Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Christian Santiago
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room remodel in Miami with white walls

Example of a mountain style basement design in Cincinnati

Photographer: Drew Kelly
Example of a transitional master medium tone wood floor bedroom design in San Francisco with blue walls

Hidenao Abe
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial ceramic tile and multicolored floor kitchen remodel in New York with marble countertops, white backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Large elegant wooden l-shaped staircase photo in Cincinnati with painted risers

Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in Kansas City with a pergola.

Photo Credit: Matthew Williams
Inspiration for a transitional white tile and subway tile multicolored floor alcove bathtub remodel in New York with a wall-mount sink

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Living room - large transitional formal and enclosed brown floor and medium tone wood floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

We completely renovated this space for an episode of HGTV House Hunters Renovation. The kitchen was originally a galley kitchen. We removed a wall between the DR and the kitchen to open up the space. We used a combination of countertops in this kitchen. To give a buffer to the wood counters, we used slabs of marble each side of the sink. This adds interest visually and helps to keep the water away from the wood counters. We used blue and cream for the cabinetry which is a lovely, soft mix and wood shelving to match the wood counter tops. To complete the eclectic finishes we mixed gold light fixtures and cabinet hardware with black plumbing fixtures and shelf brackets.

Susan Teare Photography
Example of a country family room design in Burlington

Photo of a North Dallas kitchen after the family room wall was completely removed. The result is a game-changing complete transformation into "Todays lifestyle." Removing walls partially or totally is in demand due to the changes in our modern architecture and quickly demonstrates how far your home can escape the 70's, 80's and 90's. Design and construction by USI. **See before images @ www.usiremodeling.com

In the living room, a white Perennials upholstered sofa with large chevron patterned chartreuse pillows accompanied by a mod needlepoint Jonathan Adler pillow sits next to graphic patterned black and white barrel-back swivel chairs covered in outdoor fabric, and a white modern coffee table rests on a striped black and white rug. A large spherical white pendant light fixture from the 1970s is suspended above it all. More color was added to the room with the yellow media cabinet and the bright abstract painting hung above it.

A stunning landscape filled with traditional elements throughout. Knot gardens, formal boxwood gardens with a water feature at the center, dining under a plush pergola, and seating from front to back to enjoy every space. Multiple levels are created in the landscape with raised beds and views from the upper terrace. Extensive perennial beds fill the distance with color and texture. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Jim Brady
Eat-in kitchen - contemporary eat-in kitchen idea in San Diego

The 800 square-foot guest cottage is located on the footprint of a slightly smaller original cottage that was built three generations ago. With a failing structural system, the existing cottage had a very low sloping roof, did not provide for a lot of natural light and was not energy efficient. Utilizing high performing windows, doors and insulation, a total transformation of the structure occurred. A combination of clapboard and shingle siding, with standout touches of modern elegance, welcomes guests to their cozy retreat. The cottage consists of the main living area, a small galley style kitchen, master bedroom, bathroom and sleeping loft above. The loft construction was a timber frame system utilizing recycled timbers from the Balsams Resort in northern New Hampshire. The stones for the front steps and hearth of the fireplace came from the existing cottage’s granite chimney. Stylistically, the design is a mix of both a “Cottage” style of architecture with some clean and simple “Tech” style features, such as the air-craft cable and metal railing system. The color red was used as a highlight feature, accentuated on the shed dormer window exterior frames, the vintage looking range, the sliding doors and other interior elements. Photographer: John Hession

Elegant brick patio photo in Raleigh with no cover

Adrian Ozimek
Inspiration for a shabby-chic style kitchen remodel in Toronto