Cooking for Two Location: Plymouth, MN, United States When this couple’s last child graduated from college they began the process of looking for a new home. After a lengthy search they decided to stay with the neighborhood they loved, saving money by remodeling rather than starting over. The top priorities on their wish list were adding character to their 1990’s era home with a classic white kitchen and a larger island while keeping within the existing footprint. With the intention of honing their cooking skills, they were also considering better appliances and two ovens. Challenges and Solutions Design a larger island with seating for at least two. The existing island was small and the area behind the seating was less than recommended clearances. To solve this challenge, the seating area of the island was extended out into the open area of the kitchen. This created a larger island with seating for three, extra storage and a bookshelf across from the range. The original kitchen had a range with microwave above, so adding another oven was a challenge with limited wall space. Because the adjoining dining room is used infrequently, the homeowner was open to placing the second oven and microwave in the walkway. This made room for the small buffet between the built in refrigerator and ovens, creating one of her favorite areas. The client requested a white painted kitchen but wanted to make sure it had warmth and character. To achieve this the following elements were chosen: 1) Cabinets painted with Benjamin Moore Capitol White, a luminous and warm shade of white. 2) The Range hood was painted with warm metallic shades to reflect the bronze of the Ashley Norton hardware. 3) Black Aqua Grantique granite was chosen for countertops because it looks like soapstone and adds contrast. 4) Walker Zanger Café tile in Latte was chosen for it’s handmade look with uneven edges. 5) The to-the-counter-cabinet with glass door shows off serving dishes and lends sophisticated charm. The result is a welcoming classic kitchen, where this couple enjoys cooking more often and sharpening their skills with gourmet appliances. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg Photography

Modern cabinetry by Wood Mode Custom Cabinets, Frameless construction in Vista Plus door style, Maple wood species with a Matte Eclipse finish, dimensional wall tile Boreal Engineered Marble by Giovanni Barbieri, LED backlit lighting.

Flower lover garden David Morello
Photo of a mid-sized craftsman front yard stone flower bed in Houston for summer.

Tommy Daspit
Mid-sized elegant white two-story brick exterior home photo in Birmingham

Design by Joanna Hartman Photography by Ryann Ford Styling by Adam Fortner This space features shaker-style cabinets by Amazonia Cabinetry, hardware from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn selected by PPOC, Crema Marfil Honed 12x12 floor tile and Rittenhouse 3x6 white gloss backsplash tile, and Benjamin Moore "Stonington Gray" for the accent wall.

The best of past and present architectural styles combine in this welcoming, farmhouse-inspired design. Clad in low-maintenance siding, the distinctive exterior has plenty of street appeal, with its columned porch, multiple gables, shutters and interesting roof lines. Other exterior highlights included trusses over the garage doors, horizontal lap siding and brick and stone accents. The interior is equally impressive, with an open floor plan that accommodates today’s family and modern lifestyles. An eight-foot covered porch leads into a large foyer and a powder room. Beyond, the spacious first floor includes more than 2,000 square feet, with one side dominated by public spaces that include a large open living room, centrally located kitchen with a large island that seats six and a u-shaped counter plan, formal dining area that seats eight for holidays and special occasions and a convenient laundry and mud room. The left side of the floor plan contains the serene master suite, with an oversized master bath, large walk-in closet and 16 by 18-foot master bedroom that includes a large picture window that lets in maximum light and is perfect for capturing nearby views. Relax with a cup of morning coffee or an evening cocktail on the nearby covered patio, which can be accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. Upstairs, an additional 900 square feet includes two 11 by 14-foot upper bedrooms with bath and closet and a an approximately 700 square foot guest suite over the garage that includes a relaxing sitting area, galley kitchen and bath, perfect for guests or in-laws.

All white kitchen with white moldings and cabinetry, wood top island, wide plank wood flooring, brass hardware. Farmhouse style kitchen.
Example of a large french country l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen design in St Louis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Elegant purple stone gable roof photo in Seattle

Inspiration for a huge mediterranean open concept kitchen remodel in San Diego with an island

Lisa Romerein
Living room - cottage open concept living room idea in San Francisco with beige walls

Jane Beiles
Kitchen - transitional dark wood floor kitchen idea in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Homegrown Decor, Interior Design; Stu Estler, Photography
Example of a transitional dark wood floor family room design in DC Metro with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Nora Best
Elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

My clients had outgrown their builder’s basic home and had plenty of room to expand on their 10 acres. Working with a local architect and a talented contractor, we designed an addition to create 3 new bedrooms, a bathroom scaled for all 3 girls, a playroom and a master retreat including 3 fireplaces, sauna, steam shower, office or “creative room”, and large bedroom with folding glass wall to capitalize on their view. The master suite, gym, pool and tennis courts are still under construction, but the girls’ suite and living room space are complete and dust free. Each child’s room was designed around their preference of color scheme and each girl has a unique feature that makes their room truly their own. The oldest daughter has a secret passage hidden behind what looks like built in cabinetry. The youngest daughter wanted to “swing”, so we outfitted her with a hanging bed set in front of a custom mural created by a Spanish artist. The middle daughter is an elite gymnast, so we added monkey bars so she can cruise her room in style. The girls’ bathroom suite has 3 identical “stations” with abundant storage. Cabinetry in black walnut and peacock blue and white quartz counters with white marble backsplash are durable and beautiful. Two shower stalls, designed with a colorful and intricate tile design, prevent bathroom wait times and a custom wall mural brings a little of the outdoors in. Photos by Mike Martin www.martinvisualtours.com

David Duncan Livingston
Alcove shower - mid-sized farmhouse master white tile and subway tile dark wood floor alcove shower idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

This custom walk in closet has been designed by Lux Design, to reflect the high end style of the home owners. Beautiful pendant fixture have been selected to add additional lighting to the space, as well as complete the glamorous feel of the room. Subtle pink accents added for the perfect feminine touch.

kitchendesigns.com Designed by Mario Mulea at Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. Cabinetry: Brookhaven by Wood Mode
Example of a large classic u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, beige backsplash, black appliances and an island

Lavender walls add a soft glow. Very spa like. White Glassos floor tile with silver leaf 1-in tile border. Wall tile from walker Zanger's Moderne collection. Rainshower showerhead with wall mounted hand held shower.

This spectacular kitchen reflects a great mix of wood and painted finishes. Appliances include a built-in coffeemaker and steam oven. Paneled Subzero 27" refrigerator/freezer units mimic the look of furniture. Accents of polished stainless on the cabinetry complete the sophisticated look.