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Example of a trendy concrete floor and gray floor powder room design in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

This stylish coastal kitchen features an oversized island, beautiful lantern pendants, a unique tile backsplash and white kitchen cabinets for a modern beach house vibe. There is storage to spare with a scullery off of the kitchen, with frosted glass sliding doors.

Light floods into this open kitchen and sparkles against the white backsplash tile and illuminates the red countertops. Photography by Chrissy Racho
Eat-in kitchen - scandinavian porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in Bridgeport with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This transitional kitchen combines warm wood tones with clean, timeless details. A wood island with storage and brass hardware anchors the space, paired with off-white stone countertops and counter stools featuring brass legs and black leather seats. White peripheral cabinetry and a stainless steel French-door refrigerator provide a crisp, functional backdrop, while a glossy gray subway tile backsplash and iron-and-glass pendants add subtle contrast. Sheer bamboo Roman shades softly filter light from the bay window above the sink, creating a bright, inviting kitchen perfect for both cooking and entertaining. Photo by Suzanna Scott.

Photography by Bob Narod, Photographer, LLC. Remodeled by Murphy's Design.
Open concept kitchen - large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in DC Metro with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and marble countertops

The client and I designed the kitchen and family rooms to be one large connected space. Here we are viewing the expansive island and onto the tiled backsplash of the cook top. Hannah, at J. Banks Designs, selected the special hanging light fixtures.

Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

We had the honor to work with one of the best tiles designer from U.S., Suzi Stern Portugal. She and her husband they bought a house a year ago in Toms River, NJ. They made all the necessary renovations and they design the house in such a way that you feel relaxed and calm, because they brought the outside colors in and everything matches very well. The blue of the ocean and the sky works beautifully as a backdrop to their open concept kitchen and because is so much light in this house, Suzi decided to use glass to reflect the light and to create a high-impact effect. They have an incredible view , but now the kitchen backsplash takes your eyes !

The open kitchen is the family gathering space. The banquette fits perfect by the rear facing windows. Flooring is reclaimed and paired with the gray cabinetry and walls to give a soft modern approach alongside the vintage appeal of the subway tiled wall and school house lights.

This kitchen has a large island and plenty of cabinet storage. Photos by Chris Veith.
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped brown floor and dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, beige cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops