The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept ceramic tile living room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, no fireplace and a media wall

An abrupt curvature in the faucet interrupts the straight lines in this kitchen's design. It is tempting for the user to come forward and give it a good spray.

Photo of a large traditional full sun side yard brick driveway in Austin for winter.

Transitional kitchen photo in DC Metro

The original house was demolished to make way for a two-story house on the sloping lot, with an accessory dwelling unit below. The upper level of the house, at street level, has three bedrooms, a kitchen and living room. The “great room” opens onto an ocean-view deck through two large pocket doors. The master bedroom can look through the living room to the same view. The owners, acting as their own interior designers, incorporated lots of color with wallpaper accent walls in each bedroom, and brilliant tiles in the bathrooms, kitchen, and at the fireplace tiles in the bathrooms, kitchen, and at the fireplace. Architect: Thompson Naylor Architects Photographs: Jim Bartsch Photographer

Devin Kimmel of Kimmel Studio Architects designed this custom staircase. Note how your eye is tempted to follow the elegant lines of the hand-wrought iron railings. The staircase complements the also black steel windows. Bluestone flooring completes the ensemble.

jeff herr photography
Transitional master white tile marble floor doorless shower photo in Atlanta with a pedestal sink

Bernard Andre
Inspiration for a mid-sized victorian u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, gray backsplash, black appliances, an island, raised-panel cabinets, quartz countertops and stone slab backsplash

Happy Friday!!! What are your weekend plans? Will you be visiting Prima Lighting? Our showroom looks pretty tempting.

Create intrigue with charming gates into hedged gardens ... tempting visitors to explore what secrets lie beyond. (Photo by RStarovich)
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional full sun garden path in Chicago for summer.

This late 70's ranch style home was recently renovated with a clean, modern twist on the ranch style architecture of the existing residence. AquaTerra was hired to create the entire outdoor environment including the new pool and spa. Similar to the renovated home, this aquatic environment was designed to take a traditional pool and gives it a clean, modern twist. The site proved to be perfect for a long, sweeping curved water feature that can be seen from all of the outdoor gathering spaces as well as many rooms inside the residence. This design draws people outside and allows them to explore all of the features of the pool and outdoor spaces. Features of this resort like outdoor environment include: -Play pool with two lounge areas with LED lit bubblers -Pebble Tec Pebble Sheen Luminous series pool finish -Lightstreams glass tile -spa with six custom copper Bobe water spillway scuppers -water feature wall with three custom copper Bobe water scuppers -Fully automated with Pentair Equipment -LED lighting throughout the pool and spa -Gathering space with automated fire pit -Lounge deck area -Synthetic turf between step pads and deck -Gourmet outdoor kitchen to meet all the entertaining needs. This outdoor environment cohesively brings the clean & modern finishes of the renovated home seamlessly to the outdoors to a pool and spa for play, exercise and relaxation. Photography: Daniel Driensky

Breakfast nook - contemporary multicolored floor breakfast nook idea in San Francisco with beige walls

Mark Woods
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary detached one-car garage remodel in Seattle

The Kitchen and Entry Foyer tucked under the wood loft
Open concept kitchen - small modern galley concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen idea in Portland with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This garden is newly planted and the grasses will fill the spaces creating a separation and to see behind more you are tempted to walk...

Large trendy freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room photo in Orange County with beige walls, a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large white tile and stone slab marble floor alcove bathtub remodel in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and blue walls

Sebastian Zachariah
Inspiration for a large transitional formal and enclosed marble floor living room remodel in Mumbai with beige walls and no tv