Kitchen designer Karen Swanson of New England Design Works and the owner of this New Hampshire kitchen found each other on Houzz. “She liked some of the ideabooks I’d put together,” says Swanson. “She contacted me to help her redesign her kitchen. It was the first time I got a client that way.” Swanson quickly found that she and her new client were style soul mates. “Her taste is impeccable,” she says. “It made the job a lot of fun.” When they established a common visual vocabulary, the pair set out to re-create the kitchen.

Kitchen at a Glance
Location: New Hampshire
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

“To keep the costs down, we left the appliances where they were,” says Swanson. “That gave us room in the budget for the custom island.”

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

Although the owner would have preferred to use Calacatta marble throughout, it cost too much; she splurged by topping only the eat-in island with the natural stone. “It was cheaper to use it on the smaller counter of the island, and we put it in the center of the room where it would make the most impact,” says Swanson. The rest of the countertops are made of Caesarstone.

The cabinets that line the room are a soft white, but Swanson advocated that the island be gray with a pale green undertone. She had the color custom mixed, and the cabinetmakers liked it so much, they added it to their general collection. “They let me name it,” the designer says. “I chose the name Marguerite, for my grandmother. I was at the beginning of my career, and a number of jobs just fell into my lap. I felt that if anyone up there was watching out for me, it was my grandmother.”

Cabinetry: Pennville Custom Cabinets

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

On one end of the island is a walnut butcher block. “She actually uses this to prep food; it’s not just decorative,” says Swanson. “It’s an end cut, which is the toughest butcher block you can buy.”

Butcher block: Grothouse Lumber Company

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

Two deep drawers at the end of the island are a home for pots and pans conveniently near the cooktop.

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

“We were going for an industrial look,” says Swanson. The white subway tile runs from counter to ceiling and has a narrow band of gray around the edges that’s enhanced by the gray grout. A single factory-style light fixture illuminates the sink, and the two pendants over the island look as if they could be its slightly-more-dignified city cousins. The stools — which, like piano stools, have a top that adjusts with a spin — also have an urban-by-way-of-yesteryear edge.

Light fixture over sink: Metro, The Urban Electric Company

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

The inspiration for an apothecary-style cabinet came from Houzz. “She had seen several examples on the site and saved them into her personal ideabooks,” says Swanson. “It made sense, because she has a lovely collection of servingware and likes to display it. It also was a fit because she is, in fact, a pharmacist.”

Pennville Custom Cabinetry

In the end both women were happy working long-distance (Swanson lives in Massachusetts) and with the completed kitchen. It was a prescription for success.

More:
Find Houzz pros near you
How to find a designer through photos on Houzz
How to contact a home professional and start your project

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11:18 AM

Interior designer Susan Helie had drawn sketches of her dream home on the water, and she and her husband, Peter, set out to find a site for it in Stonington, Connecticut. Across the harbor from the village of Stonington, with views of the Long Island Sound and the Watch Hill lighthouse and with dock potential (it was just steps from a little beach), they found a shingled 1980s gambrel set upon her dream site. Assuming she’d tear it down and bring her sketches to life, she didn’t even want to set foot in the house. “But my frugal husband insisted we at least go in, and I had to admit that the house had great bones,” she says. “My husband made me realize it was my dream house, but just a little smaller.”

While the floor plan and quality of the architecture were pretty close to her vision, the 1980s track lights and Formica were not. “I wanted it a little more contemporary, a little yacht-like and a little island-ish all rolled into one,” she says. Here’s a look at how she made her dream home out of the sweet gambrel home, embracing its original spirit as well.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Photography by Warren Jagger

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Susan and Peter Helie
Location: Stonington, Connecticut
Size: About 140 square feet (about 13 square meters)

The coastal location inspired crisp and contemporary marine touches in the kitchen. “On the cabinets I used the whitest white I could find,” Helie says (it’s Benjamin Moore’s 01 White). Accentuating the bright cabinets and Caesarstone countertops, she covered the range wall in blue glass tiles. “Because it’s the only plain wall without windows, I knew it really needed to pop,” she explains.

The holly and teak floor looks as though it came straight off a yacht. So does the custom hardware, which is composed of boat handrail stanchions and teak dowels. (Inspired by some very pricey hardware, Helie found the stanchions at a boating supply store, and her woodworker added the dowels for a fraction of the cost of the pricey hardware). The cabinetry conceals the refrigerator (near right) and the dishwasher (to the right of the sink — the plain lower cabinet).

Tiles: Royal, Waterworks; range: Wolf; countertops: Caesarestone; Biz pendant lights: Tech Lighting; paint: 01 White, Benjamin Moore

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

The galley-style kitchen allows for big views of Stonington Harbor across the dining area. Part of the renovation included widening the front hallway, opening up the basement staircase and removing a bookcase to reveal the water views from the moment one walks through the front door.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Now all of the main living spaces look right out at Stonington Harbor. Here you can see how the kitchen (right), dining area and living room relate to one another. Because the space is so open, the kitchen feels larger than a typical galley kitchen.

Helie added the window seat bench as the prime spot for enjoying the view. She had the original floors refinished with Zar teak seal so that they work well with the yacht-like floor in the kitchen.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

In addition to the marine touches, Helie brought in elements like glass shelves, a stainless steel vent hood and pendant lights, which give the kitchen a contemporary edge.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Built-in cabinetry provides plenty of room for storage and displaying favorite items in the dining area. The teak hardware and cobalt blue glassware connect the space to the adjacent kitchen. To the right of the built-in, you can catch a glimpse of the pantry storage behind it.

Helie added a coffered board ceiling. The recessed lights in the ceiling are square, in keeping with the rest of its geometry.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

It just didn’t feel right to show you just one peek of the living room, which has nautical and global flair. Helie had the coffee table, throw pillows and stools made in Bali; the leather sling chairs are from Italy; and the rugs are Gabbeh rugs, made in the mountains of Iran.

Sofa: custom, Susan Helie Designs

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

While the fireplace was existing, the fieldstone surround is new. Helie also wanted one long stone to serve as the hearth. Because the original opening was off center on the wall, she added the log storage area on the left for balance. A vibrant print adds color atop the stone, while a model sailboat winks at the kitchen inspired by its details.

Her husband is retired, but Helie’s design business continues, and the two now split their time between Florida and Connecticut. Their son, daughter and grandchildren all have a ball gathering at the welcoming house on the water.

Team:
Interior design: Susan Helie Designs
Interior architecture/lighting: Michael McKinley and Associates
Builder: Dennis Clarke
Woodworking: Jeff Luchon

Homeowners: We’d love to see your creative kitchen. Please upload a photo in the Comments and tell us about it!

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10:17 PM

The owners of this stately 1930s colonial in Chevy Chase, Maryland, set out to upgrade their kitchen to better reflect the architectural details of their home. As professionals and the parents of two young children, they also wanted a workhorse kitchen that could stand up to the rigors of daily meals and frequent dinner parties. A better connection with their nearby family room and a designated breakfast area for casual meals were also at the top of their list.

They removed two walls of the existing kitchen and borrowed about 12 feet from an adjacent in-law suite to create enough room for a large center island and good circulation. They also pushed out a sink wall a few feet to make the kitchen flush with the family room. A new half wall/architectural screen now defines the kitchen and breakfast area while making a strong connection between the kitchen and family room. See how it looked then and now below.

Before Photo

Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Architect and general contractor: Gilday Renovations
Size: 200 square feet (18½ square meters)

Previously remodeled in the 1990s, the old L-shaped kitchen had no island and only a small peninsula that didn’t offer the workspace or storage the homeowners desired. By removing the wall where the range was and pushing into the in-law unit, they gained the space they needed for the upgraded kitchen.

“The challenge of this project was how to give intimacy for the kitchen while retaining the open feel we wanted for the kitchen, breakfast space and family room,” says project architect Dan Morales of Gilday Renovations.

Gilday Renovations

Photography by Morgan Howarth

AFTER: This is basically the same angle as the previous photo, only now you can see how the kitchen got pushed back to the wall that was originally in the in-law unit. By doing this, the team was able to add new operable casement windows on each side of the cooking zone that offer views of the side yard outside. “They provide light, make it a friendlier space and anchor the range,” notes Morales.

The new layout allowed room for an impressive custom center island with a large stainless steel Julien sink, two stainless KitchenAid dishwashers and a polished statuario white marble top from 3Cm. The couple painted the base of the island a blue-gray color (Web Gray by Sherwin-Williams) that provides contrast for the kitchen’s white cabinetry and the perimeter stone counters in Kodiak Brown with an antique finish from 3Cm.

Wall paint: 1478 Horizon, Benjamin Moore; paint for ceiling inside coffers in breakfast area and family room: 1480 Sleigh Bells, Benjamin Moore; pendants: One-Light Downlight, Grosvenor

Gilday Renovations

A roomy 48 inches separates the island from the surrounding counters and appliances. “We did this so two people can work comfortably in there at the same time,” explains Morales. The crackle tile backsplash with a custom gray grout along the range wall keeps with the classic look and feel of the home.

Custom cabinets, hood: Greenfield Cabinetry; cabinet knobs, pulls: Top Knobs

Gilday Renovations

Since the couple loves to entertain, they included a Sub-Zero wine refrigerator along with their large Sub-Zero refrigerator with panel fronts. “We went back and forth about doing stainless or paneling the refrigerator, and I’m glad we went with the panel fronts, because the kids get their fingerprints on it all the time,” says the wife. Below the main refrigerator sit two refrigerator drawers for milk and juice cartons for the kids and two easy-access freezer drawers.

Gilday Renovations

Corners are always an issue in kitchens. Because the homeowners wanted to take advantage of every inch of space, they included a corner lazy Susan for storage of various bowls. A pullout cabinet for additional baking supplies is located in another corner of the kitchen. The range wall has extra-deep and extra-wide drawers for storage of pots and pans.

Gilday Renovations

An integrated spice drawer to the right of the Viking range was a handy addition. The kitchen also includes long and lean pullouts for tray storage.

Gilday Renovations

The homeowners wanted attractive but sturdy appliances that would be suited for both daily meals and large parties. In addition to the Viking range, the kitchen now includes a microwave oven and wall oven from KitchenAid.

Gilday Renovations

Pulling together the classic architectural details and elements of the home, the base of the island has legs on each side that mimic nearby columns used to separate the breakfast area from the family room.

Gilday Renovations

Coffered ceilings in the family room and adjacent breakfast area add architectural interest and help visually connect the spaces. A custom cabinet in the architectural screen/half wall was designed for media storage. “I think overall we gave them a beautiful, spacious and calm space,” says Morales.

This floor plan shows the limitations of the previous kitchen layout.

Gilday Renovations

AFTER: The new floor plan shows how the more open layout and other changes created better traffic flow for the kitchen and the surrounding rooms.

See more Kitchens of the Week

Find a Kitchen Designer

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9:16 PM

I’ve been searching for the perfect kitchen cart for several years now, and here’s why: I once had one, and no single piece in my entire home was more versatile. Whether I was drying dishes on a rack, storing pots and pans, or wheeling it into the living room to be repurposed as a bar cart, the piece my roommate and I scored for $40 on Craigslist proved to be the best investment we made in our shared home.

These days I’m looking for a refined vintage cart to double as a console-type table when it’s not in use as a serving or display cart, although I’m sure I’ll find about a million more ways to repurpose it. Here are eight ideas for putting a cart to work in your kitchen.

Cynthia Mason Interiors

1. Dress it up. An industrial wire storage cart has been masterfully transformed into a chic bar and coffee station, thanks to simple black trays and neatly arranged glassware.

The photo collage behind it anchors it as a stylish beverage station, not a college-era throwback.

2. Try a new use for an old thing. Get creative when you’re shopping for a vintage kitchen cart and don’t be afraid to repurpose. This sweet serving cart is actually a vintage trolley rescued from a defunct shoe factory.

Once again, presentation is key. Neatly lined pies, serveware and San Pellegrino bottles make this display look professional, while a spray of flowers adds just the right amount of femininity to this industrial piece.

Photo by Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Whitney Lyons

3. Tell a story. A pair of Portland, Oregon, homeowners used a vintage industrial cart to create a nostalgic breakfast and condiment station. Vintage-inspired magnets, hanging aprons, carefully curated kitchenware and coordinating dish towels and artwork soften the piece, making it a colorful hub in a busy kitchen.

Tour this charming home

Richard Brown Architect AIA

4. Tuck it in. This homeowner had a custom cart built that can be tucked neatly into her kitchen cabinetry. Its purpose: to ferry food to the terraces outside.

Architect Richard Brown recommends achieving the same effect using a Raskog cart from Ikea. Integrate it into an Ikea kitchen or use it to store outdoor tableware and linens.

5. Create a showcase. Blogger Victoria Smith of SF Girl By Bay was dying to showcase her new Delonghi espresso maker and gorgeous coffee-making supplies, so she opted for a four-tier kitchen cart from West Elm. By using it to display only her dearly loved coffee accoutrements, Smith created not only a functional station for making morning lattes but also a curated showcase.

Kristen Rivoli Interior Design

6. Let it roam. Inexpensive pieces like this one provide the perfect solution for a small or pantry-less kitchen. Its small size allows it to be tucked neatly into a corner nook or closet, while tiered shelving maximizes storage space. When it’s time to designate a sous-chef, roll it out to create extra prep space.

Shannon Cabinetry

7. Add some length. We’ve all had to work with a kitchen that has less counter space and fewer cabinets than we’d like. In this case a cart topped with a hefty wood butcher block provides functional elegance.

The use of this John Boos worktable is especially ingenious because the rest of the space is so traditional. Its industrial style blends with the space because it’s next to the stainless steel stove; it creates good flow and adds functionality.

Corynne Pless

8. Embrace your space. This L-shaped kitchen in Brooklyn, New York, was begging for an island, but built-in cabinetry would’ve felt too heavy for the open floor plan in this loft space.

Homeowner James Botha solved this problem with a trip to New York’s Chinatown, where he commissioned a custom kitchen cart. The cart’s lightness keeps it from making the space feel closed off while still adding storage and prep space.

See more of this airy loft

More: Browse mobile carts in the Houzz Products section

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8:15 PM

Als die Eigentümer dieses Hauses im Londoner Stadtteil Hackney den Innenarchitekten Brian O’Tuama zu Hilfe holten, war das Gebäude in einem ziemlich schlechten Zustand und brauchte eine Rundumerneuerung. Da die Bauherren keine Lust auf langwierige Bauanträge hatten, mussten die gewünschten An- und Umbauten ohne Veränderung der Grundstruktur erfolgen.

„Die Eigentümer wünschten sich für ihr neues Zuhause einen individuellen Stilmix, der ihren Persönlichkeiten gerecht wird. Also brachten wir viele verschiedene Muster und Materialien ins Spiel“, erzählt O’Tuama. „Unsere Mission war: Mehr Tageslicht und eine praktischere Raumaufteilung.“

Auf einen Blick
Hier lebt: eine dreiköpfige Familie
In: Hackney, London
Größe: drei Schlafzimmer, zwei Badezimmer
Architekt: Brian O’Tuama Architects

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Das Problem mit dem fehlenden Tageslicht löste O’Tuama durch einen Anbau (links im Bild) mit großer Fensterfront. Obwohl dafür extra ein Kran geordert werden musste, waren die Eigentümer mit dieser Maßnahme gleich einverstanden.

Für noch mehr Licht wurde zudem das bestehende Fenster vergrößert. „Die Eigentümer sind beide sehr kreative Menschen und haben den Umbau von Anfang an mit vielen eigenen Ideen bereichert. Das fand ich toll“, erzählt O’Tuama.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Das Originalfenster aus den Siebzigern ließ O’Tuama sowohl in der Höhe als auch in der Breite vergrößern. So ist es nun auch im hinteren Teil des Hauses schön hell.

„Der Küchenfußboden war auch für uns Neuland“, sagt O’Tuama. „Das Fischgrätparkett aus Eichenholz wurde schon vor dem Einbau auf Verlegedielen angebracht, die dann vor Ort im Handumdrehen ausgelegt waren. So entstand ein wunderschöner antiker Look. Das Verlegen des Parketts in mühevoller Handarbeit wäre viel teuer geworden.“

Dank der Schiebetüren und der gläsernen Decke über dem vergrößerten Essbereich kommt sogar noch mehr Tageslicht in den Raum. Der Esstisch mit bronzener Oberfläche ist eines von vielen antiken Möbelstücken, die die Eigentümer über die Jahre angesammelt haben, und die sie unbedingt in ihr neues Haus integrieren wollten.

Die grünen Metro-Fliesen geben dem Raum eine gewisse Tiefe. Für einen harmonischen Look verwendete O’Tuama denselben Farbton bei den Kissen auf der Fensterbank.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

O’Tuamas Ziel war es, die luftige, modernen Küchenmöbel mit eklektischen und antiken Elementen zu kombinieren, um einen besonders individuellen Look zu kreieren. „Wir haben das Kücheninventar bewusst nur an einer Wand platziert, damit im restlichen Raum genug Platz für die vielen Bilder blieb, die die Familie über die Jahre gesammelt hat“, erklärt er. So entstand ein multifunktionaler Raum, der nichts mit einer herkömmlichen Küche gemein hat. Auf dem einfachen Eichenholz-Regal ist Platz für die vielen kleinen „Schätze“ , die die Familie dort wie auf einem Kaminsims präsentiert.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Um dem viktorianischen Stil des Hauses Respekt zu zollen, entschieden sich die Eigentümer bei der Terrasse für einen Mix aus schwarzen, weißen und grauen Fliesen. Die vielen Erinnerungsstücke verleihen dem Raum eine individuelle Note, so zum Beispiel das „Haçienda“-Poster – eine Erinnerung an jenen Club, in dem einer der beiden Besitzer früher mal als DJ aufgelegt hat. „Es war den beiden wichtig, dass sie genug Platz für ihre vielen Andenken haben“, so O’Tuama.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Die alten Terrassentüren markieren den ursprünglichen Übergang von Haus zu Garten. Um den neuen Teil des Hauses mit dem alten optisch zu verbinden, ließ O’Tuama im Wohnzimmer denselben Parkettfußboden verlegen wie in der Küche. Die Wände sind in Arsenic von Farrow & Ball gestrichen, was wunderbar zum kräftigen Farbton der Samt-Polstermöbel passt.

O’Tuama legte Wert darauf, die Originaldetails, wie den Stuck, vorsichtig zu restaurieren. „Der Familie war es sehr wichtig, diese Elemente des Hauses zu erhalten, und wir haben aufgepasst, dass die Räume am Ende nicht zu neu und nachgemacht aussahen“, sagt er. „Es war eine sanfte Restaurierung.“

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Die Eigentümer lieben diese handgemalte Tapete von De Gournay und fanden, dass sie sich im Gäste-WC besonders gut machen würde – auch im Hinblick auf die Kosten.

„Da die Tapete nur auf Bestellung gefertigt wird und entsprechend teuer ist, konnten wir nur eine kleine Fläche damit bekleben“, erzählt O’Tuama. Toilette und Spülkasten im Gründerzeit-Stil runden den antiken Look ab. Dank des Oberlichts kommt das Orange der Tapete schön zum Leuchten.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Dieses Bad in der dritten Etage war ursprünglich mal ein Schlafzimmer. Weil den Eigentümern der alte Kamin so gut gefiel, wurde er einfach drin gelassen und ist nun ein Blickfang in dem weißen, hellen Raum. Die großen Schiefer-Bodenfliesen von World’s End Tiles sind pflegeleicht und rutschfest. Darunter wurde eine Fußbodenheizung installiert. Zusammen mit den weißen Metro-Fliesen in der Dusche sehen sie einfach toll aus.

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7:14 PM

“The first time I met this client, she showed me a pillow that was bright turquoise, red, orange, green and white and said, ‘This makes me happy,’” says interior designer Tracey Stephens. The mother and her 10-year-old son recently had moved to be near close friends and good schools after her divorce, but the cottage she’d found was low on charm. “The house was a little depressing — it hadn’t been loved, and frankly, it was kind of boring,” Stephens says. They started on their mission to bring a cheerful and happy feeling into the kitchen, where a broken plate discovered during unpacking inspired a unique backsplash.

Before Photo

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

BEFORE: The kitchen had a terrible layout, didn’t have a dishwasher and was lacking in storage space. A waste pipe was hogging space behind the diagonal cabinet. Stephens had begun planning the layout, had ordered cabinets and was about halfway through the design process when the backsplash inspiration struck.

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

AFTER: To brighten up the kitchen, she added a new door with a window out to the screened-in porch, and painted the walls a red with orange and pink undertones. Her client loved the original floors, which required only a good cleaning and a fresh coat of polyurethane.

“I knew my client was really open to ideas and wanted to kick it up a notch. She wanted to do something very personal and customized,” Stephens says. When the two started to unpack china for potential display, they came across a broken plate. “That clicked in my brain,” Stephens says. The idea for a broken-china backsplash was born, and the client enthusiastically donated to the project some of the pieces that she wanted to enjoy every day.

Paint: Bubble Tea, Benjamin Moore; countertops: Zodiaq Coarse Carrara

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

The mosaic over the range is made up mostly of the client’s grandmother’s china. “She was quite willing to break up a few pieces for the sake of the project,” Stephens says. “Her attitude was, in order to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs!”

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

Stephens completed the design and installation of the backsplash herself, which took about 30 hours. First, she laid out all of the pieces on cardboard to balance the color and pattern. She also added special surprises throughout the mosaic. The image of one of the client’s favorite poets, William Wordsworth, appears on a shard from a broken mug. The little “C” is the client’s initial (it’s the “cold” tab from a faucet). Stephens threw in some pieces of broken china she’d been collecting, as well as tile samples and leftovers from other projects. Knowing Stephens was collecting broken china, a friend contributed her favorite teacup, which had split perfectly in half. It now serves as a pencil holder on the wall.

Over the sink just a sliver of wall got the broken-china treatment (next photo). Stephens chose more colorful pieces from vases and plates to organize a repeating pattern.

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

They were completing the house in stages, and the decision to replumb an existing waste pipe wasn’t made until well after the cabinets had been ordered (when the client decided to move ahead with a bathroom renovation upstairs). The replumbing helped them gain a little space, which they used to add a wine rack and open shelves beneath, making the most of the bonus 4-inch-wide space.

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

Because the client had a limited budget, she couldn’t afford a counter-depth refrigerator. Stephens camouflaged the bulk of a regular-depth refrigerator by surrounding it with cabinets. Because they added so much more room for the kitchen inventory, Stephens could also add a much-needed first-floor half bath in a former utility closet off the kitchen.

The client’s son made the mobile hanging on the door to match the happy colors that now run throughout the once-muted home.

See the new bathroom

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

Stephens also pulled her client’s favorite happy hues into other rooms. For the adjacent dining room, she dug a black chandelier draped in heavy chains out of her inventory. She removed the chains, spray painted it white and had custom beads added in turquoise, red and orange. Now the good cheer flows from room to room.

More:
Easy Decorating: New Uses for Tabletop Favorites

Does Your Home Make You Happy?

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6:13 PM