Kitchen/Breakfast Room: Robert Schwartz and Karen Williams for St Charles Photo by: Rikki Snyder © 2012 Houzz

Red birch cabinets in classic Shaker wide style; glass upper cabinets and custom built-in cherry breakfast nook; white granite counters, marble and glass backsplash; Thermador appliances

Maple cabinets and marble counters in the kitchen, with porcelain tile backsplash. Custom seating in breakfast nook overlooking back yard.

Full height windows frame a custom dining nook. PC Carsten Arnold

Brian Mihealsick

Ludo Martin

Marco Marotto

A custom designed table base and cream leather upholstered chairs add character and style to the breakfast bar in this clean-lined, high gloss lacquer kitchen with subtle colour accents. Photos by Stefan Zander

This commercial-to-residential remodel took an abandoned commercial building in southeast Portland and transformed it into an open, light-filled celebration of simplicity. Architect Elizabeth Williams of Pencil Work Studio designed the remodel of the building, which in its hundred-year life had served as nickelodeon, school, place of worship, and dance hall. The loft living space occupies the second floor, while music and rehearsal space occupies the first. After converting the building into a livable loft space, Hammer & Hand returned to remodel the existing kitchen with design by Risa Boyer Architecture.

Jason Schmidt

Pecky Cypress ceilings framed with white beams. Built-in banquet. Open living design. This home is certified LEED-H Platinum. Photo by Matt McCorteney.

DELAUNEY François

White, bright and modern, this sleek kitchen design makes a statement with pattern. Shooting LA