Youtopia Designs in conjunction with Hamtil Construction opened up a dated kitchen that was closed off and uninviting. The new layout allowed the designers to incorporate a dining island that also provided much needed countertop space. The client required a dining table-height area to eat at so she could keep an eye on her grandkids while she worked in the kitchen. Heavy, dark stained cabinets were replaced with painted cabinetry that has a custom glaze to highlight the fine detailing of the panels and moulding.

New homeowners wanted to make the kitchen their own by adding modern details while respecting the character of the house. Designer Karr Bick Kitchen + Bath was challenged with creating a seamless conversation between the natural surroundings of the home nestled in the woods with the homeowners contemporary taste. Cooking and entertaining were central to the family, so large, exposed top-of-the-line appliances drove many of the design choices.

Meet our esteemed panel of Kitchens of the Year judges: 

Julie Baum, BaumHouse Design, LLC

Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath and Johnson Design collaborated to design a three-room kitchen suite for a serious cook with a penchant for food as entertainment and hosting large gatherings. Contemporary finish materials and details combined with meticulous panel alignment and sizing result in a perfectly balanced and clean transitional design. The kitchen suite consists of a kitchen, butler’s pantry and dirty kitchen. The design is unified by the 9-foot high, warm gray-stained, rift white oak cabinetry with split-panel drawer fronts.

The design for the kitchen in this new home was to be bright and fresh with unique details. The homeowners built the home with the intention to be their last home. Early planning with the architect and kitchen designer Gegg Design & Cabinetry was crucial to make all the pieces come together. The island is front and center and finished in a bold green gloss paint. The green was based off a European paint produced in Holland. The island seats four with chairs in coordinating fabrics. The perimeter cabinets were kept simple in a white painted finish.

This newly built home follows a classic architectural form with formal spaces and lasting details. The kitchen design was to coordinate with the style of the home with plenty of wall space. Because the space was so large, designer Gegg Design & Cabinetry divided the kitchen space so that it didn’t feel too open. A new and separate butler’s pantry was added between the kitchen and dining room. This reduced the size of the kitchen but added separation from the formal dining room.