Greg & Marta's Kitchen

Before:

Greg & Marta built a fabulous architect-designed custom home in the 80's.  The home is full of innovative custom features, including the kitchen, but now,  it was time for an update.  Anderson wood windows, high ceilings, architectural beams, and clerestory windows were all features we wanted to build upon.

The view from the dining room side is dominated by the clerestory windows and the architectural beams. Note the pantry in the kitchen entrance with the pink wall

The cabinets were well-built custom oak cabinets, but after 30+ years, it was time for something new.

A great set of Anderson wood windows were the focal point of the sink area, but the heavy oak light box loomed over the space.

This is the view looking through the pass-through toward the family room. Note the pantry with the white doors standing in the kitchen opening.

Design:

We all agreed that we needed to open up the space.  Removing the pantry closet, the large hanging light box, and the wall with the pass-through to the family room would get us the visual size we wanted and would capitalize on the soaring ceilings.  We knew a large island would be needed, but what shape and what features.  We went through 5 different island concepts before settling on the final version.

BEFORE

AFTER

During:

There is a logical progression to build a new kitchen.  Some times it can seem frustratingly slow, but there is very little flexibility in the order of events. Kitchens and baths require a higher degree of precision and attention to detail.

Plumbing, electrical, skylight and insulation work in progress.

Plumbing, electrical, & skylight, & insulation finished, inspections complete, ready to hang drywall.

The family room with the cedar strips removed

The family room ceiling and the beams wrapped with MDF, ready for paint.

The dining room beams wrapped with MDF, ready for paint

After:

The results are exactly as envisioned. The kitchen, dining room, and family rooms all visually enlarged  dramatically.

Going from wood beams to painted allowed the beam's architectural lines to stay without the dominant visual weight of the wood. Removing the pantry from the kitchen entrance opened the space up beautifully.

A view from the formerly-plugged kitchen entrance, now wide open.

With the wall gone between the kitchen and family room, movement, & visibility are way better. Note the 2 lift units rising out of the island.

The view from the family room into the kitchen, now wide open with access on both sides of the island. The continuous ceiling visually connects and enlarges all of the spaces.

The view from the family room down the sink side of the island.

Island features include a induction cooktop, a pop-up downdraft with a remote blower, prep sink, flush -mount compost unit, and a concealed small appliance lift.

Details:

Nice remodel projects often revolve around the details. Greg & Marta loved some of the ideas for maximizing space while adding a cool factor.  The home was built with a dumb waiter to the basement.  We upgraded that and added some innovative features.  The concealed appliance lifts are a way to capture what would have been empty space in the center of the island.

Now you see it ......... The electric appliance lift rises out of the quartz countertop with the push of a flush-mounted button. Of course it has LED lighting and electrical outlets.

Now you don't ...... With the appliance lift retracted, it's just a big beautiful island. Of course it does also have an induction cooktop, a pop-up down draft, an electronic touch-less faucet, roll-out trash & recycle bins, and a stainless, flush-mount compost pail.

Now you see it ............ Integrated lighting & electrical for the small appliances, along with two-sided access make this lift perfect for island appliance use.

Now you don't. The margin between the lid of the lift and the countertop is less than 1/8". It was cut with a computerized water jet for a precise fit.

It's a two-tiered dumb waiter to the basement level garage 6 bags of groceries at a time. Just load them in, push the button, and meet them up in the kitchen. Perfect!

A close-up of the lift electrical and lighting

A slide-out pantry on the top and drawers on the bottom means easy access to everything

Hard to reach space above the refrigerator is optimized with slide-outs.