The brick found in the backsplash and island was chosen for its sympathetic materiality that is forceful enough to blend in with the native steel, while the bold, fine grain Zebra wood cabinetry coincides nicely with the concrete floors without being too ostentatious. Photo Credit: Mark Woods

Kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Design & Supply by Astro Design Timeless yet fresh in its aesthetic and efficient in its layout, this beautiful kitchen is sure to become a well used and thoroughly enjoyed heart and hub of this new home. Dornbracht Faucet, Galley Workstation, Aster Cabinetry, Kolbe Windows Floor: Craft Brevik Rustic White Oak 8" Wire Planks (all available via Astro) Ottawa, Canada JVL Photography

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Example of a small cottage enclosed medium tone wood floor living room design in New York with green walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

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.

Alex Lukey Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Toronto

Patterson Architecture + Interior Photography
Example of a mountain style medium tone wood floor living room design in Denver with gray walls

Photo Credit: Scott Norsworthy Architect: Wanda Ely Architect Inc
Inspiration for a small contemporary 3/4 white tile gray floor alcove shower remodel in Toronto with gray walls, a hinged shower door, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and a console sink

Huge farmhouse garage photo in Philadelphia

Bradshaw Photography
Wet bar - mid-sized rustic single-wall ceramic tile and brown floor wet bar idea in Columbus with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops and gray backsplash

Unilock Avante Ashlar pavers
Example of a mid-sized backyard brick patio design in Boston with a fire pit and no cover

A large bonus room transformed into an all-inclusive bright and colorful playroom with a stage for acting and karoake, a craft table with bins for storage and a wire for displaying creations, hanging chairs for reading, a cube wall for storage of toys, along with a window seat and chalk wall. Saunders Real Estate Photography

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Chicago

Designer: Sazen Design / Photography: Paul Dyer
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, stone slab backsplash, an island, stainless steel appliances and white backsplash

Placed within an idyllic beach community, this modern family home is filled with both playful and functional spaces. Natural light reflects throughout and oversized openings allow for movement to the outdoor spaces. Custom millwork completes the kitchen with concealed appliances, and creates a space well suited for entertaining. Accents of concrete add strength and architectural context to the spaces. Livable finishes of white oak and quartz are simple and hardworking. High ceilings in the bedroom level allowed for creativity in children’s spaces, and the addition of colour brings in that sense of playfulness. Art pieces reflect the owner’s time spent abroad, and exude their love of life – which is fitting in a place where the only boundaries to roam are the ocean and railways. KBC Developments Photography by Ema Peter www.emapeter.com

A custom dog crate lives here below a pantry and open shelves to the right allowing the dogs to look out in both directions. John Wilbanks Photography

Design & Supply by Astro Design, Ottawa Canada Timeless yet fresh in its aesthetic and efficient in its layout, this beautiful kitchen is sure to become a well used and thoroughly enjoyed heart and hub of this new home. Doublespace Photography

Designer: Sazen Design / Photography: Paul Dyer
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an island, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This charming little attic bath was an infrequently used guest bath located on the 3rd floor right above the master bath that we were also remodeling. The beautiful original leaded glass windows open to a view of the park and small lake across the street. A vintage claw foot tub sat directly below the window. This is where the charm ended though as everything was sorely in need of updating. From the pieced-together wall cladding to the exposed electrical wiring and old galvanized plumbing, it was in definite need of a gut job. Plus the hardwood flooring leaked into the bathroom below which was priority one to fix. Once we gutted the space, we got to rebuilding the room. We wanted to keep the cottage-y charm, so we started with simple white herringbone marble tile on the floor and clad all the walls with soft white shiplap paneling. A new clawfoot tub/shower under the original window was added. Next, to allow for a larger vanity with more storage, we moved the toilet over and eliminated a mish mash of storage pieces. We discovered that with separate hot/cold supplies that were the only thing available for a claw foot tub with a shower kit, building codes require a pressure balance valve to prevent scalding, so we had to install a remote valve. We learn something new on every job! There is a view to the park across the street through the home’s original custom shuttered windows. Can’t you just smell the fresh air? We found a vintage dresser and had it lacquered in high gloss black and converted it into a vanity. The clawfoot tub was also painted black. Brass lighting, plumbing and hardware details add warmth to the room, which feels right at home in the attic of this traditional home. We love how the combination of traditional and charming come together in this sweet attic guest bath. Truly a room with a view! 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