San Juan Islands · Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design & Custom Cabinetry in the San Juan Islands
D Studio 11 provides San Juan kitchen design and custom cabinetry for homes on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, for remodels and new builds, from the first sketch to the final install.
At a glance
San Juan Islands Kitchen Design at a Glance
D Studio 11 is an interior design studio in Mount Vernon, Washington, led by owner and lead designer Michelle Brooks. The studio designs custom kitchens and cabinetry for homes throughout the San Juan Islands, including San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, for both kitchen remodels and new construction.
- Designer
- Michelle Brooks, owner & lead designer
- Services
- Kitchen design, custom cabinetry, 3D renderings, finish selections, builder coordination, installation and styling
- Project types
- Kitchen remodels, new custom homes, second homes and vacation rentals
- Service area
- San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, plus Waldron, Decatur and Blakely
- Studio
- 16244 McLean Rd, Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, near the Anacortes ferry
- Contact
- (360) 202-2750 · info@dstudio11.com
Last updated
Our approach
Island Kitchens Start With How You Live Here
Island living is different from the mainland, and a kitchen here has to work differently too. Some of our clients live on the islands year-round and cook through long, gray winters. Others open the house each summer for a full table of family and friends, or share it with vacation guests while they're away.
That's why every D Studio 11 project starts with a conversation, not a catalog. Before we draw a single cabinet, we want to know where the morning light falls, how many people gather around the island, where the boots and the fishing gear land, and which view you never want to lose. Those answers shape everything that follows.
D Studio 11 is led by owner and lead designer Michelle Brooks, and our studio is in Mount Vernon, a short drive from the Anacortes ferry terminal. That closeness lets us get to the islands for measurements and key milestones, and handle the ordering and coordination that keep an island project on track.
D Studio 11 is a member of BIAW, the National Association of Home Builders and the Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association.
Meet the studio
Welcome to D Studio 11
Hear from owner and lead designer Michelle Brooks about how D Studio 11 approaches every kitchen and home, from the first sketch to the final styled space.
Custom cabinetry
Custom Cabinetry: The Heart of San Juan Kitchen Design
Island homes rarely have standard walls. There are vaulted ceilings, angled rooflines, big windows, and often a stunning view on the one wall you would normally fill with upper cabinets. Off-the-shelf cabinets fight all of that; custom cabinetry works with it. Whether it's a kitchen remodel in Friday Harbor or a new custom home on Orcas Island, D Studio 11 designs the layout and the cabinetry together so they fit your space and each other.
Storage That Works Harder
Tall pantry pull-outs, appliance garages that keep counters clear, drawers organized for what you actually own, and room for bulk groceries, because a quick trip to the store isn't always quick on an island.
Details You Can See and Feel
Door styles, wood species, stains, paint colors and hardware chosen as one palette, then coordinated with your countertops, backsplash and lighting.
See It Before It's Built
3D design renderings let you walk through your kitchen before a single cabinet is ordered, so every decision feels certain instead of hopeful.
Island considerations
What Makes Kitchen Design Different in the San Juan Islands?
Island kitchens have to handle ferry logistics, salt air, big water views and part-time living. A beautiful kitchen on the islands also has to be a practical one, so D Studio 11 plans for all four on every island project.
Planned Around the Ferry
Every delivery, site visit and installation day depends on the Washington State Ferries schedule. We finalize selections early and group orders so materials arrive together, which saves ferry runs, freight costs and weeks spent waiting on a single missing piece.
Made for Marine Air
Salt air and seasonal humidity are hard on wood, finishes and metal. We specify stable cabinet construction, durable finishes and hardware that holds up near the water, so doors stay true and finishes keep their color.
Framing the View
Whether you look out over Haro Strait, a quiet cove or a stand of madronas, your kitchen should face it. We place the sink, prep space and seating so the view is part of daily life, not something you have to turn around to see.
Ready for Part-Time Living
For second homes and vacation rentals, we plan durable, easy-care surfaces, layouts guests understand at a glance, and lockable owner's storage for the things you leave behind between visits.
Our process
How Does D Studio 11's San Juan Kitchen Design Process Work?
D Studio 11 follows four steps: consult, design, coordinate, and install and style. Island projects have more moving parts than mainland ones, including ferry reservations, limited local suppliers and trades who book up early, so our process is built around all of it.
- ConsultWe talk through your goals, budget and timeline, then review your plans or photos, or visit the home to see the space and the view in person.
- DesignWe develop the layout and cabinetry design, then walk you through 3D renderings and real samples of wood, stone, tile and hardware.
- CoordinateWe finalize specifications and time orders so materials arrive on the island together, working hand in hand with your builder or local trades.
- Install & styleWe stay involved through installation and finish with the styling that makes the kitchen feel complete.
Design inspiration
San Juan Islands Kitchen Design Ideas
Every island home has its own character. These design directions show a few ways a kitchen can reflect both the house and the setting around it.
Soft blue-gray cabinetry, a white oak island and glass-front uppers bring the colors of the water and sky inside.
Warm greige finishes, a curved island and natural stone make a calm kitchen that glows in the late-day light.
Walnut, marble and aged brass create a timeless kitchen that feels rich but relaxed, perfect for long dinners.
Where we work
Where Does D Studio 11 Offer Kitchen Design in the San Juan Islands?
D Studio 11 designs kitchens on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, and on outer islands including Waldron, Decatur and Blakely. Each island has its own rhythm, and that shapes the kitchens we design there.
San Juan Island
From in-town homes in Friday Harbor to waterfront properties near Roche Harbor and along the west side, kitchens on San Juan Island often balance year-round living with plenty of room for visiting family.
Orcas Island
Around Eastsound, Deer Harbor, Olga and Doe Bay, many homes sit among the trees or on steep, view-facing lots. D Studio 11 designs Orcas Island kitchens to pull in natural light and make the most of every sightline.
Lopez Island
Lopez is relaxed and rural, with open farmland and quiet shoreline. Kitchens here tend to be warm, practical and made for gathering, with space for local produce and long, unhurried meals.
Shaw & the Outer Islands
On Shaw, and on islands without ferry service such as Waldron, Decatur and Blakely, logistics matter even more. We plan deliveries by barge or private boat carefully so installation days go as scheduled.
Kitchens are often where a project begins. D Studio 11 also designs bathrooms, full-home renovations and new construction interiors throughout the islands. Explore all of our San Juan Islands interior design services.
FAQ
San Juan Islands Kitchen Design FAQs
Have a question we haven't answered here? Call us at (360) 202-2750 or send us a message.
Who offers kitchen design in the San Juan Islands?
D Studio 11, an interior design studio led by owner and lead designer Michelle Brooks, designs custom kitchens and cabinetry for homes throughout the San Juan Islands. The studio is based in Mount Vernon, Washington, a short drive from the Anacortes ferry terminal.
Do you design kitchens on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands?
Yes. D Studio 11 designs kitchens and custom cabinetry throughout the San Juan Islands, including Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Eastsound, Deer Harbor, Lopez Village and Shaw Island. We schedule site visits and deliveries around the Anacortes ferry.
How long does a custom kitchen take on the islands?
It depends on the size of the project and cabinetry lead times. We map out a realistic schedule at your first consultation, building in ferry reservations, delivery windows and trade availability from the start.
What does a kitchen designer do that a cabinet supplier doesn't?
A kitchen designer plans the whole room: the layout, cabinetry, countertops, lighting and finishes, and how they all work together, then coordinates with your builder. A cabinet supplier typically focuses on the cabinets alone. D Studio 11 handles both the kitchen design and the custom cabinetry, so they are planned together.
Can you work with my architect or island builder?
Absolutely. We provide the drawings, cabinetry specifications and finish schedules your architect and builder need, and we stay involved through installation so the finished kitchen matches the design.
What cabinetry materials hold up best in a coastal climate?
Stable cabinet boxes, well-sealed wood or painted doors with durable finishes, and corrosion-resistant hardware all perform well in marine air. We recommend specific options based on your home's exposure and how often it's occupied.
Do you design kitchens for vacation homes and rentals?
Yes. For second homes and vacation rentals, we plan durable surfaces, easy-to-use layouts and lockable owner's storage, so the kitchen works as well for your guests as it does for you.
Can you help with the rest of my home too?
Yes. Kitchens are often where a project begins, but D Studio 11 also designs bathrooms, full-home renovations, new construction interiors and furnishings for homes throughout the San Juan Islands.
How much does a custom kitchen cost in the San Juan Islands?
Cost depends on the kitchen's size, the scope of the remodel or build, and your cabinetry and material choices. After your consultation, we provide a clear proposal tailored to your project.
Let's Design Your San Juan Islands Kitchen
Tell us about your home, your island and how you want your kitchen to feel. We'd love to hear about it.