Functional and Creative
Craftsmanship is paramount in the Arts and Crafts or Craftsman style. The style is often recognized for its grained dark woods, simple geometric shapes and toned-down hardware. This kitchen’s unusual layout lent itself to a design that was functional, creative and maintained a sense of flow. Showcasing cabinets of quarter-sawn oak with a chestnut stain, it provides an efficient work triangle.
The main cleanup sink is under a pass-through that looks into the living room. The refrigerator and a utility cabinet are at the other end of the run. The other part of the kitchen works as a wet bar and prep area. Glass doors and thick shelves give this wall a decorative yet functional element. A wide pantry cabinet provides extra storage. The island is made using cabinetry and decorative legs with a concrete top that matches the rest of the counters. A taller glass door cabinet at the end faces the dining room to separate the kitchen. The counter includes the personal touch of shells collected on family vacations at the beach embedded in the concrete.
Design by Mark T. White, CKD, CBD of Kitchen Encounters
More info at Kitchen Encounters of Annapolis, MD.
Photo by John Bildahl
Sleek and Sophisticated
Mention Asian style and many will think of filtered natural light, a calming atmosphere, clean lines and sleek profiles, use of bamboo, slate, rock and lacquered finishes. In this kitchen, the custom “Asian” style armoire for the refrigerator sets the tone for a design that marries Asian and Contemporary. The kitchen features the tropical wood Wenge-veneered cabinetry, granite, and tiger wood countertops. Glass and pebble stone tile backsplashes yield a very sophisticated kitchen.
Design by Sandra L. Steiner-Houck, CKD
More info at Steiner & Houck, Inc., Columbia, PA.
Photo by Peter Leach Photography
Sleek, Stylish and Earth-friendly
Contemporary style is full of sleek finishes, built-in elements, reflective surfaces and, often, a concern for the environment. This sleek Contemporary kitchen showcases cabinets made of Pure Bond® plywood – formaldehyde-free — and engineered oak rift veneer. Caesarstone was used for the countertops. Glass tiles in a variety of colors are the backsplash. The butcher block breakfast bar made of Wenge, a tropical wood, adds the punch to this kitchen.
Design by Jennifer Gilmer, CKD.
More info at Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, MD.
Photo by Bob Narod
Looking Forward
First and foremost, clean lines help give this kitchen its Contemporary style. Simple surfaces celebrate the beauty of the materials. Providing innovative features are unusual-sized marble floor tile at 12 inches by 24 inches, aluminum appliances instead of the usual stainless steel, and a mix of matte and gloss finish in the backsplash tile that allow fun reflections from the window. The unique cabinetry finish is acrylic to look like an automotive finish. The red countertop adds a brave spot of color.
Design by Roger W. Zierman.
More info at Partners 4 Design, Minneapolis, MN
Photo © Gilbertson Photography
Sustainability with Flair
This Contemporary kitchen is sleek, sustainable and makes the most of the fabulous view available. High-gloss white frameless flat cabinetry sports hidden hardware and handles and reflects the fantastic view. Cabinetry panels hide energy-efficient appliances. Countertop, flooring and ceiling are designed to provide a continuous flow from interior to exterior. A reflective and sleek Caesarstone blizzard white countertop appears to continue through the window to the outside barbecue. A Caesarstone backsplash is set flush into the drywall to keep the streamlined look.
Sustainability is a consideration throughout. The Caesarstone countertops are made from recycled natural stone with a resin epoxy. The reconstituted wood veneer slab-fronted cabinetry allows readily available wood to be laid up to resemble exotic woods. Low-VOC paint was used on the walls. Recycle bins add the finishing touch.
Design by Laurie Belinda Haefele, Associate A.I.A, Santa Monica, CA.
More info at Haefele Design.
Photo by Laurie Belinda Haefele
Of Home and Hearth
Inspired by the small homes lived in by English villagers more than a hundred years ago, the English Cottage style evokes feelings of comfort and practicality, colored by autumn. The design for this kitchen extends that warmth and comfort to a new era of homeowners through a beautiful combination of painted finishes and natural materials. Eclectic accents add richness to the cottage charm.
Design by Kristin A. Okeley, ASID, CKD.
More info at Kitchens by Design, Indianapolis, IN.
Photo by Brian Bookwalter
Ooh-La-La!
The cozy and casual look of scenic villages in France with their exposed beams, floral patterns, detailed carvings and cheery shades of French blue or raspberry set the stage for this French Country. This kitchen is replete with beautiful details, textures and finishes to create this European warmth of yesteryear. The details are full of charm and whimsy from the crown molding to the decorative feet. Much of the kitchen showcases cabinetry with a furniture piece feel. The intricate Habersham hood cut out in the ceiling to match the shape of the island top left no design detail overlooked.
Design by Kristin A. Okeley, ASID, CKD.
More info at Kitchens by Design, Indianapolis, IN.
Photo by Brian Bookwalter
Getaway Appeal Brought Home
The Lodge style springs from the comforting appeal often found in a relaxed rustic retreat in a wooded setting. To create that feeling in this kitchen, distressed woods, aged metals and natural stone surfaces were used. Together, they create a unique, yet refined, lodge-style environment sought by the homeowners. The room was tied together by the natural earthy colors that worked to also bring the outside in. Antler wall sconces added special touches.
Design by Sandra L. Steiner-Houck, CKD.
More info at Steiner & Houck, Inc., Columbia, PA.
Peter Leach Photography
Formality and Convenience
Clever design keeps the formality and elegance in this Traditional kitchen. Traditional style emphasis on structural elements is found in the columns with stone bases and the arch between the columns. Who would suspect there is a 48-inch refrigerator in the room? A pantry next to the refrigerator was designed to be the same size as the refrigerator door. This way, it looks like a large piece of furniture rather than just a refrigerator.
Design by Jennifer Gilmer, CKD.
More info at Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, MD.
Photo by Bob Narod
Classic Kitchen for a Historic Home
Elements of Traditional style lifted this kitchen from the late 1980s into an elegant present. Formality, structure and richness of fabric were brought together to create a classic kitchen for a historic home.
Refrigerator, drawers and warming drawers are integrated into maple cabinetry painted ivory with a light glaze. The cabinets are loaded with functional interiors, including racks that slide out from the blind corner. The recessed refrigerator wall showcases a stained glass transom in the back of the open shelf over the refrigerator. The transom is visible from the foyer.
Yes, modern conveniences are present, but hidden, in this Traditional kitchen. The microwave is partially concealed next to the paneled refrigerator. A knotty pine hutch, designed as a freestanding furniture piece, matches the built-ins by the fireplace that include a concealed TV. Stacked upper display cabinets draw the eye up to the high ceiling. Turned legs and beadboard paneling on the knee wall help define a casual seating area. Sam Moore chairs in a floral cut chenille add richness. In keeping with “tradition,” the breakfast bar is fashioned from a pine beam once in an historic church in downtown Annapolis.
Design by Mark T. White, CKD, CBD
More info at Kitchen Encounters of Annapolis, MD.
Photo by Mike Kaskel
Traditional for Today’s Lifestyle
Traditional design elements, such as beaded inset maple cabinets painted white, polished brass barrel hinges, and bin pulls on the drawers, were used to transform this kitchen. The focal point is the custom hood over the range and the Delft tile that matches the island. Tall pantry cabinets flank a small counter space. Stacked glass door upper cabinets and layered moldings match the kitchen, as does the tile work. A prep sink occupies the space at the corner windows and has a raised plant ledge behind it. The main clean-up sink is positioned at the other window and features dishwasher drawers built into the knotty pine hutch area near the breakfast table.
With all of the work centers in the perimeter, the island becomes an uninterrupted prep and serving surface, with knee space for stools and plenty of storage. The knotty pine cabinetry with furniture details and antique brass hardware complements the display shelves and dishwasher cabinets on the back wall. Turned columns on each side of the range are pull-out spice cabinets. The white quartz-type countertops finish the kitchen with a bright balance to the warm wood floors.
Design by Mark T. White, CKD, CBD.
More info at Kitchen Encounters of Annapolis, MD.
Photo by Mike Kaskel
Uniquely Your Own
With Transitional and/or Eclectic style, homeowners are mixing and matching designs with items they enjoy to customize their own “style.” This Transitional kitchen gets a lot of attention and functions well. A true test of color, it stands out from other designs. For example, rather than making sharp transitions on a wall that jogs back, softening with a curve really adds spice. The green mixed with gray colors and the curves on the appliance garage as well as on the hood make this kitchen a one-of-a-kind. Stainless steel plug molding in the island between the counter and the top of the base cabinets furthers the effect.
Design by Jennifer Gilmer, CKD.
More info at Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, MD.
Photo by Bob Narod
A Mix of Styles
This kitchen, in a unit part of an elegant old cooperative in Minneapolis, needed to bridge the difference between the client’s Contemporary taste and the building’s historic architecture. The Traditional style of applied molding doors in the cabinetry was used to relate to the paneled rooms and moldings in the rest of the home. However, to meet the owner’s preference for Contemporary, a monochromatic color scheme with Contemporary hardware and sleek accessories was used to sway the style. The more Traditional style approach of white-painted cabinetry with fretwork is mixed with sleek white Carrara marble tiles, slab marble countertop and backsplashes. The blend allows for the latest in technology — crisp stainless steel sink and stainless steel faucet with pullout spray and the 27-inch built-in refrigerator – to be seamlessly incorporated.
Design by John B.A. Idstrom II, A.I.A.
More info at Partners 4, Design, Minneapolis, MN.
Photo by Andrew Ostreim
Seamless Transition
With clean lines yet classic details, this kitchen has both contemporary and traditional appeal for a Transitional style. The simplified five-piece door design has a semi-sheen white-painted finish. The granite fully integrated sink with contemporary square edges fits seamlessly into the granite countertop. The lighting fixtures offer traditional flavor with the chandelier used as a contrasting element against the white cabinets. Appliances are hidden.
Design by Laurie Belinda Haefele, Associate A.I.A.
More info at Haefele Design, Santa Monica, CA.
Photo by Laurie Belinda Haefele
Kitchen with a Royal Touch
Because Queen Victoria reigned for more than 60 years, several styles and substyles became popular during her era. However, Victorian “style” is typically considered ornate with specific rules for use of colors, woods, and such. This kitchen was styled as Victorian with a modern twist to make it sophisticated, airy and full of light. As an integral part of the main entertaining areas, it needed a strong architectural presence. That can be found in the very beautiful focal points of the columns, molding details, and decorative hood.
Design by Kristin A. Okeley, ASID, CKD.
More info at Kitchens by Design, Indianapolis, IN.
Photo by Brian Bookwalter