BEFORE:
AFTER:
- When you look at the BEFORE and then the AFTER pictures of the Bobnick's kitchen, it is easy to see why we've awarded it the Most Dramatic Remodel of this last year. While the Bobnick's had been considering remodeling for awhile, it was a picture she saw in one of our brochures that became the inspiration. The question they had was: "Do you think you can make our kitchen look like that ?" My answer was, "I believe I can" and together we brought it all together.
There were a number of remodel challenges. The most significant was a fully dropped ceiling. Everything had been limited to 7 feet and the beam across the front had to stay. On this particular project, I worked with Jim DeSmith of DeSmith Custom Homes. Once I had the design completed, it was up to Jim and his crew to raise the ceiling, move electrical and gas around, add lighting, and rework the solid wood flooring (because the flooring had been added after the original cabinet had been installed).
All of the cabinets are by Omega Cabinetry Ltd out of Waterloo, Iowa. Cabinetry made in the USA was important to us and to the Bobnick's. Omega is one of the leading custom manufacturer of cabinetry in the USA.
We used a combination of Maple with Oyster Opaque finish with a soft Caramel Glaze on the main kitchen cabinetry and Cherry, Nutmeg with a Coffee Glaze on the island and accent molding. The Gheriba Beach Granite was the finishing touch. Tops in Stone was the granite fabricators and I especially commend them for their beautiful detail work on the island.
The last two pictures depict the remodel of the powder bath right off the kitchen, using the same Opaque Oyster cabinetry.
AFTER:
- The kitchen in this beautiful home was cordoned off by an entertainment center wall between the kitchen and family room. When you came into the home, the entertainment center was the focal point. While aesthetically pleasing and somewhat functional, that whole entertainment center wall took a great deal of space away from the kitchen, making the kitchen crowded and dysfunctional. Other crowding components within the kitchen were the island, which was poorly designed and too large for the area, and a built-in corner angled pantry that was intrusive and lacking in quality storage.
Professional Remodeling contractor Larry Struble, my choice for this project, went into the attic space to see how the trusses were laid out and he also studied the original plans for the home to make sure the entertainment wall was not weight bearing.
Knowing I would have considerable expanded available space, once the entertainment wall and the built in pantry were removed, I began to work from my computer model to recreate the kitchen. Remodels are always a process and once I had a preliminary design, I involved the Graeberts to get their input. I wanted the process and the end result to be satisfying and exciting for them.
The end result is that when you come in the front door you can see all the way thru to the breakfast area. When you are in the kitchen you are a part of what is going on in the family room. Everything comes together, is warm and inviting. The work triangle is ideal, the pantry cabinet has roll out trays and the island is larger than the previous and more functional. She loves her new range!
The former 30" high wall cabinets looked skimpy and now with the 39" height of the new cabinets, they not only have increased storage space but the cabinets fill the room without overpowering it. The deep drawers are great containers for everything from pots and pans to mixing bowls and Tupper Ware.
They chose Dynasty's "Inset" doorstyle in a Rustic Alder with a Honey Bronze finish that blends with the wonderful plantation shutters and a beautiful entry piece. The countertops are Cambria quartz and the sink is Blanco's new "silver" color, looks like stainless without all the problems of the stainless.