A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

Inspiration for a cottage laundry room remodel in Nashville

Michael Gotowala founder of THE HOME OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE. The BEST IN OUTDOOR KITCHENS by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE.Outdoor Living Country Fabulous The difference between outdoor living and living outdoors fabulously begins with a fabulous design and ends with meticulous workmanship. This multi level outdoor Living country fabulous outdoor kitchen with lower level outdoor great room does just that. The towering stone outdoor kitchen island is seen protruding above the upper level deck with enough room for sit up surround amongst the large full slabs of granite counter. The L shaped outdoor kitchen is complete with a DCS 36" grill head, ALFRESCO power burner, TRUE BEVERAGE outdoor refrigerator, Trash pull all inline with BROWN JORDAN OUTDOOR CABINETRY. Opposite side on the Upper level is an outdoor bar with ALFRESCO Ice bin and beverage center along side a TRUE Wine Cooler. Connecting the sprawling Outdoor kitchen island to the Outdoor beverage center over looking the Pool is Mahogany Deck posts and Black Fiberglass rails allowing the landscape to appear as you see it in the pictures very surreal. Underneath the mahogany deck is a weather proof and waterproof system allowing the lower level to stand high and dry as a great space to live beyond the walls of your home outdoors. This Great outdoor space adorned with outdoor zero clearance fireplace, curved granite dining booth, Heat, lighting, and TV make this a great outdoor room to spend endless hours outdoors no matter what the weather throws at you, Day or night during any of the four seasons Connecticut deserves. This blending of Stone towers, stone columns and Mahogany accented Deck makes outdoor living look and entertain fabulously. To live beyond the walls of your own home fabulously you must feel fabulous about your space. If not, reconsider your design. Call us today at 1-855-GET OUTDOORS. For more great outdoor kitchen ideas go to www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE

Patrick Coulie
Huge trendy freestanding bathtub photo in Albuquerque with brown walls

An historic Spanish Colonial residence built in 1925 being redesigned and furnished for a modern-day Southern California family was the challenge. The interiors of the main house needed the backgrounds set and then a timeless collection created for its furnishings. Lifestyle was always a consideration as well as the interiors relating to the strong architecture of the residence. Natural colors such as terra cotta, tans, blues, greens, old red and soft vintage shades were incorporated throughout. Our goal was to maintain the historic character of the residence combining design elements and materials considered classic in Southern California Spanish Colonial architecture. Natural fiber textiles, leathers and woven linens were the predominated upholstery choices. A 7000 square foot basement was added and furnished to provide a gym, Star Wars theater, game areas, spa area and a simulator for indoor golf and other sports. Antiques were selected throughout the world, fine art from major galleries, custom reproductions fabricated in the old-world style. Collectible carpets were selected for the reclaimed hardwood flooring in all the areas. An estancia and garden over the basement were created and furnished with old world designs and materials as reclaimed woods, terra cotta and French limestone flooring.

Eat-in kitchen - large modern l-shaped slate floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Donna Dotan Photography
Example of an eclectic family room library design in New York with gray walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Photography: Anice Hoachlander
Inspiration for a coastal exterior home remodel in DC Metro

Mountain style family room photo in Portland

Longleaf Lumber reclaimed Heart Pine flooring in a Cold Spring Harbor, New York home. The floor is clear quartersawn Heart Pine, with almost zero knots or nailholes, making it an elegant, sophisticated, and warming floor, perfect for modern and traditional applications.

Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun side yard mulch landscaping in Burlington for fall.

Dedicated laundry room - large transitional galley porcelain tile and gray floor dedicated laundry room idea in Dallas with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige countertops

Example of a mountain style master freestanding bathtub design in Other

Interior photography of EM Interiors Chicago's spring 2015 One Room Challenge. Calling It Home's One Room Challenge is a biannual design event that challenges 20 design bloggers to transform a space over the course of the month. Photography ©2015 by Kelly Peloza Photo

Cottage u-shaped porcelain tile and black floor utility room photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, marble countertops, white walls, an integrated washer/dryer and white countertops

Photo: Elaine Musiwa © 2015 Houzz
Living room - eclectic living room idea in New York

Mid-sized 1960s formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in Tampa with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

A classic 1925 Colonial Revival bungalow in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles restored and enlarged by Tim Braseth of ArtCraft Homes completed in 2013. Originally a 2 bed/1 bathroom house, it was enlarged with the addition of a master suite for a total of 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Original vintage details such as a Batchelder tile fireplace with flanking built-ins and original oak flooring are complemented by an all-new vintage-style kitchen with butcher block countertops, hex-tiled bathrooms with beadboard wainscoting and subway tile showers, and French doors leading to a redwood deck overlooking a fully-fenced and gated backyard. The new master retreat features a vaulted ceiling, oversized walk-in closet, and French doors to the backyard deck. Remodeled by ArtCraft Homes. Kitchen by Ikea. Staged by ArtCraft Collection. Photography by Larry Underhill.

Tim Williams Photography
Bathroom - large transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom idea in New York with a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a vessel sink and concrete countertops