1. Light & Bright

Photo: David Croxford

BEFORE

A closed-off, vanilla kitchen opens up to a striking design and a spacious feel.

Designer: Edmund Sugawa of EMEE Kitchens & Baths LLC
What makes it great: This kitchen serves as a centerpiece to the home’s living area. To increase ventilation and natural light, the EMEE team ran the counter up to a new casement bay window area, which also helped make the kitchen appear larger.
Designer favorite: Sugawa is proud of the fact that a total transformation was achieved without sacrificing square footage in surrounding rooms. “We were able to include the island that the homeowner wanted, increase the amount of storage area, make the kitchen more ergonomic, and, at the same time, stay within the boundaries of the original kitchen,” he says.
Noteworthy: Because EMEE serves as a dealer for all of the items that went into this kitchen, the homeowner did not have to shop around for the best deals. “From the cabinets, counters, appliances, windows, fixtures and finish hardware, we are able to offer our clients contractor prices for their projects,” Sugawa says.

2. Flowing Functionality

	Photos: Linny Morris, Courtesy of Barker Kappelle Construction LLC

This open kitchen marries form and function in one cohesive space.

Builders: Brett Kappelle and Phillip Barker of Barker Kappelle Construction LLC
Designer: Glenda Anderson of Details International
What makes it great: The kitchen opens up to the dining room, family room and the outdoors, making it perfect for entertaining.
Builder favorite: There is a place for everything. A cooktop and prep sink grace the island, while a built-in beverage refrigerator and wine cooler sit under a separate entertainment island.
Homeowner favorite: The homeowner loves the special touches throughout the space. She can even do laundry in it, with a laundry station discreetly hidden behind two kitchen cabinets.
Noteworthy: Attention to detail was a major theme. “This makes the renovation seamless with the rest of the home,” says Kappelle. 

3. On the Double

Photo: Ryan Siphers, Courtesy of Homeowners Design Center

BEFORE

Two rooms combined to make one open space in this waterfront kitchen.

Designer: Randall Omoto of Homeowners Design Center
What makes it great: By enclosing an open lanai and combining it with the kitchen, this kitchen doubled in space.
Designer favorite: The total transformation. “Transforming kitchens is always fun, especially when looking at before and after pictures,” Omoto says. He also likes the flexibility gained by replacing the peninsula with a long island.
Homeowner favorite: “My favorite part is hanging out at the island. My wife would probably say the induction cooktop,” says the homeowner, who also enjoys the overall look and feel of the space.
Noteworthy: Homeowners Design Center’s 3-D rendering software brought the kitchen to life before it was even built. “Helping the customer visualize the possibilities is really a plus to any design,” Omoto says. “In fact, we can virtually build the kitchen a lot of ways before deciding which way is best.”

4. Come Together

Photo: Courtesy of Dangler Design

Work zones throughout this kitchen allow family members cook simulatneously, with ample space.

Designer: Breck Dangler of Dangler Design
What makes it great: Multiple work stations ensure there is a dedicated space for each task. Ample storage and convenient trash and recycle bins are strategically placed within reach of work areas.
Designer’s favorite: Dangler enjoys that this kitchen’s design offered a challenge, “staying within the original footprint and coming up with a new layout that captures what the client is looking for,” he says.
Homeowner’s favorite: She loves the overall flow of the space. With five adult children, this homeowner most enjoys that everyone can be in the kitchen at the same time, doing different things without infringing on one another’s space.
Noteworthy: Dangler was able to stretch the kitchen, not just in terms of functionality, but also when it came to the budget. “Our firm is proud of our cost-control process,” he says. “We get a clear understanding of the client’s vision ... It takes some creative know-how to do more with less.” 

5. Green All Over

Photo: Courtesy of Details International

This open-concept kitchen has green written all over it, from the eco-friendly cabinetry to the energy-efficient appliances and a designer that specializes in green design. Even the countertop color is green!

Designer: Glenda Anderson of Details International
What makes it great: This elegant kitchen has plenty of features with multiple functions, such as the glass cabinets that store stemware and serve as a subtle room divider, or the prep sink by the stove that serves as a pot filler and doubles as a bar sink.
Designer’s favorite: “The way one can have a gourmet cook facility while maintaining stately elegance and joy,” Anderson says.
Noteworthy: The island comes with bonus features: a furniture look with decorative, Frank Lloyd Wright-style columns and a bar counter that sits high enough to hide food preparation.

6. Historic Revival

Photos: David Croxford

This 1920s historic home’s kitchen was brought back to life with strategic planning and thoughtful execution.

Designers: Judy Dawson, CKD, and J.R. Ludlow of DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths
What makes it great: The design team preserved the integrity of the home by keeping the kitchen’s original flooring intact. To do this, they kept the footprint and implemented simple modernities that blended with the historical charm while giving the homeowner the chef’s kitchen he desired.
Designers’ favorites: “With respect to the historical components, the details are what make this kitchen most successful,” Dawson says. Ludlow’s favorite: the natural light. “Working with a space with all that light as a major component was fantastic,” she says.
Homeowner’s favorite: He loves the subway tile because it fit in so seamlessly with the historical appeal of the home. He also enjoys his new appliances, such as the Wolf gas range and SubZero refrigerator.
Noteworthy: This home allowed the team, who usually caters to modern designs, to showcase their range by addressing a historic home.

7. In the Clear

Photo: Courtesy of PMI Builders

BEFORE

A closed-off, cramped kitchen clears out for an open, updated space.

Designers: David and Misty Wheeler of PMI Builders
What makes it great: PMI used strategic techniques, such as relocating appliances and removing the cabinets above the peninsula, to open up the kitchen while staying in its original footprint.
Designer favorite: The corner, which was previously unused, now houses the oven and microwave.
Homeowner favorite: The open floor plan. “Now, we can cook and socialize with friends and family while taking advantage of our new window,”  the homeowner says.
Noteworthy: PMI Builders worked closely with the homeowners to achieve a successful kitchen. “This particular kitchen exemplifies a transformation of an existing space, which is practical, functional and beautiful,” Misty says.

8. Striking Cabinetry

Photos: David Croxford

Gorgeous custom-made wood cabinets provide a seamless look and surprising hidden benefits.

Designers: Tom Zelko of Zelko Woodworks; Glenda Anderson of Details International; and additional design input from the homeowner
What makes it great: This kitchen mixes Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified sapele wood with Hawaiian mango. “The colors complement each other, and center-matching the wood makes a design within a design,” Zelko says.
Designer’s favorite: The collaboration of the designers involved contributed to a remarkable kitchen. “Each brought unique design ideas to the table, which helped make the project a success,” Zelko says. The cabinetry also cleverly houses small appliances such as the microwave and espresso machine and hides some of the large appliances in this kitchen, including the refrigerator (see photo at right).
Homeowner’s favorite: The cabinetry looks like furniture, which makes the homeowner feel at-home and comfortable in the kitchen.
Noteworthy: Zelko Woodworks builds all of their cabinetry in their Kailua shop, “which gives us total control of our quality product,” Zelko says. “This also supports our Island’s economy. It’s made in Hawaii, and we’re proud of it.”

9. Classic Charm

Photo: David Croxford

Cabinets with cleverly designed crown molding give a remodeled kitchen a traditional look.

Designer: Josh Chen of Bekin Cabinets
What makes it great: The rich color of the American cherry wood cabinets blends with the homeowner’s red wood furniture throughout the home. Upper cabinets with two levels and crown molding contribute to a luxurious look.
Designer favorite: Chen loves the blending of the open kitchen with new amenities, such as energy-efficient appliances.
Noteworthy: Tiny details contribute to the kitchen’s cohesive feel. Glass fronts display tableware, while an under-mount single sink seems to blend seamlessly with the new countertop.

10. Island Flair

Photo: Courtesy of Highline Kitchen Systems

The dramatic African mahogany throughout this space packs tropical flavor into this multifunctional kitchen.

Designer: Alex Butchart, CKD, of Highline Kitchen Systems
What makes it great: Aesthetically, the blend and contrast of colors sets an inviting stage for family members and guests. The space also functions well, with ample room for hosting large parties as well as a pass-through to a buffet counter on the roofed lanai.
Designer’s favorite: “I like the openness of this kitchen and the blend of materials,” Butchart says. “The subtle mix of the door style with the Shaker design and bead-board sections create an elegant country feel.”
Homeowner’s favorite: The homeowner can host large groups as well as fit multiple cooks in the kitchen at one time. “The homeowner is ecstatic over the useful counter space and the flow in the kitchen,” Butchart says.
Noteworthy: Highline Kitchen Systems specializes in marrying lifestyle and design with functionality and island living.

11. Small Space, Big Design

Photo: Courtesy of Seven Valleys Design/Build

This compact kitchen (only about 300 square feet) utilizes great design that allows it to fit family and friends without feeling cramped.

Builder/Designer: Kenneth King of Seven Valleys Design/Build
What makes it great: Although small in relation to the more-than-3,000-square-foot home, this kitchen still allows the family plenty of room to entertain without bumping into family members and guests.
Builder favorite: The challenge of creating a high-end kitchen in a small space
Homeowner favorite: The smaller space means less cleaning and lower maintenance.
Noteworthy: The Seven Valleys team prides itself on creating practical spaces that work with their clients’ lifestyles. The work triangle (the sink-stove-refrigerator relationship) in this particular space makes it easy for one person to efficiently put together a meal, and also for three people to work simultaneously, with room to spare.