We have many satisfied customers. The following are just a few. Click on any picture and it will enlarge for you. I've also included some notes regarding each client. In the future...YOURS could be one of those featured!
Blecher:
- For this kitchen we used Kraft Maid, Cherry with a Honey Spice finish that complimented her existing oak flooring. The most dramatic changes are the inclusion of a wide opening between the kitchen and family room, and changes to the peninsula. Adding a simple opening gave the kitchen spaciousness. On the peninsula, we dropped a raised portion down to where it is now all at one level and included a small desk area on the backside. Note the interesting and effective backsplash choice she made.
We also increased the height of the cabinetry taking them from just 30 to 39 inches. Other changes included the addition of deep drawers, more roll out trays, and other special interior features. Glenn Wall of Wall 2 Wall Renovations was the contractor.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
- This kitchen was REALLY small and tight.... difficult for more than one person at a time to work in it. The wall (where the refrigerator is) was not weight bearing and I persuaded them to move that wall two feet further back, making the kitchen quite a bit larger. Notice how much more space there is to the right of the range in the AFTER view vs the BEFORE view. While this decreased the size of the small living room, they actually did not use that area often, because they have a really nice family room close by and accessible from the kitchen. Losing space in that room afforded the additional space in their kitchen and dining area. The end result of moving that wall along with the inclusion of cabinetry with special storage features and including a "staggered" look made a huge difference. Now, when they have their church group over, they can actually gather in the kitchen.
I also removed the built-in pantry in favor of a pantry cabinet. Take a look at all the ways storage can be achieved, including within the pantry cabinet. These cabinets are Dynasty by Omega, a semi-custom line, made in the USA. The wood choice was Cherry. Her current wood flooring was expanded and the area where the wall had been was integrated.
- It is always amazing what can be done when the existing footprint really cannot be changed. In this kitchen, the wall cabinets were only 30-inches high, now they are 39-inches and 42-inches high. The featured change here is the raised dishwasher as well as her preference for a more European look with a variety of pull lengths on the various cabinets. It is often difficult to raise the dishwasher because of the limitations of space and proximity to the sink, but in this case it was ideal and the countertop over the dishwasher continues out over the raised bar area. The changes we made to the cabinets on the re fridgeerator wall increased her storage as well. Using glass in the one cabinet allows showcasing some special items, and it keeps creates a feeling of openness in the area. Her choice of granite top and staggered stone for the backsplash gave everything the perfect finished look. Cabinets are Dynasty by OMEGA, in Cherry with a Mandarin stain.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
- On this design I worked with Larry Struble, Professional Remodeling. The kitchen is basically locked between the family room, on a lower level but visible from the kitchen, and the dining room which was limited to barely 10-feet in width. To remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room, made no real sense to me, but creating a large opening between the rooms did. So that's what we did. We designed an opening that follows the ceiling vault and made it as large as possible while allowing wall space for cabinets on either side. We also moved the doorway to the dining area over 11 1/2 inches which gave more room to the range wall.
On the fridge wall, we removed a non-functioning desk area and included a pantry and other cabinetry that added a lot of storage. The island provides some additional storage, but basically was designed for seating and serves as a gathering place when friends are over.
Note the tile backsplash laid on the diagonal. The finishing touches always complete a look.
- To me, the most important thing a designer must do is listen to the customer. It is not ever about what changes the designer can bring to the area, it's about how the designer can bring change while including the special requests of the homeowner. This is the case here.
The important features the Poth's wanted were retaining a desk area for him, including more countertop space and more storage, but basically leaving the footprint as it was. While the cooktop island seems small, it works for her. While we could have cut an opening between the kitchen and family room, they really enjoyed the separation. The end result achieved exactly what they wanted while giving them a dramatically different look, better storage, more countertop space and a desk area with file drawers for him.
The biggest change was in moving the double ovens and refrigerator. The ovens were awkwardly located just to the right of the sink and the fridge was on the wall perpendicular to that, leaving a very unusable corner. By moving the ovens, the dishwasher, and the fridge, it made the whole area more efficient. The tall ceilings allowed for taller wall cabinets and some staggering.
Bottom line is that the Poths are truly enjoying their new kitchen.