Kitchen design ideas: Cabinets, countertops, islands and more Rachel Klauber-Speiden posed a daunting challenge to architects Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dogg Ingjaldsdottir of Santa Monica-based Minarc: Transform a 1962 apartment building into a single-family home. The kitchen is the heart of the house for Klauber-Speiden, who loves to cook and entertain. There are no upper cabinets; all storage is underneath the counter, behind doors made of recycled rubber. Klauber-Speiden says she saved $7,000 by going with an induction cook-top rather than buying gas and installing a new gas line. To create the orange backsplash, Klauber-Speiden painted the back of clear glass instead of buying more expensive colored glass. [ Full gallery ] (Nancy Pastor / For The Times / May 25, 2013) Looking for kitchen design ideas? Start here. L.A. at Home has been developing Home Inspiration galleries where you can see what Southern Californians have done in their new homes and in their remodeling -- from custom cabinetry to Ikea installations, from premium stone to DIY countertops, plus backsplashes galore -- ceramic tile, sheet glass, stainless steel and more. We've peeked inside hundreds of homes in Los Angeles, Orange County and beyond. Keep clicking for design ideas that might fit your style.