kitchen
1. Richly ModernDesigners: Claudia Juestel of Adeeni Design Group (interior design) and Sutro Architects Location: Healdsburg, CaliforniaSize: 200 square feet (18.6 square meters); 10 by 20 feet (about 3 by 6 meters)Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction home, the owners wanted a “clean, modern look within a sustainable design,” says interior designer Claudia Juestel. Fewer materials and easy maintenance were additional goals. Cabinets. Walnut. “We selected the walnut to add warmth to the cool tones of the concrete and crisp white gallery walls, and liked the beautiful figuring to soften the clean lines,” Juestel says.
12. Look to large-format geometrics. Think this tile pattern looks incredibly intricate? In fact, the pattern is simpler than you might guess. If you look closely, you can see that this design is made from repeating one large square tile that is diagonally split into a white half and black half — and a mirror image of the same tile — rotated randomly about the floor. Together they form energetic shapes that seem to have no beginning or end.To create a look like this, shop for large-format tiles with a simple design, and make sure to look at several tiles together to see how the pattern looks repeated. Sometimes the most simple tile design can surprise you.
10. Open up a pass-through. One very effective way to make your kitchen feel bigger is to open up a partition wall to create a pass-through space.If you build a counter around the opening, even extending it a bit to the other side, you can cheat out the functional size of your kitchen a little bit by borrowing some space from the adjacent room.
Rugs Add Warmth and SoftnessKitchens tend to have a lot of hard surfaces (cabinetry, counters, appliances and hardware), and they can benefit from the softness of rugs. If your kitchen seems a little too much like a workspace, a soft, tactile rug can help it feel more like a welcoming part of the home, especially if you have rugs or carpeting in adjacent rooms.
Rugs Add ColorIf you’re looking to add a splash of color to your kitchen, sometimes the options can be quite limited. Painting the cabinets a bold color can feel risky (especially for those highly concerned with resale value). And if you’re renting? Say goodbye to your damage deposit if you paint those white or wood cabinets fuchsia.Instead, look to a slim runner rug as a design-savvy way to add a dose of vibrant color in whatever daring hue you choose.
If you want a more subtle infusion of color, look to multitonal rugs, such as classic Persian or Oriental styles in appetizing ruddy reds and oranges. The more colors in the rug, the less any single hue will stand out, so the effect will actually be simultaneously more colorful and more neutral. The best part: You can always roll the rug up and tuck it away if you want to change your look for the season, creating summer and winter looks that feel dramatically different.
When you run your hand over a tight-weave rug, you shouldn’t be able to feel many individual fibers or yarns, but rather a solid surface of tight material.One way to examine the density of a rug is to pick it up and bend it on the diagonal. If the rows of fibers are loosely spaced, the channels in between them will be revealed when bent, and these channels are where dirt can take up residence.
Olefin is great for creating a look similar to wool and is popular for outdoor rugs because it’s able to weather the elements. However, it doesn’t necessarily hold up well to heavy traffic, so if you spend a lot of time working in the kitchen, it might not last.Synthetic rugs tend to be less of an investment than natural-fiber rugs, so they’re good if you’re looking for a price point that won’t be too painful when it’s time to replace the rug.Keep in mind that a rug that resists water won’t save the floor below from major spills or cause dirt to vanish, so you’ll still want to react quickly to messes and give the rug regular gentle cleanings.
Hot HuesYou know what they say: If you can’t beat, ’em, join ’em. Two of the biggest culprits in kitchen stains are tomato sauce and red wine. If you have a bad spill (especially one that isn’t immediately detected), you may find a permanent red spot that can be cleaned but never fully erased. A rug that already focuses on shades of red is much less likely than a more subdued hue to show these vivid stains, so if you like these rich foods, consider brick reds or another dark color.
In a living room or dining room, the rug needs to suit the proportion of numerous other furnishings, but in a kitchen it can float between the cabinets or be pushed up against one wall, run the length of the cabinets or simply fill a small area like a mat. For more modern spaces or a very formal home, having the rug crisply line up with elements will give a tailored look, but in a more transitional or casual space there are really no rules on length.
In fact, if you like an eclectic or casually chic look, you can go ahead and use two rugs that are completely different. Try pulling in rugs from other spaces, or making use of a company’s return policy to test out the look of a rug (or two) in your kitchen to see if the look is right for you. You might be surprised at just how different, and more welcoming, your kitchen will look.More11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break ThemA Rug Can Make a Room — but What Kind to Choose?Browse runner rugs
Four open shelves at the end of the range wall balance the range hood on the other side of the window. The shelves also provide a display space to add some character and color to the mainly white wall. The original floors are red birch, a wood often used in Victorian-era homes. The countertops are marble. The sconce above the window is from The Urban Electric Co.
Photos by Andrea Rugg Kitchen at a Glance Who lives here: A family of five Location: MinneapolisSize: About 400 square feet (37.2 square meters)Designer: Kate Roos DesignThe owners of this Victorian-era house were tired of their dark kitchen, which lacked storage and proper flow. With the sink, range and refrigerator on one wall, there was little counter space. Designer Kate Roos also had to contend with a challenging staircase and a peninsula that blocked the flow between the kitchen and dining area.Roos dealt with these obstacles by removing the peninsula, adding a custom built-in hutch and turning a closet into a functional pantry — all without adding any square footage.
A former desk area was transformed into stylish storage with the insertion of a custom hutch that has a weathered gray stain. The same marble used for the countertops was used for the backsplash. “The clients wanted more wood in the new space for a traditional feel,” Roos says, “but the darker gray feels a bit more updated.”She also removed the door on the staircase to create a more open feel. “The kitchen and dining areas are now more warm, bright, inviting and modern,” Roos says, “while complementing the home’s turn-of-the-century style.”More: 10 Steps to an Organized and Functional Kitchen
The 10-foot addition along the back of the house allowed the kitchen to expand from a galley style to a more open space that includes a walk-in pantry and wall oven. The kitchen backsplash is white gloss ceramic wall tile. Solid white Caesarstone tops the island. The couple’s dog, Stella, tops a barstool. Learn about top kitchen counter materials
Plan big home projects for the year ahead. Thinking of remodeling the kitchen or bath, painting the exterior or adding on? Use Houzz to save your ideas, resources and inspiration, and start contacting pros to help make your project a reality.Share: What’s on your to-do list this January? Tell us in the Comments!MoreYour Winter Home Maintenance ChecklistSimple Pleasures: Stocking Up for Winter
22. Fewer white or stainless-steel sinks. White and stainless steel sinks have had their day, says designer Ott. Expect more concrete, stone, copper and granite composite sinks in darker hues of gray, bronze or black.Your turn: What’s big on your design list this year? Have you spotted the next big trend of 2018? Give us your predictions in the Comments!See last year’s design predictionsBrowse the most popular photos on Houzz right now
20. Dedicated broom closets. It takes a lot to keep a home looking clean: brooms, brushes, mops, dusters, Swiffers, cleaning supplies. And finding space to keep these things organized while always at the ready shouldn’t be an afterthought. That’s why homeowners are gravitating toward a dedicated broom closet or cabinet. Clever rollouts and design tactics that make use of slim spaces, such as the inches between the side of a fridge and a wall, can turn out highly functional storage units for cleaning tools. See more space-saving broom closets
17. Fish-scale pattern backsplash. If you’ve grown bored of subway tile but still want something simple and classic, check out a scalloped or fish-scale pattern. The look offers more movement, and a bit more interest, than rectangular tile but is still versatile enough to work with almost any kitchen style.See more photos of fish-scale tile in design
Designer secret. “The biggest thing we did to improve the space was include the patio doors at the back,” Lange says. “Otherwise the room would have felt very dark, and the feeling of the kitchen would be totally different.”“Uh-oh” moment. “Because this home was divided into several apartments before we began construction, and also featured a very poor addition at the back, we had a very challenging issue with two different ceiling heights, which landed directly above the kitchen,” Lange says. “Thankfully, we were able to come up with a solution involving our contractor and some engineering that allowed us to maintain one uniform ceiling height. Otherwise things would have looked very odd.”Cabinetry: BL Woodworking; hardware: Lee Valley; countertops and backsplashes: Olympia Tile; appliances: Tasco Appliances; stainless steel shelf: Perfect Stainless; counter stools: Elte Market; pendant lights: Dainolite; find oversize black drum pendantsSee more of this home
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