Nadia Gottfried
Double shower - contemporary master gray tile and pebble tile porcelain tile double shower idea in Calgary with recessed-panel cabinets, white walls, marble countertops and an undermount sink

Stainless steel appliances help to add a touch of sophistication to the space. A contemporary white kitchen with white custom shaker style cabinets, white granite and custom lit light box upper cabinets. All put together with a pop of blue.

Kitchen - transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a classic kitchen design in Santa Barbara

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Bedroom - transitional carpeted bedroom idea in San Francisco with gray walls and no fireplace

In the beach-side town of Asbury Park, New Jersey, stands Palomino Blackwing, a newly renovated 1920s Art Deco building. Now home to 23 modern duplex apartments, the building was designed with sustainable living in mind. Rather than seeking more space, the ideal design was shifted to using space ingeniously. Some highlights of each unit include: The Atoll 000 sofa/wall bed system transforms the living room into a guest bedroom for two when needed. A Lollisoft bunk bed system with a desk, which allows the downstairs flex space to function in multiple ways as needed: a home office/work space, lounge, or bedroom for two. The two steel frame, single beds easily fold down and comfortably accommodate two children or adults. Goliath transforming Console/Dining Table eliminates the need for a separate dining room, yet can easily accommodate up to 10 people. Folding Pocket Chairs that are less than 1” deep when closed; 8 chairs are stored on a rack less than 5.5” deep and hung on the wall above the Goliath.

Powder room - mid-sized 3/4 light wood floor powder room idea in Milwaukee with a two-piece toilet and blue walls

Property Type: Single Family Total Rooms: 10 Total Bedrooms: 5 Total Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half Water Frontage: None Water Views: Ocean Second Dwelling: Existing Zoning: RES. Lot Size: 2.00 acres. Total Sq. Feet (ELA): 2,610 sq. feet. Year Built: 1990. Water/Sewer: Well / Septic. 2015 Assessment: $ 1,744,700. Land Assessment: $ 1,150,000. Build Assessment: $ 594,700. Estimated Taxes: $ 5,000

Committing to a kosher kitchen is quite a daunting undertaking and when you are also taking on a complete remodel, it can be overwhelming. It does not, however, have to be insurmountable. There are many resources to help guide you through the experience. Check out the internet and magazines to guide you. Once you have done the initial research, contact your Rabi with questions and for clarification on a kosher kitchen. Kosher requirements can vary differently between Orthodox, Conservatism, Ultra Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Your Rabi most likely will have a list of rules and guidelines. Also, hire a professional kitchen designer. They will not only be able to design the needs of a kosher kitchen but also make it personal to your needs and beautiful too. If the space and the budget allow, two distinct kitchens within one space is a possibility. A kosher kitchen requires stringent separation of meat and dairy items. Depending on the sect of Judaism you practice ------ Storage: The Storage areas need space for two sets of dishes, pots and pans, flatware, cups and utensils. You can combine the storage areas as long as there is a separation and that you do not mix service ware. A good recommendation is to color code your plates, flatware, table linen, pots. For example, red plates, gold-colored flatware, copper pots for meat items while dairy items have white plates, stainless flatware, stainless pots. You may want to label each area so when you have your new sister-in-law help in the kitchen; everything stays in the correct place. Appliances: When selecting appliances look for the STAR-K logo. This will help you determine to what extent an appliance is Kosher. Some ovens will have Sabbath modes where they will turn on automatically at a predetermined time. Once the oven is open, the oven turns off. Some refrigerators also have Sabbath modes where the ice maker turns off on the Sabbath and back on the following day. One refrigerator is usually sufficient provided all foods stay on the proper container in the proper section of the refrigerator. Having an immaculately clean refrigerator is a must if this is the case. You do not want spills from one food source contaminating food from the other. If you decide on two refrigerators, one can be full size while the other is smaller. A good kitchen designer can help assess your family’s needs to determine which is best for you. Dishwashers cannot be Kosher in most cases. You either need two dishwashers, separate compartment dishwashers as in dishwasher drawers or wash by hand. Look at Fisher Pikel or Kitchen Aid for dishwasher drawers. Each drawer is on separate controls. You can dedicate the top drawer for dairy while the bottom drawer is for meat service ware. If you have space and decide to have two dishwashers, you can get two 24” wide dishwashers. Another option is to have one full size dishwasher and supplement it with a small 18” wide dishwasher. Miele makes an 18” wide dishwasher that is super quiet and cleans dishes very well. You may also opt for a single dishwasher drawer in addition to a full sized dishwasher. A single Microwave oven can be used for milk and meat provided that a complete cover is used around the food. You will also need separate plastic plate’s places on the bottom or glass turn table. Keeping the unit clean is very important. Counter tops: Counter tops may or may not be able to be koshered depending on your sect. Simply having sets of trivets for dairy, meat and pareve (not meat or dairy) will provide adequate separation of foods. Sinks: If you can’t have two separate sinks, include three separate tubs to be places in the sink. Color code the tubs for meat, dairy and pareve. If you have one sink or a single divided sink, you will need to be cautious about splashing, to keep the meat and dairy particulates apart. You will also need space for separate dish cloths or sponges and dish towels. Again, color coding is extremely helpful and highly suggested. Must Haves: ~Storage space for two sets of dishes, flatware, pans bowls ~Color Code and label where appropriate ~Separate burners dedicate for either meat or dairy ~Separate clean up areas ~Clean environment to avoid contamination between meat and dairy ~A space that functions for how you cook ~A space that reflects you Design and remodel by Design Studio West Brady Architectural Photography

Looking for a nice clean crown molding, but what something different? These homeowners did just that with a simple clean flat molding applied to the wall and ceiling to create this look.

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized farmhouse single-wall slate floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, limestone countertops, blue backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo credit: Nat Rea Photography
Trendy living room photo in Boston

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2013 Houzz
Traditional one-story brick exterior home idea in Dallas

The juxtaposition of raw, weathered and finished woods with sleek whites, mixed metals and soft textured elements strike a fabulous balance between industrial, rustic and glamorous – exactly what the designers envisioned for this dream retreat. This unique home’s design combines recycled shipping containers with traditional stick-building methods and resulted in a luxury hybrid home, inside and out. The design team was particularly challenged with overcoming various preconceived notions about containers to truly create something new, luxurious and sustainable.

Mountain style living room photo in Baltimore

Recessed soffit with LED lighting Porcelain tile with woodgrain Custom front door #buildboswell
Inspiration for a large contemporary porcelain tile great room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

Study room - transitional carpeted study room idea in New York with white walls and no fireplace

From kitchen looking in to the great room.
Example of a mid-sized classic open concept laminate floor and brown floor family room design in Boise with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv