Before & After Kitchen Renovations: Contemporary Kitchens

Expanding the kitchen turned a tight breakfast nook into a light-filled cooking zone. The homeowners retained the bay window and added a long window over the sink, bound by shelves and a column that inject architectural interest suited to a midcentury home.

Expanding the kitchen turned a tight breakfast nook into a light-filled cooking zone. The homeowners retained the bay window and added a long window over the sink, bound by shelves and a column that inject architectural interest suited to a midcentury home.

Clustering the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and pantry cupboards on one wall makes cooking efficient. A frame of chocolate-color fir ties in with openings throughout the home. It also echoes the stained cherry on the island and the dark bamboo flooring.

Clustering the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and pantry cupboards on one wall makes cooking efficient. A frame of chocolate-color fir ties in with openings throughout the home. It also echoes the stained cherry on the island and the dark bamboo flooring.

To keep most of the wall space for windows, the homeowners enlarged the island to provide more storage. It now holds pots and pans, dishes, towels, and china, along with an integrated microwave and second dishwasher and sink. Two walls were torn down to open up the kitchen and make it more closely resemble the original floor plan.

To keep most of the wall space for windows, the homeowners enlarged the island to provide more storage. It now holds pots and pans, dishes, towels, and china, along with an integrated microwave and second dishwasher and sink. Two walls were torn down to open up the kitchen and make it more closely resemble the original floor plan.

Adding a pantry allowed all the upper kitchen cabinets to be removed and replaced with large windows. Part of a wall was knocked out to create a windowlike opening to the dining room. New purpleheart lower cabinets blend with matte slate countertops and fir floors with a slate inlay.

Adding a pantry allowed all the upper kitchen cabinets to be removed and replaced with large windows. Part of a wall was knocked out to create a windowlike opening to the dining room. New purpleheart lower cabinets blend with matte slate countertops and fir floors with a slate inlay.

Adding a 10x16-foot cooking space -- topped with a vaulted ceiling -- gave the homeowners the kitchen of their dreams. The new room is a lesson in contrasts with gorgeous surfaces that balance warm and cool, classic and contemporary. The cherry cabinets, for example, offer a modern take on traditional Shaker-style doors, accented with panels of frosted glass that feature a geometric grid pattern.

Adding a 10x16-foot cooking space -- topped with a vaulted ceiling -- gave the homeowners the kitchen of their dreams. The new room is a lesson in contrasts with gorgeous surfaces that balance warm and cool, classic and contemporary. The cherry cabinets, for example, offer a modern take on traditional Shaker-style doors, accented with panels of frosted glass that feature a geometric grid pattern.

Too many upper cabinets made this kitchen feel disconnected from the rest of the home and from beautiful outdoor views. The new sleek, modern aesthetic with warm, natural materials -- beige granite, Douglas fir, and dark wenge wood -- gives the kitchen a contemporary yet welcoming vibe.

Too many upper cabinets made this kitchen feel disconnected from the rest of the home and from beautiful outdoor views. The new sleek, modern aesthetic with warm, natural materials -- beige granite, Douglas fir, and dark wenge wood -- gives the kitchen a contemporary yet welcoming vibe.

The homeowners removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open layout. Laminate lower cabinets, aluminum-and-glass upper cabinets, and brushed-stainless-steel counters and backsplashes look industrial. Commercial-grade polypropylene matting provides a comfortable surface to stand on.

The homeowners removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open layout. Laminate lower cabinets, aluminum-and-glass upper cabinets, and brushed-stainless-steel counters and backsplashes look industrial. Commercial-grade polypropylene matting provides a comfortable surface to stand on.

This kitchen was a basic builder's space with oak cabinets and white laminate countertops. The existing cabinet boxes gained white wood doors and laminate facings. Mosaic stainless-steel tiles lend contemporary panache. The partial wall dividing the kitchen from the family room was easily removed.

This kitchen was a basic builder's space with oak cabinets and white laminate countertops. The existing cabinet boxes gained white wood doors and laminate facings. Mosaic stainless-steel tiles lend contemporary panache. The partial wall dividing the kitchen from the family room was easily removed.

White wood cabinets, damaged countertops, a peninsula, and an obtrusive bank of upper cabinets made the original kitchen feel tired and cramped. Eliminating the dropped ceiling and replacing the peninsula with an island immediately opened up the space. Closing the hall entry created a spot for a microwave, cookbooks, and storage. Glass blocks above the kitchen sink offer light and privacy.

White wood cabinets, damaged countertops, a peninsula, and an obtrusive bank of upper cabinets made the original kitchen feel tired and cramped. Eliminating the dropped ceiling and replacing the peninsula with an island immediately opened up the space. Closing the hall entry created a spot for a microwave, cookbooks, and storage. Glass blocks above the kitchen sink offer light and privacy.

Inadequate storage prompted the homeowners to install two much-needed pantries: one next to the refrigerator and another next to the breakfast area. They also widened the U-shape layout to create more work space. Smooth cherry cabinetry, chrome bar-style handles, black granite countertops, and cobalt blue pendant fixtures give the kitchen a sleek, sophisticated look.

Inadequate storage prompted the homeowners to install two much-needed pantries: one next to the refrigerator and another next to the breakfast area. They also widened the U-shape layout to create more work space. Smooth cherry cabinetry, chrome bar-style handles, black granite countertops, and cobalt blue pendant fixtures give the kitchen a sleek, sophisticated look.

A cooktop that snuggled up to the refrigerator was a safety issue and left no counter space for working. Now a rounded tabletop on the peninsula accommodates stools and provides an inviting spot for snacks and meals.

A cooktop that snuggled up to the refrigerator was a safety issue and left no counter space for working. Now a rounded tabletop on the peninsula accommodates stools and provides an inviting spot for snacks and meals.

Incorporating space from an adjacent storage room allowed the homeowners to expand their kitchen. To maximize efficiency, the enlarged kitchen includes island cabinets and open shelving.

Incorporating space from an adjacent storage room allowed the homeowners to expand their kitchen. To maximize efficiency, the enlarged kitchen includes island cabinets and open shelving.

Separating the refrigerator and range gives the cooking wall storage and counter space. Tumbled-stone mosaic tiles complement the light-tone granite while introducing subtle texture.

Separating the refrigerator and range gives the cooking wall storage and counter space. Tumbled-stone mosaic tiles complement the light-tone granite while introducing subtle texture.

Entertaining guests was difficult in this formerly cramped kitchen, which was cut off from the rest of the Tudor-style house. Now a curved peninsula divides the 15x20-foot space into a cooking station and a gathering area. An arched doorway, a typical Tudor feature, opens the room to the rest of the home. Recessed lights and glass pendants illuminate the work space in style.

Entertaining guests was difficult in this formerly cramped kitchen, which was cut off from the rest of the Tudor-style house. Now a curved peninsula divides the 15x20-foot space into a cooking station and a gathering area. An arched doorway, a typical Tudor feature, opens the room to the rest of the home. Recessed lights and glass pendants illuminate the work space in style.

French doors lead from the breakfast nook to a new deck. Built-in cabinets employ the half-walls that separate the kitchen from the family room.

French doors lead from the breakfast nook to a new deck. Built-in cabinets employ the half-walls that separate the kitchen from the family room.

Plain wood cabinets and a lack of color and windows made this kitchen a lackluster setting. Adding a window and white cabinets and appliances visually enlarged the space. For variety, the cabinets were installed at different heights, and a few doors have patterned-glass inserts.

Plain wood cabinets and a lack of color and windows made this kitchen a lackluster setting. Adding a window and white cabinets and appliances visually enlarged the space. For variety, the cabinets were installed at different heights, and a few doors have patterned-glass inserts.