We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Shelly and CliqStudios on many home renovation and remodeling projects for Sceltas Build+Consult. Shelly and her team is responsive, supportive and service-oriented, and they have a very dependable ordering process. The quality and quantity of product options available allow us to customize and order a variety of kitchen cabinets, pleasing each individual client. It’s been a pleasure to partner with you.

Simone Miller of the blog Zenbelly is a renowned chef, known for her influence on the gluten-free and paleo cooking communities. On her blog, she shares grain-free recipes sure to convince anyone that it’s possible to have both healthy and delicious food.

Simone does all of her cooking, baking, and blogging from her home. Needless to say, having a well-designed kitchen is very important to her work. With the help of CliqStudios, she finally transformed her cramped and cluttered San Francisco kitchen into a modern Medium Gray kitchen, one any chef would dream of having.

“I work from home in my kitchen, so being able to open drawers and cabinets and knowing exactly what’s in each one brings me so much peace of mind,” Simone explains.

Simone and her husband lived in the house for 10 years, originally renting it before taking the plunge to purchase it for themselves. After living in the space for so long, they knew what they wanted to change.

“Storage was the main thing,” explained Simone. “The former kitchen didn’t have a pantry at all. There was just a shortage of cabinets in general.”

The kitchen was also closed off from the living room by a wall, making the kitchen cramped.

There were also issues with clutter. Because of her limited cabinet space, many kitchen items were out on open shelves and countertops. Simone felt the original kitchen was too hectic and hard to focus in. One of the main goals of the project was to make the space more functional and add more storage to the design, so items could be tucked away until Simone was ready to use them.

Simone wanted an open kitchen design and bar area, but she was initially hesitant to remove a wall. “We took down the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. Now we have a bar but I was initially afraid we were losing too much potential upper cabinet space. But the way the cabinets function makes it so there’s nothing out on the counter that I don’t want,” said Simone.

One aspect Simone enjoyed about her CliqStudios experience was getting to work with an experienced kitchen designer LaKeyshia Beard.

Simone explains, “My designer was so great and patient. She was really helpful when I had questions about flow and layout.”

LaKeyshia used her knowledge of cabinetry to meet Simone’s goals for more storage and space. She also gave Simone a clear vision of what the final result would look like.

“I was 98 percent sure I knew what I wanted for the layout, but even with that it was nice to see the kitchen in a 3D rendering and have someone give you feedback when you needed it,” said Simone.

Simone decided to go with CliqStudios’ Shaker style cabinet Shaker in the color Medium Gray. Combining a timeless door style with a chic color like gray created a kitchen that blends modern and traditional elements, creating a space that will age well overtime.

For Simone, her kitchen is a place to create and experiment. She is frequently using her space to develop new recipes for her blog.

“I’m creating recipes a lot so having what I’m working on and photographing all in one spot is nice,” said Simone.

She goes on to explain how her old kitchen provided many challenges for creating her content. “I take a lot of photos of my food and it’s so easy to put anything on the counter or have the kitchen in the background and have it look nice. Before I felt like I had to go out of the kitchen to take a picture.”

Simone’s new, modern Medium Gray kitchen is a perfect example of a chef’s dream space. She finally has her pantry for cooking and baking supplies, a large amount of counterspace, and her dream stove.

“It’s like night and day. It’s a completely new kitchen,” said Simone.

Already she is envisioning the future for the kitchen, not with just how she will use it for her blog, but how it will affect her day to day cooking.

“I can already tell that when I host big family get-togethers, we can all function together,” said Simone. “It’s a completely new kitchen.”

“I love kitchen and bath design,” CliqStudios Pro Partner Jamel Williams shares. “That is actually how I became connected with CliqStudios. Before I even had a kitchen project, I always followed CliqStudios on Instagram.

“I’m a full service interior designer,” Jamel continues. “I normally work on residential projects, which range from updating furniture to full gut renovations.”

“When I met this client, he actually mentioned CliqStudios to me,” Jamel recalls. “I was quite excited to have the opportunity to use CliqStudios cabinetry.”

Jamel partnered with kitchen designer Ashley Thompson.

“It was great that Ashley could take her expertise of the CliqStudios products and offer unique and helpful ideas on the layout and sizing of the cabinets,” Jamel says.

“This was a new home for the client,” Jamel explains. “Initially, the space was two apartments, with two kitchens. The last owner removed the larger kitchen and kept the galley style kitchen instead.”

The dream for this project was to move the kitchen back to the original space. This would create a larger kitchen and an open floor plan.

“However, the homeowners discovered there were issues with moving the gas line,” Jamel says. “So they had to keep the galley kitchen instead. At that point, it became more of a challenge of how we could maximize the space.”

Jamel knew well-placed cabinetry was the solution.

“In this situation we needed all the cabinet storage space we could get,” he says. “I like to take the design from floor to ceiling, which some people are hesitant to do in existing spaces.”

“It almost seemed like the previous owner got stock cabinetry and placed it just wherever it fit,” Jamel recalls. “Everything was just kind of pick up and go and nothing was secured. The previous owner didn’t utilize the space to the fullest.”

“Being that CliqStudios cabinets are semi custom, they worked out perfectly,” Jamel says. “We were able to adjust sizes as we needed.”

The result is well-placed cabinetry with a built-in look and plenty of storage.

Because Jamel’s client loves to cook, there were a few things the design couldn’t compromise on.

“Having a pantry was important, as well as professional grade appliances in a residential size,” Jamel says. “I think the open shelving on the end is really cool because he can show off his cookbooks there.”

Blending styles both homeowners enjoyed was also a priority.

“The clients love white and blue and wanted a cohesive space with a clean, open airy feel, while being artsy and contemporary too,” Jamel says.

“I would say this design is a blend of two or three different aesthetics,” Jamel says. “The client’s vision is always primary to me, but I’m able to expand on it with trends and find other ideas to create a unique space.”

“One of my favorite parts of the kitchen is the whole sink area with the reclaimed shelves and the blue apron sink cabinets,” Jamel says. “I also love the pantry and fridge on either end of the kitchen that frame the cabinets in. It has a beautiful, custom built-in finish.”

“I love the mixed materials and the blue and white cabinet design,” CliqStudios kitchen designer Ashley says. “It shows how you can use dark colored cabinets in smaller spaces and it can still feel really light and open.”

“I also love that Jamel used the brass hardware and fixtures,” Ashley continues. “It gives the kitchen a modern look. All the little touches like the wood shelves and the open shelving are so tastefully done.”

While beautiful projects like this inspire many remodels, Jamel recognizes the process can be challenging.

“I commend homeowners who have the courage to take on a renovation,” Jamel shares. “And those that introduce a professional. Because they allow themselves to step back and see another idea and how far the kitchen design can go.”

Brad, a CliqStudios employee and his wife, Julie, dreamed of the ideal kitchen. “If you saw the before pictures you would know why,” said Julie. The cabinets were original from 1964. Many of the appliances were 20 years old.

Finally, the inspiration to pull the remodeling trigger came from a friend.“What really motivated me was my friend’s new kitchen. I always wanted to do it but when I saw her kitchen it motivated me. Brad working for CliqStudios was another motivator.” The result is a bright and beautiful farmhouse kitchen.

They got to work with their CliqStudios kitchen designer, Robyn Belongie, to create a refreshed space with farmhouse charm. They created this style with CliqStudios Decorative cabinets in White.

After years of living with an outdated kitchen, Brad and Julie embraced many of the storage solutions CliqStudios has to offer. Choosing storage options for a kitchen is important as it impacts the flow and organization in a very noticeable way.

“One thing I wanted to do away with was opening lower cabinet doors and having to bend down and reach in to get huge baking sheets,” said Julie. For example, the addition of Roll-out Trays helped eliminate this problem.

Now items are easily accessible by sliding out the entire tray. Additionally, Tray Dividers were added to separate and organize large items like trays and baking pans.

Other notable storage solutions include cabinets that keep items out of sight and organized. For example, the Pull-out Wastebasket to keep trash and recycling bins easily accessible and out of the way. A built-in Cutting Board Drawer conveniently keeps their knives tucked away.

Pot and Pan drawers equally improve the space and functionality of the kitchen. “I love our big drawers. It was a nuisance bending and reaching. Eventually it gets painful. It’s now easier picking out stacks of pots and pans,” said Brad.

On the day we spoke to Brad and Julie, they were preparing for a party. As usual, they are excited for every opportunity to show off and use their new kitchen. The space is more sociable, allowing for easy and fun cooking and entertaining. As a result, everything is exactly where it makes sense to be in the kitchen.

Also, the decorative details of the kitchen make it memorable. The gray subway tile backsplash lends a cool contrast and texture to the white cabinets. They brightened the space by combining white cabinets with can and pendant lights.

Finally, both Brad and Julie agree that the kitchen transformation was dramatic. “No comparison, 100% better, no 120% better,” said Julie.

Mary knew there were two glaring problems with her new house: it was dated and tiny. Built in 1901, the Utah home stood at a meager 850 square feet. “I knew when I bought it that I was going to knock out the wall between the living room and the kitchen,” said Mary. With tearing down the wall came the urge to remodel. Mary was in luck. She knew the right people to make her dream of a sleek and sophisticated kitchen happen.

Mary is the business director and partner for The House That Lars Built, a design and style blog created by Brittany Watson Jepson. To top it all off, Mary’s kitchen was to be featured in The One Room Challenge. The One Room Challenge is a six-week event where design bloggers chronicle transforming a room. Quickly, Mary and the team got to work and that’s when they reached out to CliqStudios.

To create Mary’s dream look, she turned to CliqStudios for cabinetry. She and her CliqStudios kitchen designer Kevin Kuerbs right away the two hit it off.

“I loved Kevin so much! Sometimes when I feel stressed, I’m like ‘I should just call Kevin!’ He was so proactive and gave me many options,” Mary recalled. “He knew what would work and where and gave me different renderings of the kitchen so I could visualize everything. His skill set is amazing but his responsiveness shot him to the top for me.”

Her designer Kevin felt the same, “We hit it off right away. She was very willing to listen to new ideas.”

Together they found the best way to refresh the space. “We really didn’t change the layout. She did open up the space between the kitchen and the living room. She had a very dated kitchen and she wanted to brighten it up and give it a new look,” said Kevin.

From the ‘90s style oak cabinets to the florescent lighting, Mary’s kitchen needed a refresh. “There was an aesthetic goal and a functional goal. My personal style is sleek, clean lines and contemporary. I wanted that feel to come through,” said Mary.

Mary and designer Kevin reviewed her cabinetry style and color options, determining the best fit for her style and space. “I was considering the black finish, Black with a butcher block countertop, but we went with white because we were looking for that feeling of openness. Everything is white except for the black appliances and green couch. That was in line with the aesthetic and idea of keeping things open. I wanted a monochromatic feel,” said Mary.

“White completes the look. The windows pop more. I love how she chose white because it creates a nice neutral,” said Kevin.

Next they maximized Mary’s cabinet storage space. Storage in the existing kitchen was scarce. There was a useless pantry taking up space. Mary continued, “Taking the cabinets up to the ceiling and choosing White added what I wanted: sleek, contemporary lines. It makes the room feel bigger.”

Because they only had six weeks to transform the space, they needed to order and install the cabinets quickly. As soon as the cabinets arrived, Mary looked them over and then her team got to work installing them.

“My installer was like ‘Wow! These are high quality materials.’ With some affordable cabinets it’s a trade off, but not with CliqStudios,” said Mary.

Finding the right layout and cabinets isn’t just about functionality, it’s about creating a space to fit your unique style. Mary wasn’t afraid to make bold design choices that blended multiple kitchen looks together.

Kevin was elated by her decisions and guided her throughout. “With a kitchen it can be hard to have a unique style and she totally made it her own,” said Kevin.

He went on to talk about how Mary’s kitchen defies traditional style labels. “The style of her kitchen is funky, clean and eclectic. It molded together several styles: mid-century modern, industrial and farmhouse. You can’t really put a label on this kitchen because it’s so unique,” said Kevin.

The result is the sleek and sophisticated kitchen Mary wanted. “It’s a night and day difference. The old kitchen with the hardwood floors and dark cabinets was monochromatic, but in a bad way. It was heavy and old feeling,” said Mary.

After six weeks of hard work, it was time for the big reveal. Mary got exactly what she wanted; an elegant space made bigger by her all white cabinetry design.

“What I wanted in a home was to feel like I was going to a lovely hotel. I wanted a space that is very restful with that contemporary and curated look. That’s what it has now,” said Mary.

“It turned out really cool. It’s modern and it’s fresh. It’s not like what everyone else has, especially with the black framed windows, layout, and chairs. She made the space more unique to herself,” said Kevin.

Now Mary’s kitchen is the perfect place not only to cook, but for socializing “The kitchen is where I hang out now! It’s just so peaceful and it’s a place I want to be. It’s a more usable space and everyone who comes over wants to be in there,” said Mary.

She continues, “I love your team and your product. Everyone who comes over I’m sending to CliqStudios.”

“The old kitchen was hanging on by a thread,” says real estate investor Travis F.

With the help of CliqStudios, Travis managed this neglected kitchen’s transformation. Modernizing the kitchen was part of a year-long rehab of this historic home.

“I have worked in mortgages for over 14 years,” Travis shares. “Being so deeply rooted in the real estate industry is what gave me the motivation and knowledge to get into real estate investing. This property is actually my first renovation.”

The historic home is located in the Atlantic Heights Development in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The development was built in the early 1900s to house shipbuilders working at the nearby blue-gray. This townhome is typical to the development, with two bedrooms and one bathroom in only 650 square feet.

In addition to being small, the property needed extensive work. The kitchen ducts were outside of the walls. The house needed all new plumbing. Nothing, including the electrical, was up to code. The doors and brick walls did not have insulation. The list could go on.

“Ultimately, the whole house had very limited upkeep for the past 20 years,” Travis says. “Everything was worn. Nothing was level. Nothing was square. All of this creates a whole host of challenges in completing projects. It requires working with the right professionals to get the job done correctly.”

As Travis created a plan for restoring the home, he saw CliqStudios online. Shortly after, he heard the name again.

“At work, I did a closing for a house with a gorgeous kitchen,” Travis remembers. “I asked the realtor where they got the cabinets, and he said they were from CliqStudios. I couldn’t believe the coincidence. They design and flip properties, so I figured it was a CliqStudios review that I could definitely trust.”

This kitchen was Travis’ first as a CliqStudios Pro partner. “Travis usually has a layout in mind for the space,” his designer says. “Then from there we work on making sure everything fits properly and is functional.”

The most challenging part of this design was maximizing such a small kitchen.

“I made sure there was as much storage as possible without impeding the function of the space,” his kitchen designer explains. “In this kitchen it was tough, because we had to make sure the walking space between the oven and refrigerator was wide enough.”

Travis agrees, “There is not a lot of space to work with to make things functional for a couple of people or a small family.”

In a kitchen like this, Paige always includes cabinets that will maximize storage.

“Every space is different, but I recommend a Lazy Susan instead of a blind corner,” Paige says. “I also think Utensil Drawer storage is a great way to keep things organized.”

This was Travis’ first time flipping a historic home, and he knew he had a lot to learn.

“I expected the renovation to take about 4-6 months,” Travis says. “However, due to my own time constraints and contractor delays, it ended up taking a full 12 months before it was ready to be put on the market.”

“I would get estimates for a job, and call to book, only to be told that they were booking three months out,” Travis remembers. “Having to coordinate multiple quotes by multiple contractors, in multiple trades, with multiple opinions was a lot to sort through for a first-timer. I knew it would be a learning experience, and it sure was.”

One of his biggest lessons came when planning the budget of this historic renovation.

“One thing I learned about these large rehab projects, is to double your cost estimates,” Travis shares. “Unexpected issues come up all the time and really drive up the renovation costs significantly.”

After putting in so much into the project, Travis chose to keep his first investment property as a rental home.

“It looks like a completely different kitchen,” his designer says. “I like that we were basically able to double the storage in the space too.”

“What I like most is that the new kitchen looks nothing like the old one,” Travis says. “It’s white and modern, but has the classic design of the Shaker cabinets. It brings a new, fresh look to the kitchen. Overall, you really couldn’t ask for a better small kitchen in such a tiny house!”

Like many homeowners, Lee Mei describes her kitchen renovation as “a long time coming.”

“We bought our house in 2003 and I thought I would get a new kitchen shortly thereafter,” Lee Mei shares. “It didn’t happen until 2018.”

After living with her current kitchen for 15 years, it was easy for her to identify what her remodeling goals would be.

“Our previous kitchen was small, outdated and had hardly any counter space to work with,” Lee Mei says.“It wasn’t functional.I was miserable when it was time to cook.”

Lee Mei wanted to move walls and add counter space to more easily serve and clean up after gathering with friends and family.

“Our main goal was to enlarge the kitchen by taking down the wall between our kitchen and dining room,” Lee Mei says.“Also we wanted more cabinet space. We wanted to be able to not have a traffic jam every time I cooked and my husband cleaned.”

CliqStudios designers work with customers over the phone, through email and screen sharing to create a kitchen layout. Lee Mei travels internationally for work, so working with a remote kitchen designer was perfect for her.

“I like the fact that we could do all of this by phone and email,” Lee Mei says. “That was right up my alley, considering my travel schedule.”

“We had to go back and forth a lot with the design,” she adds. “My husband and I literally disagreed with each other on everything.But, we compromised. Andrew Presley the designer was great and understanding.”

Lee Mei envisioned an island in her new kitchen. However, she found a better option for the space during the design process.

“The style and layout of the kitchen evolved as we progressed through sample designs,” she explains.“My dream island was nixed because of space and so having two peninsulas was a nice compromise.”

Even though islands are a very popular choice, working with the space you have is the best choice.

“It’s like having two islands now,” Lee Mei says.“I now have plenty of space to chop, bake, cook and we have two eating areas.”

“I chose CliqStudios with a moderate amount of hesitation,” Lee Mei recalls. “I read all the reviews and customer profiles and liked what I read. We kept our options open in case we were not satisfied with CliqStudios.”

However, she did not need to use her backup option.

“We went to a neighborhood store with the same design,” she shares. “In the end, it came down to price and CliqStudios was better price wise.I was pleasantly surprised.”

Due to long distance shipping, there are occasionally damages that occur to cabinets during travel. Unfortunately, a few parts of Lee Mei’s cabinets were nicked. It’s troubling to hear when that happens, but she shared a positive outcome with us.

“I also want to give a shout out to your customer service,” Lee Mei adds. “They were exceptional. We had a few pieces that were nicked and damaged. I thought I would have to fight to get replacement cabinets. That wasn’t the case.Surprisingly, they were awesome.Everything was handled professionally. I would recommend CliqStudios to anyone interested.”

Even though remodelers are inspired by beautiful photos, their favorite features are usually the ones that make their space more functional. Conveniently located storage cabinets are a favorite. As well as layouts that make day-to-day tasks easier, which is what quality kitchen designs are all about.

“Because I love to cook, one of my favorite storage cabinets is the pull out drawers under the stovetop,” Lee Mei says. “The lid drawer underneath is also great. There is a place for everything. Another favorite is the Pull-out Spice Rack.”

“It’s hard to say what is our favorite part,” she continues.“The beverage center makes everything so functional in the morning. My husband loves to turn on the open shelf lighting at night. That is probably his favorite. I don’t really have a favorite because I love it all.”

“The remodeled kitchen has changed our lives,” Lee Mei says.“I am so much happier now coming home to a nice kitchen and new sunroom.I’m a bit poorer, but it was all worth it. My husband and I are empty nesters and we absolutely love the way it turned out. We love to be home now.”

“We built our personal house four years ago and we found that we loved the new home construction process,” CliqStudios Pro Partner Sarah G. says. “So we started our own business building and selling houses about three years ago.”

Entering the home building industry was a natural transition for Sarah and her husband.

“I have a degree in interior design and my husband has worked in the construction field as a sub-contractor for 13 years,” Sarah explains. “So we have a bit of a background in the construction business. I draw out the floor plans and design everything and he is the project manager.”

Although Sarah enjoys designing the whole home, she is partial to one space.

“Kitchens are my favorite room to design,” Sarah shares.

When Sarah found CliqStudios, it was the perfect match for her favorite space.

“CliqStudios offers a high-end cabinet without the high end price,” Sarah says. “The cabinets have all the features that are on everyone’s wish list. They allow us to build a house without cutting quality or design in the kitchen and bathroom.”

Sarah is now a member of CliqStudios’ Pro Partner Program. This program offers additional support and benefits for industry professionals. Part of that support is having a dedicated CliqStudios designer for every project. Sarah works exclusively with kitchen designer Myisha Robinson.

“I always enjoy working with Sarah,” Myisha says. “She comes to me with designs in mind and then I let her know if I would recommend any different placements in the kitchen. New construction is fun because it’s a blank slate. You don’t have to work around existing utilities, so you can place appliances where you think they would be best.”

“Our designer Myisha is great to work with,” Sarah exclaims. “She is always available for any questions and gets back to us in a timely manner.”

For this project, Sarah chose Medium Gray cabinets in CliqStudios’ Shaker door style. She is often drawn to the simple lines of a Shaker cabinet.

“Gray and white is fresh looking and very versatile,” designer Myisha says. “You could use that palette in styles from industrial to farmhouse to modern. It translates really well.”

Sarah agrees, “I chose the Medium Gray painted cabinet for this project because it spoke casual and modern to me. The gray also creates a neutral palette that works really well with wood tones.”

This palate is growing in popularity as homeowners are realizing the versatility of gray in the kitchen. A recent Houzz report found that white and gray are the two most popular kitchen paint colors.

Like many homebuilders, Sarah knew this space would function best with an open kitchen design. The casual island seating area opens to the living room and a formal dining space. Thoughtful cabinet storage maximizes every inch of the space.

“This kitchen has some of our most popular features,” Myisha says. “The Wastebasket Pull-out is in the island for easy access. The Super Susan is a great way to make use of corner space. The Drawer Base by the oven is deep enough to store pots and pans.”

A few decorative finishes give this kitchen a modern farmhouse style. The cabinet hardware, drawer cup pulls and door knobs, brings a vintage look to the space. Two black pendant lights with an antique barn style illuminate the island.

“One of my favorite features is the shelving by the window,” designer Myisha shares. “I enjoy putting glass front doors around the sink because it really opens up the space by the window.”

This modern farmhouse kitchen is sure to be the backdrop of many memories for the new homeowners.

Designing a kitchen that fits your style, budget and timeline can be challenging. While some projects come together quickly and easily, other kitchens take a bit longer to get just right. This project came together over a series of revisions, including moving doors and walls. The result is a sophisticated blue kitchen with a balanced mix of old and new.

When this homeowner first came to CliqStudios, they had a design and quote from another company. After recreating the existing design with a quote for CliqStudios cabinets, the designer asked a few simple questions. As they talked, the project evolved.

• Do you like this design?
• Would you want to move the door?
• What if you make some changes to the space?
• What if you choose a smaller refrigerator?

“This is what our designers do,” Shelly explains. “I always say to think outside the box. Think about the flow of the space and walk them through why these would be good changes.”

“Some of these types of changes do increase the budget,” Shelly explains. “The homeowner gets all their ideas and plans together, refigures the budget and then they purchase cabinets. They really wanted this design, and they were open to making some changes to get there within the time and budget that worked for them.”

Sometimes, even the simplest kitchen project to take months to plan, but the exact timeline is unique to each project. Structural changes like moving walls and doors, generally increase the length of a project.

During this process, the homeowner and her kitchen designer made five revisions to the design.

“We understand that creating the right design is going to take time,” Shelly shares. “The initial design is a place to start, but it is not going to be the final design. So as designers, we encourage homeowners to tell us what they want changed.”

This collaboration process is how dream kitchens are created.

“It has a casual elegance,” Shelly says. “The sparkle in the backsplash, but the rustic floor, table and stool.”

Even though light, neutral kitchens remain popular, this kitchen shows how darker colors, like blue, have an equally classic appeal. CliqStudios’ Shaker cabinets in Blue are the perfect mix of modern and traditional.

While cabinet styles and colors do set the backdrop for the kitchen, homeowners bring the space to life with their own finishing details.

“The mason jar lights are adorable and unexpected,” Shelly observes. “The clean lines of the hardware work with the rustic lights, fireplace and floor.”

The choices made remodeling the kitchen help tie the rest of the home together.

“The details the homeowner added around the doors looks like the original doors would have,” Shelly explains. “That’s what finished the space: the drama around the window, with the big trim and how it brings the outside in.”

Photos courtesy of Haley Blavka.

When Denise bought a 1970s rambler in a rural area near Seattle, she knew kitchen and bathroom remodels were in her future. After discovering CliqStudios on Houzz, her kitchen finally got the update it needed.

“We have since remodeled every inch of the house and even the property,” Denise shares. “My favorite project is my detached art studio built down by the chickens and goats on our little one-acre farm. My second favorite is the kitchen!”

The old kitchen was “so yellow oak 90s” and had a “Darth Vader black refrigerator at the back of the kitchen.” With the help of CliqStudios kitchen designer Julia O’Halloran, the new kitchen began taking shape.

“I sent a pencil drawing with dimensions and we started from there,” Denise remembers. “There was a lot of back and forth, phone calls and even screen time online that brought us to the final design.”

“Because we could not change the low ceiling height we knew we wanted to bring in more light,” Denise says. “We did that by opening up a wall and adding a larger window and French doors. We also wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling for more storage.”

A two-tier island replaces the old wall, adding color and a space to gather.

“The tiered island really gives a statement and helps block the workspace so everyone in the other room doesn’t see all of your prep work,” Julia says.

“I wanted the island color to match a hutch in the other room and Blue-Gray was the closest color,” Denise shares. “Frankly it reads really well since it pulls blue, green and gray all at the same time depending on the light. Love it!”

Denise continues, “I also love that people can pull up a bar stool and we can lay out a spread of charcuterie and mix up drinks without people trying to walk into the main kitchen space. We host Thanksgiving every year and typically have 15 or more guests. The island with the large cutting board in the middle makes for a great prep area and the above counter is a perfect staging space for all the side dishes.”

In addition to providing the perfect gathering space, the island has storage cabinets on all sides.

“The designer had such great recommendations for the storage cabinets,” Denise says. “One design idea was having a large peg dish drawer to help organize right across from the dishwasher. It’s so easy to unload those dishes.”

Denise continues, “I like the fact that there was plenty of thought into placement and function of each cabinet bank. Being able to reach right into the drawers for knives or pots and pans on the prep side of the range is so efficient.”

Another strategically placed cabinet is specifically for entertaining.

“Having two wastebasket pull-outs has been another great idea,” Denise adds. “One for the cooking prep area and one with a recycle bin close to where guests stand when entertaining. We even mounted a magnetic bottle opener at the end of the island.”

After searching for the perfect style, Denise’s inspiration came from Swedish kitchen designs on Pinterest.

“One sweet kitchen I fell in love with was in Sweden,” Denise remembers. “After looking at traditional Swedish kitchens, I saw quite a few with the range at an angle in the corner. I knew I wanted to do that after seeing the functional niche that could be built into the dead space behind the wall in the corner.”

“One challenge was when the apron sink arrived from another vendor,” Denise shares. “The skirt was shorter than we expected. It just so happened that the accent tile we ordered for the niche behind the range fit perfectly in the space between the sink skirt and cabinet doors. I call that a happy accident for sure!”

Julia decided elements of a farmhouse style kitchen would fit perfectly with their little farm. Colorful cabinets, an apron sink and rustic wood accents complete the look.

“We have some pantry cabinets right by the back door that hold the pet gear, flashlights and egg cartons that we use to sell our colorful farm fresh eggs curbside,” Denise says.

“Our new kitchen has made our home so open and comfortable for entertaining,” Denise shares. “We cook much more now and I feel like our home has finally arrived into the new millennium! We are actually downsizing next year and moving to our lake house, which will need a kitchen remodel. I’m confident the kitchen at the farm will be a great selling point. We look forward to designing our next kitchen with CliqStudios!”

Stephen Saint-Onge makes transforming kitchens look effortless. The professional designer and author of “No Place Like Home: Tips and techniques for real family-friendly home design” used CliqStudios cabinets for this contemporary white kitchen design.

We spoke with CliqStudios designer Anne-Marie, who has worked with Stephen on nearly one dozen kitchen projects. Every time she sees the final photos, her reaction is the same.

“I’m blown away by the after pictures, because the designs themselves are so simple,” Anne-Marie said.

A simple design is one without too many decorative extras. The clean lines make spaces feel accessible and light. A simple design is not absent of decorative details, but chooses them intentionally and sparingly. Each piece complements another and there isn’t anything eclectic or out of place.

This design incorporates contemporary elements like stainless steel appliances and matte black fixtures, with wood elements that warm the space. The entire space is a mix of neutral colors, stainless and black metals, and wood.

“This design is actually a great example for people on a budget,” Anne-Marie explains. “It shows how you can really personalize a space with different accessories and make a huge impact with fixtures.”

The backdrop for this kitchen design is CliqStudios’ Shaker style cabinets in White. Shaker cabinets are a popular and timeless choice because of their simplicity. They fit well into traditional or contemporary kitchens and are often seen in bright, white paints.

Specialty storage cabinets for trays and spices frame the oven. A second tray divider cabinet keeps the space above the refrigerator organized. A pull-out wastebasket is conveniently located next to the sink and roll-out trays by the dishwasher are the perfect place for pots and pans.

The kitchen has an open layout that leads to a formal dining space and a living room. When designing open spaces that flow one room to the next, keeping colors and accessories cohesive is key.

“The lights have an industrial feel that matches the backs of the chairs and then in the living room, the lantern on the table has the same ‘x’ as the kitchen chairs,” Anne-Marie observes.

The eat-in kitchen countertop and dining table function as one room, creating a gathering space for every occasion. A window frames each space and the pendant lights help define the kitchen and dining room as separate spaces.

Although kitchen islands are popular, they don’t always work with the architecture of the room. Rather than squeezing a small island into this space, the wall between the windows became the anchor point for a long countertop with seating.

“Keeping the seating area attached to the wall gave more countertop space than turning it into an island would have,” Anne-Marie explains.

Stephen updated his own kitchen using CliqStudios’ cabinets and many of the same principles seen in this contemporary space.

“When I saw his farmhouse kitchen, I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Anne-Marie shares. “His style has a lot of character and he really works with the accessories and architectural details of the houses.”

Stephen Saint-Onge, a New York City based designer, photographer, artist and author of the book NO PLACE LIKE HOME, Stephen believes that “good home design has the power to change lives.”

He is known for his home makeovers working with the regular family homeowner as well as celebrity clients – to help them all make their homes be the best they can be.

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If you have a smaller kitchen, you may wonder if a remodel can really change the way your kitchen looks and functions. Just like larger spaces, incorporating a smart layout, useful storage and timeless design are the keys to creating a space that works for your lifestyle.

Jennifer’s kitchen, designed by CliqStudios designer Vanessa, shows how smaller spaces can be transformed to feel larger and more elegant.

“Our home is a small Cape [Cod], just north of Boston,” Jennifer said. “It was built in 1951 and still had the original cabinets. Since the footprint of the kitchen is very small, we wanted to use every inch and make it as functioning and beautiful as possible. We wanted function, space, layout and style!”

Smaller spaces require a thoughtful layout and careful consideration of how moving doors and appliances will interact with each other. This is why a kitchen designer kitchen designer is vital to designing a functional small kitchen.

Jennifer asked Vanessa to make sure the cabinet drawers by the oven would not be blocked by the oven door handle. Vanessa was able to add the exact model of the oven into the layout to verify that they would work together. Working with a designer who can check these details helps kitchens of all sizes function well.

Dark cabinets in a smaller kitchen may seem like they would shrink the space, but this kitchen shows that in moderation, you can add darker colors and still have a bright space. Our Decorative style cabinets in Blue are balanced out by White upper cabinets, countertops and backsplash.

“I have to admit, as much as I loved the Blue in pictures I was a little hesitant to make such a bold choice,” Jennifer recalled. “My husband, who is an artist, felt the color scheme would work well, so we decided to go with it. I am so glad we did.”

“I love when people use our Blue color, it’s just so pretty,” said Vanessa. “I really like the Blue and White together too, it blends a traditional door with more contemporary touches really well.”

“There are so many features that we love about the kitchen, but my first focus was the microwave,” Jennifer emphasized. “I loathe countertop microwaves, due to the space they waste. I also did not want the microwave over the range. Due to the amount of cooking I do, I felt that it would be filled with grease. The built-in microwave was a must and one of my favorite parts of the kitchen.”

Moving the microwave to a cabinet also opens up walls to give the feeling of more space. Microwave cabinets come in several sizes, but it’s important to be aware of how the size of the appliance may affect the rest of your design.

“Originally Jennifer had selected a new microwave that would have increased the length of the peninsula,” Vanessa explained. “Instead she chose a slightly smaller one so she didn’t need to make that adjustment.”

Glass cabinet doors may just seem like a decorative feature, but they also help give the illusion of wider walls. Glass doors open up the front of cabinets, allowing light to travel closer to the wall and visually open up the space. They also provide the perfect place to store beautiful, lesser used items like vases and fine China.

“I wanted to display my blue and white china, that played well with the blue cabinets,” Jennifer said.

“Storage was a huge factor when remodeling,” Jennifer explained. “One of the main reasons we chose CliqStudios is because you offered a Lazy Susan that fit our space. The Super Susan is so big that I can even fit my Crock-Pot inside!”

Vanessa and Jennifer worked together to choose additional specialty storage solutions like a Spice Pull-out, Roll-out Trays, and Pull-out Wastebasket. Narrow storage cabinets, like the Spice Pull-out next to the oven, ensure every inch of space is functional.

“Our experience was all positive,” Jennifer said. “Our designer Vanessa was great, and helped us out a lot. I also referred my sister-in-law who is currently in the design process with Vanessa!”

Thanks to photographer Jonathan Heiney for sharing these photos!

When Clark bought his first home, he knew remodeling would be his next adventure. His new home was over 100-years-old with plenty that could be brought back to its former glory. Rather than slowly remodeling or moving into a construction mess, he decided to stay with his parents nearby and began the work immediately.

Clark had a clear vision of what he wanted: a transitional look that preserved the existing woodwork and character of the home, while adding a modern, minimalist style.

Transforming his ideas into reality turned into a year-long journey of finding just the right people and products to make it happen.

“The first piece was making the space more livable,” Clark explained. “The kitchen was really small and had a little pantry that was almost unusable.”

Previously, the first floor had seven different doors leading from room to room. Opening up the kitchen meant removing walls, so Clark worked with a contractor and a structural engineer who added new supports in the basement.

“There was a lot of project creep because the kitchen lighting led to fixing the living room ceiling lighting, which led to the porch, and so on. We gutted the whole first floor. We limited it to the first floor though,” he laughed.

Even as the project grew, Clark’s commitment to taking the time to choose the right pieces and create the look he wanted grew. At times, he struggled to find workers to hire, so he did the more “unskilled” parts of the project. He stripped and sanded all of the wood trim and did much of the demo work himself. Clark describes the efforts as “learned and figured out along the way.”

“My Dad and I used a hydraulic hammer to tear out the old furnace chimney one day, which was actually kind of fun,” said Clark. “The demo is easy because it feels like it’s moving along quickly.”

Clark wanted to support local Kansas City businesses, but learned that mixing local services with other quality products was key.

“We talked to CliqStudios and some local folks in Kansas City for cabinets,” said Clark. “Ultimately we had all the designs from CliqStudios and after considering the other offerings it was kind of a no brainer. CliqStudios was equal to or better than what was available locally and for a better price.”

He continued, “When I think about CliqStudios, it feels very much of my generation, being internet based. But I actually heard about it through the grape vine from one my contractors. I did a lot of things online, but I learned that you have to be networking and talking to people around town during this type of project too.”

Clark looked for ways to combine local and national products with online and in-person resources. First, he had his island cabinets framed in with wood sourced from his alma mater, the University of Kansas. He couldn’t find the same light fixture he loved at a local restaurant, so he found a way to recreate it. He discovered a warehouse full of the glass globes on Ebay. Then he found a local company to rewire it to hang above his dining room table.

Clark’s CliqStudios designer, Kevin Kuerbs, was impressed with the modern kitchen design choices Clark had in mind.

First, Clark asked if CliqStudios could remove the cabinet toe kick from the Shaker style cabinets so he could add wood legs instead. Kevin made it happen and was excited to see the uncommon furniture style finish in the kitchen. In addition to creating a unique look, Clark was able to raise the cabinets up higher than usual to accommodate his 6-foot-6-inch frame.

He also chose to place his stove under the newly added window, another unconventional move. Kevin cautioned he would need to check city code before finalizing the design. However, like the rest of his project, Clark had already done the research and had the permission to proceed.

As a part of his minimalist style, Clark opted for no wall cabinets. He also chose thin countertops that nearly match the cabinets.

“The thing I love is that he took our cabinets and really made them his own,” said Kevin. “It’s totally unique and it shows how CliqStudios can make things unique to your style and taste.”

At the heart of this remodel was Clark’s desire to make his new home a gathering place for loved ones.

“Sometimes you lose sight as you’re renovating and spending money, but I understood the value as I was putting this together,” Clark explained. “Building the space was really about being able to have friends and family over.”

His inaugural house party was New Year’s Eve. “Now we have friends over for dinners almost every other night and on the weekend,” said Clark. “Now that I see the space and live in it, it was totally worth it!”

“It’s pretty crazy looking back at all the decisions you make along the way, but it was a lot of fun too,” said Clark. “My advice is to talk to a lot of different people and don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions. You may not have a perfect remodeling experience, but find ways to take the complexity out of it. CliqStudios was awesome in that way. They made it really easy.”

When Julie moved to New Jersey for her new job, she knew two things. First, housing in New Jersey was expensive. Second, due to that, her family would need to purchase a fixer upper. The home they purchased was exactly that, a property in need of a remodel. The kitchen was old. The sink was falling out of the counter. The linoleum flooring was peeling up. They would need to renovate the kitchen as soon as possible.

At first glance she thought they could make the best of the situation by painting the existing cabinets. After a closer inspection, they discovered the drawers were rough shape, beyond what paint could fix. The best choice was to start over, with top-quality kitchen cabinets. (What is a quality kitchen cabinet?)

“The drawers were wonky,” says Julie.

And then she saw an ad for CliqStudios online.

After checking around, Julie discovered they knew others who had worked with CliqStudios. “My daughter’s school friends’ parents did a kitchen with CliqStudios and had good things to say. I reached out and started working with a designer,” says Julie.

In the end the family chose to work with CliqStudios. “We didn’t get a quote from anywhere else. My contractor said we could get cabinets for less, but the quality wasn’t as good as CliqStudios. I liked the CliqStudios cabinets because of the quality, the soft-close doors, and all the options.” Having a designer provided by CliqStudios was another key factor in Julie’s decision.

At first, Julie was set on having a black kitchen. Quickly she realized the downside to that plan. The room didn’t have much natural light and she worried about the room appearing too dark. Julie was happy with the eventual decision they reached to go with white. “I love how bright and clean it looks,” says Julie. In the end, she decided on a white kitchen. However, she found a fun way to include black by creating a built-in pantry wall.

“We had a weird empty space where we put a Black pantry and double oven. Our designer, Erin said to put a counterspace there too so we did,” says Julie.

The Black pantry also provided a great opportunity for storage, fitting neatly into a once awkward alcove. “I love the built-in pantry with drawers that slide out. Before we had a pantry with no organization.”

Changing the kitchen organization also made for more ease in locating items. Julie says, “Having big drawers for pots and pans is such an improvement over shelves. Before, things got hidden and you couldn’t find anything.” For the base cabinets, they designed pull-outs and many drawers for easy access to various kitchen items.

Compared to the previous look and feel of the kitchen Julie was beyond pleased with the results. “The kitchen is dramatically different. It’s much more efficient and easier to use than the old kitchen.”

It’s a bold decision to purchase an abandoned house in desperate need of renovation. For homeowner Laura and her husband, John they made the choice to do so – all while juggling the needs of their four children. In their first year in the house, they saved up for their kitchen remodel. The project would be no small task. The existing kitchen was original to the house when it was built in 1982.

Luckily, Laura knew exactly what she wanted. She just needed some guidance with the design. A friend down the street encouraged her to check out CliqStudios where she was paired with a design expert to guide her throughout the remodel. (“Where do I get the best design ideas”)

Early on they loved their design. “I worked with Colleen. I knew for sure I wanted black cabinets and Colleen recommended the paint finish Black and sent me free samples.” Their original plan was just to renovate the kitchen, but they decided not to stop there. “We planned to only do the kitchen and Colleen said CliqStudios could also do a wet bar and built-in shelves for our living room.”

Laura was glad she expanded her project. “On the built-in cabinets I wanted the back of the cabinets to be black. Everything was ‘No problem!’ from Colleen.”

Working with the existing space was a challenge. “In general, we have a narrow house. My husband calls it a bowling alley. We had to be creative about where we put things for our work triangle.” Laura’s designer accommodated for these challenges. “When Colleen did the drawings of the design I felt better because I could finally see things.”

The cabinets arrived ready to install. “We hired a contractor and he was impressed with the cabinets and hadn’t seen quality like that.”

Laura and her husband were thrilled to have a kitchen that was clean and done. Now they have a layout, and large island, that is appropriate for the size of the kitchen.

A major focal point of the room is the large island done in CliqStudios’ Black finish. The 10 ½ foot island is complete with a waterfall countertop.

“It’s a whole slab of quartz,” says Laura. “It houses all six of us to sit and eat…Before we didn’t have anywhere to sit together and eat.”

Another notable design choice was to have no upper cabinets except at the wet bar. “All of our dishes are in lower cabinet drawers. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but I love it. All the kids have a drawer for their dishes and my little ones can easily get their dishes.”

Laura goes on to say “I finally feel like we have a home now. We bought this house out of necessity for our growing family. It’s a calm space for our children. The design lends itself to a peaceful afternoon. It’s been a huge blessing for us.”

When designer Rachel hears from Pro Partner Alison, she excitedly knows what to expect. Alison is a designer with Pro Pacific Builders in Southern California who first chose CliqStudios’ cabinets for a kitchen remodel at the end of 2016. Since then, Rachel and Alison have continuously worked on projects together through our Pro Program and have more designs planned for this year.

Professional remodelers in our Pro Program receive our free design services, detailed installation packet and quality cabinets at factory-direct prices. Pros work with the same designer for every project. This allows them to develop a relationship that carries through each new project.

Like many Pros that work with CliqStudios, Alison comes to Rachel with ideas she and her homeowner client have already mocked-up. For those projects, Rachel takes on the details and advises on fit and spacing. She knows that kitchen cabinets need to be useful and is mindful of how they interact with decorative pieces, like the farmhouse barn door Alison uses to conceal the pantry. Alison and Rachel carefully considered which cabinets would be best next to the sliding door. They decided that drawers would still work well in the space.

Deciding where to place the range was another element the two designers needed to collaborate on. They knew placing it near a corner could make the wall feel uneven. They agreed to place it ever so slightly off center so the cabinets would be symmetrical, creating the best look.

As their list of completed projects grows, these types of design challenges are easier to conquer. Alison communicates clearly with her clients and Rachel knows every detail of the cabinets and what to recommend.

“The Pros that have worked with us for a while learn the options we have,” Rachel says. “They communicate what they need for each project.”

Alison wanted to transform a small cove in the dining room. She knew we had cabinets that would turn the space into a wet bar with a wine refrigerator for entertaining.

Rachel remembers loving the idea, “We are starting to see more of these types of additions. It’s a great way for people with smaller kitchens to add more storage.”

Rachel frequently hears Alison remark on the high quality of CliqStudios cabinets. “Alison and her company are really impressed with our cabinets,” Rachel shares. “They even want to install fully assembled CliqStudios cabinets in their showroom for clients to see.”

Rachel relishes any opportunity to work with Alison. They have become an efficient design team that creates kitchens that are beautiful and serve the homeowner well.

Once again, we had the pleasure of working with Nicole and Mike, the brilliant team behind The House That Social Media Built (THTSMB). With their knowledge of the home remodeling industry, they transform outdated and dilapidated homes. Their social media followers vote to choose different parts of their remodeling projects, which is how THTSMB got their name. In this latest project, they transformed a rundown house into a beautiful getaway with nautical charm.

On a previous project THTSMB worked on with CliqStudios’, their followers voted on the layout and style the kitchen. For this project, their audience voted on the color of the kitchen island. The choices were Red, Light Gray, and Blue. The winning color was the CliqStudios finish Blue, a perfect choice for matching with the nautical design of the space and the surrounding White cabinets in the style Shaker.

For this eye-catching navy island, Nicole and Mike wanted to add personality and storage. They worked with their CliqStudios kitchen designer, Vanessa Hernandez to make this happen. “They wanted more detail on the island, so we did open shelves and a drawer for storage,” said Vanessa. The open shelves are the perfect spot for decorative items or cookbooks.

Another useful storage solution added to the kitchen was pull-out trash and recycling bins next to the sink for easy clean-up. Tray dividers were also added for easy organization of longer, awkward items like baking sheets and cutting boards.

The use of white cabinets helps balance the space and allows the blue island to shine. White and blue blend together for a traditional design with a modern twist.

“I like the white and blue together,” said Vanessa. “They added a huge window over the sink to bring in the outside view and natural lighting. The natural lighting makes the blue pop,” said Vanessa.

Shaker cabinets add a clean style that easily fits into both traditional and contemporary spaces alike. In this case, the Shaker compliments the nautical themes throughout the kitchen.

The kitchen has a nautical, coastal charm. Coastal designs embrace ocean hues whites. The style also uses natural light and natural fabrics to bring elements of the outside into the home.

In this home, the uses of blue and white cabinetry and accessories fits the coastal theme. Because of the neutrality of the colors, the kitchen is easily adapted to fit other looks. “You can dress the house differently because of the flexibility of the colors,” said Vanessa.

Once again, we had the pleasure of working with The House that Social Media Built on a kitchen project [Wide Open Kitchen with Custom Built-In Banquette Seating]. The House that Social Media Built, or THTSMB for short, is the brainchild of realtor Nicole White and contractor Mike Ricco. Together they purchase old properties in desperate need of TLC and convert them into beautiful homes for resale. In one of their latest projects they transformed a cramped, outdated home into a cottage style dream with coastal flair.

One thing that makes THTSMB unique is that design elements of each remodel are decided by their online followers. Their followers help with deciding many factors from the hardware used to the color of the house exterior. This is done through social posts presenting several options for the space that followers vote on.

For this project they even put the style of the kitchen to a vote. The choices were traditional, transitional, and modern. CliqStudios designer, Vanessa Hernandez, was Nicole and Mike’s point of contact for creating the kitchen design [Where do I get the best design ideas?].

Right away the experience proved to be unconventional from traditional remodels. “I provided them with three layouts for people to vote on. I didn’t know until the week they got the results what layout they would be doing,” said Vanessa. The winner for the kitchen was a transitional style. A transitional design combines past styles with the contemporary, creating a unique and distinct look.

The remodel required a full overhaul of the existing house. Previously, the kitchen was very small and confined from the rest of the house by several walls. One thing Nicole and Mike wanted was to open up the kitchen and living space to make it better suited for gathering and entertaining. “I know that they had to take a massive number of walls down. It is a smaller house and opening it up makes it feel so much larger and less segmented,” said Vanessa.

Vanessa was even invited to the reveal party for the home. Right away she was impressed by how the open kitchen design made the house perfect for entertaining. “I love how open the new room is. It is all one big room. I went to the reveal party at the house and it was cool how many people could fit in there. It is much more conducive to hosting a large gathering now,” said Vanessa.

Another dramatic change was the style of the home. The tired, dilapidated kitchen was replaced with a tranquil, transitional style. The use of Shaker cabinets in the color Blue-Gray fit the house’s overall coastal and cottage style. “The Blue-Gray tied in nicely with the wood finishes in the rest of the room,” said Vanessa.

Homeowners Janna and Sam reached out to designer Jason Spencer after their friends recommended CliqStudios. Although their current kitchen was only five years old, the layout didn’t suit their lifestyle. They came to Jason with a vision of opening up their kitchen. Together, they created a brighter, more functional space that reflected a warm farmhouse style.

The existing kitchen had a partial wall separating the kitchen and the living room. The wall housed the refrigerator, sink and dishwasher, but blocked light from flowing into the kitchen. They wanted to remove the wall and replace it with an island to transform the room into a welcoming space for friends and family to gather.

After seeing the first design, the homeowners knew a few adjustments needed to be made. Jason created new designs based on their revisions, tailoring the design to exactly what the family wanted. In about one month, they had a final design they loved and ordered their cabinets.

To start, they moved the microwave from the island to a more hidden spot next to the refrigerator. While tucking away the necessities, they added more decorative options, opting for glass door fronts and open shelving on either side of the range hood to create a focal point on the back wall.

They also changed their cabinet choice from Shaker Inset cabinets with inset doors, to the versatile Shaker door in White and Blue-Gray. The two styles have similarities like slab drawer fronts and recessed panel doors that fit into traditional or modern kitchens.

They also slightly reduced the island size, allowing them to keep their dream feature without sacrificing the space they needed to move around and add a dining table. Reducing the island countertop size meant the legs were no longer needed to support its weight. However, the homeowners chose to keep them.

“I like that they made the legs work as a decorative aspect even though they didn’t need them,” Jason shared. “I think it was a wise decision because they look great.”

They kept the sink in the same spot, setting it in the island to face toward the light of the living room. On the opposite side of the island, they chose cabinets with roll-out trays to easily access items under the countertop overhang.

Jason was impressed with the final photos, “They made a lot of great design choices after we did the layout.”

Decorative details, like the cabinet hardware and range hood, help give the kitchen a charming cottage feel. They also opted for two different countertops after the final rendering, choosing butcher block along the walls and white for the island.

“I like the overall style of the space,” said Jason. “It speaks to my personality as well and maybe that’s why we got along so well. Being from St. Paul as well, I think it suits the community and their family well.”

Named after the Revolutionary War general Marquis de Lafayette, Lafayette Square is one of the oldest neighborhoods in St Louis. Today, it’s recognized for its collection of Victorian-era Second Empire architecture, the gorgeous 30-acre greenery of Lafayette Park, and urban residents that appreciate the district’s quaint restaurants, taverns and specialty shops.

Laurie and Scott spent the past twelve months in Lafayette Square building a new home. We caught wind of this timeless kitchen project through Laurie’s Instagram (@cottagegater), and asked if we could visit, talk with her, and take photos of her new kitchen. Laurie was warm, welcoming, and more than happy to share her design and remodeling experiences with us.

Taking on an endeavor this big was amazing but also stressful. There’s a difference between renovating a house and building one from the ground up. It’s a little overwhelming if you’ve never done it before, simply because of the number of choices you need to make: from your doorknobs, to how you want your crown to look, to how you want your base to look, to how you want your layout to be.

I’ve never had an open concept home before either, which was a bit of a challenge. When I renovated houses that were 100-plus years old, they were very chopped up: each room was like an individual personality. It didn’t really need to speak to the next room as much as when there’s open access.

Since this is a historical area, they didn’t know what was underneath the ground when we started building. They started digging our foundation, and the dirt was mushy and black. Over the years, they said, something must have been leeching into the ground.

They kept digging deeper and deeper and never got to good soil, so an engineer came in and said that we couldn’t put in a foundation unless we put in piers to support it. That’s what happened right out of the gate, before we even got to the pretty stuff. I was like, “Oh my God, we just spent so much money below the ground!” But better safe than sorry.

I was very excited to do the kitchen. I think it is the most important room of the house. It’s the heart of the home. When our kids come here, we can’t wait to share it with them. They all live in different states and they’ve all moved out. So, when they come back, we talk about their lives, we talk about their hopes and dreams, and we definitely make memories in this kitchen.

When you open the front door, everybody’s blown away. It’s the first thing you look at, so it was really important to me. With the cabinetry guy our builder supplied us with, we weren’t staying on budget, the boxes weren’t constructed as well, and I wasn’t going to be able to get my hood and panels and stuff. I just kept saying over and over, “I just want to talk to CliqStudios.” And then I got the kitchen of my dreams!

I used CliqStudios in my previous house. When I moved to this one, my builder gave me a list of suppliers – all local people. I had appointments with all the suppliers to pick my doors out, my hardware, my flooring, cabinetry, baseboards, crown, and anything you can think of that goes into building a house.

The supplier for our kitchen was a local person. When I went there, and the entire time I just kept thinking of my CliqStudios kitchen in our previous house. I was just so disappointed in the cabinetry and the supplier. I didn’t even make it to the car, and I called my husband and said, “I don’t want to go with these people for our kitchen.”

We were in our previous house for three years with our CliqStudios kitchen, and we just loved it. We loved the quality, we loved the functionality of it and how it was truly holding up. I mean, three years later it looked like the day we put it in. So, my husband said, “Let’s talk to our builder and say we want to go with CliqStudios.”

At first, the builder was hemming and hawing about it but eventually he said, “OK, but you’re going to have to be responsible when the cabinets are delivered and such,” which was fine with me. I got in touch with CliqStudios the next day. That’s when I met Patty Green, my designer.

10 out of 10? Haha, I love her. I feel like she’s a girlfriend at this point. She’s amazing. Can’t say enough good things about her.

My favorite thing was her encouragement to do this staggered high-low design, where some of the cabinets were lower and others were higher. In my head, the cabinetry went straight across the back wall. I was a little bit worried it might make my kitchen look dated because in the 90s everybody had this high-low cabinetry. But when she gave me the rendering, I immediately loved it. She even took it and showed all the other designers and had them vote. I just think it’s fabulous. Enjoyable to talk with. Easy person to work with.

I’d really love to stress to people considering CliqStudios that we’ve renovated several houses before. I’ve been involved with redoing several kitchens, so it wasn’t my first rodeo and I didn’t need a lot of guidance. I knew how I wanted the functionality of the kitchen to be, and I knew exactly what cabinetry and colors I wanted. But my point is that you can have tons of experience and know exactly what your layout is, or you can literally be like “I don’t know anything,” and you’re always going to be in great hands.

Entertaining is huge. We’re hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving this year and will have our extended family over. This neighborhood, Lafayette Square, is very walkable, so we have tons of friends that live here and come over all the time. We all sit around the island and have drinks and hor d’oeuvres. Holidays, parties – it’s a great entertaining house.

So, this neighborhood is beautiful. Lafayette Square Park is the oldest park in St. Louis, and there’s great history. All these beautiful old Victorian homes face the park, called ‘painted ladies.’ They’re painted crazy colors like pink and yellow and blue and purple and have big cornices and woodwork across the top. Once you move into a neighborhood like this, there’s no way you can compete with those homes. When you go inside them, they’re truly unreal. The woodwork, the fireplaces in every room, it just takes your breath away.

What I wanted to do for our house is just make it fit in. Make it speak to the neighborhood. I’ve been in my neighbors’ new houses and some of them are very industrial and modern on the inside. But I’m very much a traditional gal, like this neighborhood. Timeless kitchen and classic style were the things I kept coming back to. Every choice I made, I was like, “Will this stand the test of time?”

For me, those things are white subway tile, a simple white shaker cabinet, hardwood floors, marble – all those things make a kitchen timeless and traditional. So once that set the tone for the house, I picked all the molding and finishes around that. Speaking to the neighborhood in an updated way.

• Cabinets: Shaker, shown in White
• Countertops: Engineered quartz with Carrera marble patterning
• Hardware: Restoration Hardware, Lugarno Pull and Gilmore Pull
• Faucet: Signature Hardware, Bellevue Bridge Kitchen Faucet
• Sink: Kraus, single-bowl undermount sink
• Pendant Lights: Restoration Hardware, Harmon Pendant
• Chairs: Ballard Design, Halifax Chair

What’s not to love about a timeless“tuxedo style” done using CliqStudios cabinets in both White and Black finishes? Homeowner Nilda shared with us not only about her design experience with CliqStudios, but also her venture using Sweeten, a company that puts homeowners in contact with reliable contractors.

Nilda and her husband purchased the house in a historic district back in the summer of 2015, knowing that this would be their forever home. It wasn’t until their first winter and the kitchen was consistently 15 degrees colder than the rest of the house that they knew there was a problem in the kitchen that needed to be addressed.

The original cabinets were problematic. Sawdust made from opening and closing the drawers would leak into the cabinets below, leaving dust all over the pots and pans. After attending to a roof remodel, they decided the kitchen would be their next project to tackle. [What is a quality kitchen cabinet?]

“First and foremost, we brought the kitchen down its skeleton to fix the uneven floors and cold temperature. The advantage of being in the house two years before we remodeled was that I knew how I cooked and how I needed the flow to be. My main goals were function, flow, and opening the room up,” said Nilda.

The family also wanted to preserve the historic character of the home while bringing the design into a new era.

We asked Nilda if they ran into any challenges with the project along the way.

“It wouldn’t be a good renovation unless we did! We knew the floor was uneven by three inches. But it wasn’t just uneven in one spot. It was a rollercoaster of three inches. We also encountered that the back half of the kitchen by the table had the joists laid on the soil directly. The joists were of course rotten. So, we dug in.”

But they overcame those issues to create a kitchen that is a total wow!

“The first thing that comes to me when I think about what I like is it’s so open,” said Nilda. “You can see three-quarters of the kitchen and that has a big wow factor.”

Additionally, their choice of cabinetry is memorable [Where do I get the best design ideas?]

“I love our color scheme and the length of our cabinets. People walk in and think we added on. We didn’t! We just opened the room up. The dark colors grounds it with the light cabinets up top and makes everything look spacious.”

The final result is a timeless styled kitchen.

“It’s like one of the black and white filters for photos. It stays in line with the house being older while being modern. I wasn’t trying to make a kitchen that looked built with the house, but respected a timeless elegance.”

The choice of two-tone cabinets is a modern spin on a traditional look.

“I know having two colors for cabinets is trendy, but I think of this like a tuxedo, it’s not going to go out of style!”

In comparing the new space to the old, Nilda noted that it’s a world of a difference both physically and emotionally for her family.

“There are no words to describe the difference. For my husband and I, using this kitchen brings joy to our lives in a way you didn’t think a kitchen could.”

As for her experience with CliqStudios, they were happy to work with us. “I was and still am very satisfied with the quality. My contractors said the same thing. The service is as advertised. Everything from design to shipping.”

Rachel was shopping for a new home when she stumbled upon a perfect dwelling. Well, almost perfect.

“We liked the floor plan, the price was right and the neighborhood was right,” said Rachel, a Twin Cities-based photographer and founder of Nadeau Creative. “However, it had a tiny, hole-in-the-wall, small box kitchen with dropped ceilings. It was just terrible.”

She and her husband purchased the house, intending to update the kitchen. But as with many busy households caring for families and businesses, remodeling plans fell to the wayside.

It wasn’t until three years later that they circled back to the idea of remodeling the kitchen. Momentum for the project had come to a grinding halt.

“We actually looked at a couple other houses,” Rachel said.

In the end, they decided to stay put and go through with the renovations.

To move the project forward forward, they partnered with Finito Design Co.’s Matt Lunde, a designer, project manager and high school classmate of Rachel’s. An experienced remodeler, Lunde brought in subcontractors and a kitchen designer to elevate the function and the style of the space.

The first matter was functionality: transforming the small, closed-off layout. They restructured a wall, removed the soffits and got rid of the peninsula. Expanded and opened up, the L-shaped space now allowed space for building a large and spacious kitchen island.

Fondly dubbed the “mega-island,” the giant 5-foot by 9-foot butcher-block top provides a breathtaking stage for the drama of everyday family life. With seating space for six, the island is the place where the entire family can sit, eat and come together.

“They wanted it to be a gathering space,” Lunde said. “Now, she has a workspace where her three kids can do homework while she’s cooking, baking, or whatever it is.”

“We designed the island to serve as our nightly meal space,” Rachel explained. “It was important to me to have a kind of U-shape so we could face each other while we eat.”

In addition to supporting the family’s daily meals, the kitchen is also ideal for entertaining. They’ve had friends over for dinner more frequently and comfortably than ever before.

Plus, it “just makes after-dinner cleanup just feel easier.”

Coming from a background in interior design, Rachel had a clear vision for her style: “Eclectic, with a nod to Scandinavian and a nod to the farmhouse style.”

The kitchen strikes a fine balance between chic contemporary styling and cozy traditional charm. Farmhouse motifs, such as the barn door, farmhouse sink and raised-panel cabinetry blend smoothly with modern elements such as the mango bar stools, globe pendants and bamboo blinds.

“I went more traditional for her perimeter cabinetry,” said Lunde. “Her island I went more transitional, more of a Shaker style. It’s really mixing two different styles to boost the look of the home but also give it an updated feel.”

They chose neutral colors for countertops and cabinets, knowing that the look of the space could always be revamped by swapping out items such as hardware and lighting fixtures.

“If you want your kitchen to last, pick more classic colors and finishes that will remain timeless for the cabinets and countertops,” Rachel advises. “You can change the trend pieces as the years go on.”

With its solid foundation and thoughtful accessorizing, the kitchen will remain a beautiful gathering place for years to come.

• Cabinets: Shaker & Decorative, shown in White and Black
• Stone Countertops: Marble fabricated by MSI Stone
• Tile: Porcelain herringbone by Tile by Design
• Mosaic: Tabarka Signature by Tabarka Studio
• Hardware: Boulevard knobs and pulls, Pottery Barn
• Shades: Bali Cordless Custom Natural Shade, Pottery Barn
• Light Fixtures: Visual Comfort
  • Katie 12″ Pendant Light in Antique Brass by Thomas O’Brien
  • Reed Small Chandelier in Antique Brass by Thomas O’Brien
  • Boston Adjustable Wall Sconce by E.F. Chapman

Nestled in the rolling hills of Eastern San Francisco lies the quaint town of Moraga. Quiet, safe, and semi-rural, Moraga is a family-friendly suburb with an old town charm.

These renovations took place in a cozy townhome located on the Moraga Country Club. The 1,552 square foot house was built in 1979 and features 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms and a brand-new kitchen.

Remodeled by Mark Hoogs of Turn Appeal Inc., the kitchen is bright, clean, and well-balanced. Sunlight streams in through the windows, creating clear lines of sight into the living and dining areas. The space conveys a sense of elegance and timelessness with a modern touch. Notice its white cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

A simple kitchen island provides a functional space for meal and snack preparation. Its modest-yet-comfortable size allows room for easy maneuvering around the space.

“We’re often asked by clients to create these great big islands,” said kitchen designer Shannon Burch. “But it’s important to have the proper amount of walk space to be able to function around the island.”

Finished in CliqStudios Black, the island adds an arresting color accent to the kitchen. “It’s a twist on a classic,” said Burch, who also points out the full-wall backsplash and the recessed tray ceiling. Both of these unique design features draw the eyes upward, emphasizing the height of the room. The space, painted in a cool blue-gray, feels airy and uncluttered.

The transitional style of the kitchen is carried throughout the house. Both bathrooms show matching vanities that echo the design of the kitchen island. With its welcoming color palette and thoughtful styling, the house will remain attractive for many years to come.

Ever wonder how interior designers take a dark, dingy space and make it bright and beautiful?

Meet Jennifer, the interior designer who runs the blog The Pink Pagoda. Last fall, she participated in the One Room Challenge, an interior design event whose mission is to “provide participants with a supportive, enthusiastic forum in which to share the process of transforming a room.”

Over the course of the seven-week challenge, Jennifer documented her ranch house renovation, blogging her week-by-week thoughts and plans as she transformed the house’s great room, which included a kitchen, family room, and breakfast room.

The kitchen “was definitely the hardest part of the project,” Jennifer said. “There was rust colored floral wallpaper, the sink was on a diagonal peninsula, the appliances were black and unusually sized, the cabinetry was darkly stained oak with lots of grain, the flooring was vinyl, and, well, you understand.”

Jennifer redesigned her space from scratch, installing new cabinets, skylights, electrical systems, and more. Brightening and opening up the space was a major priority.

“We ripped everything out, and adjusted the floor plan by getting rid of the diagonal peninsula, relocating the garage door from the kitchen to a tiny mud room/hallway that was created by taking in part of the oversized laundry room, and were also able to add a pantry.”

“This buffet area was built across from the banquette,” Jennifer writes. “I couldn’t be more pleased with what it adds to the space. It creates cohesion between the banquette and the kitchen while providing lots of extra storage, and the perfect place to set out refreshments.”

Find all of Jennifer’s One Room Challenge before and after photos at her blog, The Pink Pagoda: [Week 1] [Week 2] [Week 3] [Week 4] [Week 5] [Week 6] [REVEAL]

• Cabinets: CliqStudios Decorative in Painted White
• Countertop: Silestone Calacatta Gold in Suede finish
• Faucet: Hansgrohe Talis C Higharc Kitchen Faucet
• Hardware: Schaub and Company City Lights Knob
• Pendant Lighting: Craftmade Piltz
• Range: Bertazzoni Heritage All Gas Range
• Seating: Wisteria Acrylic Stool
• Skylights: VELUX
• Wall Paint: Farrow & Ball’s All White

Scandinavia is famed for its simple yet stylish interior design. The Scandinavian style is globally recognized for its clean, natural lines, an emphasis on functionality, and that subtle quality of cozy-contentedness known as hygge [pronounced HOO-gah].

We spoke to Kristine (Instagram: @kristine_petrine), a manger of a plant nursery and an enthusiast of Scandinavian design. Born and raised in Norway, she moved two years ago to a woodsy region in the San Francisco Bay Area. She lives there with her husband and two children. Inspired by the myriad of colors, shapes and materials of her new kitchen, we called her to learn more about Scandinavian design.

When you come from Scandinavia, it’s something that’s always around you. IKEA is a really vital part of everything because it’s so big there!

I’ve always been attracted to Scandinavian design, but I really started caring about it in my twenties. It’s hard to say exactly where it came from. Just a love for minimalism, but at the same time, playful, colorful, natural, simple lines.

It’s visually appealing but also extremely functional. I find that a lot of American design is – I’m sorry kind of bulky and not always functional. On the other hand, I feel that Scandinavians put a lot of emphasis into making it both look great and work great.

I’m drawn to lighter textures. I want a lot of light. Big windows. Coming from a country where for four months out of the year, everything is dark – you go to work and its dark, you come home from work and it’s dark – you really need to make it cozy inside your house. That’s the concept that Scandinavians are really good at you know: hygge – where you just kind of ‘cozy up’ everything.

It’s thinking of all the details. You don’t like, wear your shoes inside – that’s unheard of. Instead, you take your shoes off and slip into your slippers or whatever, but it’s always cozy. You don’t leave your jacket on your chair – you have a closet to put it away, because you want it to feel nice around you and visually, you don’t want stuff cluttering up your room.

You put a lot of emphasis into what you have in your home. Nice throws, candles, and plants. But if you live in a small home, which we do – our house is just 1,200 square feet – it’s really important that it’s not bulky. You make sure everything you have is functional, which Scandinavian design does really well. Everything is visually appealing but usable at the same time.

This old house is from 1948, and when we bought it it didn’t look good at all. It was all gray and beige. We knew we had to do a big remodel, but we couldn’t afford it for at least a few years.

So, when we moved in, while waiting to remodel, I decided to paint all the walls in fun colors! We have green walls, purple walls, yellow walls, blue walls. Our house is pretty funny looking right now.

*laughs* Wall color is like hair color. You can change it at any time, and it’s not that big of a deal. I was really into this pink at the time and I thought it looked good with the gray cabinets so I was like, why not?

It was a very tiny kitchen. Really compartmentalized. Nothing had been done to it. It had these old wooden cabinets that couldn’t close – I think the owner built them himself.

Next to that was the dining room – also really tiny.

The living room was adjacent, but not inclusive. When we moved in, I tried to cook dinner with my kids. My baby sat in the kitchen with me while I cooked, but my three-year old had to sit alone in the living room. That’s when we realized, okay, we need to remodel the kitchen now. These walls have to be knocked down because they’re not working.

We removed two walls between the old kitchen and the old dining room. We also made two huge openings between that kitchen wall and the living room. It’s really open now.

I was actually scared that the kitchen was going to be too big, because everything is big in America. But I appreciate how big it is. We have a lot of counter space and a lot of storage space. Since the kitchen is the most important room to us, we spend a lot of time there. We have big windows, so it doesn’t feel cramped.

Going in, one requirement was for me was an island. A large, workable, functional island, with a lot of counter space, and a lot of storage. I wanted it to look super minimal and sleek, with no lip on the countertops, just super streamlined. Slab was the one that stood out and made me think it would work well.

The other requirement was that I didn’t want any uppers. Only lowers, which would all be drawers. I wanted a lot of drawers. The designer from CliqStudios was also really into all the drawers, so we basically just got drawers. I wanted to create a lot of visual space to not make it feel cramped.

I actually struggled a lot with finding a countertop. I had decided to try quartz, but as you know, it’s really expensive. Since we’re doing a remodel later on, we wanted the flexibility to change it.

So I was like, what should we do? We can’t make this ten-thousand-dollar investment right now. And then I thought of plywood countertops.

I love plywood, I love the look of it. I figured that we could put the plywood down first and use it for a while until we got the quartz. It ended up that we actually liked the look of the plywood so much that we decided to keep it. Our contractor sanded them down and made them really nice on the edges. We just seal them twice a year or so. It’s working well and the whole thing cost less than four hundred dollars.

It’s all really functional. The pantry is huge; we use it so much and we love it. I also love all the little dividers you can put into the drawers. I have this huge drawer just for baking – flour, sugar, cake toppings, and everything. Everything is just inside the drawer so when I want to bake, I just open a drawer and it’s right there.

I looked at everything and did a ton of research. I was really scared that I wasn’t going to find anyone who could accommodate my very particular taste. We ended up with CliqStudios because of your process, I think.

Just working with your designer was incredible. It was quick, we talked on the phone several times, and we sent probably hundreds of emails. He was so friendly and nice, and actively asked lots of questions. I felt that he really understood what I was looking for. When I had ideas that weren’t going to work, he suggested other things that might work. It was a collaboration, for sure.

Your technology is good – the renderings and everything, and the mockups. It’s pretty unique. At the price point, it’s really good value for what you get. It’s not a “custom-made” kitchen… but it kind of is. It’s something in the middle, which was perfect.

Now, they take part in the cooking. Or watch TV or play while we’re cooking, and we can always see them. My kids really love Norwegian fish sticks and meatballs and stuff like that – pancakes, waffles. Yeah, we use our kitchen a lot.

It’s been a little over a year since the kitchen was finished. There’s still nothing that I would want to change about it.

I love it. It’s perfect.

For New York based designer, photographer, artist, and author, Stephen Saint-Onge, the kitchen is a sacred place. “The kitchen is the heart of the home,” says Stephen. We at CliqStudios spoke with Stephen about a new designing adventure he recently embarked on: Creating that heart for his own kitchen in New England.

The vintage farmhouse style of the property promised and abundance of potential, but first outdated elements needed to be removed. “The kitchen was small and dark,” Stephen explains. “The bonus was that the kitchen backed up to what I think was meant to be the dining room. By taking down the wall separating these two rooms I was able to gain a much larger space, which brought in tons of natural light and views of the mountains and fields outside.”

Additionally, the kitchen opened up to the family room. That living space was also altered. “I designed a fieldstone fireplace for the living room. The idea is to open the new kitchen to all of these areas – so that the new place truly made the kitchen the heart of the overall farmhouse.”

Stephen elegantly refreshed the original barn feel with modern twists. The original wood beams and accents were kept and wood floors were painted to brighten the space.

A modern direction for the kitchen was found through the use of CliqStudios cabinetry. Stephen wanted something that was warm. “Having the new CliqStudios cabinets was the starting point for me to modernize the kitchen with new pieces that had classic lines and style…the new, lighter-toned cabinets allow me to bounce light into the kitchen.”

A striking addition to the space is the large statement island. “…it serves for great storage with the base cabinets. Since I decided not to do the typical upper cabinets in my kitchen, I needed to be sure to have storage space – so the big island gives me that,” says Stephen. Both ends of the island have added storage with built in bookcases. The top of the island made from repurposed 1860s barn wood. “It was my former dining table top,” says Stephen. The end of the island also has a small section of soapstone, used for rolling dough and meal preparation.

CliqStudios kitchen designer Anne-Marie Klobe understood Stephen’s busy schedule. “I think for a regular homeowner doing a renovation – especially of a kitchen – it is stressful enough. Working with CliqStudios removes that stress.”

“I say you should enjoy the journey of making it come to life because it’s for your home and that home should be good to you and your family… CliqStudios and the team there – makes the journey fun and the end results speak for themselves.”

Overall, Stephen appreciated the teamwork brought by CliqStudios. “It feels like you have a team on your side working with you to make it the best it can be.  That is not the case with many vendors – believe me!” says Stephen. From start to finish CliqStudios made “What is a quality kitchen cabinet?” clear.

Finally, we had to ask Stephen if he had any pro advice for homeowners starting their kitchen remodel, “Big advice that I give during speaking events around the country is – if you do not know what your personal style is – then use film or TV shows as your inspiration. What film or TV show has a kitchen in it that you loved and responded to when you saw it? What you are drawn to is helpful in figuring out what you love or do not like. For many, for example, the movie with Diane Keaton “Somethings Gotta Give” was the dream kitchen. I say, look at kitchens like that to get motivated and clearer about what you want. Once you know what you want – the things will start falling into place. Remember it’s not someone else’s idea of a kitchen – it should be designed for you and your lifestyle!”

Stephen Saint-Onge, a New York City based designer, photographer, artist and author of the book NO PLACE LIKE HOME, Stephen believes that “good home design has the power to change lives.”

He is known for his home makeovers working with the regular family homeowner as well as celebrity clients – to help them all make their homes be the best they can be.

Follow Stephen

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On their 30th anniversary, Jay had a surprise for his wife Candy. He said, “Pick two areas in the house – let’s make them what you want.”

“The kitchen,” she replied. “I’ve always wanted a nice kitchen.”

So began Jay’s major remodel of his fifth home. Prepared by experiences helping friends and family install their kitchens, Jay decided to do all of the work himself.

“I haven’t had great luck, or history, with contractors,” Jay said. As someone born and raised on a farm, he was used to taking matters into his own hands.

Jay looked around his dark space and came up with several goals. He would bring in white cabinets and quartz countertops to modernize the look. To create more kitchen space, he would relocate the refrigerator, which would would require demolishing an old pantry closet.

“It was a typical remodel: opening up a can of worms,” Jay said.

But even as he uncovered issues – sloping floors, for example – he kept calm and unfazed. “I moved the wall, moved plumbing, moved electrical. I was able to resolve everything myself. The local inspector had nothing but accolades.”

“Jay could not have better to work with,” said Renae LeBoutillier, his kitchen designer. “He was always very optimistic, knowledgeable, and excited about our quality. He knew what he wanted. He had done things in the house before. He just handed me a plan saying, ‘this is what we want to do.’”

As they continued to work together, their relationship evolved into a productive partnership.

“When I first started working with Renae, I’d tell her what I wanted and she’d deliver just that,” said Jay. “But it became evident was that Renae was able to offer some really good ideas. The island was her idea. The spice rack cabinet was another. What she put together was perfect.”

Related article: What’s the value of a kitchen designer?

Boasting several special storage options, the finished kitchen is loaded with behind-the-door features. The window bench, for example, with its built-in dog feeding stage. Jay had built it himself. With help from Renae, he refaced the fronts to match his new kitchen cabinets.

“We had 28 friends and neighbors come to our open house,” said Jay. “A couple of ladies were looking fondly at the tray organizer above the fridge. They remarked, ‘Finally, somebody has thought of this! I’ve been waiting 15 years for my husband to build this!’”

Lazy Susan cabinets were ordered for both corners. “They’re beautiful,” he said. “There’s no center post, the way they’re made with the joinery on wooden shelves – the attention to detail is fabulous.”

But of all the cabinets he ordered, the one that drew the most attention was the base mixer shelf.

“Everyone that came through said, ‘Oh my god, I love it.’ What an idea! My friend at work had never even heard of it. And you guys have it – have it already installed.”

Other special features include multicolored smart lighting and a concealed dog feeding station inside the window bench drawers.

As a craftsman, Jay says that he buys the best tools that he’s able to. Anything to save time for every-day chores.

“The organizer above the fridge, spice rack, and mixer cabinet – I’m not going to say they’ll change the world. But, they’re not novelties. They’re necessities,” he said.

As a person with a passion for woodworking, Jay considered several different cabinet companies. “We looked at everything offered by the local custom cabinets, Home Depot, and Menards,” he said.

“In total, we compared CliqStudios to seven other vendors. And just to give you an idea – it wasn’t cost, because you guys weren’t the cheapest. It was quality and options.”

“Everything that I didn’t like about [the competitors], you guys addressed,” he continued. “Plywood construction. Proper boxes. Blum hardware. That caught my eye. I remember reading the woodworking magazine put out by Rockler – they rated Blum the best, 5/5, and they really are. Typically, Blum is a 7 to 11 percent upcharge. So that sparked my interest.”

Related article: How to Identify High Quality Cabinets

In the end, the product was everything that Jay was hoping and dreaming for. And his wife Candy loves it too.

“She would just be sitting there at the island and I’d say, ‘what are you doing?’ And she’d respond, ‘Just enjoying my kitchen.’”

Although a pass-through was once a popular feature in the kitchen, today the small hole-in-the-wall tends to look old-fashioned.

Used to hand dishes in and out of the kitchen, the pass-through (also called a serving hatch) belongs to an era when kitchens were more closed-off, utilitarian, and used almost exclusively for cooking.

But in modern kitchens, where everyone gathers together and cooking, serving, and eating all happen in the same place, the small serving hatch often feels incongruous and outdated.

That’s how Iowa homeowner Amber felt when she decided to open up and modernize her space, starting by removing the kitchen pass-through. While planning the kitchen remodel, Amber had the idea to remove the pass-through and remove the upper cabinets, leaving a real kitchen peninsula:

But after working more with her CliqStudios designer Amy Amman, Amber took her idea one step further.

She rotated and moved the base cabinets into the middle of the room, turning the peninsula into a focal kitchen island:

Of course, removing the wall meant losing a row of upper-cabinets. But surprisingly, Amber didn’t lose storage space. Her designer Amy helped her make up for the lost storage by incorporating more usable space on her lower cabinets, taller upper cabinetry, and efficient features such as a wastebasket pull-out and corner lazy susan cabinet.

Modernizing her farmhouse kitchen, Amber installed new white stone countertops, dark hardwood floors, and a blue-gray backsplash.

With decorations such as a rustic wood dining table and a tin utensil bucket, said designer Amy, the new space retains some of the “country-feel” of the previous space. On the other hand, removing the busy beadboard cabinets and replacing them with Shaker-style doors makes the space feel cleaner and more urban.

“She lightened, brightened and modernized the whole thing,” Amy said.

For most homeowners, a kitchen remodel is a once in a lifetime event. CliqStudios kitchen designer Tessa Buhman and homeowner Jen were lucky enough to work together twice! This team-up resulted in a classic painted white and black kitchen. It also opened the door for Jen to go from a self-proclaimed contractor to joining the CliqStudios Pro Partner Program for professional remodeling contractors.

In her first remodel with CliqStudios, Jen redid a kitchen for a house she and her husband later sold. The second project is today’s featured kitchen and part of their new home. Formerly owned by Jen’s father, the kitchen was in need of a revamp. Jen had a clear vision for the look of the project, making the process easy from start to finish. “She has a great sense of design. She knew what she wanted,” says Tessa. The result is a beautiful transitional kitchen in painted white contrasted by a black island.

The centerpiece of the room is the beautiful black island. The finish matches the cabinetry found in the house’s mudroom and kitchen desk area. Additionally, the island allows for seating on all sides. This creates the perfect space for the kids to do homework, meal prep, and socializing. It also has a surprising amount of storage, utilizing cabinets facing in multiple ways.

The homeowner also made an impact with little cost. This was done by using punch metal inserts in the cabinets above the oven and to the right of the sink window. Lastly, the appliances lend a high end look to the room. “It’s worth mentioning how the hood and range top is more commercial style which gives it a high end look rather than standard cook top. It’s the same with the double ovens,” says Tessa. All together, this kitchen came together well.

Many retirees ask, “Should I remodel or move?” But for these retiring homeowners, the question was, “Why not both?”

In the midst of eyeing a house for their golden years, the clients were already planning to remodel the 11” by 12” foot kitchen.

The U-shaped layout was satisfactory for the small kitchen, but the space felt closed-in and outdated. They wanted to update the style and function of the space by replacing the appliances, floors, cabinets, and countertops. They also wanted to remove the soffits.

Contacting CliqStudios, the clients partnered with kitchen designer Carrie Rosen, who advised them on their color choices and sent them cabinet samples. They were impressed by the quality and eventually decided on a raised-panel door with a light-gray finish: CliqStudios’ Decorative door in Light Gray.

In what designers call a “footprint kitchen”, the new kitchen design largely preserved the exiting layout. However, Carrie optimized the layout with a few tweaks. She moved the microwave above the range and placed the refrigerator at edge of the cabinetry row, encasing it with panels for a built-in look. She also increased the size of the wall cabinets from 30” to 36” high, added a decorative crown molding, and found a few extra inches to increase the size of the sink.

But Carrie called her clients with some bad news. “Some of the things they wanted I told them that they didn’t have space for,” she explained. “A lazy susan, for example.”

When the kitchen design perfectly matches the wishes of the client, everyone’s happy. But sometimes, Carrie said, she has to mentor clients through spatial limitations and design trade-offs.

It was disappointing news, but not overly so. After about three weeks of deliberating, the clients closed the deal on their new house and placed their order for cabinets.

The new space is handsomely colored in cool grays, stainless steel, and dark hardwood floors. Granite countertops and a mosaic backsplash add texture and visual interest to the space. As a result of removing the soffits and increasing the height of the ceiling and cabinets, the room as a whole feels larger and more opened up.

Most spectacular and fun is the new over cabinet lighting. Above the cabinets, LED strips with colored lighting were installed, which allows the clients to use indirect, ambient lighting to create different moods.

Whether that mood is celebratory, calm, or romantic, we hope that the new space provides them many years of joyful and comfortable living!

The laundry room is often an overlooked space of the home, where the focus is more on functionality than style. The CliqStudios designer took on a laundry room in need of a fresh country chic look. She knew mixing practicality with personality was key.

From the beginning the homeowners were ready to get to work. The plan was to blend style and function.

“They knew what they wanted,” the designer recalled. The homeowners came to her with a detailed sketch, creating a vision of their needs for a space. The sketch included plenty of storage, hangers, and a folding station. “It was easy to replicate.” She also noted, “They wanted hamper storage which is why there is an open area. There were some custom modifications to increase depths for a rod and hangers.”

The next step was to bring the homeowners vision of a ‘country’ style to life. Extra touches went a long way with the design. “It doesn’t look like a builder grade laundry room because of the crown molding details. They added the bead board paneling too.” Other details include using furniture drawers which Stephanie noted is not commonly done. The laundry room was just as stylized as any other space in the home.

From start to finish, this project moved smoothly. There was a quick transition between the dreaming phase and making the space a reality. “It only took 2 weeks until they were designed and sold. In the end, there was never a need to pick between the look and feel of the space. Homeowners can have it all.”

Having it all can also mean transforming multiple spaces in your home. Remodeling your kitchen and laundry room at the same time can be to a homeowner’s benefit: saving on cost, shipping time, and creating a seamless look between rooms with your designer. When asking yourself ‘what is a quality kitchen cabinet’ remember to follow your needs for function and style.

For Jennifer and her husband, there’s no better evening than a comfortable dinner party with close friends. They love it so much it’s become part of the rhythm of their household.

“I entertain all the time,” Jennifer told me. “We have people over at least once a week.”

With three young daughters and guests arriving regularly, they wanted to make their kitchen space more conducive for community and family. The kitchen didn’t need a complete overhaul, but they felt like they could improve it both functionally as well as stylistically.

The initial plan was to replace their raised, split countertop. The two-tiered countertop provided limited working space and was hard for their young daughter to access. However, they worried that they might regret installing new quartz countertops on top of their old cabinetry. The maple cabinets had been re-painted white years back, but there was nothing they could do about the outdated arched door style.

Ultimately, the two decided to replace both their countertops and their cabinets, all at once.

They were referred to CliqStudios kitchen designer Kevin Kuerbs by Jennifer’s sister-in-law. Kevin called Jennifer on the phone and the two connected immediately.

“I’m a type A personality, and Kevin was really responsive at answering my questions. He’s quick, responds right away, available, and I knew I would always get a response and an answer.”

Kevin sent over several samples of different cabinet colors, one of which became the clear favorite. “She loved the Shaker door in Light Gray – absolutely adored it,” Kevin said.

Jennifer’s husband installed the cabinetry. He isn’t a contractor, Jennifer explained, but is “someone who can figure stuff out on his own.” They completed the project by themselves, working during the weekends. “It probably took five weeks,” she said. “It really was not that hard. Nothing came damaged; whoever shipped them to Wisconsin did a good job.”

Tweaking the layout to optimize the kitchen’s functionality as well as beauty, Kevin suggested moving the microwave from its spot above the range to a built-in microwave shelf under the counter. “Moving the microwave was actually really nice,” Jennifer said. “I have little girls who can use the microwave. Before, they couldn’t reach it.”

For the now-vacant spot above the range, Kevin proposed a wood range hood in the same Shaker style as the cabinets.

The new hood drastically improves airflow and ventilation. “We love the hood,” said Jennifer. “It just looks classic and finished and adds a nice showcase to the kitchen.”

White was used in the subway backsplash and quartz countertops, but for the cabinetry, Jennifer used a light-gray finish, the Light Gray. The remodeled transitional gray kitchen makes for a distinctive look.

“I like white; I think it looks great, but I wanted something a little bit different,” she explained. “Light Gray is the perfect color because it’s not white – so it doesn’t look like everyone else’s kitchen – but it’s also very neutral. You can use any color palette when you’re serving or entertaining people. If it’s Christmas, you can do greens and reds. On Valentine’s Day, hot pinks. I have three little girls, so if they want to have a party, I feel like anything can go with the ‘neutralness’ of it.”

As if to prove the point, they decided to invest in the “monochromatic, calming look,” and painted their walls to match the color of their cabinets.

“Light Gray is neutral enough where it’s not white but can be paired with pretty much any color or finish as white,” said Kevin. “It’s a taupe. Like, white’s hipper cousin.”

Raising cabinets to the top of their 11-foot ceiling eliminated a lot of dead space, making the kitchen seem larger. The couple installed an undermount farmhouse sink for its classic styling and ideal functionality. They used aged brass across the faucets, cabinet pulls, and lighting fixtures to help soften and add a sense of luxury.

“This is more of a transitional gray kitchen,’” said Kevin. “The color is more traditional, but the door style is more modern. It’s nice, neutral, and has a blend of everything.”

“It’s bright, it’s light, and it’s so inviting,” said Jennifer.

• Countertops: Minuet Quartz by LG Viatera
• Sink: Kohler
• Range: Verona Appliances
• Lighting: Sculptural Glass Geo Pendant by West Elm
• Hardware: Knobs4less, Omnia Hardware

The kitchen had been untouched for over 25 years when Carolyn and Dean bought the house. It was dated and closed-off from the rest of the house. The lighting was insufficient, and the room was very dark.

“It was awful,” said Carolyn. “Everything was oak: oak floors, oak cabinets, this whole house was oak. But I was glad it looked like that. Nothing is worse than purchasing a new home with a new kitchen that you don’t like because you it’s hard to justify ripping out something new.”

With a background in interior design, Carolyn was unafraid to envision her new space and design it to her liking. “This is a contemporary house by style,” she explained. “I wanted to be true to the style of home.”

“Carolyn had a clear picture in her head,” said kitchen designer Erin York. “She wanted a nice, open, bright, and modern home.” Erin listened to Carolyn’s vision and drafted up a plan that they fine-tuned with small changes. After their contractor verified the kitchen measurements, Carolyn and Dean contacted Erin to place their order.

“We looked at CliqStudios a couple of years ago and decided then to really look into the quality of the products once we read a lot of reviews,” explained Carolyn. “The bottom line was price, and I wanted the price to match the quality. I knew that I wanted to update the appliances and the countertops, and in order to do that I needed to keep the price point at a certain level. We did look at other companies – I had two other high-level cabinet companies come into this home. Whether their cabinets would have lasted an additional 50 years, I don’t know, but I didn’t have the budget for that.”

She continued, “My husband was very impressed with the video online explaining how the cabinets are made. He is very picky about how things are made, and he was sold on it. When we were able to finally do this kitchen, we went for it, but I have to tell you that it sort of scared me because ordering something online and not being able to actually see it was a bit daunting. But we did go ahead and order and take the chance, and we sure are glad we did.”

In the course of shipment, a couple cabinets suffered scratches and damages. “The contractor was a little concerned about the turnaround time when we found that one of the drawers was broken, but I just called Erin directly over the phone, they opened a case immediately, and we got replacements in no time,” said Carolyn. “It was very smooth, and the turnaround time was just fantastic. Erin did a beautiful job. We didn’t have any surprises or problems with things not fitting.”

It took about three and a half months of demolition, construction, plumbing work, electrical work, and finish carpentry before the dust finally settled. When it did, Carolyn and Dean were left with a large, bright, open, and functional space.

They removed the wall between kitchen and dining room and out of an old laundry room created a butler’s pantry. A fantastic La Cornue range and built-in Miele coffee maker were installed, along with Painted White and Medium Gray cabinetry from CliqStudios. Not wanting the kitchen to look “sterile,” they added dark hardwood floors and a magnificent vintage chandelier above the center island. Recessed, under-cabinet, and inner-cabinet lighting were all installed with dimmers.

Marble countertops were fitted across the whole space. “I was tired of granite,” Carolyn said. “It’s a little bit too busy for me.”

The new kitchen is a dream for hosting guests. “I love entertaining,” Carolyn says. With a ten-foot kitchen island, a ten-foot buffet counter, refrigerator landing spaces, and a butler’s pantry, “there’s so much room that I could have 40 people over for Thanksgiving dinner.” The butler’s pantry contains even more space, an undermount sink with a garbage disposal, and a microwave.

“I love the butler’s pantry,” said Erin. “The microwave is hidden and not too visible. It’s definitely a nice extra storage and preparation area.”

When it’s finally time to clean up, Carolyn turns to a kitchen island that houses, not one, but two dishwashers. “Again, for entertaining,” she said. “I think it’s a smart idea when you cook a lot. I can fill a whole dishwasher in a day.”

The first people to see the new space were Carolyn’s sister- and brother-in-law. “I walked them into the kitchen and thought they were going to fall on the floor,” she said. “It was a shocking difference. Their jaws just dropped.”

And how has the renovation affected her? “I’m in seventh heaven,” she said.

• Kitchen dimensions: 17’ x 11.5’
• Pantry dimensions: 7.5’ x 5’
• Door style: Shaker
• Finish: Painted White & Medium Gray
• Range: La Cornue CornuFé 110 Range
• Flooring: Shaw Hickory Hardwood
• Lighting from Arhaus Furniture; The Emporium in Castle Rock, CO
• Dining set from Restoration Hardware

After buying the 50-year-old house, Ken and Liz got right to renovations. As the heart of their home, the kitchen was their biggest project and priority. Though the layout was functional, the style was incredibly outdated, defined by floral wallpaper, soffits, and carpeting.

Equipped with dark stained glass, knobs installed in the center panels, and a well-worn finish, the kitchen cabinets were similarly dated. Cabinets were hung over the peninsula for extra storage. While that might have been a common style in the 70s, Liz and Ken wanted a more open space with unobstructed lines of sight.

They removed everything: carpeting, soffits, appliances, and cabinets. It took “time, blood, sweat, and tears to transform,” wrote Liz. “Living without a kitchen for five weeks and then slowly piecing it together was pretty tough.”

Having received a few recommendations from friends that had used CliqStudios, Ken and Liz reached out and partnered with kitchen designer Mary Neuendorf. “Mary was amazing to work with,” Liz said. “She got our style right from the start and not only helped us layout the cabinets in the most functional way but also had a lot of great recommendations on how to make the most of our space, where to put our appliances, etc.”

“The previous location of the oven didn’t give enough landing space for the cooktop,” explained Mary. To solve this problem, she moved the oven to the left of the refrigerator. To the right, she added a pantry. “Putting the fridge between the oven and the pantry helped give the fridge a more built-in look,” Mary said.

After receiving a few free samples, Ken and Liz decided to choose the modern and simple Slab cabinets finished in Painted White. They bought stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, pendant and recessed lights, and dining furniture.

Light and bright, their modern kitchen was not without unique elements. A pot filler was installed over the stove top, a shelf was created for their microwave, and a wet bar was added. The floating shelves they DIYed themselves!

“My favorite part of our kitchen is that it really feels like us,” wrote Liz. “It’s beautiful but it’s functional and cozy. We have already entertained a few times and it’s a really perfect layout for conversation and mingling. I love that you can see the dining room and the family room from anywhere you’re standing in the kitchen but it still feels a little closed off. It’s the perfect open concept.”

Additional product details can be found at Liz’s blog, The Modern Mère.

As you drive westward in Los Angeles through Downtown and Mid City, the red terracotta roofs become increasingly hard to ignore.

The distinctive tiles are ubiquitous to the L.A. metro, and are paired with white stucco walls, iron-wrought grillwork, rounded archways, and courtyard gardens. Attractive and simply styled, they stand as testaments to the architectural style of Spanish Colonial Revival, a design movement that first became popular in California between 1915 and 1931.

Tyler lives in one of these Spanish Colonial houses. An architect working for a high-end, full-service firm, he reached out to CliqStudios when it was time for him to remodel his own space.

The finished kitchen is a calm, cozy space featuring natural textures and materials. The earthy greens and browns of the jute rug, clay tiles, and wood shelving and center island lends an organic and wholesome aesthetic, while white cabinets and an abundance of sunlight brightens up the welcoming space.

Painted the same color as the walls, the built-in range hood is notable for how it seamlessly blends into the wall. “It’s completely subdued and makes the kitchen look bigger,” says kitchen designer Sydnee Franklin. “I thought it was a really interesting design choice that you don’t seen a lot.”

When asked to characterize the style of the space, Sydnee replied, “Functional minimalist, with style.” No aspect of the design is gaudy or overwhelming. All the elements are scaled just right, and even though the kitchen is small, “he wanted it to feel new, fresh,” said Sydnee. “I believe that we achieved that.”

The back side of the kitchen was designed for additional preparation and storage space. An open wall space acts as a display or bar area is flanked by tall cabinets for the pantry and refrigerator. Even without wall cabinets, the kitchen houses plenty of storage.

Modestly sized, the kitchen island provides useful space for working, serving, and storing. Bucking the trend of an island that matches the cabinetry, Tyler instead went with a six-legged wooden island that stands out from the rest of the space.

“That’s the way kitchens are going,” Sydnee said. “Homeowners are really putting their personalities into the kitchen island and not following the traditional kitchen footprint. The trend is really about stepping outside of the box. People are pretty done with cookie cutter spaces. They’re looking for a way to make their kitchens stand out from the pictures they see on Houzz.”

It was a New England colonial style house that hadn’t been updated since the 1970s. Jeffie and Joe had prepared over a decade for this moment: buying and renovating their first home.

The previous kitchen was not a big space – the kitchens in those days were built to be compact. The sink was small. Beyond that, the flow and layout felt a bit awkward. Not to mention the wallpaper and paint.

The new kitchen was going to be modern, with an open concept design full of natural light. When Jeffie and Joe walked into their house, the kitchen would welcome them in and make them feel at home.

“Our goal was to really brighten up the space,” said project manager Lisa Walczak of Walczak Design + Build. “Because the house is west-facing, the light comes in from the front of the house in the morning and ends in the back. But the kitchen ends up pretty dark, so we wanted to brighten it up with the cabinetry, the colors, and by adding some big new windows.”

The project started in July 2017 and took about 11 months to complete. During the arctic east-coast winter, the pipes burst and caused significant delays. “Of course, the cabinetry still came on time,” Lisa laughed.

In the end, the kitchen came out beautifully. Walls were taken out to open up the kitchen to the dining and living spaces, and a long central island seating up to four was installed. “Since we don’t have many upper cabinets, the island provides an opportunity to store the things you don’t use every day. They’re right there but hidden out of sight and out of mind,” said Lisa.

“I love how clean it is,” said CliqStudios kitchen designer Ashley Thompson. “The blue and the white, bringing in the touches of the wood looks really nice, and I love that they incorporated decorative doors on all the exposed ends, including the dishwasher. They really paid attention to every detail.”

The mudroom closet, which had been demolished to add more space to the kitchen, was replaced with a custom coat rack storage unit. “We added this cubby using two of the pantry units to flank each end of a beadboard panel, and then added some beautiful polished nickel hooks,” said Lisa. “We did the top row cabinetry with a beautiful crown, and on the bottom, we used a custom designed base unit without the doors, and ordered some wire-drawers on the secondary market.”

Ultimately, Lisa said, “The clients absolutely loved it.” Bigger, brighter, and designed to each and every detail, this two-toned kitchen is a modern classic that will last a lifetime.

• Contractor: Walczak Design + Build
• Kitchen Designer: Ashley Thompson, CliqStudios
• Interior Designer: Kaylen Rantilla, Kaylen Rantilla Design Co.
• Kitchen Dimensions: 21L x 14W
• Cabinets: Shaker by CliqStudios
• Cabinet Finish: Painted White and Painted Blue
• Cabinet Hardware: Asbury Pull by Restoration Hardware
• Countertop: London Sky Quartz by Zodiac
• Soffits and Bench: Custom Walnut by Generations Woodworking
• Chairs: Laceyville by Wade Logan

Cozy, modern farmhouse with grace and style. That’s what inspired interior designer Renee Lois when designing her newly constructed home. Using details like glass cabinet inserts, barn doors, farmhouse sinks, and strong, eye-catching tile in her master bath and laundry room, Renee created a comforting, French Country home.

“When we decided to use CliqStudios cabinets for our cabinetry, it was one of the best decisions we’ve made!” Renee said. “If you are looking for fantastic cabinets at a fraction of the cost friends, I highly suggest you look into these cabinets. You would be hard-pressed to find a better deal.”

When Marcie bought her 1920s beach house, she knew it would need a complete renovation.

“The old kitchen had an awful layout, was super small, lacked storage, and was closed off from the rest of the house so you couldn’t see anyone when you were in there (not good for little kids of having friends & family over!)” she said. “The cabinets were super old and had been re-faced with new-ish doors that weren’t bad, but again, weren’t exactly what we would have picked.”