"Let there be light!" Vaulted ceilings and pendant lighting with coordinating island light brighten up this kitchen. The stainless steel appliances and lightly stained alder custom cabinets add to the aesthetics of this remodel. Photography by Victor Bernard

Carolyn Watson

Kitchen and Bath Experts, Inc

Storage Solutions - Organize cleaning supplies in our convenient pull-out caddy with a detachable, portable basket (SBPOC). “Loft” Living originated in Paris when artists established studios in abandoned warehouses to accommodate the oversized paintings popular at the time. Modern loft environments idealize the characteristics of their early counterparts with high ceilings, exposed beams, open spaces, and vintage flooring or brickwork. Soaring windows frame dramatic city skylines, and interior spaces pack a powerful visual punch with their clean lines and minimalist approach to detail. Dura Supreme cabinetry coordinates perfectly within this design genre with sleek contemporary door styles and equally sleek interiors. This kitchen features Moda cabinet doors with vertical grain, which gives this kitchen its sleek minimalistic design. Lofted design often starts with a neutral color then uses a mix of raw materials, in this kitchen we’ve mixed in brushed metal throughout using Aluminum Framed doors, stainless steel hardware, stainless steel appliances, and glazed tiles for the backsplash. Request a FREE Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a dealer near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

The large professional grade refrigerator/freezer sits directly across from the sink, and adjacent to the generously sized pantry. The frosted door on the pantry allows some natural light to penetrate the space and contributes to the transitional style of the kitchen. Learn more about Stephanie Bryant, the award winning Normandy Designer who created this kitchen: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/stephaniebryant/

The beautiful Glorious White marble counters have a soft honed finish and the stunning marble backsplash ties everything together to complete the look.

Modern Kitchen

This Fairbanks ranch kitchen remodel project masterfully blends a contemporary matte finished cabinetry front with the warmth and texture of wire brushed oak veneer. The result is a stunning and sophisticated space that is both functional and inviting. The inspiration for this kitchen remodel came from the desire to create a space that was both modern and timeless. A place that a young family can raise their children and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Alder slab cabinets with a dead flat raw finish bring a natural element to the kitchen design.

Project Developer Dory Clemens Designer Kaitlin LeFebre Designer Grace McKinley

When Melanie Leakey began thinking of what her dream kitchen would look like, bringing nature indoors and capturing the essence of shinrin-yoku – the Japanese art of forest bathing – was a priority. One of the newest additions to the CRL Quartz collection, Cristallo Azure, helped the team from Milestone Ecodesign fulfil the quite specific brief. The quartz surface, teamed with green paint for a feature wall, bamboo flooring and stone-effect Eco2 cabinets, helps transform the wrap-around extension on the back of a 1960s semi-detached house in the suburbs of Bradford into a zen-like space. “I wanted a really natural look and felt the azure blue would mimic a lake next to the trees, and it worked perfectly,” explains Melanie. CRL Quartz Cristallo Azure work surface, Blue Quartz worktop Cristallo Azure creates a zen-like atmosphere that is striking When Melanie Leakey began thinking of what her dream kitchen would look like, bringing nature indoors and capturing the essence of shinrin-yoku – the Japanese art of forest bathing – was a priority. One of the newest additions to the CRL Quartz collection, Cristallo Azure, helped the team from Milestone Ecodesign fulfil the quite specific brief. The quartz surface, teamed with green paint for a feature wall, bamboo flooring and stone-effect Eco2 cabinets, helps transform the wrap-around extension on the back of a 1960s semi-detached house in the suburbs of Bradford into a zen-like space. “I wanted a really natural look and felt the azure blue would mimic a lake next to the trees, and it worked perfectly,” explains Melanie. CRL Quartz Cristallo Azure kitchen worktop Installed by Select Solid Surfaces in Keighley, Cristallo Azure makes a stunning visual impression, while the durability of the quartz material ensures it will stay looking beautiful with minimal maintenance. The striking intensity of the sea-green colour makes it the perfect choice for this project, where it contrasts so well with the nature-inspired décor around it. “Everyone has either worktops on the black/white/grey spectrum or beige – we wanted to be a little different!” Melanie admits. Entering the newly created space from the existing house, the dining area accommodates a large glass-top table and seating, with bi-fold doors beyond leading out to the patio. To the right of the dining area lies the kitchen, with a long bank of tall units for storage on the rear wall and a kitchen island as a centrepiece. Complete with hob, sink and bar stools and topped with Cristallo Azure surfaces it is this furniture that turns the room into the multi-functional space Melanie was hoping for. “The new kitchen looks out onto our south-facing garden, so we wanted to have a kitchen island that incorporated the hob and sink so we could make the most of the views,” emphasises Melanie. “I also think it’s rude to talk to someone with your back to them because you’re stirring something on the hob!” “We wanted a really social space where we could entertain guests without having to excuse yourself because you need to focus on making a meal, so wanted a couple of bar stools for the island so guests/family could take a seat and talk to the chef whilst they make dinner.” CRL Quartz is the ideal surface for such a multi-functional kitchen area. A practical alternative to natural materials yet with all the beauty that the marble look brings to the kitchen, engineered quartz stone such as Cristallo Azure is scratch, heat and stain resistant and never needs to be sealed. “The island is one of the aspects we are most pleased with. It does exactly what we wanted it to do, and it looks fabulous whilst it does it.” The chosen décor is a brave step away from the often-seen neutral tones of modern kitchen design, but there’s no doubt that the finished space is everything that Melanie and her family hoped for from the new space. As she concludes: “I think it is a combination of the use of natural materials and colours that work so harmoniously together, plus the fact that the kitchen is designed around the home chef – everything you need is either straight in front of you or only a few steps away. Plus, the use of the cabinets means everything can be tidied away leaving us with a clean, streamlined kitchen.”