One small window, faux woodgrain cabinets and lots of doors made this closed-off Arlington kitchen feel dark and drab, the total opposite of the vibrant young family of four that lives here. To brighten and open up the small kitchen, we removed the wall separating the dining room, expanded the window above the sink and installed a French door to let even more light in from an adjoining sun room. Light now pours into the kitchen, making it feel welcoming, airy and bright. To accommodate the expanded kitchen, we removed a hulking set of built-ins from the dining room which provided two extra feet to work with. The larger footprint allowed us to relocate major appliances and provide a generous amount of storage and prep space including a food safe butcher block to the right of the range. Natural wood elements such as the chopping block, reclaimed shelves and beautiful new floors add character and warmth to the all-white kitchen. One of the must-haves in this renovation was a farmhouse sink which is a great way to maximize function when a smaller sink base is used. We opted to take the tile backsplash all the way to the ceiling along the window wall, creating a more polished look with the added bonus of making the ceiling feel taller. The subway tiles’ subtle texture adds depth to the simple white-on-white motif and the change to a herringbone pattern behind the range adds visual interest without feeling too busy. A crisp white backdrop is perfect for adding pops of color with dishware, accessories and the family’s vintage stand mixer. The newly renovated kitchen-dining area is much better suited for this family’s active lifestyle and the updated design now complements the rest of their stylish home. Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Huge trendy master black and white tile and ceramic tile white floor bathroom photo in Cincinnati with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls and a vessel sink

Mountain View Modern master bath with curbless shower, bamboo cabinets and double trough sink. Green Heath Ceramics tile on shower wall, also in shower niche (reflected in mirror) Exposed beams and skylight in ceiling. Photography: Mark Pinkerton VI360

Photo by Amanda Kirkpatrick
Example of an urban white tile and subway tile multicolored floor bathroom design in Austin with a vessel sink, wood countertops, a one-piece toilet and brown countertops

Klopf Architecture and Jesse Ososki Art remodeled an existing Eichler atrium home into a brighter, more open, and more functional version of its original self. The goals were to preserve the Eichler look and feel without the need to strictly adhere to it. The scope of work included re-configuring the master bedroom/bath, the kitchen, and the hall bath/laundry area, as well as updating interior finishes throughout to be more sophisticated. The owners are detail-oriented and were very involved in the design process, down to the selection of lighting controls and stainless steel faceplates.Their design aesthetic leans toward the Scandinavian — light and bright, with simple straight lines and pure geometric shapes. The finish flooring is large porcelain tile (24” x 24”) in a neutral grey tone, providing a uniform backdrop against which other materials can stand out. The same tile continues into the shower floor (with a different finish texture for slip-resistance) and up the shower/tub walls (in a smaller size). Heath Classic Field ceramic tile in Modern Blue was used sparingly, to add color at the hall bath vanity backsplash and at the shampoo niches in both bathrooms. Back-painted soda glass in pale blue to match the Heath tile was used at the kitchen backsplash. This same accent color was also used at the front entry atrium door. Kitchen cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and light fixtures are all white, making the kitchen feel more airy and light. Countertops are Caesarstone Blizzard. The owners chose to keep some of the original Eichler elements: the concrete masonry fireplace; the stained tongue-and-groove redwood ceiling decking; and the luan wall paneling. The luan paneling was lightly sanded, cleaned, and re-stained. The owners also kept an added element that was installed by a previous owner: sliding shoji panels at all bedroom windows and sliding glass doors, for both privacy and sun control. Grooves were cut into the new tile flooring for the shoji panels to slide in, creating a more integrated look. Walnut was used to add warmth and contrast at the kitchen bar top and niche, the bathroom vanities, and the window sill/ledge under the kitchen window. This Burlingame Eichler Remodel is a 2,121 sf, 4 bedroom/2 bath home located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane and Yegvenia Torres Zavala Contractor: Jesse Ososki Art Structural Engineer: Emmanuel Pun Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed Location: Burlingame, CA Year completed: 2017

Photo: Karen Melvin
Elegant kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets and marble countertops

Tricia Shay Photography
Living room - large contemporary formal and open concept concrete floor and brown floor living room idea in Milwaukee with white walls

Kate Falconer Photography
Example of a large eclectic terra-cotta tile eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with an integrated sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

Tony Marinella
Example of a farmhouse l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and an island

Like most of our projects, we can't gush about this reno—a new kitchen and mudroom, ensuite closet and pantry—without gushing about the people who live there. The best projects, we always say, are the ones in which client, contractor and design team are all present throughout, conception to completion, each bringing their particular expertise to the table and forming a cohesive, trustworthy team that is mutually invested in a smooth and successful process. They listen to each other, give the benefit of the doubt to each other, do what they say they'll do. This project exemplified that kind of team, and it shows in the results. Most obvious is the opening up of the kitchen to the dining room, decompartmentalizing somewhat a century-old bungalow that was originally quite purposefully compartmentalized. As a result, the kitchen had to become a place one wanted to see clear through from the front door. Inset cabinets and carefully selected details make the functional heart of the house equal in elegance to the more "public" gathering spaces, with their craftsman depth and detail. An old back porch was converted to interior space, creating a mudroom and a much-needed ensuite walk-in closet. A new, larger deck went on: Phase One of an extensive design for outdoor living, that we all hope will be realized over the next few years. Finally, a duplicative back stairwell was repurposed into a walk-in pantry. Modernizing often means opening spaces up for more casual living and entertaining, and/or making better use of dead space. In this re-conceptualized old house, we did all of that, creating a back-of-the-house that is now bright and cheerful and new, while carefully incorporating meaningful vintage and personal elements. The best result of all: the clients are thrilled. And everyone who went in to the project came out of it friends. Contractor: Stumpner Building Services Cabinetry: Stoll’s Woodworking Photographer: Gina Rogers

Angle Eye Photgraphy
Inspiration for a large timeless l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops and stone slab backsplash

Photo: Vicki Bodine
Inspiration for a large farmhouse u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and marble countertops

Amy Braswell
Example of a classic u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, blue cabinets, concrete countertops and stainless steel appliances

While the existing upstairs sitting room was spacious and welcoming, with a panoramic view of Golden Gate Bridge, Ghirardelli Square and Alcatraz, the sole bathroom on the floor and an adjacent dressing room, situated in the center, were dark and claustrophobic, with no view. We proposed enclosing a small deck to create a bright 90 sq. ft. en-suite master bath, a new dressing area, and a powder room accessible from the hallway. The challenge was to make a room feel big without the benefit of a view. We saw this project as nestling a master bath in the trees, playing with the variegated light in the foliage and creating an indoor/outdoor shower experience. Blue sky and lush trees are visible from the shower through a large picture window, while light filtered by the greenery splashes over the counter through a long, low view window. A new skylight straddles the master bath and the powder room. Transom glass around the perimeter of the powder room allows glimpses of light bouncing through both the bath and the powder room as well as the new dressing area.

Windows and door panels reaching for the 12 foot ceilings flood this kitchen with natural light. Custom stainless cabinetry with an integral sink and commercial style faucet carry out the industrial theme of the space. Photo by Lincoln Barber

Small kitchen remodel is transformed into a European style with antique marble floors from France, custom detailed cabinetry, white marble countertops, steel windows and accent lighting.

Sequined Asphault Studio
Kitchen - transitional dark wood floor kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and gray backsplash

This traditional kitchen was inspired by memories of the owners farmhouse kitchen, Photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and an island

This is a SMALL bathroom with a lot of punch! The double sink was painted black on the base to tie into the black accents on the floor. The subway tile was added to protect the space and make it super kid proof, since this is the bathroom closest to the pool! Joe Kwon Photography