Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

Pamper the cook in your kitchen with a beautiful walk-in pantry. Shown here in Driftwood, it blends gracefully into your home, multiplying your storage space to keep countertops clear and make way for prepping food and entertaining. Tall shelving towers and deep corner shelves can be stocked with your favorite groceries, small appliances, and cookbooks. A built-in wine rack and stemware holder stores bottles above and glasses below, keeping them safe and convenient to reach. Tray dividers store cookie sheets, cutting boards, and platters on their sides to maximize storage space, and slide-out wire baskets keep produce visible and easily accessible.

Blane Balduf
Kitchen pantry - large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen pantry idea in Dallas with white cabinets and open cabinets

Cabinets are Mission-Painted-Stone Finish
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash and an island

Transitional kitchen pantry photo in Nashville

2018 Artisan Home Tour Photo: LandMark Photography Builder: City Homes, LLC
Example of a classic l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry design in Minneapolis with open cabinets, white cabinets and brown countertops

Reach-in closet - small traditional gender-neutral reach-in closet idea in New York

Weiller - 2014
Elegant laundry room photo in San Francisco with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Example of a small gender-neutral vinyl floor and brown floor reach-in closet design in Cleveland with white cabinets

View of the the design combines delicate curves that evoke Spanish colonial architecture with soft hues of pink sand and natural woods. Neutral finishes and subtle textures create a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere.

Large country light wood floor and beige floor closet photo in New York with open cabinets and white cabinets

Paige Pennington
Kitchen pantry - large contemporary porcelain tile kitchen pantry idea in Kansas City with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

2018 Artisan Home Tour Photo: LandMark Photography Builder: City Homes, LLC
Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Example of a classic dark wood floor kitchen pantry design in Other with open cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Elegant closet photo in New York

Mid-sized elegant single-wall light wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Charleston with open cabinets and white cabinets

Example of a classic home design design in Other

Mid-sized trendy u-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry photo in Santa Barbara with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

This album is to show some of the basic closet configurations, because the majority of our closets are not five figure master walk-ins. Here we have a large reach-in pantry. Radius corner shelves maximize usable area, and are also adjustable to accommodate items of different sizes.