Copper Pendants

The copper pendant.  A sweet design element here.  These are the perfect size that also give a little flair in their glossy shine and hammered texture.  I also like how they chose to pair the off white cabinetry with the bright white of the carrara marble tops.  A warmer vibe.

via Remodelista

Warm Gray

A fresh little combination here in this kitchen going with more of a warmer overall feel. A prime example of the owners love of the shade of gray in this rustic stone home.

The warmer, deeper tone on the cabinets pairs so well with the honed Jet Mist granite. And to finish off the look, they've clad the backsplash in Carrara marble. It lightens the look and just slightly sets off the granite.

via Remodelista

Blue Top Blue Ceiling

This little kitchenette is just perfect for a suite or guest house. It's clean, crisp and has all the essentials. It's on point and it works, however, I like that they took it a step further and went with a sandblasted glass top in turquoise blue. It compliments the ceiling and takes the space to the next level. A small space a huge impact.

photo via New England Home

Seeing Red

This rocks. It's red done just right. Loud colors will work. You just need to find that happy medium and incorporate elements that will compliment. The richness and subtle red tones in the solid wood pair well and soften next to the vibrant red. The natural warm feel and hue in the green of the granite really pulls the two together.

photos via Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

Wood Highlights

Definitely not afraid to incorporate some wood here. The walls and ceiling are all clad in cedar and the island is walnut. I like it though. It's not overdone and they've paired it with nice accents. The red cabinets are sweet. Colored cabinets work when paired well. These highlight some of the red tones in the cedar as well as in the badass, 18-foot long, 3-inch thick walnut top on that island. Crazy. Reminded me a little of this. You also have the slate color in the island as well as the cladding of the windows bringing out some of the darker tones in the wood.

photo by Paul Dyer via Remodelista

Rustic Bath Vanity Options

I was just looking for a slightly different way to work a vanity in a current project and may take some of these little ideas. This is an old barn renovation and I like the rustic and reclaimed vibe they have going on here in this Bath from the barn lights to the concrete floors. It's simplistic and open not only with the vanity itself but in the overall space. The carved out niche complimenting each sink space is always a nice added bonus if you can steal the space.

The tops are old, original framing timbers that were milled down and refinished along with the plumbing fixtures. The forged metal ties in well throughout from the vanity shelving to the barn door.

via freshome

Vanity Option

Here's a little option to consider if you're looking to get creative with a little modern flair in one of your baths. It's a vanity fabricated out of concrete and redwood. A nice contrast in the natural color of the two materials. I also like the custom design and mass of the redwood base. A great balance to the vanity.

via DeWitt Design Studios

Community Collaboration

A sweet example of community collaboration in the design and overall feel of this hip little San Francisco tavern. It's Bar Agricole. The architect, Aidlin Darling Design, worked closely with local artists and craftsmen to bring this place together.

Design inspiration was drawn upon by some of the establishments sustainable agricultural characteristics. They have a small garden housing citrus fruit trees and herbs.

A fresh and hip mix of reclaimed white oak (salvaged from old whiskey barrels), steel and board formed concrete.

These booths are genius. They're a custom mold fabricated in concrete. Once again, displaying more local love.

photos via Remodelista

Loft Kitchen

I like working with loft spaces and finding ways to incorporate various materials and design ideas. This was one of my favorites from a sweet little NYC loft. The photo above is from Poteet Architects based in San Antonio, TX. Their work focuses around adaptive reuse of existing buildings and the approach they take to cutting edge interior modern design. A cool unique feature highlighted here is the use of stone countertop. The tops are basically encasing the cabinets as they return down the sides and blend right into the concrete floor.

via Poteet Architects

Crazy Green Kitchen

I have been researching all kinds of different kitchen lately for various ideas and inspiration and it is literally ironic that this came up on St. Patrick's Day, however I just couldn't pass it up. Call it acid green, fluorescent green or just crazy green. I'd say it's a love/hate for most people but I think it just works in this design and setting. What do you think? They didn't stop with the cabinets either. How about a pale blue counter and backsplash? You can also find me at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare.

via Bruce Bolander Architect

Solid Wood Island

A sweet little kitchen island here. There's just something cool about this solid, 14 foot chunk of walnut. It brings a richness to this black on white kitchen space with its warm color and high gloss. I like the custom look of how they carved it into the cooktop as well. This particular piece is by Evan Shivley. He salvages these from urban forests in Marshall, CA.

via Remodelista

Glass Tops

I was reading an article today about products made from recycled content and came across BioGlass. It is a countertop made from 100% recycled glass. Very sleek and contemporary. The appearance has such a unique, opaque look, similar to a slab or block of ice. It would be a pretty sweet piece in a bath or wet bar. The look of the pieces are designed and manufactured to change as the light changes. I bet it would look pretty cool if you added some light from the bottom and let it reflect up. It would work in the kitchen too. It's heat resistant, easy to keep clean and scratch resistant. It is pricey and colors are limited but certainly worth exploring.

Wood Tops

Are wood countertops right for the kitchen? There are pros and cons to any kitchen surface but like concrete, I feel like people shy away from the wood too soon. Some of the things I like about them is that the surface has a warmer feel to it and the wood can serve as a great cutting surface if you're incorporating a butcher block style. On the other hand, they are prone to water damage if they're not properly sealed periodically. It's also a softer material so it is more likely to show scratches and cut marks. With a little thought up front and a bit of maintenance down the road, wood countertops can be a great alternative.

Craft-Art Wood Countertops, an Atlanta based company, has some nice green options for wood tops. They have a cool gig because each species of their reclaimed wood tells a little story. It's so interesting to know that the Old Growth Cypress they offer, for example, comes from pickling vats that date back to the 1930's and 40's.

photos via J. Aaron and Creative Solutions

Concrete Countertops

Granite has held the reign as countertop king for years, and for good reason. It never chips, it is durable, easy to clean, comes in a lot of color variation, etc. I have granite in my own home for all of those reasons.

However, there are a lot of options out there and concrete is one of them. People get scared of concrete because it is a cast product that is thought to be very porous and prone to cracks. Good companies, like J.Aaron Concrete, stand by their products and have taken steps to ensure their product is as pressure resistant (7,000 PSI, meaning that it would take 7,000 lbs of pressure per square inch of pressure to crack the surface) and stain resistant as possible.

The patina of the concrete and the fact that they can match any paint color is a huge bonus. The mixture of this more 'industrial' counter top with a more traditional cabinet is a great look and something that I would definitely consider it in my next home.

Concrete would also be a cool idea for a bar countertop/sink (I really like this tile backsplash too.) If you go with a quality product, red wine will definitely not stain.

(photos by J.Aaron)