Complete Kitchen Renovation for an Active Family
After the CKD Remodeling renovation and redesign: Painted cabinetry, classic subway tile backsplash, and a Viking cook top and hood where the old pass through once was.
This Atlanta family came to us with several requests for their kitchen remodel:
Close the pass through from the kitchen to the living areas. The pass through was not being used and the noise that flowed from each room contributing to a less than happy climate for the family.
Improve the quality of the cabinetry. The existing cabinets were builder grade and falling apart. The storage was not as ample as needed, and the kitchen felt dark in spite of the lighting installed.
Improve the traffic flow. The refrigerator, cook top, and microwave were all located in one compact section of the kitchen. With three active children and two cooks, this layout created congestion in key areas.
Create a beverage and bar area for entertaining. The current layout had one refrigerator and when the kids arrived home or when guests were at the house, there was just one spot to keep beverages. The location created congestion when the frig doors were open, and this was a sticking point for the homeowners.
Before….Vintage 1980’s cabinets, dark granite countertops, and a pass through to the family room.
Before: The breakfast bar was smaller, the sink was located under the pass through, and the cook top was sandwiched in next to the oven.
So given the current conditions and the homeowners list, we went to work at the drawing table. We use 20/20 software that is specifically for kitchen and bath design. This valuable tool creates renderings like this one to show what the completed kitchen will look like. Compare this to the following photos of the finished kitchen. What do you think?
The new kitchen layout, which stayed within the existing footprint but utilized the space more efficiently.
Our process for kitchen renovation always includes a design phase. We work with the homeowner’s desires, the existing space, and our in depth knowledge of kitchen design and home construction to create a custom plan. The drawingsprovide all of us the vision of the end result, the ability to compile a realistic budget, and communication tools for our team. These drawings are our road map to completion!
After: The enlarged breakfast bar now includes the sink and more room for seating.
The kitchen sink was moved to the breakfast bar. A big benefit of this location is the open view to the dining room and especially to the backyard. When standing at the sink now, rather than looking into the family room, you can see the garden and the outside. Much more appealing! And when the dining at the bar is through, the dishes are right at the sink and dishwasher.
The pass through is no more and is replaced by the cook top and a focal point of a modern hood. This hood serves for looks as well as better ventilation, as it is vented to the outside. The microwave no longer takes valuable counter space as it is a sleek, efficient drawer below the countertop.
Prior to the renovation, when the refrigerator doors were open in the old location, the walkway from the front rooms through the kitchen were blocked. This caused a bottleneck of traffic. The oven and the refrigerator were switched in the renovation. Now when the frig is open, which is frequently in a kitchen of an active family, the walkway is not blocked. The new placement of the major appliances is more generous and allows more room for multiple cooks in the kitchen.
The materials we chose include classic colors of gray, white, and charcoal which will keep this kitchen appearance current for years to come. The countertops are Silver Wave granite. The homeowners loved this stone that we found on our trip to the slab yard. We built the rest of the kitchen colors around this beautiful material.
After: New beverage bar with art glass in the upper cabinet doors. The ovens were relocated to this side of the kitchen to improve the traffic flow. The drawer on the left cabinet serves as a hidden charging station for electronics. Tablets and phones are stowed there, out of sight, and where Mom can monitor their use.
So these avid cooks and homeowners happily let go of their 1980’s kitchen and are now enjoying the vast improvements. Steve and I enjoyed working with them from start to finish. We hope that they, like our other clients, enjoy this kitchen for many years to come.