Can you see a kitchen island without imagining a cool, casual, comfortable place for family meals and intimate entertaining? We certainly can’t, which is how this collection came about. If you’re looking to set up your own island bar, take a look at these examples from around the world for inspiration.

Click to see 50 Picture Perfect Kitchen Islands!!!

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Because renovations are stressful enough as it is.

It’s unsurprising that when Sweeten, a free matchmaker service for homeowners and general contractors, asked 700 renovators if they thought remodels were stressful—part of a recent survey they conducted with global marketing firm Schlesinger Associates—a whopping 88 percent said yes. There’s much money involved (eek) and so many moving parts to stay on top of (ugh) that it’s hard to imagine anyone sailing through the experience. Sweeten found that there’s one thing that truly makes or breaks a renovation: a quality contractor. In the survey, 66 percent of renovators named finding a good one their greatest concern. What exactly makes certain contractors stand out from the rest? Here’s which attributes Sweeten survey participants thought were most important:

A good contractor . . . (more…)

Home to several colleges, Birmingham, Ala., has a deep-rooted pride in its higher education system alongside a deep-rooted Southern history. One home here brings together both of these ideals; it was built in 1920 and is now owned by a local college professor and her husband, who like to have students over for meals and discussions. However, the dated kitchen in this English-style home needed help before it could play host to educational meetings and student guests.

“This house had been badly remodeled in the 1980s,” explained designer Cyndy Cantley of Birmingham, Ala.-based Cantley and Company. “All this client really wanted was for it to be pretty. It was up to me to make it function for a foodie and have a place for everything.”

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Million Dollar Contractor Stephen Fanuka tells AD the crucial questions to ask before a kitchen makeover

Kitchens can be the most expensive and complicated room to renovate in your home—an average project costs upward of $20,000 and takes around eight weeks to complete—so treat your search for the right contractor like a job interview. We asked Stephen Fanuka, host of Million Dollar Contractor on the DIY Network and HGTV, to share the top seven questions you should ask before you decide who will be in charge. (more…)

May 25, 2017

The homeowners of this Rochester, N.Y., home requested a clean, simple look with a touch of rustic elegance.

Every client wants a renovated space with a unique look. When an original design has a dark and dated style, the goal is often not only to increase its function but also to give it individuality.

“The clients wanted a final product that was unique, timeless and bright in style and appearance that also provided them with the storage and functional characteristics of a well-planned space,” said designer Jennifer of Buffalo, N.Y., adding that these homeowners had a rustic aesthetic in mind. (more…)

As seen on Architectural Digest

At a Maine compound renovated by designer Suzanne Kasler and architect Les Cole, the poolhouse kitchen features Urban Archaeology pendant lights, a Thermador range, sink fittings by Michael S. Smith for Kallista, and counter stools from Walters; the Roman shade is made of a Jasper print, the backsplash is of Waterworks tile, and the walls are painted in a Benjamin Moore blue. (more…)

When a client loves to cook, the designer’s main goal is to make the culinary experience as functional and comfortable as possible. However, if the client is unusually tall or short, the challenge is putting the essentials in reach without hindering the design. Designer Toni Sabatino of New York City-based Toni Sabatino Style took on this task and aspired to a functional kitchen with subtle glamour. (more…)

as seen on Kitchen & Bath Business

Before he built the Alley Theater in Houston or the Harlem School of the Arts in New York City, architect Ulrich Franzen designed residential houses. His designs featured clean lines, single levels, sliding glass doors and light-filled spaces. One of these homes is on Gibson Island, Md., and remains unique in many ways.

“This midcentury modern home was originally designed for an executive at Bethlehem Steel [a former industrial manufacturing leader],” said Shawna Dillon, principal designer at Alexandria, Va.-based Snaidero DC Metro. “The house is located in a secluded wooded area and is one of the only contemporary houses on the island – certainly the only one of its kind.” (more…)

Kitchens infuse a home with energy through food, conversation, and shared moments—and the design of your cooking space should reflect that. Whether you’re looking to incorporate a touch of elegance or some vibrancy into the room, a splash of paint or a brightly hued piece of furniture can work wonders. Get just as excited about the interiors as you do about a good meal with family and friends by discovering the right color for your kitchen. We’ve searched the AD archives for spaces with brilliant walls and furnishings that will give you the push you need to freshen up your own. From aqua-coated in New York to green monochrome in Martha’s Vineyard, these kitchens are proof that a little color goes a long way. (more…)

All available at Kitchen Expo!!

At the moment, white-white and a range of greys are people’s favorite colors, overwhelmingly, because cool neutrals work well on the flat panel doors of Modern design. But a shift to Traditional may not be far off.

“We’re seeing younger homeowners softening the sharp lines of Modern style, rounding the center panels of doors and inner profile edges,” says Sarah Reep, KraftMaid Director, Designer Relations and Education. “So—get ready for softer, warmer whites.” (more…)

Shades of Grey.

Greys can run the spectrum from a light, almost off white color to a dark, bold accent. Pebble Grey is a light neutral that fits in that “almost white” category. It has an airiness that can feel like less of a commitment. Match it with deep rich cherry in dark finishes for a nice two-tone look. Other choices run from Baltic to Cannon Grey to our newest color, Moonshine.

“Greyloft seems to be the preferred grey for men with its darker, more masculine feel. It works with mid-tone cherry and darker stains-perfect for breaking up a kitchen or bath otherwise painted in all white,” says Reep. “And then there’s the growing popularity of Slate, our darkest grey stain, which widens the monochromatic color value range when using a grey palette.”

A little more light, or a little more dark?

You may have to help your customer make the decision. Reep advises, “When choosing a shade of grey, consult the countertops to determine your best options. Carrera counters in quartz happen to be popular right now, for example, and their textured vein patterns usually point to just the right grey for the cabinets.”

A sample of simple, clean lines of a the emerging popularity of grey as the new fashion color. 

Photo courtesy of Architectural Digest.

These products, along with a vast array of options and price points to choose from, are all available at Kitchen Expo!!

30 White Kitchen Design Ideas

Courtesy of Architectural Digest

By: Elizabeth Stamp

Photo: Charles S. White

White kitchens will never go out of style. In a modern home, a cool hue makes a clean statement with lacquered white cabinets and stainless-steel fixtures. For the traditionalist, rustic wood ceiling beams, walnut floors, or copper pots hung from a ceiling rack can warm up alabaster walls. Whatever your preference, these 30 examples from the Architectural Digest archive prove the enduring versatility of the classic color in kitchen design. (more…)

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Spending is on the Rise for Kitchen and Bath Renovations, Houzz Survey Finds

June 22, 2016

Homeowners are investing larger budgets into their kitchen and bathroom renovation projects, according to the fifth annual Houzz & Home survey of more than 120,000 respondents in the U.S. The average spend on kitchen and master bath remodeling projects in 2015 increased by 12 percent year over year. Consistent with the last five years, kitchens remain the most popular interior remodeling project (31 percent), followed by master/non-master bathrooms (22 and 26 percent, respectively) and living/family rooms (23 percent). Renovating homeowners also tackled a more diverse set of projects in 2015 than in 2014, with a greater emphasis on upgrades to interior spaces (72 percent versus 69 percent) and exterior features like windows and roofing (56 percent versus 53 percent). (more…)

Becky Harris

A kitchen remodel expands to become a first-floor renovation — improving views, flow, storage and function.

Before Photo

“After” photos by Stephani Buchman Photography
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PERSPECTIVES ON PATRIOTISM, and

By Ken Clark

It’s a retail rallying cry, and it;s also a competitive point of differentiation. The “Made in USA” banner has long been the subject of surveys and analyses – often with conflicting conclusions.

Consumers will often say they want Made-in-USA products, but behavior changes when price enters the equation. Consider the recent AP-GfK poll that found 75% of American consumers would opts for a cheaper pair of pants over a more expensive American-made pair.

But the hardware and home-building industry has earned a reputation as American as apple pie – maybe it’s the proximity to Main Street and the American Dream of home ownership (and home maintenance.)  (more…)

May 19, 2016

Inside a dim and closed-off kitchen space, a good exterior view can sometimes get lost. This was the case for one single-story gable home, which still sported a 1960s design and felt detached from its sweeping views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
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New residential buildings in Manhattan are taking a cue from prewar apartment design and reverting to enclosed kitchens, says New York Times contributor Kaya Laterman.

Buyers have expressed interest in separate cooking and entertaining spaces, and many designers are answering to the request by creating sliding panels or pocket doors that allow owners to control how they use the space. “For someone who isn’t sure if they want an open or closed kitchen, pocket doors are a great feature,” said Edward Yedid, a partner of Grade New York, an interior design and architecture firm. (more…)

By Erinn Waldo          May 12, 2016          Kitchen & Bath Business

The winners of the annual Contractor of the Year Awards were announced this month. Here are five award-winning kitchens from this year’s awards.

By Helena Okolicsanyi who is a staff writer for Remodeling Magazine.

A designer does some clever room rearranging rather than adding on to this historic Detroit home

Written by Beck Harris from Houzz

Photos by Beth Singer   (more…)

Want to create a memorable space? Consider one — or all — of these design elements

Mitchell Parker with Houzz Editorial Staff

Every now and then you see a kitchen that makes your heart beat a little faster. Surprisingly, what makes these spaces so memorable is often a single calculated design element — in an otherwise well-designed space, of course. Here are 15 details pulled from our Kitchen of the Week series that make each kitchen hard to forget. (more…)

The 2016 NKBA Kitchen and Bath Design Trends Report revealed the popularity of transitional style, wood flooring, specialized pet spaces, and increased technology, among other key design elements. Following is a breakdown of the top ten kitchen trends to share with your clients. (more…)

Available at Kitchen Expo

Removing walls and adding high-end materials turn this kitchen into a jewel box within a new open floor plan

Mitchell Parker As seen on Houzz

Our 100-Square-Foot Kitchen series profiles kitchens that measure about 100 square feet, one of the most common kitchen sizes in the U.S., according to Houzz data.

Calling the original kitchen cramped would be putting it nicely. A narrow entrance opened to the windowless room, which had walls on three sides, giving it a boxy, closed-off feel. “It was dark and depressing,” says Violetta, who worked with the homeowner to gut the kitchen, and the rest of the home, and create a more open plan.

Kitchen at a Glance
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Layout: U-shape
Location: New York City
Cost for cabinets, countertops and floors: About $36,000
Special features: Extra-deep island, hidden storage, high-end look

BEFORE: The dark, windowless and walled kitchen felt too separated from the rest of the home.

AFTER: Removing a wall opened the kitchen to the adjacent living room, allowing the homeowner to see her young child while standing at the sink to prepare meals or do dishes. A large peninsula offers storage on both sides, and lots of counter space for prepping and eating meals.

A waterfall effect creates the illusion that the peninsula and countertop are larger. “It offers a grander look to a small kitchen,” Violetta says. (more…)

AVAILABLE AT KITCHEN EXPO!!

Photo courtesy of ElleDecor Magazine

AVAILABLE AT KITCHEN EXPO!!

A fresh update brings back a 1920s kitchen’s original cottage style

Arthor: Becky Harris on Houzz

April 1, 2016

This 1920s classic cottage had many charms, but unfortunately there weren’t many traces of them left in the kitchen. The homeowners wanted to maintain the historic style of their house but also wanted something that felt more up to date. In addition, they liked the efficiency of the modestly sized room and didn’t want to expand it. Interior designer Julie Bradshaw had her work cut out for her, but by taking advantage of every inch and using all of the room’s available assets, she created a fresh, bright space that honors the home.

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Historic district of Monte Vista in San Antonio, Texas
Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Julie

BEFORE: The kitchen was dark and cramped, and the refrigerator was a hindrance in more ways than one (We’ll get to that in a minute.) The historic home had maintained many of its vintage traits, but most of the charm in the kitchen had been covered up by previous renovations.

Designer Julie replaced the refrigerator with a 30-inch Sub-Zero model with panels that match the rest of the cabinetry. “In a small kitchen, every inch counts,” she says. “This family didn’t need the standard 36-inch refrigerator because they buy fresh and don’t need a lot of storage space.” (Having trouble finding the refrigerator in this photo? I did. It’s in the foreground on the left.)

With the bulky appliance out of the way, Julie got clever with the layout. She changed the typical galley space into a T-shaped layout, ending the counters so she could extend a row of cabinets across the back of the room. This gave the tight kitchen some breathing space and a more expansive feeling. The cabinets along the back are used for pantry storage and the one on the left includes a coffee bar.

One of the original charms survived the renovation — the sweet hex floor tiles with gold accent florets were in excellent condition. After a good cleaning of the grout and tiles, the porcelain floor is back to its former glory.

Julie selected antiqued brass for the finishes not only because it works well with the gold in the floor, but also because it appears in hardware throughout the house. Brass woven-wire grilles on some of the cabinet fronts extend the accent under the sink and to some of the upper cabinets.

Antiqued brass pops up on the light fixtures and vent hood as well.

Before the remodel, the sink was awkwardly low. To solve this, Bradshaw moved the window up a bit and added an apron-front farmhouse sink.

BEFORE: The original refrigerator was not only blocking the flow, it was blocking a window.

On the first walk-through, Julie had no idea the window on the right existed. She went back to the office and drew up her preliminary designs. When she returned to the site, she noticed the window from the outside and said, “Wait a minute … ” As fate would have it, the existing window worked into the design perfectly. The extra natural light and view are a big bonus at the end of the room.

The walnut counters in this portion of the kitchen add another period touch and contrast with the Calacatta marble on the other counters. Choosing a handmade subway tile added subtle texture. “Extending the subway tile all the way up to the ceiling looks more modern than the typical 18-inch backsplash,” the designer says. “At the same time, it hearkens back to an old scullery kitchen.”

Another clever detail swiped from elsewhere in the house shows up on the cabinet panels. The detailing mimics the style of the panels on doors seen throughout the home. Feet on the bottom of the cabinets also nod to the era. On this side of the room, the panel fronts conceal a pullout trash bin and the dishwasher.

Freshened up, the home works for the family’s modern lifestyle but also looks like it’s always been here. “Now this kitchen really feels like it’s a part of the home,” Julie says.

January 20, 2016

The National Kitchen & Bath Association found outdoor kitchens, built-in coffee stations and pet-friendly amenities among most popular trends of 2016

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (JAN. 25, 2016) —Transitional style remains the top trend when it comes to kitchen design, according to the 2016 Design Trends Survey from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Here are the top 10 overall kitchen design trends NKBA expects for 2016:

1. Transitional style, with contemporary emerging.
2. Gray/white/off-white cabinets.
3. Pull-outs, tilt-outs and tilt-ins for storage.
4. Wood flooring.
5. Quartz and granite countertops.
6. Outdoor kitchens.
7. Built-in coffee stations and wet bars.
8. Pocket doors.
9. Special pet spaces.
10. Docking and charging stations. (more…)

February 08, 2016

Published on K+BB

For the 2016 NKBA Design Trends Survey, more than 450 NKBA members from across the country reported the materials, product types and design styles they specified during the past year in response to changing consumer preferences. Ideal for identifying trends in kitchens in the $20,000 to $49,000 price range and up, as well as bathrooms in the $10,000 to $30,000 range and up, these findings help spotlight dominant preferences in several different types of households.

View a gallery of a NKBA insider’s insights here.

Top 10 Kitchen Trends for 2016

1.    Transitional style, clean lines and less ornamentation

2.    Two or more cabinet colors/finishes in the same kitchen, often in a light/dark combo

3.    Pullouts, tilt-outs and tilt-ins for ease of storage, trash and recycling

4.    The look of wood flooring dominates, be it actual wood or wood-look ceramic tile.

5.    Different countertops for islands and the perimeter, varying in both color and material

6.    Outdoor kitchens, most popular in the Southeast

7.    Built-in coffee stations and wet bars, as well as built0in wine refrigerators

8.    Pocket doors

9.    Pet spaces, including built-in feeding stations, food storage and crates

10.    Docking and charging stations

Top Bathroom Trends for 2016

1.    Greater acceptance of aging-in-place amenities: no threshold shower, grab bars, higher vanity heights, chair-height toilets

2.    Transitional is pulling away from contemporary. Transitional is the most popular style

3.    Neutral colors rule in the bath, with white as the most popular fixture color.

4.    More open shelving and floating vanities

5.    More built-in storage functionality: more rollout shelves in bath cabinetry, more hidden electrical outlets for blow dryers, etc.

6.    Undermount sinks are the most popular sink style, with a trough sink emerging.

7.    When tubs are installed in master bathrooms, they are most likely to be freestanding.

8.    Increasing use of shower amenities

9.    Polished chrome is the most popular faucet finish.

10.    Other popular amenities include easy maintenance features, electric radiant floor heating and a TV in the mirror.

Homeowners are renovating their kitchens to create a “super kitchen” that not only serves multiple purposes but also incorporates features, functions and decor traditionally associated with other rooms, dramatically blurring the lines between the kitchen and other living spaces, according to the 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Survey. 

The survey of more than 2,400 U.S. homeowners using Houzz who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a kitchen renovation project found that these kitchens go far beyond cooking and baking, with 69 percent using the space for eating and dining, and nearly half for entertaining (49 percent) and socializing (43 percent). In addition, more than a quarter of renovating homeowners use their kitchen as a homework space (25 percent), one in five watch TV (19 percent) and 14 percent read. As the hub of such activity, nearly two-thirds of homeowners spend more than three hours a day in their kitchens (60 percent). (more…)

Design trends we like from Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens teamed with designers Jen Ziemer and Andrea Dixon of Minneapolis-based Fiddlehead Design Group to create the BHG Innovation Kitchen for the May 2014 issue. Here’s a peek at the kitchen and their take on kitchen trends.

“As interior designers, we are constantly asked about current trends” Ziemer and Dixon said. “While we love incorporating these ideas where we can, when it comes to kitchen design, function comes first. At Fiddlehead, however, we think it’s always trendy to be functional! Here are some ways you can include current kitchen trends in your space.”

Consistent Island Height
“We chose to keep the island in the BHG kitchen a consistent 36″ standard countertop height” said Ziemer and Dixon. “Gone are the days of the multi-level island with raised bar seating for the kids. Not only are those bar stools hard to maneuver, but the higher countertop section breaks up what could be a larger prep space, buffet top and/or homework station. Height consistency at the island allows for a more practical and multi-functional centerpiece for what is typically the hub of the home.”

Open Shelving
“A kitchen-full of cabinetry can become overwhelming. We decided to use open shelving in lieu of upper cabinets in the BHG kitchen in order to create a lighter, more decorative look. Our clients are really embracing this trend as it can be both functional and attractive. A bonus is that it’s also less expensive than using traditional upper cabinets,” Ziemer added. “So go ahead, buy those new dishes you’ve been eyeing! Open shelves are also a great place to show off your personality and add some pops of color to what can be a very utilitarian space.”

Cabinet Drawer Bases
“Like most kitchens we are designing, we decided to incorporate base drawers instead of doors. Not only do we love how the drawers line up with one another, but they serve a functional purpose as well. Instead of opening a cabinet door and bending down to look inside or pulling out a roll-out shelf, you can gain access to the cabinet in one, simple motion. You are also able to utilize more of the cabinet interior without having roll out hardware that takes up valuable space. There are so many wonderful, after-market products that allow you to customize the drawers to hold dinner plates, bowls, etc.” said Ziemer and Dixon.

Multi-Purpose Pantry Space
Ziemer and Dixon also recommend a multi-purpose pantry space. “For the BHG kitchen we were fortunate to have enough square footage to create a large, multi-functional pantry area. A lot is happening in this back room; laundry, folding, gardening, storage, list-making, etc. We designed it to be directly adjacent to the kitchen and incorporated an interior window that unifies the two spaces and allows natural light to flow. We included another popular trend, the sliding barn door, for those times when you need to close off the mess. Not only is this functional, but also allows you to pop a fun color!”

The new shades of grey used in this kitchen are very popular and available at Kitchen Expo! Rustic Kitchen by Joan Behnke & Associates Inc., as seen in Architectural Digest Magazine.

In Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady’s Los Angeles home, antique Tunisian tile from Exquisite Surfaces makes a lively backsplash in the kitchen, which is appointed with Formations pendant lights, marble countertops from Compas Architectural Stone, custom-made alder cabinetry, an oak island, and a Wolf range.

Dekton, a special collection offered by Cosentino’s Silestone brand, has expanded its countertop options with the introduction of ten exciting new colors. This stunning new collection represents the latest color and pattern trends. From solid natural hues to complex patterns, these new Dekton products are on the leading edge of kitchen style.