Different size sinks - works well with the white, black, stainless kitchen
The lighted space above the cabinets. Air above kitchen cabinets. It’s tempting to utilize every kitchen nook and cranny for storage. This can lead to overfilled spaces and the impression of clutter. Upper kitchen cabinetry is often hard to reach and impractical. Leaving the upper parts of your cabinetry as negative space, and using the lower parts for storage instead, can give your kitchen breathing space and enhance other features in the room. Here, the elegant light fixture works to draw focus to the lower storage section.
Countertops. Looking for a modern countertop material with strength and style? Terrazzo has a similar strength and durability to coveted quartz, but with even greater possibilities for color customization. Plus, depending on the supplier, it can be formed to a requested size or shape, rather than having to be cut from a slab, which can avoid waste while creating a feature, such as the very gently rounded corner shown here
I like the shallow shelves - to do on the facing wall. Storage space was at a premium in here, and the existing upper cabinets were low and close to the countertops. The designers raised the upper cabinets to allow for more workspace and added another layer of flip-up cabinets atop the upper cabinets.
Try an open island cart. Rather than a typical cabinet-based island, try using a cart-style island with open sides. Island carts give a barely-there look that makes the kitchen appear more open while still giving useful storage you can access from all sides. If the island is moveable, it will also allow you to pull it up to the back counters or push it away when convenient, or even roll it over to another area of the home to serve as a buffet station or drink cart.
Butcher-block open shelving adds practical storage in the absence of upper cabinets, but Katie says that’s just one of the benefits. “I feel like I do dishes more frequently because I’m not having to open and close cabinets,” she says. “And when someone comes over, they don’t ask for a wine glass, they get it themselves. Everyone can come in and find things and be comfortable cooking together. We’re always hosting and I wanted something easy to navigate.”
Love the colors - Designer Lucie Ayres ripped everything out and started fresh, beginning with a slaphappy backsplash tile that sets off the aqua color (Serene Breeze by Benjamin Moore) on the custom cabinets. She kept the black-and-white theme going on the floor, but chose a cement tile design with more white than black to lighten things up.
How should my cabinet drawers and doors open? Designers often point out that changing out the knobs on existing cabinets can make a kitchen look new in a snap. Putting knobs and hardware on new cabinets for the first time, however, can take a surprising amount of thought to get right. One of the trickiest parts of designing a kitchen well is making the cabinet door and drawer fronts look elegant and consistent while the cabinets themselves serve different practical functions in a variety of shapes. Farmhouse Kitchen by Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath SaveEmail You might find a single handle that works for all your cabinets, but you may need two or even three coordinating styles to address all your different sizes of fronts. Once you’ve chosen hardware, you should give careful consideration to where to install it to best achieve a sense of visual consistency. Free software can be found online to model your kitchen in 3-D, and you can adjust details such as the directions that doors swing until the hardware lines up in a pleasing way. Or you can skip the issue altogether and use knob-free touch-latch cabinets.
Copper double farm sink
Metal mesh inserts are a great middle ground, giving a slight peek at what’s inside the cabinet but without putting your stored goods on full display. I’ve used mesh inserts instead of glass on many recent projects. It works beautifully in both traditional homes and contemporary designs with some transitional flair, bringing a slight sense of old-world charm. Consider using mesh inserts on the “upper-upper” cabinets in a tall space on a full pantry wall …
Consider a central range and range hood. Placing your range on an island or peninsula, rather than against a wall, doesn’t necessarily free up space in itself. However, it does mean you can use a central hood fan, which leaves your cabinet wall without a large obstacle in the way of your storage cabinets. This setup leaves the center of the room still relatively open so as not to block conversation and sight lines, and allows for uninterrupted upper cabinets on your main walls for plenty of storage.
Pack in a pullout chopping station. Some days you need a bit more counter space than others, and when you do need to chop some vegetables, a little dedicated chopping station can be super helpful. A clever pullout chopping station, complete with a chopping-block top, can be integrated into a set of drawers so you have it handy when needed and tucked away when not.
Undercabinet shelves. This kitchen uses a small niche area created by a change in depth of the wall to create a little storage zone for spices. A shallow shelf under a stretch of upper cabinets can be a great spot to stash small items like spice jars, pepper mills or tea boxes. This works especially well if you use the shortened space below to store other items rather than using that spot for prep (so none of these items are really in your way).
Brick wall
Brick backsplash
Tame kitchen clutter. Kitchens are easily cluttered, ending up with dirty dishes, sticky recipe books and out-of-date food hiding at the back of cabinets. Invest in some beautiful storage jars into which you can decant dried goods. Not only do they look lovely, they keep food tidy, are easy to clean and let you see when items are running out. It’s also a great way to encourage your children to get involved in cooking, as they can see all the available ingredients. Square containers are more space-efficient than round ones — and be sure to measure your shelves and drawers before buying them.
Nigel Jenkins, director of GR8 Property Services, wanted to use it as the focal point in this small kitchen. To do that, he guided the clients toward picking a colored option, something that’s not typical. The clients loved the idea and chose a baby blue fridge to serve as the star. “The fridge brought life to this kitchen,” Jenkins says.
Not quite navy. Navy is a classic neutral, but sometimes you don’t want a shade that’s quite so deep. A gray-blue is the perfect solution to keep a sense of timeless nautical tradition but in a color that won’t plunge your whole design into murky darkness. Cabinet paint: Farrow & Ball Down Pipe. For something similar, try Freedom Found by Olympic or Needlepoint Navy by Sherwin-Williams
The pegboard is one of the more ingenious solutions for organizing and creating space in a small kitchen. Julia Child knew this and famously used her pegboard to store her pots and cooking utensils.
Spice rack. Similar to a pot rail, a knife strip can house more than just knives. Try placing on the rail other small metal items such as small spice canisters, metal cooking utensils and pot covers — they’ll stick just like the knives. If you’ve hung your pots on a pot rail, the lids can go on the magnetic strip. Maximize storage possibilities by affixing metal binder clips to double as hooks for lighter kitchen knickknacks or clipped coupons.
Magnetic Knife Strip Storing your knives in a knife block isn’t always ideal. When counter space is a limited commodity, try hanging your knives on a magnetic, wall-mounted knife rack. This frees up your kitchen counter for food prep or storing small appliances.
Branches for hanging.Also take a look at the towel hardware in the bathroom section. These can be a practical alternative to a utensil rack, with a little extra depth to accommodate more cumbersome items, such as pots with large handles. If you’re feeling crafty, create your own unconventional utility rack. A cool-looking industrial pipe affixed to the wall with coordinating brackets could work. Or, as shown in this photo, a sturdy branch could add a more organic kitchen detail. Metal S-hooks or J-hooks for your DIY pot rail can be found in most kitchen or hardware sections.
Hide small appliances. First impressions are made when you walk into a kitchen, so keep those countertops clear. It makes a huge difference when you don’t see rows of appliances on the counters, and it also frees up space for prep work when cooking or baking. Consider appliance garages, which are storage cabinets with rollup fronts that retract the same way a garage door does.
Add a magic corner. Another great storage solution is a “smart” corner with pullout shelves, Lazy Susans or wire shelves on tracks, such as this unit from specialized hardware-maker Richelieu. Use these nifty storage solutions to gain access to otherwise wasted space, where you can keep large pots and pans, small appliances and other bulky items. They tuck into cabinets nicely and provide easy access when needed, helping to create a more organized kitchen.
Upgrading Ikea cabinets -Cabinets surrounding the refrigerator have custom-made fronts of wood-grain textured laminate. Smith installed the fronts onto Ikea base cabinets.
Except for the island, the kitchen cabinets are free-standing. “They look like pieces of furniture, so when you’re relaxing on the sofa, you never feel as if you’re sitting in a kitchen,” Alex Newbery says. The designs are not only beautiful but practical too. “The walls are not straight, so building in a fitted kitchen would have involved a lot of work,” she says. “Here, nothing is attached to the walls.”
Simple way to remove cabinets and create open usable space. The island measures about 8½ by 3¼ feet and includes a sink, a flush induction cooktop and a Quooker boiling-water faucet. There are also sectioned trash compartments, a dishwasher, and drawers to house cutlery, utensils, dishes, cookware and bakeware. The quartz work surface is only about one-third-inch thick.
Love the tile.
Simplify. There are so many ways to bring focus to a windowless sink. One of the simplest is to tile the wall behind the sink to the ceiling and just leave it blank. No cabinet, no shelf, no anything … well, maybe a simple wreath, as in this photo, or a piece of art. Whatever you decide, the beauty of this blank-slate solution is that you can change the look whenever the mood strikes. That’s really what good design is all about: It’s always evolving.
Idea for windowless sinks. Towel bar. Install a towel bar below a shelf to display decorative dish towels. And if you’re the practical type, go ahead and use the rack to dry wet towels. Or an interesting mirror works well.
The space includes a wine rack between the cabinets
In the kitchen area, a live-edge slab of walnut acts as a countertop.
This kitchen oozes charm, and I think the beige-painted cabinets are a big part of why it’s so successful. There are quite a few wood finishes here, so the cabinets really beg to be a different finish. I think white cabinets would appear too modern; this light kiss of beige is the perfect choice. Cabinet paint: Drab, Farrow & Ball
Touch-activated faucets. With a sharp, deep sink, let’s make it even easier to use by adding a touch-activated faucet. These smart devices aren’t just for minimalist tech-head homes. They come in a range of styles to suit even more traditional or transitional kitchens. Inside that stylish faucet is a sensor that activates the faucet just from a tap, so you can turn on water even with your hands occupied. The next time you’re making dough (or just making a mess) and need to rinse off, you’ll be glad you can turn on the faucet with just a tap from your elbow.
Slab backsplash. I thought I had everything I wanted for my dream kitchen with the deep drawers, but then I realized it had to end right back where it started: with a beautiful statement-making stone. The new must-have kitchen look eschews the everyday tile backsplash for the dramatic, custom look of a slab backsplash in the same material as the counters. After all, if you love your quartz counter so much, it makes sense to put the material on a vertical plane to show it off from all angles.
Quartz counters. Quartz is a designer’s dream to work with for many reasons. It’s made using actual stone, so it echoes the natural appeal of materials such as granite or marble. But it is also processed and manufactured in ways that make it strong, nonporous and color-customizable to create many different looks with good color predictability (as opposed to a stone slab, which can contain more unexpected surprises compared with the sample). This beauty and durability doesn’t come without a price: It is generally more expensive than stone or total synthetics, although the price will vary depending on composition and manufacturer.
Dedicated appliance storage. Hidden storage for small appliances frees up counter space for more valuable uses.
Love the Campbell soup cans for displays and containers.
Vinyl cork floor. in this kitchen the vinyl flooring has the look of a dramatic cork floor, but with much less upkeep than a true cork floor, and likely at a significantly lower price per square foot.
Vinyl flooring - very durable. What says diner more than a black-and-white checkerboard floor in classic vinyl? This pattern and material are meant for each other. Use the combo in any style of kitchen to add a hint of retro appeal without the room’s looking like the set of a period film.
Marble-topped island. You can practically smell the chocolate croissants and espresso when you look at a French bakery-inspired marble-topped worktable like this one. They are so handy for rolling out pie crusts and other baking tasks. Or wood top.
White subway tile. Classic white subway tile has taken over American kitchens during the past decade. But it has been the preferred floor-to-ceiling tile choice for romantic restaurant movie kitchens for much longer.
Professional worktable. This kitchen is the first one I remember seeing that had a commercial kitchen worktable worked into an eclectic cottage design. The table serves as worktop, peninsula and eat-in surface, and plays nicely off the serious range and vent hood.
Frosted glass doors. This option provides a slightly more open appearance than standard upper cabinets, which works great for mixing up your kitchen look without giving up storage. You may even be able to attach new frosted glass doors to existing cabinets instead of springing for all-new units.
*** Uncut wood for counter or island/dining table.
“They needed storage but they wanted to keep the entire top floor as open as possible.” Suspended shelves solve the problem, providing storage without blocking light.
The couple installed budget-friendly white Ikea cabinets and a farmhouse-style sink, also from Ikea. They decided against installing upper cabinets because they wanted the space to feel light and airy.
Cover it with chalkboard adhesive. “I had a very ugly, old, yellowed, dented fridge that made me frown every time I looked at it — there wasn’t a fridge magnet in existence that could have changed it,” Houzz user Liesje Feterika writes. “The temporary fix was to use adhesive chalkboard to cover the front, dress the top with faux plants and [put up] my favorite addition, a letter from my son. Now I stop to look at my ‘ugly’ fridge all the time.… Now if I could only get it to self-defrost.”
If you’re looking for an easier way to use decals, check out what the designers at Lablstudio did. Limited in what they could do in this rental kitchen, they cleverly added personality with a simple decal. The iconic ice logo adds some graphic nostalgia, and at the same time, its placement on the freezer is cheekily literal — indeed, that is where the ice is.
Apply decals. Houzz user Iko Cornelius transformed this refrigerator into something that looks like a roadie should be toting around. “I saw a small novelty beer fridge in a store that looked like a Fender guitar speaker and thought, ‘I can do better!’” she says. “My husband is a bass player and has an antique Ampeg monitor and speaker that he cherishes, so I snapped some pictures of it and sent them to graphic artist Neil Jeffery, with whom I have had amazing custom work done before.” Jeffery prints vinyl decals through his Etsy store beepart. He drew up some options and printed the decals in three sections — one for the freezer and two that had to be applied very carefully to line up on the bottom portion of the refrigerator. This did involve removing the handles from the refrigerator, which was a little tricky. Cornelius reports that after three years, the amp refrigerator is still rocking and rolling. “We love it,” she says. “It also stops us from cluttering the front of the fridge with miscellaneous documents and creates a clean look in the kitchen.”
To unify her secondhand store kitchenware, Campanaro adhered to a few design rules: glasses would be clear, ceramics would be white and bowls would be either wood or stainless steel. “This way everything can be mismatched but still feel like a cohesive set and look good on the shelves, and it’s super cheap to replace anything that breaks,” she says. Shelves: Ikea
Old lantern lights transformed into pendants.
live-edge wood slab for their bar counter
Love the cabinets (Ikea with birch trim) especially one on right with shelf underneath, subway tile, ceiling and the 12" floor tiles.
While the light-filled openness of this kitchen is enough to make anyone swoon, it’s the Moroccan-pattern cement tile floor that really sets this kitchen apart. Tile: Badajoz, Echo collection, Granada Tile; cabinets: MTD Vanities; cabinet hardware: U-Turn collection in Champagne finish, Atlas; stainless steel appliances: Samsung; farmhouse sink and matte black faucet: Kohler; Lorne rug: Anthropologie; pale gray window shades: Selectblinds.com; wall paint: Simply White by Benjamin Moore; bar stools: Anthropologie; pendants: Arteriors Home
Add drawers to your breakfast bar. Boost the purpose of an eating or coffee-drinking nook by fitting drawers beneath it. They’ll make a handy storage space for easy-to-reach cutlery, napkins, serving utensils and so on. Alternatively, if your nook doubles as a workspace, they’ll provide somewhere to tidy away a laptop and work paraphernalia at the end of the day.
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