Kitchen Ideas
While the standard countertop height is 36 inches, you might want to consider adding a bar-height portion that’s 42 inches, as seen in this Boston kitchen by LDa Architecture & Interiors. “Having at least one portion set up as a sit-to with a 42-inch-high surface is a very comfortable place to be,” Klement says. “It’s a height where one can be half sitting, half standing. It is psychologically and physiologically a welcoming, natural place for guests to perch, relaxed and yet engaged.”
Cambria Quartz
A mostly white color palette with gray accents keeps the kitchen looking bright. All the cabinet doors and drawers are new. Refacing also includes covering the fronts of the cabinet boxes with matching laminate. This material is an engineered wood product with vinyl on top. “For every color cabinet we offer, we have a matching vinyl,” Dia says. “This way nothing has to be painted, which means it won’t chip over time.”
In fact, it’s quite common for a pullout drawer to be faced out with multiple false fronts to help it blend more seamlessly into a cabinet scheme. Here the three-drawer front on the pullout copies the look of the nearby drawers so the look of the Shaker fronts isn’t interrupted by a single massive drawer. Nobody would guess what was inside.
Here’s another smart take on this idea: a pullout chopping block (in place of a typical drawer) positioned above a waste pullout, with a simple hole to allow for trimmings to be swept directly into the bin. A great option for small kitchens, as the whole chopping station can be closed away when not in use, and the main counter can still be used for other things.
he counter, a new sitting area replaced the kitchen table. “Now that the kids have grown up, a sitting room was a better use of this light-filled space,” Freeman says. A new light, rug and window treatments continued the airy feel. “They had a lot of heavy window treatments throughout the house, and they didn’t really need them because their house is quite private,” Freeman says. “Removing them and replacing them with light-colored drapes and solar shades helped brighten things up.”
“Whether you actually have an office space in the kitchen or not, you always wind up having one,” Hubinsky says with a laugh. In order to prevent stacks of mail, charging cords and other clutter from piling up on the counters, she added a mini office space. It includes shelves, a few junk drawers, a “junk tray” and a mini desk. One of the drawers has an outlet in it for charging devices, and there’s another outlet under the banquette that’s handy for laptops. The area enjoys all the great light from the window and also has a stylish modern task light.
Stunning kitchen remodel and update by Haven Design and Construction! We painted the island, refrigerator wall, insets of the upper cabinets, and range hood in a satin lacquer tinted to Benjamin Moore's 2133-10 "Onyx, and the perimeter cabinets in Sherwin Williams' SW 7005 "Pure White". Photo by Matthew Niemann Example of a large classic light wood floor kitchen design in Austin with black cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, glass-front cabinets and window backsplash - Houzz TraditionalAustinWebsite
The breakfast area includes a new mahogany-and-oak pedestal dining table with a circular reeded-edge top with a wood inlay star pattern, plus bistro-style dining chairs with curved details on the back. “I went with a round table because it’s warmer,” Heather says. “There are so many sharp edges and lines in the space already. It’s also better for playing cards, something we like to do.”
The refined color and materials palette includes black enamel Shaker-style cabinets with touches of rustic wood on the peninsula back and range hood. “Black can be very heavy and feel weighted,” Vilov says. “Heather had some other details in her house with stained wood, so it made sense to bring that element in here. We saw photos on Houzz and elsewhere with this kind of wood detail and thought it was a nice way to lighten up the room.” The walls are a coordinating light brownish, warm beige color (Oyster Bar by Sherwin-Williams).
Cushioned stools with tall backs at the bar counter give the family a spot for eating casual meals and doing homework. “It was also a way to keep the space a bit more defined, so Heather could work but also communicate with her family,” Vilov says. Marble-look quartz countertops — light gray veining on an ivory base — and a backsplash of 2-by-9-inch glazed white clay tiles offer contrast to the black cabinets and range hood. “It was a way to bring in more of the rustic look I like without being too heavily distressed,” Heather says. A pair of of brass pendants over the peninsula combine with recessed LED lights in the ceiling, decorative wall sconces on either side of the range and a fixed sconce over open shelves to provide layered lighting.
The kitchen’s soothing color palette includes soft white walls and trim (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) and custom Shaker-style maple cabinets painted a creamy off-white with gray and beige undertones (Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore). “They wanted neutral cabinets but not white,” Kath says. “We also talked about their lifestyle and everything they needed to store so we
A custom bench painted black covers a radiator and is topped with an upholstered seat and throw pillows. The new black metal chandelier above the existing table reminds the designer of a birdcage.
After: The new marble floor tiles continue from the kitchen into the breakfast room, bringing the black-and-white color scheme with them. The frames of the pantry doors to the left of the existing breakfast table are now covered in black paint, and the inset glass is backed by new fabric featuring an abstract black-and-white pattern.
The top row of cabinets are painted black to help lift the eye and to coordinate with the black-and-white coffered ceiling. “It reminds me of the black lines on the border of Chanel boxes,” Coury says.
Black and white materials can be found from floor to ceiling in this remodeled Chicago kitchen. The designer laid out thin black and white marble tiles in a custom abstract pattern that runs from the kitchen into the adjoining breakfast room. The coffered ceiling is painted in a combination of Simply White and Black Satin, both by Benjamin Moore.
A popular alternative to wood that many designers on our panel recommend is wood-look vinyl flooring. “It’s softer on the foot than hardwood or engineered wood and it’s incredibly durable,” designer Barbara Milner of South Hill Interiors says. “It also has acoustic qualities that make it suitable for apartments.”
We saw full walls finished in pastel shades of single colors or in alternating tiles for a tone-on-tone scheme within a delicate color palette.
But KBIS and IBS also offer brands the opportunity to display what’s new and emerging, and this year that included cabinets in dark colors (blacks and deep charcoals) as well as looks in green and blue that have been niche trends for some time.
2. Consider a countertop open storage system. Many homeowners balk at the idea of a microwave sitting on the countertop, but when given its own platform with storage drawers below and ironwork open shelves above, as was the case in this traditional kitchen, it takes on a life of its own. There’s something both elegant and playful about this setup that wouldn’t have been achieved with a standard upper cabinet.
Designer Jodi Swartz of KitchenVisions agrees that Shaker-style cabinets are likely here to stay. “Shaker isn’t going anywhere. It’s been the trend in New England for at least the last 15 years,” she says.
This kitchen in a home in the San Francisco Bay Area features engineered quartz countertops, the most popular countertop material among homeowners renovating their kitchens.
Getting creative with IKEA cabinets can be a challenge. We made these big-box standard items look custom with some smart planning and by adding gorgeous brushed antique English brass hardware. Photo Credit: http://arnalpix.com/
Drawers for pots and pans, along with spice drawers, were also specific requests for the design plan.
To make this model-home kitchen stand out in a housing community in Frisco, Texas, Christina Wilcocks with design assistant Elena Liz, both of Normandy Homes, started by giving the cabinets a dash of drama with nearly black paint (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams). They used the same color on interior doors and other accents around the house. Natural dolomite countertops — with veining that picks up the cabinet color — and a Calacatta marble backsplash brighten the room and heighten the drama. The designers painted the wall next to the range and the interiors of the glass-front cabinets in Extra White by Sherwin-Williams to create a smooth transition for the marble backsplash in a cost-effective way.
Smart moves: Instead of altering the original layout of the house by completely opening up the kitchen to the dining room, the designer created this wide pass-through that serves as a breakfast bar too. It’s topped by a leaded-glass transom that also suits the home’s period style. Limiting the opening to the pass-through allowed the designer to load up the space around it in the kitchen with cabinetry.
Square hand-painted cement tile surrounds the island in this Montreal kitchen by HB DESIGN, creating a rug-like effect. But unlike its fabric counterparts, this rug will never be off-kilter. The surrounding floor is wood.
This Dallas kitchen by Studio Neshama marries black porcelain tile with solid oak pieces in a herringbone pattern, interspersing the two materials along the transition. It’s a nice effect that softens the divide between flooring while providing an artistic surprise. The white lines on the floor are veins within the black tiles, which are designed to echo the look of Nero Marquina marble.
If you’re a devout coffee or tea drinker, a dedicated space for making your beverage of choice can create a happy moment in a kitchen. And in 2018, coffee stations were rising up like steam. Lisa Robazza Design created a coffee bar beneath a staircase in this Canadian kitchen. It features 3-by-6-inch white beveled subway tile, a granite countertop, a small stainless steel sink, interior-lit glass-front cabinets and, of course, an espresso machine. The photo won Robazza a 2018 Best of Houzz design award.
10. This renovated kitchen in the English countryside by Davonport features a custom cabinet with a pullout coffee shelf. The warm wood inside the cabinet provides a nice contrast to the taupe exterior.
8. A walnut-and-brass shelving unit above the coffee maker here makes for a stylish place to store coffee mugs and coffee and espresso makers. The glossy subway tile backsplash is another nice touch. This Toronto kitchen was designed by Orsi Panos Interiors.
A marble-topped Saarinen dining table, six leather chairs, a custom wool area rug and a domed light fixture by a Scandinavian designer combine to create a lovely vignette in the breakfast room. “It’s one of those spaces that you can sit in all day and read a book, just like the cafe they love in Stockholm,” Howells says.
One wall of the kitchen is covered in custom built-in bookshelves that hold a collection of books, cookware and various other accessories. “I always encourage my clients to personalize their kitchen,” Howells says. “Too many kitchens can feel sterile because they don’t leave any space to display personal items.”
A tall, shallow cabinet to the left of the paneled refrigerator stores spices, cooking oils and calendars and a bulletin board on the door. The same wallpaper that’s on the ceiling above the island lines the back of this cabinet.
The paper towel holder sits in a walnut drawer that also stores dish towels. Below that are the trash and recycling bins.
A recessed paper towel holder is conveniently tucked away to the right of the sink.
The designer and the homeowners talked about putting a bistro table in this bump-out area but decided instead that the view of the pool out back was worth staring at. Temple created steel supports to float a tabletop in the opening.
Electric fireplace inserts are relatively low-cost and easy to install, so they can be a worthwhile investment for all the pampering they afford.
13. Gray, white and wood. While the aforementioned kitchen trends will certainly show up again and again in 2019, it’s worth looking at what’s likely to be the most dominant kitchen trend. This photo of a Boston space by Hawthorn Builders is a good example of the type of kitchen you’re likely to see more of in the coming year.
10. Countertop cabinets. A designer’s kitchen is always a good place to spot great design ideas. Going back to Robertson’s personal kitchen, you’ll see two countertop cabinets in each corner flanking the sink.
5. Quartz countertops. Engineered quartz was finally crowned the most popular countertop material in 2018 following a three-year decline in granite, according to Houzz research.
ones designed the floating extra-thick maple shelves surrounding the range. The shelves were made and painted on site to coordinate with the cocoa color used on the island. The vent hood above the gas range was made by the cabinet manufacturer, but an in-house carpenter applied crown molding and trim after the hood was installed, for a finished look.
Hatfield Builders & Remodelers Email Save A large cabinet in the base of the island has pullout drawers for pots and pans. “You have no idea how much I love this,” Holly says. “It’s so easy to just grab a pot when I need it. It has just made such a difference.”
In the range area, a niche added to the backsplash (Holly calls it her “soap dish”) provides storage for salt, pepper and cooking oils. “She didn’t have much counter space on that side of the kitchen, so our solution was that niche that gives her a shelf for items she uses most while cooking,” Jones says. “It keeps things within arm’s reach but out of the way.”
White cabinets and white ceiling and trim (a custom color from Sherwin-Williams) with soft gray walls (Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams) brightened the kitchen and living room and helped unify the two rooms. A nine-light chandelier with spherical frame and bronze finish replaced an outdated ceiling fan in the living room. Nine-light chandelier in satin bronze: Alturas Collection, Sea Gull Lighting
he brighter breakfast room coordinates with the renovated kitchen. The Lemonses kept their sideboard, table and chairs but added a new wool area rug with a subtle geometric pattern and a modern chandelier. “I think it’s my favorite light fixture in this renovation,” Holly says. “It looks so cool whether it’s on or off.” The glass door on the right leads to a backyard patio; the solid paneled door opens to a mudroom.
The new island has a rich cocoa stain that offers contrast to the perimeter cabinets. The honed warm taupe Taj Mahal quartzite countertop on the island has veining similar to marble. “I went back and read a lot of articles about honed versus polished,” says Holly, who gathered many ideas for this project from Houzz. “I like the honed — it has a more sophisticated look to me.” Three midcentury-style swivel stools with dove gray velvet upholstery sit at the island.
Jones took the new maple cabinets in a soft white factory finish all the way to the ceiling and expanded them 6 inches to the right to maximize storage. Oversize satin brass pulls complement the new island pendants and wall sconce over the window. Large-format (4 by 12 inches) ceramic white subway tile covers every available wall space — behind open shelves, flanking the range and around and above the window — for an elegant-meets-commercial-kitchen look. A tall unit of glass-front cabinets on the right goes from countertop to ceiling. Lights illuminate the couple’s collection of glassware. “I love glass cabinets and I’m a nut about crystal and glassware,” says Holly, who has pieces from her family that date to 1890. The large drawers below have dividers for deep baking dishes and kitchen items like a popcorn maker and teakettle
If you’re going for a white countertop, contrasting it with a dark shade will have the most striking effect. The gleaming marbled surface here looks stunning against the deep-hued cabinets. The House of Beulah designers embraced the contrast, mixing white walls with dark gray features. To warm up the room, they added a wooden floor and some soft foliage.
If you’re looking to design a kitchen that’s both contemporary and cozy, dark cabinets could be the way to go. Inky surfaces, like the ones in this elegant kitchen, help enclose the space slightly to create an intimate feel.
After: The design team eliminated the existing cabinets, island, sink, faucet and flooring. They relocated the fridge to the other side of the room, to the left of the range, which created a more open pathway to the pantry so family members don’t get in the way of the cook if they need to grab a snack. The move “opened up that tight corner,” Milogradov says. “It also made more sense to have the refrigerator by the breakfast area.”
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