Another Kitchen....

This completed kitchen by The Beard Group was especially challenging from both design and installation standpoints. Like most kitchens of this era (1920s), it was undersized relative to the size of the home. In this case, there wasn't an opportunity to move or take out a wall. Doing so would have eliminated the formal dining room or required relocating the staircase. Neither option was feasible. So we had to go small with some things. Notice the narrow dishwasher and shallower counter / cabinet depth in a few places. The result is a very efficient kitchen that suits the homeowner's lifestyle. We were able to restore the windows to their original size since we eliminated the sink on the exterior wall. This allowed for more natural light and created a perfect spot for a two-top table. Eat-in kitchen! We also salvaged the narrow oak flooring beneath the old linoleum. At some point (1970's), a remodeler eliminated the radiator, making the space uncomfortably cool. We again used an electric kickplate heater mounted under a cabinet with its own independent thermostat. See if you can spot it...

Kitchen Accomplished!

If you scroll down our blog, you will see some "progress" pictures of this kitchen during demolition phase. These are a few shots of the finished product in a home in Cleveland Heights. The clients wanted to expand the footprint as the kitchen was undersized relative to the size of the home. We removed a wall and combined the kitchen with the former breakfast room. The client opted to save money by not using a designer. They had very specific ideas about what they wanted. At our suggestion, they used Home Depot's free kitchen design service and the results are darn good. The countertops are Absolute Black Granite (Honed with Super Darkener) sourced through our supplier. The backsplash is a crackle glaze subway tile - very tasteful and true to the spirit of the home. We restored the old pine flooring in the main kitchen area. Unfortunately, due to water damage and buckling, much of the oak in the old breakfast area had to be replaced. But it still looks original to the home. I love the mix of old, old-inspired and new.

Let there be light!

A recent trend in kitchen design is the reduction/elimination of upper cabinets to be replaced by windows. This trend is green-friendly in that it allows you to use available daylight instead of constantly burning lights in the busiest room of the house. It also allows parents to keep a closer eye on their children playing in the yard. And finally, the bright and airy feeling creates the illusion that the space is larger than it truly is, adding to resale appeal. To accomplish this design element, maximum use must be made of the remaining lower cabinets. With the advancements in cabinet design and customization, a lot can be done in a much smaller space. See the attached article linked to the webpage of a peer company of ours located in Nebraska. Also see the above pictures of a client's kitchen we remodeled this past spring designed by our kitchen and bath design partner Ruthann Capozzi. What do you think?


http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.no.wall.cabinets.htm

Kitchen: Demolished

Here are a few pictures of a Cleveland Hts kitchen in the process of demolition. We removed a non load bearing wall to extend the space into the former breakfast area. Everything is being upgraded, but the vintage hardwood floors will remain to be refinished. The kitchen floor is pine and the former breakfast space is red oak. R-19 insulation will be installed in all exterior walls. Instant upgrade! Should be interesting. Stay-tuned for progress photos!