Open concept kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Fully custom designed kitchen. Horizontal grain of American Walnut with solid Anegre raised eating bar are modern yet warm response to it's space. *illustrated images are from participated project while working with: Openspace Architecture Inc.

Photograph by Pete Sieger
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized country l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, brown backsplash, white appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped beige floor open concept kitchen remodel in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized country u-shaped gray floor and porcelain tile kitchen pantry design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops and no island

Kitchen - mid-sized contemporary single-wall light wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped brown floor and dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, white backsplash, an island, white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Stone House LLC
Mid-sized trendy u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in DC Metro with beige backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops and paneled appliances

Hannah Gilker Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER. 2018 NKBA Design Competition Best Overall Kitchen. 2018 TIDA International USA Kitchen of the Year. 2018 Best Traditional Kitchen - Westchester Home Magazine design awards. The designer's own kitchen was gutted and renovated in 2017, with a focus on classic materials and thoughtful storage. The 1920s craftsman home has been in the family since 1940, and every effort was made to keep finishes and details true to the original construction. For sources, please see the website at www.studiodearborn.com. Photography, Adam Kane Macchia and Timothy Lenz

Project Developer Lisa Magee http://www.houzz.com/pro/cortrig7/lisa-magee-case-design-remodeling Designer Micaela Mendoza http://www.houzz.com/pro/micaeladeegan/micaela-mendoza-case-design-remodeling-inc Project Manager Loren Sanders Photographer Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Photo: Joyelle West
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with blue cabinets, terra-cotta backsplash, an island, raised-panel cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash and an island

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, recessed-panel cabinets and no island

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic u-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Dallas with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized mountain style u-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen design in Dallas with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Mid-sized trendy galley dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, mosaic tile backsplash, granite countertops, an island and green countertops