Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Eric Soltan Photography www.ericsoltan.com
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 gray tile and mosaic tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in New York with black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an integrated sink and flat-panel cabinets

The powder room has a beautiful sculptural mirror that complements the mercury glass hanging pendant lights. The chevron tiled backsplash adds visual interest while creating a focal wall.

Two-tone raised panel kitchen. White with a blue/grey edge glazing on the perimeter cabinetry and a wedgewood blue on the center island. Photography: Vic Wahby Photography

curbless, infinity shower with handheld and nooks.
Bathroom - large modern master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom idea in Sacramento with a hinged shower door, dark wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink and quartz countertops

In this 1905 Tudor home, the intent of this design was to take advantage of the classic architecture of the home and incorporate modern conveniences. Located in the Joseph Berry Subdivision in Detroit, this stellar home presented several design challenges. The most difficult challenge to overcome was the 11” slope from one end of the kitchen to the other, caused by 110 years of settling. All new floor joists were installed and the floor by the side door was then recessed down one step. This created a cozy nook when you first enter the kitchen. A tiered ceiling with strategically planned cabinetry heights and crown molding concealed the slope of the walls at the ceiling level. The second challenge in this historic home was the awkward foot print of the kitchen. It’s likely that this kitchen had a butler’s pantry originally. However it was remodeled sometime in the 70’s and all original character was erased. Clever pantry storage was added to an awkward corner creating a space that mimicked the essence of a butler’s pantry, while providing storage desired in kitchens today. Keeping the large footprint of the kitchen presented obstacles with the working triangle; the distance from the sink to the cooktop is several feet. The solution was installation of a pot filler over the cooktop that added convenience and elegance (not sure about this word). Not everything in this project was a challenge; the discovery of a brick chimney hiding behind plaster was a welcome surprise and brought character back honoring the historic charm of this beautiful home. Kitchen Designer: Rebekah Tull of Whiski Kitchen Design Studio Remodeling Contractor: Renaissance Restorations, Inc. Counter Top Fabricator: Lakeside Solid Surfaces - Cambria Cabinetry: Legacy Crafted Cabinets Photographer: Shermin Photography Lighting: Rejuvenation Tile: TileBar.com

Powder room in 1930's vintage Marina home. Architect: Gary Ahern Photography: Lisa Sze
Example of a small tuscan 3/4 ceramic tile and gray tile marble floor bathroom design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, beige walls and a two-piece toilet

Transitional white tile bathroom photo in Los Angeles with a console sink, open cabinets, white cabinets and a two-piece toilet

Photography by Melissa M. Mills
Example of a large cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Nashville with white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and shaker cabinets

From natural stone to tone-on-tone, this master bath is now a soothing space to start and end the day.
Example of a large transitional master subway tile and gray tile marble floor and beige floor bathroom design in Other with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, beige countertops and an undermount sink

This project was a complete home design plan for a large new construction luxury home on the south-end of Mercer Island. The contrasting colors utilized throughout emit a chic modern vibe while the complementing darker tones invites a sense of warmth to this modern farmhouse style.

Black and white can never make a comeback, because it's always around. Such a classic combo that never gets old and we had lots of fun creating a fun and functional space in this jack and jill bathroom. Used by one of the client's sons as well as being the bathroom for overnight guests, this space needed to not only have enough foot space for two, but be "cool" enough for a teenage boy to appreciate and show off to his friends. The vanity cabinet is a freestanding unit from WW Woods Shiloh collection in their Black paint color. A simple inset door style - Aspen - keeps it looking clean while really making it a furniture look. All of the tile is marble and sourced from Daltile, in Carrara White and Nero Marquina (black). The accent wall is the 6" hex black/white blend. All of the plumbing fixtures and hardware are from the Brizo Litze collection in a Luxe Gold finish. Countertop is Caesarstone Blizzard 3cm quartz.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

A dramatic contrast between Fireclay Tile's handmade white backsplash tiles and moody grey shower tiles takes a stacked pattern from simple to standout in this luxe master bath. FIRECLAY TILE SHOWN 3x9 Shower Tile in Loch Ness 1x4 Shower Pan Tile in Loch Ness 2x6 Backsplash Tile in Tusk DESIGN Everyday Interior Design PHOTOS Kelli Kroneberger Photography

Example of a large farmhouse l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in St Louis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Architect: Becker Henson Niksto General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Example of a trendy concrete floor and gray floor powder room design in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

The concept of a modern design was created through the use of two-toned acrylic Grabill cabinets, stainless appliances, quartz countertops and a glass tile backsplash. The simple stainless hood installed in front of large format Porcelanosa tile creates a striking focal point, while a monochromatic color palette of grays and whites achieve the feel of a cohesive and airy space. Additionally, ample amounts of artificial light, was designed to keep this kitchen bright and inviting.

Photography by Laura Hull.
Kitchen - small traditional galley dark wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and no island

Beauty meets practicality in this Florida Contemporary on a Boca golf course. The indoor – outdoor connection is established by running easy care wood-look porcelain tiles from the patio to all the public rooms. The clean-lined slab door has a narrow-raised perimeter trim, while a combination of rift-cut white oak and “Super White” balances earthy with bright. Appliances are paneled for continuity. Dramatic LED lighting illuminates the toe kicks and the island overhang. Instead of engineered quartz, these countertops are engineered marble: “Unique Statuario” by Compac. The same material is cleverly used for carved island panels that resemble cabinet doors. White marble chevron mosaics lend texture and depth to the backsplash. The showstopper is the divider between the secondary sink and living room. Fashioned from brushed gold square metal stock, its grid-and-rectangle motif references the home’s entry door. Wavy glass obstructs kitchen mess, yet still admits light. Brushed gold straps on the white hood tie in with the divider. Gold hardware, faucets and globe pendants add glamour. In the pantry, kitchen cabinetry is repeated, but here in all white with Caesarstone countertops. Flooring is laid diagonally. Matching panels front the wine refrigerator. Open cabinets display glassware and serving pieces. This project was done in collaboration with JBD JGA Design & Architecture and NMB Home Management Services LLC. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane. Photography by Nat Rea. Description written by Paulette Gambacorta adapted for Houzz.