Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

Photo of a large traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Chicago with dark hardwood floors, brown floor, an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback and black benchtop.

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Design ideas for a large country seated home bar in Orange County with an undermount sink, marble benchtops, medium hardwood floors, white benchtop and brown floor.

Design ideas for a small modern single-wall wet bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Troy Theis Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped seated home bar in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Dustin.Peck.Photography.Inc
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and beige benchtop.

Warm Open Space in the works for this beautiful midcentury renovation.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern single-wall wet bar in Baltimore with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

This transitional timber frame home features a wrap-around porch designed to take advantage of its lakeside setting and mountain views. Natural stone, including river rock, granite and Tennessee field stone, is combined with wavy edge siding and a cedar shingle roof to marry the exterior of the home with it surroundings. Casually elegant interiors flow into generous outdoor living spaces that highlight natural materials and create a connection between the indoors and outdoors. Photography Credit: Rebecca Lehde, Inspiro 8 Studios

Custom bar cabinet designed to display the ship model built by the client's father. THe wine racking is reminiscent of waves and the ship lap siding adds a nautical flair. Photo: Tracy Witherspoon

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped seated home bar in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Bar within a Classical Contemporary residence in Los Angeles, CA.
Photo of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble benchtops, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Traditional wet bar with dark wood cabinetry, white marble countertops and backsplash, dark hardwood chevron flooring, and floral grey wallpaper.
Photo of a traditional single-wall wet bar in Baltimore with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, beige splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Rich blue cabinetry with antiqued mirror backsplash surrounded by warm wood cladded walls ... guest don't ever want to leave.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional wet bar in Cincinnati with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

This is an example of a large country bar cart in Austin with no sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, pink splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Inspiration for a large country wet bar in Detroit with distressed cabinets, marble benchtops, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped wet bar in Miami with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, marble benchtops, brown splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Patrick Brickman
This is an example of a mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Charleston with blue cabinets, white benchtop, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Custom Bar in the Living Room is painted in Benjamin Moore Van Duesen Blue and has knobs from Anthropologie. The Countertop is Monterra Marble. The Sink is Blanco and Faucet from Signature Hardware. Photo by SpaceCrafting.