Kitchen Cabinets Reno

09/13/2024

Biophilic Bathrooms

The tile consultant sees the same approach in bathrooms. “The perfect applications for these touches are things like niches and focal walls,” he suggests. The other approach is to employ a palette that supports plants as a wellness design feature. Powder rooms with biophilic tile as a feature wall are also popular, he adds.

Surfacing and details also show up as favorite Kennedy approaches to full bathrooms. She cites faucets inspired by waterfalls and picket- shaped tiles that evoke falling leaves. Powder rooms needing some drama can also look to nature, the Seattle designer notes. “Have fun with glass sinks as this is one of the few rooms you can get away with it. Glass can reflect light and give a sense of water as well.” She also suggests incorporating a sculptural plant and nature-inspired wallpaper.

“Aquatic themed elements in bathrooms, prints of fish and seashells, clamshell-inspired sinks and tiles with images of sea life are all traditional ways of connecting to a nature,” Browning suggests. “In a more contemporary setting, stained wood vanities with stone tops, marble and other stone tile work are biophilic. Pebble floors in showers are both a visual and tactile way to experience nature. Wallpaper patterns, curtains and fabric shades can all have biophilic elements,” he adds.

Rosenberg comments: “Bathrooms used to focus on function alone. Now, these task-specific areas are being designed for respite as well. Water is a powerful biophilic feature, of course, but other ways to boost its impact are to add skylights or enlarge windows, use water-resistant wood or wood-look materials, add organic patterns or texture in wallpaper or install stone slabs or tiles with the movement of natural veining.”

Surtani shares Highland’s approach to biophilia-inspired bathrooms: “We create this by bringing in spa-inspired elements like steam showers with rainfall showerheads, stone, natural wood tones and by utilizing color and plants. We also like to incorporate lighting that can be adjusted to mimic various times of day through the temperature of the lighting.”

09/13/2024

HOT NEW TRENDS

Biophilia Brings Nature Indoors

Kitchen and bath designers can easily incorporate the positive influences of nature in their designs by adding nature-inspired textures and colors, natural light and views of the outdoors, among other elements.

Natural light and views enhance a room’s biophilia and wellness potential. Photo: Highland Homes

What does the term “biophilia” mean to you?
It’s in the nature-inspired colors and textures you select, the window specs that increase natural light, the floor plans that optimize nature views, the circadian systems that tie a home’s lighting to the path of the sun.

So why bring attention to the concept? Simply put, prioritizing biophilia in your projects enhances their aesthetics and wellness potential.

The words ‘biophilic design’ are increasingly appearing in real estate listing descriptions, indicating their mainstreaming to the broader public. Surtani sees this with Highland’s homebuyers: “In recent years, there has been a notable emergence and evolution of biophilic design in the home. Homeowners are increasingly drawn to natural hues, reflecting a growing interest.”

09/13/2024

Mountain Haven Boasts ‘Natural’ Kitchen

Drawing inspiration from its natural setting, the home features a color palette and finish selections that pay homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains and bring the outdoors in.

In the kitchen, that translates to custom Cuisine Idéale cabinetry in a mix of walnut and paint, specifically Urbane Bronze, a brownish/gray tone from Sherwin Williams’ neutral color family. Both are highlighted with soft gold-toned hardware from Top K***s.

“They like modern architecture, but they also wanted their home to be a comfy, warm space,” reports Jarock. “The walnut, with its highs and lows, mixes well with the paint color, which has a grounding quality to it.”

The painted cabinetry serves as the perimeter base cabinetry and extends the length of one entire wall floor to ceiling, encompassing a paneled 42″ double-door Sub-Zero refrigerator, 24″ Sub-Zero wine refrigerator and a 42″ double pantry, which was an important inclusion given the absence of a designated pantry. One complexity of the wall focuses on how Jarock configured the corner. It includes an appliance garage, which the homeowners use to conceal their coffee maker, tucked beneath the intersecting walnut wall cabinets. A pair of narrow cabinets, stacked on top of each other, store accompanying mugs, etc.

“There is so much going on along that wall,” Jarock indicates. “It required a lot of thought to ensure everything was aligned properly and performed correctly.”

Central Island Action
The walnut cabinetry makes its appearance as the ventilation hood surround, which is comprised of three individual panels that make it easy to access the appliance should repairs ever be needed. As well, the wood serves as floating shelves and as accents in the open niches of the tall painted cabinetry, all of which are symmetrical to each side of the hood above the Wolf range.

“Modern mountain architecture usually has a lot of glass, which means there isn’t a lot of wall space to show off special things,” offers Gahagan. “The floating shelves and open boxes on the cooking wall and sink wall give the homeowners a place to display keepsakes they find during their travels.”

Walnut is repeated as the upper cabinets along the sink wall and as the foundational base for the island, which features a recessed toe kick on all four sides.

“The toe kick, as well as the open cabinetry, gives a visual lift to the space and helps to make it feel more contemporary and elevated,”
The island, sized to be as large as possible while still offering adequate traffic flow around it, provides convenient in-kitchen seating for the homeowners and their guests, including their grandkids. As well, its uninterrupted surface serves as an expansive serving station for entertaining.

A custom light fixture from Lexington Glassworks floats above and offers illumination via its five hand-blown glass globes.

“We knew we wanted to use a natural stone because we wanted to have a lot of movement throughout the house,” she explains. “We searched far and wide before finding this Crystal Fusion quartzite. It works well with the walnut, which also has a unique grain pattern. She loves how the intricacies of the veining of the quartzite work with the grain pattern of the wood. They play off of each other nicely. And the stone’s polished finish provides a contrast to the matte walnut.”

As a complement, the nearly solid white quartz perimeter countertops allow the quartzite to shine, as does the backsplash comprised of zellige tile from WOW in varying shades of white.

Natural light flows into the space via an expansive wall of windows in the adjacent dining room, which also features a beam/tongue-and-groove ceiling that connects it to the walnut cabinetry in the kitchen. A pair of windows, trimmed in black, provide additional light in the kitchen.

“The house itself is asymmetrical on the outside,” Gahagan relates. “In a traditional layout, the sink would be centered under a window. But in this kitchen, offsetting the sink gives a little play on the cabinets so it isn’t too expected or stuffy. It’s fun to be playful!”

09/13/2024

Unexpected ‘Find’ Inspires Kitchen Design

HOUSTON — Over the course of the past five years, designers at Chairma Design Group in Houston, TX, have helped these homeowners lovingly renovate several areas of their home in The Woodlands, including the family and dining rooms, entry, study and conversation room. Most recently, they transformed the kitchen, creating a space with improved functionality and storage, a nod to nature and a clean aesthetic that more effortlessly fits into their busy lifestyle as parents to five kids.

Working within the kitchen’s existing footprint, Aplanalp and designer Amber Reddoch addressed functionality and the wife’s love of cooking by replacing the 36″ cooktop with a nearly 6′ professional-style La Cornue range and matching ventilation hood. Moving the appliances from an angled corner to a perimeter wall gave them the ability to emphasize their brilliant green hue, making them a focal point for the space. Their new location also balances the appliances’ visual ‘heft’ with the fireplace in the adjacent family room.

The designers flanked the range with a pair of glass-front cabinets accented with black metal mullions and Material Bespoke Stone + Tile’s Diamond dimensional tile in Matte Grey, both of which tie the kitchen to adjacent rooms where iron/black and glass accents are used. Interior lights add sparkle and highlight the texture and shape of the tile.

Clé’s 4″x4″ zellige tile in Weathered White serves as the backsplash behind the range and hood. It extends to clad the angled wall behind the floating shelves as well as the window wall.

“We made the window much larger to brighten and modernize the kitchen,” says Aplanalp. “This home is on a gorgeous lot so the larger window gives our clients a better connection to nature, which is something they were looking for.”

Improved Storage
Being able to make the window larger, plus remove the wall cabinets that flanked the previously petite window, was made possible by improving storage in the new kitchen. In addition to custom Jonathan Dahl Woodworks walnut cabinets, which includes plenty of efficient drawers, the designers created a coffee station and a ‘super’ pantry. The former includes shelves, a quartzite work surface and outlets tucked behind bifold doors, giving the homeowners an opportunity to conceal small appliances and associated drink accessories. The station’s wall cabinet-depth dimension, plus its location between the paneled Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer columns, creates some visual relief that makes the expansive wall feel ‘lighter.’

“When we use paneled refrigerators and freezers, we like to split them up whenever possible to minimize their large mass,” says Aplanalp. “In this kitchen, we were able to separate them with the shallow-depth coffee station to help break up their blockiness.”

The coffee station’s wall cabinet-depth dimension, plus its location between the paneled refrigerator and freezer columns, creates some visual relief that makes the expansive wall feel ‘lighter.’

The island also provides additional storage as well as plentiful in-kitchen seating for the family. Its smokey blue painted base echoes blue hues used throughout the rest of the home. Its Mont Blanc quartzite top contrasts the darker finishes to brighten the space. As a relatively low-maintenance, durable natural stone, it can also withstand the demands of the busy family.

09/13/2024

Japandi Flair Opens Up Tiny Kitchen

BEFORE
A 1960s apartment in New York, NY is the setting for this kitchen remodel. Designers Stefanie Werner and David Burdett of DAS Studio were called upon to update the dark, narrow galley in the vintage apartment, which offered a space of only 2’7″ between the countertops – barely enough room for even one cook, let alone multiple cooks or company. While the main objective was to widen this opening, additional objectives included incorporating Japanese-inspired design, as well as integrating the kitchen into the living space.

AFTER
In order to provide a wider pass-through space between the counters, the design team worked creatively with appliance and cabinet depths – 24″-deep cabinets were pushed into the adjacent room, and the refrigerator, sink, dishwasher and wall oven were incorporated into this space. A built-in horizontal cooktop was also incorporated. With these changes, the new distance between the counters is a much more comfortable 3’3″.

By opening up adjacent walls – in particular, the walls separating the living room area and a wall between the entrance hall and the kitchen peninsula – a more open feel with more light and a better flow was created.

The clean lines and aesthetic feel of Japanese design is evoked through the choice of wood and other textures. A Japanese woodworker crafted custom cabinetry in a light color with an evenly spaced grain, and tiles with a handcrafted feel complete the look. The wood shelves look playfully random, but are in fact aligned with the grout line and tile spacing.

09/13/2024

09/13/2024

Before & After

Condo Kitchen Becomes Bright and Beachy

BEFORE
Chistopher Grubb’s client purchased this 620 sq.-ft. 1970s beachside condo in Oceanside, CA with the intention of gutting the outdated space for a fresh start. The client craved a more functional and spacious kitchen for both cooking and entertaining, with plenty of storage, seating and unique finishes. Additionally, because of the condominium’s beachside location, the material selections needed to be durable and easy to clean.

AFTER
Grubb, president of Beverly Hills-based firm Arch-Interiors Design Group, Inc., tackled some hefty challenges with this remodel – there simply was not much space to work with in the entire condo. Additionally, because the kitchen is located in a third-floor unit, plumbing and electrical could not easily be relocated.

The cabinetry was extended into what was a small eating area, with matching wall paneling and paneled appliances. By extending the cabinetry and incorporating hidden drawers beneath the banquette, as well as enlarging a peninsula countertop, the goals of finding more storage and more seating were met.

New downlights and white finished upper cabinets and light countertops brighten the space, creating the visual feel of spaciousness. Rich blue lower cabinetry calls back to the countertops, which are almost white but upon a closer look feature subtle blue veining. Satin brass oversized cabinetry pulls and hood strapping details, as well as a farmhouse sink and plumbing fixtures, bring classic warmth into the design.

09/13/2024

This outdoor dream ‘complex,’ designed by Lauren Bockin, includes multiple entertaining zones and an inground pool. The perimeter of the main cooking/entertaining zone features a built-in pizza oven and smoker. Additionally, a grill, two dishwashers, a workstation sink, a refrigerator and an ice drawer are all tucked within wood-look cabinetry. Photos: Sunset & Ivory

09/13/2024

Outdoor Living

The overriding design consideration for this outdoor living space focused on being able to enjoy the spectacular view of the lake. Within the layout, Brenda Helms included a number of appliances and entertaining conveniences, including a workstation sink, refrigerator, side burner and rotisserie grill. Photos: David Cobb

09/13/2024

Walk-in Pantries: Hidden Gems

The luxury walk-in pantry is gaining ground on the must-have list for homeowners, with many reaching the status of second kitchen.

The space also features a sink, small refrigerator, a kids’ snack and lunch area, and storage for tea, coffee and cups. Robertson solved the problem of 11' ceilings in a walk-In pantry with a ladder system that wraps around the room. — Photo: Adam Kane Macchia

09/13/2024

2024 Best Specialty Project
Lauren Tolles and Tori Olijar
Maison Birmingham, Birmingham, MI

Inspired by natural, earthy wood tones with a light Mediterranean influence, this home’s interior, designed by Tolles and Olijar along with Amanda Sinistaj of Ellwood Interiors and Brian Neeper of Brian Neeper Architecture, features a glass entryway that opens to a large, sculptural foyer with a stone butler’s pantry. The stone carries up the backsplash and into the lit, black metal cabinets flush with glassware. This area includes 24″ Thermador refrigerator drawers and a 24″ U-Line wine cooler to enhance entertaining.

Connected to the foyer and kitchen via a soaring, scalloped ceiling, the great room maintains the neutral palette of the overall space and repeats finishes in different forms found in the other areas, which helps unify the rooms.

The custom cabinetry reflects both a modern and moody style, with glass-front uppers in black providing a well-lit space for display. The cabinetry, which flanks the fireplace, also includes fully enclosed lower frameless cabinetry that acts as a hideaway for children’s toys.

The soft, neutral rug blends with the flooring to create an airy, open feel, while the nubby texture provides warmth and coziness within the open space. Atop the rug, a curved sofa and chairs anchor the living space and provide seating for entertaining.

09/13/2024

2024 Best Master Bathroom Over $125,000

Old World Classic
Nicholas Mather, AIA and Natalie Erickson, ASID
Deep River Partners, Ltd., Milwaukee, WI

The scope for this custom-designed bathroom in Elm Grove, WI was to fulfill visions of a home suited for everyday functionality and comfort, and eventual aging in place. In terms of design, “open, light and airy” were the key objectives so that landscape views and natural light would be the main focus.

Script bath accessories and faucets in Nickel Silver, Vir Stil and Script Nickel Silver shower and bath fittings, as well as Perfect undermount sinks, Papion bathtub and Plie toilet in Stucco White are all from Kallista. Oculus k***s and oval pulls from Top K***s grace the extensive vanity along one wall, which is topped with a marble countertop. Visual Comfort LED sconces and chandelier offer color changing and tunable illumination to achieve the desired atmosphere and mood, and are programmable for daily routines.

The tile makes a statement throughout the bath. Marble floor tiles from the Ann Sacks’ Alyssa and Cielo Crystal collections create a sophisticated pattern throughout the space. In the shower, gray stone tile from Jeffrey Court complements the company’s white honed mosaic marble on the floor.