A blended family of seven was looking for a cohesive setting for the family to gather. BaumHouse design worked with the homeowners to open up the space and make it more family friendly. The homeowner disliked the existing island, stand-alone table and cluttered desk area. The designer opened the space between the kitchen and dining room and also removed a large soffit over the island. A narrow walk-in pantry was removed. With such a large family, a beverage refrigerator was included in the island on the opposite side from the working aisle of the kitchen for serving ease.

Castle Design completely transformed this kitchen into a bright and colorful space with newly painted cabinets, new backsplash tile, colorful fabrics and coordinating window treatments. The homeowner is from Louisiana, so adding a New Orleans flair to the space was a must. The designer was inspired by the colorful and modern print of Vervain Secret Garden fabric. Counter stools were upholstered in the fabric and custom pillows were made for the room adjacent to the kitchen. Refinishing the cabinets and painting the walls set a light and airy backdrop.

The existing kitchen in this historic home was a dark and crowded 60-square-foot space. Designer Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath took the out-of-date space and made it work for a modern-day family by combining it with an under-utilized kitchen-table area. To take advantage of the total space, a side window was closed off in the eating area, which created wall space to accommodate appliances and enlarge the work triangle. A radiator was moved to open the entry into the dining room and allow for an island with seating.

“I’m trying to find the right words to describe it,” designer Anne Boedges, owner of Anne Marie Design Studio, processes aloud. After more than a year of working with Charles and Linda Poettker on their new and—now complete—O’Fallon home, she doesn’t think it’s fair to categorize the couples eclectic style. 

Long-time clients approached interior designer Nancy Barrett of Beautiful Rooms in early 2015 about renovating their dated kitchen and expanding its size by knocking down a wall and adjoining the space with an attached sunroom. "The overall goals were to open up the space and brighten up the kitchen," the homeowner explains. "My previous kitchen had dark cabinets, and while working I couldn't see outside unless I was standing at the sink. I wanted to bring the outdoors in."

For Kim Sieli and her husband, Mark, renovating the kitchen was both an absolute priority and a slow-going—albeit deliberate—process. “I used to work in the emergency room, and with my patients, finding a solution was immediate,” Kim explains, “but for some reason the color choices and the palette being open just gave me…anxiety. A lot of anxiety.”