Elegant medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

This charming Lyon Park house was built in 1925, when the typical kitchen was small, modest and closed-off from the rest of the home. For a family that loves to cook and bake, the cramped, outdated and dysfunctional kitchen was a source of constant frustration. Our new design expanded the kitchen into an adjacent sunroom, opening it up to the rest of the home and creating a spacious, light and updated kitchen that now serves as the heart of the home. We more than doubled the amount of countertop space and added much needed pantry storage as well as a dedicated coffee nook. The bold blue herringbone backsplash, honed black granite, white shaker cabinets and substantial matte black pulls complement the rustic modern style of the adjoining living space.

Renovated Kitchen in the heart of Harvard Sq. Cambridge, MA. The young couple was looking for a kitchen renovation with lots of style. Loving the look of marble counters but not the upkeep Pinney Designs recommended and designed a kitchen with a marble backsplash and durable honed black granite countertops. The Island was custom designed and utilized an Ikea butcher block surface for the island counter. Photography: Ben Gebo

Cosmic Black granite is shown in this project! Search the specific granite name, see more granite or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

Jay Sinclair
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

Wide shot of a modern neutral kitchen, with Royale Blanc HanStone quartz countertops and honed Wicked White quartzite backsplash.
Example of a transitional eat-in kitchen design in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and an undermount sink

A light-filled family kitchen in Westchester county, New York offers clean lines and colorful accents. Custom inset shaker style cabinetry painted to match Benjamin Moore White Dove. Kitchen design and cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Jet Mist granite countertops by Rye Marble. Rangetop and ovens by Wolf. Refrigerator by Subzero. Dishwasher by Bosch. Pendant lights by Restoration Hardware. Walker Zanger backsplash in Calcatta Gold marble. Gilmore pulls and Aubrey knobs by Restoration Hardware. Photography c 2014 Neil Landino.

Taj Mahal Quartzite Kitchen Countertops & Full Height Backsplash by Atlanta Kitchen Photos by Galina Coada and Barbara Brown
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Atlanta with quartzite countertops, stone slab backsplash, an island, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Rob Karosis
Elegant eat-in kitchen photo in New York with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white backsplash

John Evans
Example of a huge classic dark wood floor kitchen design in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, an island and stainless steel appliances

A major kitchen face-lift makes an impression with a traditional aesthetic and touches of craftsman influence. Mixing slate and glass in the backsplash, polished and leathered finishes on the countertops and balancing the earthy elements with a sophisticated tradition creates a warm and inviting space.

Inset cabinets, Counter tops are Colonial Gold Granite and Crema Antiqua Tumbled Travertine Tile, on the backsplash.
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

If you like this kitchen watch the 211 second stop action video of it's amazing transformation. COPY AND PASTE LINK BELOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB0t9qSOjzQ

A major kitchen face-lift makes an impression with a traditional aesthetic and touches of craftsman influence. Mixing slate and glass in the backsplash, polished and leathered finishes on the countertops and balancing the earthy elements with a sophisticated tradition creates a warm and inviting space.

A close up view of the custom copper farmhouse sink as well as the reclaimed wood in the herringbone pattern located on the smaller of the two kitchen islands. Here you can see the oak custom-made cabinets in the background as well as the back-painted glass backsplash. The copper sink and iron countertop face was hand crafted by a local metal artist. Stillwater Woodworking crafted the custom cabinets and island, which was made with wood tile from E & S Tile applied in a herringbone pattern. Thanks to Idaho Granite Works for finishing it off with beautiful Silestone quartz. Photography by Marie-Dominique Verdier

Overall view of the kitchen - The first island highlights the eating area with mid-tone cabinetry, exotic granite, and a decorative chandelier. The second island and surrounding cabinetry is white with cream countertops. Photo: Bob Narod

Patio kitchen plans these days require the ability to incorporate high-tech, modern appliances into timeless – even ancient-looking – environments. You can see this juxtaposition pulled off perfectly in this outdoor kitchen by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston. “A smart patio kitchen plan requires not only a balance of the new and old,” says Outdoor Homescapes owner Wayne Franks, “but a blending of new elements – like an outdoor kitchen – with the existing home and outdoor living features like a pool, hardscaping or landscaping.” In this case, explains Franks, the existing 25-by-15-foot pool had a craggy edge of moss rock boulders, plus a spa and firepit faced with a rough Scabos splitface travertine. “The overall look was rustic and naturalistic,” says Franks, “so we of course wanted the new outdoor kitchen island to match.” Hence the 14-foot-long outdoor kitchen island with a raised bar, also faced in the Scabos splitface travertine and topped with a Normandy granite countertop. The hardscaping around it is Kool Deck® textured concrete. “People used to shy away from busy textures in outside patio kitchen plans, but now they’re embracing them,” notes Franks. “They’re increasingly attracted to the beautiful imperfections and irregularities of nature – there’s more of an authenticity and character to it.” Now, for the high-tech part: A Traeger wood pellet grill. Traeger grills are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to infuse amazing, rich flavor and for their versatility (they can grill, bake, smoke, slow cook, braise and barbecue). This premier model, the Memphis Pro 304, features 562 square inches of cooking space and a three-in-one cooking system (high-temperature grill, low-and-low smoker and true-convection-oven roasting and baking). It also has an intuitive Intelligent Temperature Control (see the display panel to the left of the grill) that can be set for cooking and internal temperature. A programmable food probe tells you when the internal temperature is reached and drops the grill down to a programmed lower temperature to keep the food warm till serving. The dual-fan convection system, with reliable metal blades, circulates heat evenly for tender, juicy results. Double-walled and sealed construction of 304 stainless steel allows for optimum heat retention and consistent temperatures in all weather conditions. A direct-flame “flavorizer” insert delivers the added flavor of a seared finish. Outdoor Homescapes also added a mount sink with a custom oil-rubbed bronze faucet by Moen and the following RCS stainless steel accessories: a pull-out trash door, a countertop trash chute, dual horizontal grill utensil drawers and a swing-out storage door. “At first, you’d think all this technology and the smooth, modern stainless steel would fight with the rustic look of the rough-faced stone in outdoor patio kitchen plans,” says Franks. “But it actually provides some visual rest from all the rugged textures and busyness.” Serving a similar function is the smooth, polished Scabos travertine tile used for the pool coping and firepit ledge. “It’s a perfect environment for the client to entertain business associates,” says Franks. “He’s very happy with the old-meets-new approach, and so are we.” More patio kitchen plans can be found at Outdoor Homescapes of Houston’s website, at www.outdoorhomescapes.com

Decor kitchen cabinets with custom color: Peale Green HC 121 By Benjamin Moore, GE Induction Range, Blanco sink and Stream White granite counters, new red oak floors, white hexagon tiles on the backsplash complement the hexagonal brushed brass hardware.

Jesse Snyder
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula