Installing our cabinets!

Ready for the next step in my kitchen renovation? Here's where things get a little wild and fast, and where my photo library gets a little, um, thinner than I would like. I understand now why people have a hard time documenting renovations, especially near the end — you're so exhausted and ready to be done the camera is the last thing on your mind.

Having said that, I do want to walk through how we installed our IKEA cabinets. Here's a peek at the process of assembling and installing the kitchen, which we actually did ourselves with some coaching from our contractor. (Tip: If you want to read from the beginning, click here, or scroll to the bottom of this post and click back through the series widget at the bottom.) More

When I think of the ultimate in small kitchen storage, the one space that makes me slow-clap every time I come across it, I think of David and Im's 426-square foot San Diego loft, which was first featured on Apartment Therapy back in 2006. The unfinished MDF plywood shelves are organized and optimized with almost-clinical precision. You think that's an exaggeration, but the shelves were computer-calibrated so the taller condiment and liquor bottles would fit precisely... More

This kitchen has a secret. As you can see in the photo above, the wall of custom cupboards slides open to reveal... More

Did you see the Sam and Anne's gorgeous Austin home over on Apartment Therapy today? Besides the fact that it opens with a photo of a super cute baby and a dog, the whole home is light and lovely. We've pulled some photos of the kitchen so you can get a peek! See more photos below: More

Kitchen carts have seen us through many less-than-ideal kitchen setups, and saved the day when we needed a little extra counter and storage space. These 10 butcher block carts span sizes, styles, and price points — from IKEA at the low end (a reliable go-to) to gorgeous (and pricey!) carts from leading butcher block manufacturer John Boos. More

We're accustomed to seeing dressers in the bedroom, and sometimes even in the living or dining room. Often antique, dressers are an attractive storage piece for non-clothing items, too, like blankets and table linens. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to see them popping up in kitchens! Whether used as an island, extra counter space, or just to store cookware, freestanding dressers can be an interesting visual element in a kitchen, as well as a practical storage solution. More

A few years ago we ran a series called February Jumpstart, where readers did a cool project in their kitchen and showed us the results. We were just thinking about this kitchen project, and wanted to show it to you. It's one we didn't even know was possible! Cheri painted over her ugly laminate countertop and improved the look of her rental kitchen in a stunning way. Read on to see why and how she did this, and to see photos of the before and after.
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Fashion designer Corey Lynn Calter makes eclectic, statement-making clothes, and her Los Angeles home reflects that style. It's quirky and playful, a mix of periods and styles, of "strange objects, colors and bold statements." Her kitchen has traditional bones but with a few surprising elements, like a kilim runner, the colorful glass collection in the window, even the bright yellow toaster! Not to mention the opulent dining room just through the doorway... More

Here's a beautiful kitchen for your mid-week enjoyment. The floor-to-ceiling pearlescent tiles are so pretty as a backdrop to the rest of the space, don't you think? More

This modern industrial kitchen mixes a lot of materials: wood with concrete, marble with steel. Love the look? Want to emulate some of it in your own kitchen? Here are sources to help you get the look. Fill in the blanks in the comments! (And see another photo below.)

Modern Industrial Kitchen

Ceramics & Dishware: ______________
Countertops: Marble slab from Exotic Granite & Marble in Sun Valley, CA.
Faucet: ______________
Flooring: Concrete
Island base: Sealed plywood
Lighting: ______________
Oven: GE monagram ovens
Range: ______________
Refrigerator: Frigidaire commercial fridge with glass door; Sub-Zero under counter freezer
Shelving Sealed plywood
Stools: Tolix