Kitchen

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away. When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors. Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors. Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage. Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way. We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area. And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them. Credits: Custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry Contracting by Michael Pezzato of Lost Coast Construction Stone counters by Pyramid M.T.M.

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, limestone floors, with island, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances and beige floor.

Design ideas for a traditional separate kitchen in DC Metro with white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, beaded inset cabinets, granite benchtops and with island.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country galley separate kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

refrigerator with tray storage above Designer's Edge
Photo of a small arts and crafts galley separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, beaded inset cabinets and black benchtop.

This 7-bed 5-bath Wyoming ski home follows strict subdivision-mandated style, but distinguishes itself through a refined approach to detailing. The result is a clean-lined version of the archetypal rustic mountain home, with a connection to the European ski chalet as well as to traditional American lodge and mountain architecture. Architecture & interior design by Michael Howells. Photos by David Agnello, copyright 2012. www.davidagnello.com

Photos taken by J.W. Smith. This kitchen was designed to bridge the gap between contemporary and traditional styles since the architectural style of the house is traditional, but the owner's taste leans towards contemporary. The owner wanted the cabinets to be different from the often seen white painted cabinets, but also wanted the kitchen to appear light and breezy. The purpose of the glass tile work is to create a textural change from soft to chrisp and clean. The white dish pantry seen near the kitchen table was an existing piece. On either side, closed door drywall niches were built out to flank the dish pantry.

This small space demanded attention to detail and smart solutions, starting with the table and chairs. Too tiny for a standard kitchen table, we added a table that folds down against the wall with foldable chairs that can be hung on the wall when not in use. Typically neglected space between the refrigerator and the wall was turned into spice cabinets, ceiling height uppers maximize storage, and a mirrored backsplash creates the illusion of more space. But small spaces don't have to be vacant of character, as proven by the distressed aqua cabinetry and mismatched knobs.

A spacious kitchen with three "zones" to fully utilize the space. Full custom cabinetry in painted and stained finishes.
Inspiration for a large transitional separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Our client's galley kitchen lacked practical storage with an outdated layout that didn’t flow. They approached Matter to maximise the available storage with a more cohesive layout to suit their evolving needs in the years ahead. They allowed near free reign over design and materials, with one simple request that each are equally contemporary and functional. Our design solution combines hard-wearing Blackbutt plywood and grey Forescolor MDF for the door and drawer fronts with laminate-face plywood carcasses. As the MDF has a full colour core, we added a new handle design that cut into the face on a taper, enabling a larger finger-pull and play of light on the surface. Solid Blackbutt handles and vertical partitions are a contemporary take on traditional frame and panel doors. For a touch of indulgence, we added beautifully dramatic Faustina quartzite bench tops and splashbacks from Artedomus. All lower cupboards were replaced with drawers featuring adjustable partitions and a large pull-out Kesseböhmer pantry to ensure food is easily accessed. The oven and microwave were moved next to the stove area and raised for better accessibility. A bench top appliance nook hides away the kettle and toaster behind a custom-made Blackbutt tambour door. We also replaced a section of overhead cupboards with slatted shelving and a mirrored backing that reflects natural light to open up the tight space. Lastly, we added a pull-up bench at the end of the galley to allow our client all the surface area they need to continue to cook meals with complete ease.

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern single-wall separate kitchen in Other with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Photo: Meghan Bob Photography
This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, brick floors, with island, red floor and white benchtop.

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped separate kitchen with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Design ideas for a large traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

How do you stay true to Spanish style architecture but bring a necessary update? Choose leathered saltillo floors and loads of marble and white.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island, red floor and grey benchtop.

Küche: Shaker Küche No. 203 Ort: Wesermarsch Farbe: No. 2003 Pointing Beschläge: Messingguß, vernickelt und poliert Worktop-Holzart: lackierte Flächen Worktop-Stein: getrommelter Granit Baujahr: 2009 Grundfläche: ca. 28 m² Besonderheiten: Reetgedeckter Bauernhof (Ferienhaus) Ist Halbinsel nicht ein viel schönerer Begriff für Küchenblock? Besonders dann, wenn sie in einem reetgedeckten Haus steht, von dem aus man das Meer riechen kann? Wenn die Farben, die sie umfluten an die Nordsee erinnern? Und wenn der glücklicherweise perfektionistische Schreiner sogar Muschelgriffe gießen lässt? Wenn es nämlich nicht perfekt ist, dann ist es ihm nämlich nicht gut genug! Und die breiten, flachen Sideboards mit offenen und geschlossenen Stauflächen! Sie riechen gefühlt bis zum Horizont, weil sie sich raffiniert in die Fensterlaibung schmiegen. Damit es hier nicht allzu aufgeräumt zugeht, schlendern unsere Kunden aus der Wesermarsch aber gern mal durch unsere Scheune in Meerbusch. Insidern auch bekannt als The Barn. Da findet man antike Hocker, dänische Emailletöpfe, tolle olle Krüge, Vasen mit echter Patina, alte Bauernleinen, mal dies, mal das. Und unsere Klassiker, das Schneidebrett zum Beispiel, gibt's da immer.

Beverage Center
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Cleveland with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and medium hardwood floors.

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Life's A Beach... Along the Eastern Shore of Massachusetts lies an unexpected beauty. Great Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts, once pasture for the town’s sheep and cattle, remains a New England secret, a hidden jewel, an oasis for wildlife and beach lovers. The homeowners, long-time Ipswich residents and avid boaters, left their previous Ipswich address, longing for the Great Neck lifestyle, for the fresh salt air, the birds, the beaches and the ocean breeze; NOT for the dark, cramped kitchen that came with this house purchase. Windhill Builders was called in immediately and 3 months later, Voila’! The crisp white kitchen with clean lines, immaculate finishes and dreamy white marble were exactly what the homeowners dreamed of. The custom wine cooler & bar area, barn door and coordinating white mudroom perfected the flow for the homeowners. They love their new coastal cottage! Photo by Eric Roth