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Hi everyone!
Life's been a little crazy lately for Vale and me but we've been having so much fun in all the chaos. I'm closing out some projects now, starting a few new ones, and fully enjoying the Holiday season.
I recently staged and took pictures of a kitchen I started designing last spring. Here are some before pictures so you can see the space as I did for the first time:
Country Kitchen Remodel Before Pictures
Kitchen Remodel Initial Consult: client complaints and my observations for design:
So obviously there were some storage issues here. The cabinet storage that existed wasn't great and a lot of it was damaged.
The kitchen wasn't functioning for this family for many reasons, but part of that was broken appliances and a lack of prep space which made it difficult to cook.
And finally, the space hadn't been updated for a long time and so it didn't really fit the clients style.
They also wanted to add in a powder room and another door.
Kitchen Remodel: Design
Here is the mood board I planned for the client:
My plan for the remodel:
To tackle the storage issue:
I wanted to extend the cabinetry all the way to the end of the wall where the kids toys lived. To do this properly I would need to move the fridge down which would be some added plumbing and electrical cost but made practical sense given it was too close to the dishwasher to begin with and would allow me to also extend the island.
I wanted to extend the cabinetry on the range wall as well to utilize as much wall space as possible; however, they used part of that space for dining so a built in storage bench seemed like the best solution to shift the dining over as far as possible.
Extending both the walls of cabinets would allow for a larger island footprint which would mean additional deep drawer storage and a space to tuck away the trash.
I wanted to cap the end of the kitchen with a pantry for food storage, and flank the windows with open glass cabinets for pretty things they wanted on display.
To tackle the issues of function:
Extending the cabinet footprint and adding a large island would provide a lot more countertop space for cooking in addition to storage.
I immediately wanted to make use of the large sink window with a larger farmhouse sink. Having a monster sized sink if you have the space for it is always the right move!
They needed the right storage for their things. I wanted to add lots of deep drawers, a spot to hide paper towels, house spices, and a lift for their heavy Kitchenaid mixer. They needed food storage, a space for their coffeemaker, and comfortable seating for a family of four.
The funky steps on the other end of the room were serving no purpose and taking up space, but looked like a great spot for creating a mud wall with a shelf, hooks, and baskets.
Their appliances were either broken or not working great and needed replacing. In addition to replacing them, they wanted to upgrade to a 48" range which would take up a lot of wall space but would help them host family and friends.
To give them stylistic upgrades:
In addition to cabinet, countertop, and appliance upgrades I wanted to give them durable but stylish flooring, a reflective backsplash to bounce light around, new paint and trim for texture, and new decorative lighting, plumbing, hardware, furnishings and decor. The mood board I first presented them was my initial plan. They did want to change a few things, like the flooring and pendant lights but we otherwise stuck closely to it.
To give them a potty:
Initially they wanted a separate entrance for the powder room, but there really wasn't much space and that would have been significantly more expensive in the long run.
By combining the laundry and powder rooms, and changing the large hinged door into a pocket door, we could use the entire kitchen wall for cabinetry, and then provide some much needed closed storage in the laundry/bathroom. They would also gain a sink that could be used for both laundry and the bathroom.
Layout and Renderings:
Before I work on a rendering with whatever cabinet company the client/ contractor wants to use I do my own with either graph paper or the software I have (which is very limited but helps me keep my costs low) so I can present the plan to the client in a way that's easy for them to visualize. And yes, I did mark it up exactly like this (haha).
When designing this kitchen it was important to utilize every bit of wall space but keep as much of the original plumbing and electrical in place. Because we expanded the cabinetry and gave them a larger island I wanted to wrap the seating around so there wasn't too much shoved into the back corner, but also had to be mindful of clearances (for instance the fridge needed to open comfortably while someone sat at the end of the island). This was a hard sell as the clients felt the extended island countertop would look weird. Things always look chaotic and weird before they are complete but it's important to stick to the plan and trust the process!
Note below, some cabinets were in place but the old yellow paint was really making everything clash and the clients were getting concerned about color selection. Of course they were, it was looking busted (lol) and it's scary when you're spending a lot of money! I promise, I get it and am here to hold your hands and sing while we wait for magic.
Another example of cold feet mid-construction: They were templating for the countertop and cut off the end of the plywood like this. It might have looked fine without any furniture in place but would have made the back corner with the bench seating and table look cluttered, and would have left a lot of unopened/unused space on the other end of the kitchen. After a lot of begging I eventually got my way on this one (haha) but not without panicking and some glossy eyes. Dramatic? Of course. Right? This time, yess.
Here is the kitchen staged and ready for its furniture to be delivered.
Country Kitchen Remodel After Pictures:
Do you love the to-ceiling tile as much as I do? I know it's an added expense and often difficult for clients to justify, but it makes a huge difference in the quality of end result depending on the space.
And here are some before and after side by sides so you can really get a feel for how far the space has come! Isn't it crazy what the right palette can do for your wood details?
Country kitchen Remodel Before and After pictures:
What do you think of this transformation? If you want to see some more before and after videos check out my Tiktok!
Thanks for checking in and always supporting my design adventures. Until next time! Which hopefully won't be another five months, but I guess it's good to be busy (hehe).
xoxo
Alyssa
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