Anice Hoachlander, Judy Davis; HDPhoto
Transitional u-shaped light wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and an island

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. 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

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea

An oversize island in walnut/sap wood holds its own in this large space. Imperial Danby marble is the countertop and backsplash. The stainless Sub Zero Pro fridge brings an exciting industrial note.

We transformed this kitchen from an outdated southwest style space to a classic Spanish style kitchen. The custom built in refrigerator and freezer was created by selecting various molding pieces and designing doors and side panels to replicate a Spanish antique. Barstools and pendant by Irma Shaw Designs.

Craig Cozzitorti Photography
Example of a classic l-shaped eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

This kitchen while modern and updated still has rustic elements (bar for example). Pendants provide a great lighting for the countertop, whille making a bold architectural statement in the kitchen. We love the modern but classic red cabinets. While this cabin is small in square footage. The dining/kitchen/family room open up to each other. The windows help to flood in natural lighting, while providing beautiful views to the majestic mountains just right outside. Photographer: Jason Dewey

Example of a transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Other with gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, white countertops, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

A small enclosed kitchen is very common in many homes such as the home that we remodeled here. Opening a wall to allow natural light to penetrate the space is a must. When budget is important the solution can be as you see in this project - the wall was opened and removed but a structural post remained and it was incorporated in the design. The blue modern flat paneled cabinets was a perfect choice to contras the very familiar gray scale color scheme but it’s still compliments it since blue is in the correct cold color spectrum. Notice the great black windows and the fantastic awning window facing the pool. The awning window is great to be able to serve the exterior sitting area near the pool. Opening the wall also allowed us to compliment the kitchen with a nice bar/island sitting area without having an actual island in the space. The best part of this kitchen is the large built-in pantry wall with a tall wine fridge and a lovely coffee area that we built in the sitting area made the kitchen expend into the breakfast nook and doubled the area that is now considered to be the kitchen.

Linda Kasian
Example of a large trendy single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, solid surface countertops, subway tile backsplash and white countertops

Large windows and white finishes mean this custom kitchen stays bright throughout the day.
Eat-in kitchen - coastal l-shaped medium tone wood floor and wood ceiling eat-in kitchen idea in Portland Maine with an island, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

The kitchen features a mix of textures and colors including white automatic upper cabinets and stained lower cabinets, matte black hardware, white quartz countertops and modern light fixtures.

Jeffrey Totaro
Kitchen - transitional u-shaped kitchen idea in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Large 1950s master green tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, gray floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom photo in Other with flat-panel cabinets, an undermount tub, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

Photo Credit: ©Tom Holdsworth, A screen porch was added to the side of the interior sitting room, enabling the two spaces to become one. A unique three-panel bi-fold door, separates the indoor-outdoor space; on nice days, plenty of natural ventilation flows through the house. Opening the sunroom, living room and kitchen spaces enables a free dialog between rooms. The kitchen level sits above the sunroom and living room giving it a perch as the heart of the home. Dressed in maple and white, the cabinet color palette is in sync with the subtle value and warmth of nature. The cooktop wall was designed as a piece of furniture; the maple cabinets frame the inserted white cabinet wall. The subtle mosaic backsplash with a hint of green, represents a delicate leaf.

This project was a gut renovation of a loft on Park Ave. South in Manhattan – it’s the personal residence of Andrew Petronio, partner at KA Design Group. Bilotta Senior Designer, Jeff Eakley, has worked with KA Design for 20 years. When it was time for Andrew to do his own kitchen, working with Jeff was a natural choice to bring it to life. Andrew wanted a modern, industrial, European-inspired aesthetic throughout his NYC loft. The allotted kitchen space wasn’t very big; it had to be designed in such a way that it was compact, yet functional, to allow for both plenty of storage and dining. Having an island look out over the living room would be too heavy in the space; instead they opted for a bar height table and added a second tier of cabinets for extra storage above the walls, accessible from the black-lacquer rolling library ladder. The dark finishes were selected to separate the kitchen from the rest of the vibrant, art-filled living area – a mix of dark textured wood and a contrasting smooth metal, all custom-made in Bilotta Collection Cabinetry. The base cabinets and refrigerator section are a horizontal-grained rift cut white oak with an Ebony stain and a wire-brushed finish. The wall cabinets are the focal point – stainless steel with a dark patina that brings out black and gold hues, picked up again in the blackened, brushed gold decorative hardware from H. Theophile. The countertops by Eastern Stone are a smooth Black Absolute; the backsplash is a black textured limestone from Artistic Tile that mimics the finish of the base cabinets. The far corner is all mirrored, elongating the room. They opted for the all black Bertazzoni range and wood appliance panels for a clean, uninterrupted run of cabinets. Designer: Jeff Eakley with Andrew Petronio partner at KA Design Group. Photographer: Stefan Radtke

Shelly Harrison
Example of a classic medium tone wood floor freestanding bathtub design in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and green walls

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized cottage l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Other with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Whimsical floral pattern tile backsplash pulls together the two-toned gray and white cabinetry. The gold faucet dresses up the white apron front sink and compliments the gold hardware on the cabinets. A handy outlet on the end of the peninsula is helpful for plugging in kitchen gadgets and equipment.