18 Dec A Full-Out Kitchen Remodeling Project
I find kitchens, though often challenging to design, have so much potential for inventive solutions and layouts—no kitchen should be identical to another, but should meet all the unique needs of its homeowner. In a kitchen remodeling project for a family in Zionsville, I redesigned the space to fit their vision, style and requirements.
The kitchen was at the back of the house and had a beautiful view of the pond. However, the view was obstructed by a screened-in porch. The kitchen was also too small. My clients and their three children spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, making meals and doing homework. They wanted a bigger space that could easily accommodate all five of them.
We first took out the screened-in porch and made the windows floor-to-ceiling, opening that beautiful pond view to the whole kitchen. The space was better lit, and felt more inviting. To provide more counter space, we installed two islands: one was for food preparation and had a sink and dishwasher, the second was a space for their kids to do homework and have snacks.
The style of my clients’ whole house was rustic contemporary, filled with earth tones, organic textures and materials. However, my clients wanted a darker finish in the kitchen for a more modern look. They did not want the same reddish finish of the wooden floors. We installed cabinets made of dark, knotty alder, and brought in a dark-stained dining table. For the countertops and backsplash, we used concrete. This smoother material added a more natural element, and was not as patterned, so it complemented the cabinets rather than competing with them for attention. For the hardware, I chose a brush-nickel finish; it contrasts nicely with the darker woods, but still accomplishes a soft look.
The oven and refrigerator are mostly out of sight from the main kitchen, set back against the wall so they do not become a focal point. The walk-in pantry is also hidden; it has no door, but is easy to access. As a result, the kitchen layout is streamlined and not crowded.
My clients were looking for more space, a clean look, and comfortable place to be together with their family. By following my clients’ needs, I was able to design solutions that worked for them and created a kitchen that they can love and live in every day.
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