“This created a really nice symmetry and allowed light to flood in,” the designer notes. The clean-lined maple cabinets are part of Feldman’s new signature collection designed in conjunction with kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths, who also collaborated on this project. “The clients wanted a white kitchen,” Smith-Shiflett recalls. “Zoe and I said, ‘Trust us—with a natural blush, you’ll get the airiness you want.’”

The clients agreed. Now, a black-painted island and honed Via Lactea marble countertops offset the pale, muted cabinetry. Livelier pops of color come from green tile in the adjacent scullery and stained-glass windows the owners found at Community Forklift. Salvaged from a decommissioned church, they now enclose the pantry of this stunning, one-of-a-kind space.

Project Team

Kitchen Design: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens & Baths. Interior Design: Zoe Feldman, Zoe Feldman Design. Renovation Contractor: Scott Hundley, Custom Home Productions LLC. Photography: Max Burkhalter.

Kitchen Details

Cabinets: uniquekitchensandbaths.net. Cabinet Paint: farrow-ball.com. Countertops: marblesystems.com. White Backsplash Tile: ziatile.com. Green Backsplash Tile: heathceramics.com. Sconces: hvlgroup.com. Custom Hood: customhomeproductions.com. Range: fisherpaykel.com. Refrigerator: thermador.com. Hardware: rejuvenation.com. Faucets: newportbrass.com. Stools: ballarddesigns.com. Roman Shade: theshadestore.com.

Mengenhauser dreamed up a new, efficient floor plan and a palette reflecting her penchant for warm woods and modern lines. As she explains, “I wanted a minimalist kitchen with a quiet confidence and rich materials.” 

To make that richness a reality, the designer partnered with Amuneal, a Philadelphia-based fabricator, to create custom cabinetry in dark, oxidized-oak and mottled brass. Pale oak floors and countertops and a backsplash in shimmering Cristallo quartzite brighten the deep, moody wood and metal patinas. 

A refrigerator is positioned to the left of the cooktop with a freezer and pantry stationed to the right. On the contiguous wall, two convection ovens flank a built-in coffeemaker and warming drawer—all by Gaggenau. An oversized island boasts plenty of room for casual meals. Exposed ceiling beams in black steel, added for support when the old cabinets were removed, allow for clear views of the landscape. Now that it’s complete, says Mengenhauser, her new kitchen has opened up “a world of possibilities to comfortably cook and entertain.”

Project Team

Interior & Kitchen Design: Jan Mengenhauser, Simplicity Interior Design; Amuneal. Contractor: Reid Construction Group. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg. 

Kitchen Details

Cabinetry, Hood, Hardware & Metal Fabrication: amuneal.com. Countertops & Backsplash: eurostonecraft.com. Appliances: gaggenau.com through abwappliances.com. Faucet: graff-designs.com. Flooring: mafi.com. Stools: fyrn.com. Steel Beams: hpmetalfabrication.com. Paint: farrow-ball.com.

Levin hatched a plan for a total redo that would improve circulation, expand storage and recast the space in timeless English style. An island with a marble top and brass footings established easy traffic flow. A cabinet tower near the stove stows breakfast essentials, while cabinets on the adjacent wall conceal a coffee station. The microwave, which once dominated a counter, shifted to a shelf in the pantry, located by the fridge on an opposite wall. 

Considering the simple saltbox style of her home, notes Levin, “The English vibe didn’t feel like too much of a departure. I wanted to bring in natural textures, antique-brass accents and a combination of dark-green and lighter cabinets. The idea was to make it feel like it had been there 100 years.” 

With chic breakfast room furniture and a built-in banquette, the space is now a magnet for the family. “Making these design changes had a huge impact,” she says.

Project team

Interior & Kitchen Design: Liz Levin, Liz Levin Interiors. Contractor: Gresinger Construction. Photographer: Stacy Zarin Goldberg. 

Kitchen Details

Cabinetry: uniquekitchensandbaths.net. Marble Countertops & Wall Slab: marblesystems.com. Backsplash Tile: riadtile.com. Range: thermador.com through abwappliances.com. Hardware: armacmartin.co.uk through pushpullhardware.com. Pendants & Sconces: visualcomfort.com. Stools: arteriorshome.com. Faucet: houseofrohl.com through build.com. Table & Rug: serenaandlily.com.  Chairs: fourhands.com. Bench Cushion + Shades: gretcheneverett.com.

The project was important to me professionally as a former chef and restaurateur turned food writer, recipe developer and cookbook author working from home. Although I’d made our dated kitchen work, limited storage meant frequent trips to the basement for pantry items and cookware.

To bring our vision to life, we hired contractor Brian Bielski and designer Elizabeth Mitchel, both of Finesse Design Remodeling. The result is a light-filled ode to Mid-Century Modern simplicity with lots of heavenly storage.

Mitchel enumerates some of its vantage points: “The wet bar with its floating shelves and transom windows, the sink framed by the large picture window,” she notes. “It’s a series of beautiful little vignettes.”

Following are some tips from a chef whose renovated kitchen does double duty as a work and entertaining space.

Explain your needs, then let the pros do their jobs
List the problems you wish to solve, then let designers fit your micro needs into a macro plan. “We come up with details that make sense,” says Mitchel. “For instance, I lined up new French doors off the back with the opening of the dining room to create a vestibule feeling where the new bar is. This complements the kitchen and establishes traffic flow through the dining room, past the wet bar and onto the deck.”

In order to maintain sight lines from the kitchen to the front door, we knew the powder room needed to go where our pantry storage was. So Finesse figured out a way to shift the location of the door from the dining room into the kitchen, enlarge it to frame the entrance to the new powder room and create a new (and much larger!) wall of pantry storage where the old doorway used to be.

Michael came up with the idea of creating built-in shelves in the dining room for my cookbooks (there was no room for kitchen bookcases in the new plan), and Finesse designed and built them by hand, incorporating sleek radiator covers with a mid-century look to create a stunning architectural feature.

Storage, storage, storage
Write down everything you plan to store in the kitchen—cook and bar ware, kitchen linens, small appliances, storage bags...everything. Take pictures for reference later, and include a tape measure in your photos to show dimensions of bottles, small appliances and pots and pans. This attention to detail will inform how deep a drawer or high a shelf should be. Map out where everything will go. Think about where you will be doing each job and put the things you need for that job there. Baking ingredients and utensils should be where you’ll be doing that prep, for example.

Drawers are your friends
Well-planned drawers streamline kitchen duty. I pictured the 150-plus herbs and spices I own in two drawers right next to the stove, one holding a single layer of 70 labelled two-ounce Mason jars and a deeper one below it that accommodates quart- and pint-size Mason jars. Another drawer holds bottled ingredients: vinegars, oils, honey, soy sauce, syrups. At the peninsula where baking prep takes place, two drawers hold staples (flours, sugars, cocoa) and implements (measuring cups and spoons, sifter, hand mixer, mini food processor, spice grinder).

Go out on a ledge
Built-in ledges and deeper cabinets change the game. In our former kitchen, there was a wide ledge behind the stove to conceal water pipes behind it, which made appliances jut out. I used the ledge to store salts, cooking oils and small appliances and asked for a similar one in the new kitchen. Finesse created a narrower, five-inch-deep ledge behind the new stove and brought the counters out to 29 inches. (No more jutting.)

The extra counter depth provides a bonus: the upper cabinets are now 15 inches deep instead of the customary 12—deep enough to store buffet plates and large pots and lids in a slotted rack, solving two storage issues.

Don’t forget artwork
Guests always wind up in the kitchen, so display meaningful pieces that provoke conversation. A George Nelson Ball Clock on the wall matches our Hestan range. And a Champagne bottle dishtowel on display was given to my grandmother in 1955 after she wrote a letter (in French) to the editor of The New Yorker correcting a French grammar error in an ad for Martex towels. (I keep the letter and magazine on hand to show guests.)

Splurge, but pick your battles
“You don’t have to spend a lot on every detail, but splurge on things that are impactful,” suggests Mitchel. “Here, that was the Sub-Zero refrigerator, Hestan range, the Poulsen fixture and large windows over the sink. The quartz countertops are more budget-conscious. Some people would have spent two or three times that on countertops.”

Kitchen Design & Contracting: Brian Bielski and Elizabeth Mitchel, Finesse Design Remodeling, Springfield, Virginia.

“The original kitchen was actually tucked under the stair to one side of the back door,” recounts designer Carolyn Elleman, who spearheaded the project. She and her team shifted the kitchen’s location to the other side of the door and replaced the solid-wood door with a French door and sidelites that let in natural light.

An airy, L-shaped layout took shape with a peninsula separating the workspace from the breakfast area. Flat-panel Crystal cabinetry in white and textured-pine melamine is paired to sleek effect with white MSI Q Quartz countertops and a glass-tile backsplash. Eclectic accents include industrial-chic Rejuvenation pendants and a Grohe faucet with an orange hose that matches cookware and small appliances in the same hue. Chalkboard paint on the peninsula wall fosters kid-size creativity.

Kitchen Design: Carolyn Elleman, CKBR, UDCP, Case Design & Remodeling, Inc. Contracting: Case Design & Remodeling, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. 

While kitchen designer Joni Zimmerman devised the layout, interior designer Katie Carlin, who masterminded the other interior spaces, imparted coastal charm through materials, finishes and cabinet profiles.

“The home is built on a peninsula with water on three sides,” recounts Carlin. “The kitchen was designed to maximize the sweeping views. There is not a seat from which you can’t see the water.” Picture windows and sliding-glass doors replaced casements, and built-in bench seating hugs the room’s perimeter, continuing around the bay window’s breakfast nook where diners gather at a custom Tritter Feefer pedestal table.

The new layout caters to the husband’s desire to cook and entertain simultaneously, via a curved island topped by stained, quarter-sawn oak. Ten Woodbridge Furniture stools upholstered in Perennials fabric all face the chef. Crisp white and pale blues keep the room bright; soft valances frame the windows and Troy Lighting chandeliers add interest.

Kitchen Karma - Interior Design: Katie Carlin, Katie Carlin Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Joni Zimmerman, CKD, CBD, Design Solutions Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Carlin Brothers Construction, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Though she originally hoped to study art, nurturing the business and raising seven kids—including two adopted daughters from Mexico—got in the way. But creativity fuels this entrepreneur, whether designing a tile collection or pursuing her latest passion: screenwriting with a focus on social justice and being a voice for women.

This year, the CEO rebranded the company, now woman-majority-owned, and christened it Architessa. H&D recently caught up with Sullivan to talk tile and more.

Doyenne of Tile - Some say you were ahead of your time. How so?

I spot things early. In the early ’90s when everyone was still using eight-by-eight-inch tile, I bought subway tiles and tried to talk builders into using them. They called me crazy. It took five years before subway tile finally took off.

Why did you start designing your own tile?
As kitchen and bath renovations became popular, there was very little tile I found acceptable. I had to fill a void and bring clients quality tile that said something. Right now, I’m working on a line of cement tile.

What inspires your designs?
When people travel, they want to bring their vacation home—especially in the bath. Our Batik tile, for example, evokes Indonesia.

Why was it important to involve your kids in the business? Our kids designed spaces, went to job sites and computerized us back in the day. When they went off to college, we had a common thing to talk about; they were invested. Our son David Benson is now president, running operations so I can spend time on vision, innovation and creating new products.

Doyenne of Tile - How did you choose the name Architessa?

“Archit” pays homage to architecture and “tessa” comes from tessera, which means a piece of mosaic tile in Italian. It’s also a nod to contessas, because 80 percent of people who pick out tile are women.

A hand-painted Gracie wall covering in a botanical motif became Reich’s jumping-off point for the room. “It was made in the company’s French studio,” she recounts. “We gave them the full dimensions of the room and they drew the design in panels that work together.” The millwork is painted Benjamin Moore’s deep, glossy Polo Blue, which blends seamlessly with the wallpaper field.

The marble-topped Waterworks vanity tucks into a niche flanked by Kallista sconces. A custom Roman shade hangs high above the window to convey a feeling of height in the room. A starburst chandelier by Circa Lighting lends a glamorous touch.

Bath Design & Contracting: Gizem Ozkaya and Michael Sass, Case Architects & Remodelers, Bethesda, Maryland.

1. STREAMLINE—A kitchen should be efficient while meeting clients’ needs, and cabinetry should encourage a no-fuss environment. By removing excess, a kitchen designer can deliver a clean installation that performs optimally and requires little maintenance.
2. NATURE—Incorporating the great outdoors is essential. You can do this by bringing nature in. Raw, unpolished wood finishes—or manmade materials that mimic the natural environment—add detail, definition and character while complementing your surroundings.
3. CLEAR THE CLUTTER—Incorporating ample storage is imperative for 
any successful kitchen design. Designing a walk-in pantry in your cabinet finish, finding clever opportunities for additional storage and adding organizational accessories to your drawers maximizes storage potential in your kitchen.
4. PERSONALITY—Splashing your cabinets with a vibrant finish adds character. Cabinetry is available in a wide variety of colors and in a choice of lacquers; custom colors give homeowners a truly unique space.
5. FREE-FLOWING—An open-concept layout delivers a dynamic flow within the house. By removing barriers, you can create an inviting and spacious atmosphere throughout your home—stemming from the kitchen.
6. JUXTAPOSITION—Streamlined cabinets are the perfect canvas for contrasting colors, finishes and materials to come to life without feeling busy. Mixing things up adds interest and richness to your palette.
7. SHOW OFF—Adding open shelves to your kitchen helps promote efficiency while providing visual interest. Eliminating traditional wall cabinetry allows for a brighter, lighter, unfettered look while providing
a platform to showcase your favorite items.

Pro tips

“Make the kitchen accessible to everyone, regardless of age, height or skill level. Work zones, targeted storage, multi-level counters, smart appliances, flexible lighting and wider aisles all bring the family together.”
—Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CLIPP, CARNEMARK design+build 

“Current kitchen trends include contrasting colors, finishes and materials. Doors with thin frames, picture-frame bevels and beaded insets are replacing the Shaker style of the last decade.”
—Davida Rodriguez, CKD, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles

The master bath reflects the home’s overall architecture in symmetry and palette. “Serene, quiet and reserved” is how McInturff describes the open space, its floors covered in white Thassos marble.

A vessel tub creates a focal point, flanked by tall windows, frosted for privacy and framed in dark-bronze aluminum. The other walls harbor a steam shower, a sculptural wash basin and a floating vanity. “We tried to relate these four elements in terms of detail and materiality,” explains Healey (who has since launched her own firm).

Julia Walter of Boffi Georgetown collaborated on the selection of fixtures and materials, including panels of Salvatori limestone applied on each wall. One panel anchoring the tub ascends into a skylight that bathes the room in natural light. Another skylight illuminates the shower, which boasts a floating stone bench long enough to recline upon.

Though a TV is hidden in the mirror, this bathroom invites quiet introspection. “Our lives are so cluttered by technology,” Walter comments, “that you really want to relax in a place where you don’t have a lot of distractions.”

Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA, principal; Colleen Healey, AIA, project architect, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: Added Dimensions, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland.

THE DETAILS
Windows: solarinnovations.com. Skylights: velux.com. Bathtub, Bath Filler, Vanity, Mirror, Accessories: boffi.com. Washbasin, Stone Surfaces & Slabs: salvatori.it through boffi.com. Marble Flooring: marblesystems.com. Recessed Lighting: eurofase.com. Lighting Strips: luminii.com. Shower Fixture: gessi.com.

Refined Vibe

High-end materials and finishes impart sophisticated style to a kitchen designed for entertaining.

read more

Clean + Simple

A streamlined, modern kitchen is the centerpiece of a new Garrett Park home.

read more

Splash of Color

Clean lines and bright accents take a traditional kitchen from stodgy to stylish.

read more

Modern Plan

Shawna Dillon transforms a problematic Woodley Park kitchen into an airy, open space.

read more

Lively Mix

A design team revives a dated McLean kitchen in vibrant, transitional style.

read more

The first step was to establish a connection between the kitchen and adjacent family room by removing a peninsula that separated the spaces. Sonnenday and Blelloch replaced a walk-in pantry with oversized, easy-to-access cupboards and repositioned appliances to make the food-prep area more functional. A bank of cabinets housing a beverage bar was tucked into the breakfast area.

Against a backdrop of white cabinetry and walls covered in crisp-white subway tile, a cherry-stained wood hood and navy-blue island pop; the breakfast area cabinets are also stained cherry “to unify the kitchen spaces,” Blelloch explains. “The owners wanted a white kitchen but were not afraid to mix color in too.” Countertops in two types of Silestone create a marble look on the island and a soapstone look on the periphery.

Eye-catching Visual Comfort pendants over the island complement a favorite chandelier, also from Visual Comfort, that hangs in the breakfast area. Mullions and millwork surrounding the windows are painted the same Hale Navy paint color as the island; gleaming brass accents and hardware complete the look.

Kitchen Design: Heather Blelloch, Cornerstone Kitchen & Bath, Chantilly, Virginia. Contractor: Colin Sonnenday, Sonnenday Custom Builders, Purcellville, Virginia.

THE DETAILS
Countertops: silestoneusa.com through unitedgranite.us. Subway Tile: mosaictileco.com. Appliances: subzero-wolf.com, zephyronline.com through abwappliances.com. Cabinetry: greenfieldcabinetry.com through ckbva.com. Hardware: rh.com. Sinks: kohler.com. Faucets: newportbrass faucets.com. Lighting: visual comfortlightinglights.com. Blue Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Stools: cb2.com.

While Adam McGraw of DC architecture firm StudioMB reimagined the first floor with an airy, modern aesthetic, Snaidero DC Metro collaborated on the kitchen redesign.

“The goal was to be able to see out and be part of the family activities,” explains Snaidero principal Shawna Dillon, who spearheaded the project. She and her team removed the wall separating the two kitchen areas to create a single open kitchen that flows into the dining room at one end and the family room at the other. Cabinetry and appliances line one side and the island houses the sink and cooktop, allowing the owner to face the family room while cooking. Frosted-glass doors enclose a convenient mudroom/closet as well as a pantry tucked behind the appliance wall.

High-gloss, cappuccino-hued cabinets complement durable melamine cabinetry in a warm, textured-wood finish. The soft, off-white countertops and backsplash are Caesarstone. “The kitchen is quiet and complements the architecture,” Dillon notes. “It’s in the middle of the house, so everything just flows together nicely.”

Kitchen Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Renovation Architecture: Adam McGraw, AIA, StudioMB, Washington, DC. Contractor: GMG Services Corporation, Annandale, Virginia. 

THE DETAILS
Cabinetry & Hardware: snaiderodcmetro.com. Sinks: franke.com. Faucets: dornbracht.com. Refrigerator & Dishwasher: subzero-wolf.com, mieleusa.com through snaiderodcmetro.com. Hood & Ovens: bestrangehoods.com; bosch-home.com through ajmadison.com. Countertops & Backsplash: rbratti.com. Frosted-Glass Doors: lualdiporte.com/en.

Though they retained the kitchen’s basic layout, Browne reorganized a few elements to improve functionality. The fridge and double ovens traded places while the cooktop moved from the island to the back wall, where a custom hood provides improved ventilation. “We extended the island to better fit the proportions of the room,” Browne recounts. “And by thoughtfully planning each cabinet, we were able to make a major impact on how the kitchen works for their needs.”

But the real transformation was aesthetic. Browne introduced a sleek, streamlined sensibility, contrasting horizontal-grain cabinets in a wood-look laminate with white upper cabinets and a white Caesarstone countertop to keep the space light. A Neolith backsplash that mimics Carrara marble ties the cabinetry colors together. “It’s very important that the cabinet wood grain matches for a clean, contemporary look,” the designer observes. “Especially with a strong grain like this one.”

The island sports a bold blue hue that the owners embraced. Extending the length of the island, the waterfall countertop in leathered granite shot through with gray and blue creates a novel bar for casual dining. Paired with the blue island, says Browne, “it stands out and adds a fun vibe to the space.”

Kitchen Design: Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: Lappas Construction, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. Photography: Keith Miller, Keiana Photography.

THE DETAILS
Cabinetry: artcraftkitchens.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com through stoneandtileworld.com. Granite Counter: marblesystems.com. Granite Counter Fabrication: stoneandtileworld.com. Backsplash: neolith.com. Appliances: mieleusa.com, subzero-wolf.com through abwappliances.com. Custom Hood: amoredesignfactory.com. Hardware: emtek.com through pushpullhardware.com. Sinks: elkay.com. Faucets: rohlhome.com. Pendants: rejuvenation.com. Stools: roomandboard.com.

Working with Luke Olson of GTM Architects, designer Hedy Shashaani conjured a spare, contemporary kitchen with lots of storage. “The kitchen is open to the family room, so it was important that there be ways to stash clutter out of sight,” Shashaani relates.

A center island with an attached table is bordered on one side by a wall of cabinetry, double ovens and a cooktop with a hood hidden in a cabinet front. On another wall, a 60-inch paneled refrigerator is framed in shallow, easy-access, side-entry pantry cupboards with a TV above; to the left of the refrigerator wall, a built-in buffet is visible in the adjacent dining room.

The wife’s home office is conveniently tucked into a corner by the home’s side entrance; its low cabinets facing the breakfast table contain a beverage bar. Beside the office, a wall of closets takes the place of a mudroom while a spacious walk-in pantry behind the closets provides additional storage.

Shashaani kept the material palette minimal, with slab-front cabinets in a lightly glazed white finish offsetting dark, horizontal-grain engineered wood. The Caesarstone countertops and backsplash preserve the sophisticated yet simple look.

Kitchen Design: Hedy Shashaani, CKD, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Rockville, Maryland. Architecture: Luke Olson, project manager, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: PKK Builders, Garrett Park, Maryland. 

THE DETAILS
Countertops & Backsplash: caesarstoneus.com through abkausa.com. Appliances: subzero-wolf.com through abwappliances.com. Cabinetry: elmwoodkitchens.com through jackrosen.com. Hardware: pushpullhardware.com. Sink & Faucets: elkay.com, brizo.com through ackerandsonsinc.com.

The newly configured space was narrow, so Meyer placed most of the cabinetry and appliances along one wall; an island holds the sink and a bar for impromptu meals. The doorway leading from the kitchen to the family room—part of a previous addition—has been widened to create openness and flow between spaces. Pantry cupboards line one side of the passage while the other houses a coffee bar and fridge.

Gray-washed, rift-oak cabinets are accented by a charcoal-hued island; glass-fronted display cabinets are suspended from a long panel of rift-oak trim. While radiant-heated limestone floors add interest, Carrara marble countertops offset the dark cabinetry and open shelving. So does the white, glass-tile backsplash. “The kitchen is pretty masculine, so we picked a backsplash that feels delicate,” observes Meyer. “It’s a nice, soft touch. We liked the juxtaposition.”

Kitchen Design: Sandra Meyer, Ella Scott Design, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: Bonilla Construction, LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

THE DETAILS
Cabinetry: custom. Hardware: rh.com. Backsplash: artistictile.com through architecturalceramics.com. Countertops: marblexinc.com. Appliances: subzero-wolf.com through ferguson.com. Sinks: kohler.com through build.com. Flooring: waterworks.com. Lighting: visualcomfort lightinglights.com. Stools: menudesignshop.com. Chairs: danishmodern.com. Dining Table: roomandboard.com.

FABULOUS FIXTURE
Graceful curves define the Studio S Kitchen Faucet Collection from American Standard. The minimalist design features a magnet that keeps the spray head in place and a one-and-a-half-gallon per minute flow rate. The fixtures come in matte black, polished chrome and stainless steel; the Semi-Professional Pull-Down Faucet is pictured. americanstandard.com

LIVING COLOR
Virginia-based Alison Giese Interiors has teamed with Baltimore’s Unique Kitchens and Baths to create a new line of cabinetry called AGI Color Selects. The collection boasts a palette of complementary colors and stains curated by Giese. An Ashburn project by the designer (opposite) features the cabinetry in Candlewick, a warm white, and Peppercorn, a deep blue-black; the textured subway-tile backsplash and aged brass, bronze and wood tones add coziness and warmth. uniquekitchensandbaths.net

EXOTIC CHOICE
Snaidero USA’s Elegante Bespoke cabinetry collection presents homeowners with five exotic-wood options and a range of finishes including lacquer, ceramic, glass, melamine or laminate. Pictured, left: A kitchen currently on view at Snaidero DC Metro’s showroom in Alexandria contrasts minimalist white cabinets with the Elegante collection’s sumptuous High Gloss Fumé Eucalyptus accents. snaiderodcmetro.com

RIGHT ANGLE
A recent addition to The Tile Shop’s offerings, geometric Doree mosaic tile combines wood-look porcelain and Carrara and Black Marquina marble in a graphic and vibrant combination. Suitable for floor and wall applications, the pattern complements both classic and contemporary environments. Available at area locations. tileshop.com

BELLS & WHISTLES
French door refrigerators in GE’s Café line come with a bottom freezer, icemaker, water dispenser and LED interior lighting. Options include custom door handles and smart-appliance features such as WiFi connectivity and on-demand Keurig K-Cup brewing to ensure your coffee will be ready when you are. Pictured here in matte black. Available at area ADU—Your Appliance Source locations. adu.com

STRONG STATEMENT
Blue Note Circles, a glossy glass mosaic, makes a statement above the range in a Falls Church kitchen by Case Design/Remodeling (below). It’s framed by hand-glazed ceramic subway tile that ties the room together. Part of Artistic Tile’s Jazz Glass collection, the mosaic pattern is available at area Architectural Ceramics locations. architecturalceramics.com

LIMITED EDITION
A chic, limited-edition version of the restaurant-style Viking 7 Series range comes in cast black with rose-gold accents. With a production run of only 110 units, it boasts the series’ usual features: a convection oven; 23,000 BTU elevated burners; a chrome griddle with grease containment; and an LED-backlit control panel. Available at A.J. Madison in Tysons Corner. ajmadison.com

STAY COOL
The new Monolith column collection by Liebherr features 84-inch-high refrigerator and freezer units, each measuring 18- or 36-inches in width. Bells and whistles include a 3.5-inch, full-color touchscreen display integrated into the interior, LED side-wall lighting and an app-controlled SmartDeviceBox that allows you to activate settings and features while on the go. liebherr.com

PLAY IN CONTRASTS
George Myers and Mark Kaufman of GTM Architects teamed with Margery Berringer-Schuran of Berringer Design & Consulting to deliver a chic, open-plan kitchen to Bethesda clients looking for functionality and a modern aesthetic. A play in contrasts, the space marries white-painted cabinetry on one wall with plain-sawn, matching vertical-grain walnut cabinets on another. “This look is a popular trend right now,” says Kaufman. “It adds warmth and beauty with a contemporary feel.” Cabinets by Crystal Cabinetry; crystalcabinets.com

MOD MOTIF
A high-contrast, black-and-white motif characterizes the Heritage Collection from Portugal. Mimicking the look of encaustic cement, the glazed porcelain tiles come in an eight-by-eight-inch format and in four patterns: Infinite, Nostalgia, Timeless and Tradition (pictured above). Low-maintenance, durable and suited to floor and wall applications, it’s available at area Best Tile locations. besttile.com

EUROPEAN STYLE
Showplace Cabinetry’s EVO line of custom, European-style cabinets conveys a contemporary aesthetic with its simple lines and geometric forms. Crafted of hardwood, with solid- or engineered-wood doors, the cabinet line features adjustable soft-close hinges and drawer glides. Available at area USA Cabinet Store, LLC, locations including a new showroom in Chantilly. usacabinetstore.com

CHEF'S KITCHEN
Scavolini has teamed with Italian chef and TV personality Carlo Cracco to create MIA by Carlo Cracco, a sleek, modular cabinetry and shelving system. Pictured above in gray steel with a stainless-steel combination cooking-and-washing zone, the collection also features hidden options such as a wood chopping board (above, left and right) that conceals rolling pins and a magnetic knife rack. scavoliniusa.com

BY HAND
The clean and contemporary Boswell line of decorative cabinet pulls is the latest collection from Jeffrey Alexander by Hardware Resources. Angled to add visual interest, the pulls allow easy hand clearance. They are available in brushed pewter, brushed oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, polished chrome or satin nickel. hardwareresources.com

JUST DISHY
Crystal Cabinet Works now offers drawers with adjustable pegs to accommodate stackable dishes in a range of sizes. Situated at waist height, the drawers are ergonomically designed—a perfect solution for homeowners who wish to age in place. The Crystal Cabinet Works line is available locally through Bowers Design Build. bowersdesignbuild.com, crystalcabinets.com

MARBLE LOOK
Atlas Plan’s Calacatta Antique countertops are fabricated from large porcelain slabs that mimic the look of Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble. Distinguished by creamy white with strong veining that varies from gold to light gray, the expansive slabs make a striking statement in the kitchen. Available locally through Gramaco Stone Solutions. gramaco.com

• Add after-market rollout shelves, cutlery dividers, tray dividers and spice organizers
• Replace existing lighting with LEDs
• Add LED under-cabinet lights
• Paint the kitchen walls
• Replace cabinet hardware
• Install new window coverings
• Replace faucets
• Replace countertops
• Make sure that your exhaust fan is vented to the exterior