This kitchen is harmonious with adjacent spaces to bring in a touch of aqua and reintroducing a brown tone which repeats at the stairs and living room wall. The kitchen is an architectural statement with hidden and motorized cabinets.

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black countertops, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash and no island

Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall light wood floor and beige floor wet bar remodel in Austin with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray backsplash and black countertops

Photographer: Moris Moreno Architect is Traction Architecture, LLC
Trendy l-shaped kitchen photo in Tampa with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary galley porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and quartz countertops

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Aaron Leitz Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

This project was an interior refurbishment of a Vancouver Special. The driving focus was a space which is clean and simple, in order to serve as a backdrop for the homeowners' modern living. The intention was to create a canvas to showcase the Owners' furniture, art and objects and have space for their growing family while staying budget conscious. Photos by Laura Jaramillo

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.

Mid-sized trendy guest light wood floor and beige floor bedroom photo in Denver with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a trendy kitchen design

Trendy light wood floor kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a modern galley light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, no island and gray countertops

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized 1950s u-shaped brown floor and medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island, white countertops, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, ceramic backsplash and solid surface countertops

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, an island, gray countertops, white cabinets and white backsplash

Bathroom - mid-sized modern black and white tile single-sink, mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Phoenix with concrete countertops, black countertops and a wall-mount sink

Jon Encarnacion Photography
Kitchen - contemporary l-shaped light wood floor kitchen idea in Orange County with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Eat-in kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, solid surface countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Contemporary kitchen remodel in Chicago Lincoln Park has clean lines with angular waterfall countertop on the island, flat panel/slab cabinetry with mixed wood finishes. Stained cabinets have push latch drawers and white painted cabinetry has sleek modern hardware. Custom Range hood has stainless steel accents. Norman Sizemore-photographer