The Cherry Road project is a humble yet striking example of how small changes can have a big impact. A meaningful project as the final room to be renovated in this house, thus our completion aligned with the family’s move-in. The kitchen posed a number of problems the design worked to remedy. Such as an existing window oriented the room towards a neighboring driveway. The initial design move sought to reorganize the space internally, focusing the view from the sink back through the house to the pool and courtyard beyond. This simple repositioning allowed the range to center on the opposite wall, flanked by two windows that reduce direct views to the driveway while increasing the natural light of the space. Opposite that opening to the dining room, we created a new custom hutch that has the upper doors bypass doors incorporate an antique mirror, then led they magnified the light and view opposite side of the room. The ceilings we were confined to eight foot four, so we wanted to create as much verticality as possible. All the cabinetry was designed to go to the ceiling, incorporating a simple coat mold at the ceiling. The west wall of the kitchen is primarily floor-to-ceiling storage behind paneled doors. So the refrigeration and freezers are fully integrated. The island has a custom steel base with hammered legs, with a natural wax finish on it. The top is soapstone and incorporates an integral drain board in the kitchen sink. We did custom bar stools with steel bases and upholstered seats. At the range, we incorporated stainless steel countertops to integrate with the range itself, to make that more seamless flow. The edge detail is historic from the 1930s. There is a concealed sort of office for the homeowner behind custom, bi-folding panel doors. So it can be closed and totally concealed, or opened up and engaged with the kitchen. In the office area, which was a former pantry, we repurposed a granite marble top that was on the former island. Then the walls have a grass cloth wall covering, which is pinnable, so the homeowner can display photographs, calendars, and schedules.

Our client's home is very traditional and quaint. When re-designing the new spaces we wanted to make sure the new features complimented the existing. Photography Credit: Mike Irby

Countertop Wood: Ash Construction Style: Flat Grain Countertop Thickness: 2-9/16" Size: 47 1/4" x 48 5/16" Countertop Edge Profile: 1/8” Roundover on top horizontal edges, bottom horizontal edges, and vertical corners Wood Countertop Finish: Durata® Waterproof Permanent Finish in Matte sheen Wood Stain: Stock Stain (#12940 WS) Cabinetry Color: Cappuccino High Gloss Lacquer Job: 12498 Photographed by Gordon Beall Photography. This kitchen design won the Kitchen & Bath Business magazine’s Showroom of the Year 2016 Award.

Kitchen - traditional galley kitchen idea in Cleveland with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Door Styles: Metropolis Door in Silver Elm Vertical and South Beach Door in Powder Photographer: The ShadowLight Group
Mid-sized trendy light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Raleigh with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, solid surface countertops, an undermount sink and marble backsplash

A full-height Carrara marble tile backsplash creates a clean, timeless backdrop, paired with warm walnut floating shelves for contrast and function. Hartmann & Forbes woven window shades add texture and softness, balancing the crisp marble with natural materials for an elevated, transitional kitchen look. Photo by Christopher Stark.

Photography by Paige Kilgore
Open concept kitchen - large coastal u-shaped concrete floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

For this project we were hired to design the residential interiors and common spaces of this new development in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This project consists of two small sister buildings located on the same lot; both buildings together have 25,000 s.f of residential space which is divided into 13 large condos. The apartment interiors were given a loft-like feel with an industrial edge by keeping exposed concrete ceilings, wide plank oak flooring, and large open living/kitchen spaces. All hardware, plumbing fixtures and cabinetry are black adding a dramatic accent to the otherwise mostly white spaces; the spaces still feel light and airy due to their ceiling heights and large expansive windows. All of the apartments have some outdoor space, large terraces on the second floor units, balconies on the middle floors and roof decks at the penthouse level. In the lobby we accentuated the overall industrial theme of the building by keeping raw concrete floors; tiling the walls in a concrete-like large vertical tile, cladding the mailroom in Shou Sugi Ban, Japanese charred wood, and using a large blackened steel chandelier to accent the space.

Kim Pritchard
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a mid-century modern galley light wood floor and beige floor seated home bar design in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble countertops, mirror backsplash and black countertops

J.Gantz
Large trendy u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Burlington with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink and quartzite countertops

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Collaborations with builders on new construction is a favorite part of my job. I love seeing a house go up from the blueprints to the end of the build. It is always a journey filled with a thousand decisions, some creative on-the-spot thinking and yes, usually a few stressful moments. This Naperville project was a collaboration with a local builder and architect. The Kitchen Studio collaborated by completing the cabinetry design and final layout for the entire home. In the basement, we carried the warm gray tones into a custom bar, featuring a 90” wide beverage center from True Appliances. The glass shelving in the open cabinets and the antique mirror give the area a modern twist on a classic pub style bar. If you are building a new home, The Kitchen Studio can offer expert help to make the most of your new construction home. We provide the expertise needed to ensure that you are getting the most of your investment when it comes to cabinetry, design and storage solutions. Give us a call if you would like to find out more! Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Builder: Hampton Homes Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Francine Fleischer Photography
Small transitional galley porcelain tile and blue floor enclosed kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Mid-century modern kitchen and butler's pantry by Kitchen Design Concepts in Plano, TX. This kitchen features Ultra Craft Rift Cut Oak (vertical) with a Natural finish in the Slab door style, Rehau Metal Tambour Door, Pratt & Larsen 3x8 "Metallic C602" tile backsplash in a straight lay, 3cm Cambria Bellingham countertops, Daltile Exquisite Ivory 12x24 porcelain floor tiles layed in a brick pattern, Blanco sinks, and appliances from Dacor including a 54" wall hood and 36" gas cooktop. Photo Credit: Unique Exposure Photography

Fireclay's handmade tiles are perfect for visually maximizing smaller spaces. For these condo dwellers, mustard yellow kitchen tiles along the backsplash infuse the space with warmth and charm. Tile Shown: 2x8 Tile in Mustard Seed DESIGN Taylor + Taylor Co PHOTOS Tiffany J. Photography

photos by Kate
Eat-in kitchen - craftsman l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Grand Rapids with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, brown backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a rustic l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Fieldstone Cabinetry: Aero doorstyle has a bevel edge which adds interest. Cherry wood Cabinets. Hawaii Granite fits perfect with the cabinets.
Small trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island