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.

This is an example of a small contemporary mudroom in Saint Petersburg with grey walls, a single front door, a white front door and beige floor.

Inspiration for a large beach style mudroom in Minneapolis with grey walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a white front door and grey floor.

This entry way is truly luxurious with a charming locker system with drawers below and cubbies over head, the catch all with a cabinet and drawer (so keys and things will always have a home), and the herringbone installed tile on the floor make this space super convenient for families on the go with all your belongings right where you need them.

Keeping track of all the coats, shoes, backpacks and specialty gear for several small children can be an organizational challenge all by itself. Combine that with busy schedules and various activities like ballet lessons, little league, art classes, swim team, soccer and music, and the benefits of a great mud room organization system like this one becomes invaluable. Rather than an enclosed closet, separate cubbies for each family member ensures that everyone has a place to store their coats and backpacks. The look is neat and tidy, but easier than a traditional closet with doors, making it more likely to be used by everyone — including children. Hooks rather than hangers are easier for children and help prevent jackets from being to left on the floor. A shoe shelf beneath each cubby keeps all the footwear in order so that no one ever ends up searching for a missing shoe when they're in a hurry. a drawer above the shoe shelf keeps mittens, gloves and small items handy. A shelf with basket above each coat cubby is great for keys, wallets and small items that might otherwise become lost. The cabinets above hold gear that is out-of-season or infrequently used. An additional shoe cupboard that spans from floor to ceiling offers a place to keep boots and extra shoes. White shaker style cabinet doors with oil rubbed bronze hardware presents a simple, clean appearance to organize the clutter, while bead board panels at the back of the coat cubbies adds a casual, country charm. Designer - Gerry Ayala Photo - Cathy Rabeler

Mudroom with open storage. Mike Krivit Photography Farrell and Sons Construction
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional mudroom in Minneapolis with blue walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a white front door and beige floor.

Situated on the north shore of Birch Point this high-performance beach home enjoys a view across Boundary Bay to White Rock, BC and the BC Coastal Range beyond. Designed for indoor, outdoor living the many decks, patios, porches, outdoor fireplace, and firepit welcome friends and family to gather outside regardless of the weather. From a high-performance perspective this home was built to and certified by the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program and the EnergyStar program. In fact, an independent testing/rating agency was able to show that the home will only use 53% of the energy of a typical new home, all while being more comfortable and healthier. As with all high-performance homes we find a sweet spot that returns an excellent, comfortable, healthy home to the owners, while also producing a building that minimizes its environmental footprint. Design by JWR Design Photography by Radley Muller Photography Interior Design by Markie Nelson Interior Design

Renovations made this house bright, open, and modern. In addition to installing white oak flooring, we opened up and brightened the living space by removing a wall between the kitchen and family room and added large windows to the kitchen. In the family room, we custom made the built-ins with a clean design and ample storage. In the family room, we custom-made the built-ins. We also custom made the laundry room cubbies, using shiplap that we painted light blue. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Photo of a mid-sized transitional mudroom in Boston with medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door and brown floor.

The Client was looking for a lot of daily useful storage, but was also looking for an open entryway. The design combined seating and a variety of Custom Cabinetry to allow for storage of shoes, handbags, coats, hats, and gloves. The two drawer cabinet was designed with a balanced drawer layout, however inside is an additional pullout drawer to store/charge devices. We also incorporated a much needed kennel space for the new puppy, which was integrated into the lower portion of the new Custom Cabinetry Coat Closet. Completing the rooms functional storage was a tall utility cabinet to house the vacuum, mops, and buckets. The finishing touch was the 2/3 glass side entry door allowing plenty of natural light in, but also high enough to keep the dog from leaving nose prints on the glass.

Design ideas for a small transitional mudroom in Orlando with white walls, light hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

crisp white built in cabinetry, designed to keep coats shoes and bags organized.
Small contemporary mudroom in Vancouver with white walls, porcelain floors, a single front door, a white front door and grey floor.

This is an example of a country mudroom in Cleveland with ceramic floors, a single front door, a white front door and multi-coloured floor.

Inspiration for a beach style mudroom in Minneapolis with blue walls, a single front door, a white front door, grey floor, wood and decorative wall panelling.

Country mudroom in San Diego with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door and brown floor.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional mudroom in Other with dark hardwood floors, a single front door, a white front door and brown floor.

Jeld-Wen full view exterior door and sidelight with streamed glass.
Modern mudroom in Other with a single front door and a white front door.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary mudroom in Toronto with white walls, porcelain floors, a single front door, a white front door and grey floor.

This ranch was a complete renovation! We took it down to the studs and redesigned the space for this young family. We opened up the main floor to create a large kitchen with two islands and seating for a crowd and a dining nook that looks out on the beautiful front yard. We created two seating areas, one for TV viewing and one for relaxing in front of the bar area. We added a new mudroom with lots of closed storage cabinets, a pantry with a sliding barn door and a powder room for guests. We raised the ceilings by a foot and added beams for definition of the spaces. We gave the whole home a unified feel using lots of white and grey throughout with pops of orange to keep it fun.