Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 14

Before: Gloomy Dining Room

Poor natural light makes these rooms feel small and depressing.

A choppy layout turned this home into a warren of small, dark rooms.

After: Cosy, Organic Kitchen

Add warmth to a contemporary palette with a plethora of natural materials.

Hardware-free walnut cabinetry, soapstone counters and oversized slate floor tiles all have a rich or textural quality that enlivens this space. The island is strictly a workspace, and is full of storage. Radiant-heat flooring keeps the kitchen warm underfoot.

Before: Decrepit Kitchen-Dining Area

This dark, poky space was hardly a model of function and style.

Interior designer Rosie Daykin says this 1950s bungalow in Vancouver's west side was a study in neglect.

After: Kitchen With A View

Teak and Carrara marble contrast against vein-cut, travertine marble floors.

Rosie gave this kitchen-dining area indoor-outdoor flow by focusing the elements, like the kitchen island, toward the windows. An overall pale colour palette keeps the open-concept space fresh and modern.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Comforter Sets here offers brand new 2013 luxury comforter sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Purple and Light Pink Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 13

Before: Plaid Kitchen

Clashing colours and patterns are an eyesore.

An awkward layout and crumbling cabinetry made this kitchen as dysfunctional as it is unfashionable.

After: Elegant & Exotic Kitchen

Add interest by mixing and matching pieces found on world travels.

A black island provides a furniture-like focal point in this kitchen. Woven stools, kudu horns and a screen made of antique chinoiserie wallpaper also add a global feeling to the space. Pine wood floors look like bare wood when treated to a pickling stain, which helps imbue the space with a sense of airy lightness.

Before: Uninspired Galley Kitchen

A narrow work area and enclosed floor plan was impractical for a busy family of four.

Old cabinets, ugly laminate flooring and bulky appliances made this room feel smaller than it really was.

After: Open & Spacious Kitchen

Sleek, glossy white cabinets add a modern touch.

The kitchen offers a mix of materials, including stainless steel, enamelled cabinets, ceramic tile and black marble. The 10-foot marble-topped peninsula on the right was a splurge, but worth it. By knocking down the wall above the peninsula, which divided the kitchen from the dining room, the homeowners were able to create an entertaining space, one of the most popular areas of the house.

2013 Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 luxury bedding sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Sparkle Green and Pink Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 12

Before: New Condo Kitchen

A concrete city condo gets a modern-country reno.

Beth Hitchcock's new condo was a blank slate. With the guidance from Michael Penney, Beth took this bare room as an opportunity to reinvent her style. Drawn to colourful, slouchy, lived-in rooms, Beth and Michael opted for a country-meets-city aesthetic.

After: Country Condo Kitchen

An open kitchen-dining space with bohemian charm.

Apart from swapping the contemporary pendants for industrial-style ones, the only other changes applied to this condo kitchen are pure decorating. Michael added vintage pottery, hits of copper and weathered herb pots to give the new space a well-used feel.

Before: Kitschy, Cluttered Kitchen
Clashing blue cupboards and green walls were the least of this kitchen's problems.

Old barnboard cabinets, inadequate counterspace and incongruous Spanish-style arched doorways in a cramped space added up to a cluttered, unattractive kitchen.

After: Authentic French Country Kitchen

Custom cabinetry and antique finds restore this kitchen to its 19th-century glory.

The homeowners were able to add square footage to this space by removing false walls and ceilings, uncovering the original stone wall and wooden ceiling in the process. Leaving a space between the tops of the cabinets and the coffered ceiling creates the illusion of extra height, a feeling that is furthered by mounting the island on feet instead of on the floor. The practical wood-look ceramic floor tiles complement the dark wood, and feel authentically French. Antique windows from a neighbouring town enhance the historical feeling.

2013 Girls Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your daughter's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 CHILDREN BEDDING SETS to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Black and Pink Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 11

Before: Quarter-Century Old Kitchen

This kitchen was well past its prime.

Before this home's overhaul, the rooms were small and dark. It had been 25 years since the house's last major renovation, a fact that daunted homeowner, chef and food stylist Claire Stubbs when she toured it for the first time.

After: Rustic Contemporary Kitchen

Weathered wood meets sleek modern lines.

Claire Stubbs wanted this kitchen to be the focal point of her new home. Though most of her budget went to structural elements, she saved up for the finishes and appliances she’d always wanted, like two-inch-thick Calacatta d’Oro marble countertops and a Wolf range. Lower cabinets with reclaimed wood fronts conceal fridge and freezer drawers, as well as a dishwasher.

Before: Bland White Kitchen

This cooking space had a problematic layout.

Though the kitchen itself is generously sized, the space wasn't being used to its full potential, and the old finishes looked tired and lacked contrast. An inconvenient diagonal corner and a bulky peninsula disrupted any sense of flow the space may have had. A wall separating the eating area from the family room also made the kitchen feel closed in. Featureless laminate cabinets and countertops were boring and outdated, and the plain ceramic tile floor and backsplash were mismatched.

After: Beautiful Creamy White Kitchen

Fresh fixtures and dramatic details make an eat-in kitchen more appetizing.

Cameron MacNeil made a few adjustments to this kitchen's layout to maximize its function. The angled corner, which once housed the oven, was replaced with a new entrance to the formal dining room, allowing the wall of drawers and cabinets to be further extended. The peninsula was replaced with a gracious working island, encased in sleek statuario marble. White cabinets in a reverse-shaker style put a twist on traditional, while crystal pulls add subtle sparkle. Panelling camouflages the refridgerator and dishwasher to keep the look crisp and clean.

2013 Girls Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your daughter's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Girls Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Dark Blue and Pink Dot 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 10

Before: Uninspired, Cluttered Kitchen

This old kitchen had busy floors and poor storage.

After living with this dated kitchen for 11 years, homeowners Christos and Petrea Adamidis knew it was time for an overhaul. "The old kitchen felt closed in, had zero storage space and wasn't working for our family," says Christos. Too-short upper cabinets needed extending, narrow countertops called desperately for deepening and all of the finishes desperately required an update.

After: Eco-Chic Kitchen

A double-galley-style kitchen provides plenty of room for a family of four.

A wall of energy-efficient windows floods Christos and Petrea's kitchen with natural light but cuts down on temperature shifts in the room. Bamboo was the obvious choice for new cabinetry. The honey tone adds warmth and complements the sleek modern hardware. Finishes and paints with low levels of VOCs were used throughout the kitchen — reducing odours and indoor air pollution.

Before: Kitchen Without Personality

H&H paired up with Ikea to overhaul a dull kitchen for a family of cooks.

Though spacious, the 10-year-old kitchen lacked character and was outfitted with bland standard finishes. The lifeless monochromatic palette was washed out, plus the dated ceramic tiles and appliances seemed like afterthoughts.

After: High-Contrast Traditional Kitchen

Senior design editor Cameron MacNeil added function and fashion to this space with a crisp palette.

Cameron chose classic white cabinets to contrast with the dark Hanstone countertop and graphic rug. Handmade water-hued tiles add gorgeous texture and shine. Larger industrial-inspired stainless-steel appliances make cooking easier and elevate the look of the generously sized kitchen. The cabinets around the fridge were built out to give it a more custom look without the expense of a counter-depth unit. Deep drawers for pots on either side of the stove make reaching things much easier.

2013 Boys Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your son's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 TEENS BEDDING SETS to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Light Camel and Chocolate Brown Dot 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 9

Before: Stove Wall

Unexpected quirks added to the charm of the home.

Michael wife Sara discovered this built-in ironing board when they first walked through the house. It spoke to the age of the home, when laundering was often done in the kitchen. Charming? Yes. Practical? Not so much.

After: Stove Wall

A pot rack over a new stainless-steel stove keeps pans handy.

Michael and Sara drywalled over a built-in ironing cupboard and used white tiles along this wall. Michael hunted through thrift stores like Value Village for months and months, gradually adding to his Julia Child-inspired copper pot collection.

Before: Messy Dated Kitchen

Mismatched cabinetry and appliances were paired with cluttered open-shelving.

The kitchen in Tarah Wright and Daniel Rainham’s 100-year-old Halifax home was small, dark and downright dreadful. Along with a bad layout and lack of natural light, the cabinets were in poor shape and the finishes falling apart.

After: Sleek Kitchen Makeover

The island, with a waterfall-style concrete counter, steals the scene.

Architect Chad Jamieson, with the assistance of designer Omar Gandhi, began their contemporary transformation of Tarah and Daniel's kitchen with crisp white paint and Baltic birch plywood, which was used to trim the windows and countertop. On the concrete island, board-formed sides are rough and unfinished, while the top was polished, providing a mix of textures to contrast with the smooth cabinets.

2013 Boys Bedding Advertisements: If you want to decor your son's bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Boys Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Chocolate Brown and Red Dot 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 8

Before: Michael Penney's Kitchen

This retro kitchen was showing its age.

Michael Penney and his wife Sara saw potential in the tiny kitchen of his new house. The tiles and floor were dated, but there were ceiling-high cupboards that allowed for plenty of storage, and decent counter space for the size of the space. Read more about his kitchen inspiration.

After: Updated Country Style

Linoleum flooring was traded in for French-style hexagonal floor tiles.

Michael and Sara decided to embrace the kitschy features that made their old kitchen charming. They wanted a bistro/farmhouse feel, so they painted out the cabinetry in a soft blue with a touch of grey, and splurged on new stainless-steel appliances, an American Standard farmhouse faucet, and Carrara marble counters.

Before: Fridge Wall

Plastic tiles dated this 1950s kitchen.

Michael Penney and his wife Sara tackled the tiles after a family barbecue one day, scraping them off one-by-one. This wall is where they planned to put the refrigerator, but it would need new white tiles as a backdrop.

After: Fridge Wall

A collection of oversized green bottles on top of the fridge adds a style statement.

Michael and his Sara chose glossy white subway tiles in the kitchen to keep the attention on open shelving baskets and arrangements. Woven baskets overhead and underneath conceal clutter, and a rolling table is the perfect spot to create a vignette with carafes and plants.

Advertisements of 2013 Comforter Sets: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 King Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Brand New Blue Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 7

Before: Bare-Bones Kitchen

A mismatched, unadorned space.

Before homeowners Danielle Nicholas and Greg Bryk, of the TV show Building Bryks, renovated their kitchen, the cabinets were outdated and the linoleum floor was worn out.

After: Simple & Stunning

Use salvaged beams for open shelving.

After structural and water issues demolished their home reno budget, Danielle and Greg made cost-cutting decisions with their kitchen. Beams salvaged during the renovation became handsome but inexpensive shelves, and the poured concrete counters are virtually indestructible.

Before: Sad Solarium

Stylist Sasha Seymour knew she could make better use of this space.

A dated solarium with hot tub at the back of the house gave way to the new gourmet kitchen — a much better use of the bright space overlooking the yard.

After: White & Brass Kitchen

A pair of potted orange trees sit on the counter for an unexpected touch of greenery.

Now Sasha's kitchen is a true showpiece with a fireplace oven and double fridges. Light pours in from an oversized skylight, illuminating the brass hardware. As Sasha prepares dinner, her dog Cleo happily pads around on herringbone wood floors that look as though they belong in a pre-war New York apartment or Parisian pied-à-terre.

Advertisements of 2013 Comforter Sets: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Queen Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Brand New Yellow Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 6

Before: Character-Less Kitchen

Prior to renovations, this space lacked personality.

The track lighting and popcorn ceiling had to go. The fridge looked awkward in its current place.

After: Rustic Soulful Kitchen

Mix inexpensive butcherblock with bold black cabinets for a town-and-country feel.

The combination of brass pulls, soft wood and gentle blues create a friendly Euro-farmhouse flavour in the renovated kitchen.

Before: Outdated Kitchen

Switch out basic cabinets and hardware for a more modern look.

The kitchen was one of the major renovations that designer and popular blogger Emma Reddington undertook in overhauling her Victorian home.

After: Joyful & Bright Kitchen

Dark floor tiles contrast beautifully with white countertops.

Designer and homeowner Emma Reddington says the kitchen is now a blissful place to cook, and so much more functional with an eat-in island. Though the cabinets are budget-friendly, Emma, a former chef, didn’t scrimp on the stove or the marble backsplash. “I refuse to cook on anything but gas, and this six-burner range is a real pleasure.”

Advertisements of 2013 Comforter Sets: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Full Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

Brown and Pink Floral 2013 Cotton Spring Bedding Comforter Set

Photo Gallery: Kitchen Makeovers - Part 5

Before: Awkward L-Shaped Kitchen
A mix of furnishings side-by-side looks cluttered.

The awkward layout limited storage space in this kitchen.

After: Well-Used Space

Standard Carrara marble threshold pieces are an affordable tile alternative.

The home's original wood floors were given a coat of pale grey paint to improve durability for family living and save on the budget's bottom line.

Before: Dated Kitchen Finishes

Worn out, poor quality cabinets needed to be replaced.

Black and white tiles looked awkward and clashed with the warm wood finishes, red walls and exposed brick.

Built-In Kitchen Banquette

In a family home, consider building a banquette with storage drawers beneath to contain toys and art supplies.

A small pedestal table and Bertoia-style wire chair are visually light and can be easily moved as needed. One wall of the banquette area features a bank of pantry units with open and closed storage, making the most of vertical space.

Advertisements of 2013 Comforter Sets: If you want to decor your bedroom in 2013 brand new spring style or if you are seeking for some 2013 bedding sets for you and your family, Bedding US here offers brand new 2013 Twin Bedding Sets to meet all your needs. Various styles and patterns are available for you.

4Pcs Luxury Grey Floral Jacquard Style Cotton 2013 Brand New Spring Bedding Comforter Set