A cream, pearlescent beadboard ceiling sets the stage for hand-blown, 1960s Italian pendants with white glass and brass appointments and white mini subway tile. The inset of each charcoal painted cabinet’s doors is leaded glass. Bronze farm sinks, bronze hardware and a bronze raised bar are accented by fossil limestone countertops; a subzero wine refrigerator, dishwasher drawers, a Wolf gas, five-burner cooktop and a restaurant-style faucet of brushed nickel, giving this kitchen a gourmet touch. Mid-century Danish barstools, an original brick fireplace and woven wood blinds add warmth alongside the many stainless steel appliances. Designed for two, with its double sinks and dishwashers, this kitchen is durable enough for everyday life with a family and a 200-pound Great Dane. A light tile backsplash, ceiling, lights, and glass leaded fronts provide a good contrast that keeps the kitchen, with its dark cabinets, from being heavy and oppressive. This is the perfect spot for hosting parties – if people end up in the kitchen, cooking and sipping together, why not make it a spot where you love to spend time?

Photo: Kathryn Clark

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 Contracting by Michael Pezzato of Lost Coast Construction Stone counters by Pyramid M.T.M.

What exactly is the secret ingredient that turns ordinary into extraordinary? For Crestwood Cabinetry from Dura Supreme, it’s the nearly limitless number of creative elements available to embellish your kitchen with furniture-like detail. Shape a corner with a perfectly placed turn post or bun foot. Frame the cooking center with ornately carved corbels and crown each cabinet with beautifully sculpted moldings. For this kitchen, an artistic blend of woods and finishes creates an engaging color palette. Delight the eye and please the pocket book with Crestwood Cabinetry by Dura Supreme. Dura Supreme creates Crestwood Cabinetry with a thoughtful balance of materials, construction and styling options to deliver exceptional value with exceptional design. Built-in manufacturing economies ensure cost effective construction, consistent quality and craftsmanship. Upon this foundation, an impressive array of finishes, door styles, and unique, space-saving accessories fulfill even the most artistic and discerning tastes. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

John McManus

Featured in Period Homes Magazine, this kitchen is an example of working with the traditional elements of the existing Victorian Period home and within the existing footprint. The Custom cabinets recall the leaded glass windows in the main stair hall and front door.

Mustard color cabinets with copper and teak countertops. Basque slate floor from Ann Sacks Tile. Project Location Batavia, IL

This house is a bit of a frankenstein. There's been many additions done over the years so we had to keep the kitchen where it was and we sadly couldn't open the space up more due to low bearing walls. We worked with what we had and tried to make the most of it! We wanted to create a fresh and open with white cabinetry and white countertops for a timeless design that will age well with the house.

A bold, masculine kitchen remodel in a Craftsman style home. We went dark and bold on the cabinet color and let the rest remain bright and airy to balance it out.

Cabinets were refinished to compliment the owner’s French-style furniture in a manner that gives them layers and depth of color. The countertops are an unusual fusion type of granite with blues and greens not commonly found in granite. The movement of the pattern is striking. Pendant lights were added over the island, and the sink was updated to a farmhouse fireclay sink. Except for the granite, sink, and pendant lights, all existing elements of the kitchen were retained and refinished to achieve this stunning, updated look.