Marisa Belle Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen design in Santa Barbara with open cabinets and white cabinets

Ania Omski-Talwar Location: Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, USA At 166 sq ft, the size of the living/sleeping area in this studio apartment was quite challenging. We made it work by taking careful dimensions of the space as well as every piece of furniture before purchasing. Even the height of the printer mattered as it had to fit between the filing cabinet and the desk. The busy student who lives here had two primary needs: sleeping and studying. Upon completion we felt we met those needs quite well. https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/76468333/list/room-of-the-day-quick-turnaround-for-a-studio-apartment Mike Kaskel Photo

Jim Westphalen
Example of a large minimalist brown two-story wood exterior home design in Burlington with a metal roof

The ceiling is the original 1850's timber wood. An old unused armoire was repurposed into shelving with the help of some salvaged corbels. Photos~Nat Rea

We turned a small unused room in the back of this house into a playroom for young children. Highlights include custom photo wallpaper (which is adhesive backed and can be peeled away without wall damage), a custom book wall and a wall system allowing easy rotation of kids' art. Credit: Maddie G Designs

Elizabeth Hurley Photography
Inspiration for a modern living room remodel in San Francisco

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.

Repurposing space from an unused back foyer, the open pantry is positioned between the prep and gathering islands for easy access and can be concealed by the reclaimed steel door provided by the homeowner. Photo credit: Peter Rymwid

Our clients had enjoyed their home for more than 25 years, but little had changed during that time. They were ready for a full main level renovation. We started by working collaboratively to re-envision the kitchen space to ensure we achieved key goals: open sight lines to the eating area and family room; space for an island with seating; new locations for the range and refrigerator; and removal of an awkward pantry and unused desk. The redesigned space called for removing a load bearing wall to allow space for the island and to repurpose the pantry and desk square footage for wall ovens, refrigerator, and pantry. The clients selected a warm white paint for the perimeter cabinetry (Medallion Cabinetry, White Icing) and balanced the design with a stained cherry island and hood (Medallion Cabinetry, French Roast). The dramatic Cambria Helmsley was chosen for the island countertop, with the serene Silestone Eternal Marfil for the perimeter. The simple subway backsplash ensures the bronze metal tile, laid in a herringbone pattern over the range, is the focal point on the perimeter walls. Bronze accents with the sink (Elkay, Mocha), lighting, cabinetry hardware, and furniture reinforce the warm atmosphere. Our clients chose beautiful, yet durable, Armstrong Alterna luxury vinyl tile in Artisan Forge for the kitchen. For the other spaces — living room, dining room, foyer, family room, office, and powder room — we laid Armstrong Paragon Oak hardwood in Countryside Brown. Final touches included a buffet in the eating area, new hardwood staircase with iron balusters, wool stair runner, two custom area rugs, and new powder room vanity and accessories.

This yard was an unusable muddy lawn flanked by tall Arborvitae. We removed the hedge and replaced it will a beautiful Ipe screen that serves as the backdrop to a concrete water feature that spills into a channel that runs the length of the patio. Corten steel planters contain Equisetum plantings, as well as Bamboo that screens a trampoline for the childrens fun. Pavers and black mexican pebbles make up the new hardscape for the patio.

This West Lafayette "Purdue fan" decided to turn his dark and dreary unused basement into a sports fan's dream. Highlights of the space include a custom floating walnut butcher block bench, a bar area with back lighting and frosted cabinet doors, a cool gas industrial fireplace with stacked stone, two wine and beverage refrigerators and a beautiful custom-built wood and metal stair case. Dave Mason, isphotographic

We took a tiny outdated bathroom and doubled the width of it by taking the unused dormers on both sides that were just dead space. We completely updated it with contrasting herringbone tile and gave it a modern masculine and timeless vibe. This bathroom features a custom solid walnut cabinet designed by Buck Wimberly.

A modern black sectional creates the perfect place to lounge after a long day at work in this modern living room. The straight lined, heavy cocktail table can be used to kick your feet up and relax. A backdrop of an organic floral graces the previously empty corner and draws the eye to design of the space. The carved wood fireplace follows the lines of the inset tile around the firebox to create a simple, yet stunning modern design.

In this living room we created a large storage space behind a pocket door with additional storage cabinets above and along side. Photo: Bjorg Magnea Furniture: AbbyElle Style

Situated on the west slope of Mt. Baker Ridge, this remodel takes a contemporary view on traditional elements to maximize space, lightness and spectacular views of downtown Seattle and Puget Sound. We were approached by Vertical Construction Group to help a client bring their 1906 craftsman into the 21st century. The original home had many redeeming qualities that were unfortunately compromised by an early 2000’s renovation. This left the new homeowners with awkward and unusable spaces. After studying numerous space plans and roofline modifications, we were able to create quality interior and exterior spaces that reflected our client’s needs and design sensibilities. The resulting master suite, living space, roof deck(s) and re-invented kitchen are great examples of a successful collaboration between homeowner and design and build teams.

Stacey Zarin Goldberg
Large eclectic open concept light wood floor living room library photo in DC Metro with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv

After. We opened the Kitchen right up! We removed the two walls that previously separated the Kitchen from the formal Sitting and Dining Rooms. By closing the entrance into the Kitchen from the Hallway and Family Room area, we were able to create the perfect wall for a large gas range and hood. Adelphi frameless cabinets painted in the Benjamin Moore color “Dakota Shadow” add a modern touch that is right on trend!

The original kitchen was disjointed and lacked connection to the home and its history. The remodel opened the room to other areas of the home by incorporating an unused breakfast nook and enclosed porch to create a spacious new kitchen. It features stunning soapstone counters and range splash, era appropriate subway tiles, and hand crafted floating shelves. Ceasarstone on the island creates a durable, hardworking surface for prep work. A black Blue Star range anchors the space while custom inset fir cabinets wrap the walls and provide ample storage. Great care was given in restoring and recreating historic details for this charming Foursquare kitchen.

This 1950’s mid century ranch had good bones, but was not all that it could be - especially for a family of four. The entrance, bathrooms and mudroom lacked storage space and felt dark and dingy. The main bathroom was transformed back to its original charm with modern updates by moving the tub underneath the window, adding in a double vanity and a built-in laundry hamper and shelves. Casework used satin nickel hardware, handmade tile, and a custom oak vanity with finger pulls instead of hardware to create a neutral, clean bathroom that is still inviting and relaxing. The entry reflects this natural warmth with a custom built-in bench and subtle marbled wallpaper. The combined laundry, mudroom and boy's bath feature an extremely durable watery blue cement tile and more custom oak built-in pieces. Overall, this renovation created a more functional space with a neutral but warm palette and minimalistic details. Interior Design: Casework General Contractor: Raven Builders Photography: George Barberis Press: Rebecca Atwood, Rue Magazine On the Blog: SW Ranch Master Bath Before & After