Inspiration for a farmhouse l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Photos by William Quarles. Designed by Homeowner and Robert Paige Cabinetry. Built by Robert Paige Cabinetry.
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Charleston with white cabinets, an island, marble countertops, white appliances, an undermount sink, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash and shaker cabinets

Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped vinyl floor eat-in kitchen design in Chicago with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, an island, marble countertops and stainless steel appliances

Wally Sears, Julia Starr Sanford, Mark David Major
Example of a beach style kitchen design in Jacksonville

Inspiration for a large country home design remodel in Boston

Maintaining the cabin’s 19th-century charm was the easy part for the Donelsons, who are Lewis and Clark period re-enactors. Jan Paul often plays Captain Meriwether Lewis with a group called the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles. The Donelsons brought their furniture from their previous home in St. Louis to the cabin. “It seems like everything we had prior to moving here fits, as if we’d been collecting things all those years just to put it in this cabin,” Jan Paul says. In the living room, he displays a replica of Lewis’s captain’s uniform, which he wears during re-enactments. There’s also a hand-carved paddle he uses on the Missouri and Columbia Rivers and a feather quill used for journal writing during the re-enactments. “Each item has a story of its own and a memory to go with it,” Jan Paul says. The items look perfectly at home in the cabin. The Donelsons are passionate about their cabin and about its importance as a living piece of history. “This place whispers to me every day, of where we have come from,” Jan Paul says. “Not everyone who crosses our threshold feels the connection, but for those who appreciate the sense of place, time and heritage our forefathers gave us, they find the cabin a comfort. They feel that warm embrace of romance from our heritage.”

Randall Perry Photography
Inspiration for a cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash and ceramic backsplash

Example of a tuscan light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Angle Eye Photography, Period Architecture, Ltd.
Eat-in kitchen - large traditional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, beaded inset cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Frogman Interactive
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, multicolored backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Eric Roth Photography
Elegant l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white backsplash

Greg Premru
Example of a small beach style loft-style carpeted living room design in Boston with white walls

Mark J. Koper
Cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Kitchen - mid-sized cottage u-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor kitchen idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and an undermount sink

Outdoor living porch with fireplace, sink, BBQ grill, 11 kw solar panels for roof, electric screens roll down at exterior to enclose porch. Water feature beyond with bridges up to firepit above.

Tuscan medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

Kitchen - large contemporary u-shaped kitchen idea in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Committing to a kosher kitchen is quite a daunting undertaking and when you are also taking on a complete remodel, it can be overwhelming. It does not, however, have to be insurmountable. There are many resources to help guide you through the experience. Check out the internet and magazines to guide you. Once you have done the initial research, contact your Rabi with questions and for clarification on a kosher kitchen. Kosher requirements can vary differently between Orthodox, Conservatism, Ultra Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Your Rabi most likely will have a list of rules and guidelines. Also, hire a professional kitchen designer. They will not only be able to design the needs of a kosher kitchen but also make it personal to your needs and beautiful too. If the space and the budget allow, two distinct kitchens within one space is a possibility. A kosher kitchen requires stringent separation of meat and dairy items. Depending on the sect of Judaism you practice ------ Storage: The Storage areas need space for two sets of dishes, pots and pans, flatware, cups and utensils. You can combine the storage areas as long as there is a separation and that you do not mix service ware. A good recommendation is to color code your plates, flatware, table linen, pots. For example, red plates, gold-colored flatware, copper pots for meat items while dairy items have white plates, stainless flatware, stainless pots. You may want to label each area so when you have your new sister-in-law help in the kitchen; everything stays in the correct place. Appliances: When selecting appliances look for the STAR-K logo. This will help you determine to what extent an appliance is Kosher. Some ovens will have Sabbath modes where they will turn on automatically at a predetermined time. Once the oven is open, the oven turns off. Some refrigerators also have Sabbath modes where the ice maker turns off on the Sabbath and back on the following day. One refrigerator is usually sufficient provided all foods stay on the proper container in the proper section of the refrigerator. Having an immaculately clean refrigerator is a must if this is the case. You do not want spills from one food source contaminating food from the other. If you decide on two refrigerators, one can be full size while the other is smaller. A good kitchen designer can help assess your family’s needs to determine which is best for you. Dishwashers cannot be Kosher in most cases. You either need two dishwashers, separate compartment dishwashers as in dishwasher drawers or wash by hand. Look at Fisher Pikel or Kitchen Aid for dishwasher drawers. Each drawer is on separate controls. You can dedicate the top drawer for dairy while the bottom drawer is for meat service ware. If you have space and decide to have two dishwashers, you can get two 24” wide dishwashers. Another option is to have one full size dishwasher and supplement it with a small 18” wide dishwasher. Miele makes an 18” wide dishwasher that is super quiet and cleans dishes very well. You may also opt for a single dishwasher drawer in addition to a full sized dishwasher. A single Microwave oven can be used for milk and meat provided that a complete cover is used around the food. You will also need separate plastic plate’s places on the bottom or glass turn table. Keeping the unit clean is very important. Counter tops: Counter tops may or may not be able to be koshered depending on your sect. Simply having sets of trivets for dairy, meat and pareve (not meat or dairy) will provide adequate separation of foods. Sinks: If you can’t have two separate sinks, include three separate tubs to be places in the sink. Color code the tubs for meat, dairy and pareve. If you have one sink or a single divided sink, you will need to be cautious about splashing, to keep the meat and dairy particulates apart. You will also need space for separate dish cloths or sponges and dish towels. Again, color coding is extremely helpful and highly suggested. Must Haves: ~Storage space for two sets of dishes, flatware, pans bowls ~Color Code and label where appropriate ~Separate burners dedicate for either meat or dairy ~Separate clean up areas ~Clean environment to avoid contamination between meat and dairy ~A space that functions for how you cook ~A space that reflects you Design and remodel by Design Studio West Brady Architectural Photography

Example of a farmhouse shed design in San Francisco