After decades in their Hickory Hills home, these homeowners were ready to start their kitchen remodel. While they had previously worked with a general contractor for their bathroom remodel, they were eager to work with a design build firm first this time around. They wanted to ensure that their kitchen was professionally managed and beautifully executed. Therefore, they called upon the expertise of Normandy Designer Terry Tondelli.
Overall, the kitchen was tight on space. In fact, there was barely enough room for an eating area. The homeowners also desired adequate storage and light – something they were sorely missing. The first thing Terry did was change the layout to create more space.
“By removing the dropped lighted ceiling and borrowing a bit of space from the adjacent living room, we were able to greatly expand the area,” said Terry. “We also removed a shallow, drywall pantry.”
Next to address were lighting, storage and materials. The elements that were ultimately selected gave the kitchen a bright and expansive feeling.
“A combination of ceiling can lights and an over-the-table fixture add plenty of general lighting,” noted Terry. “We thoughtfully placed the new counter depth refrigerator, as well as a generously sized pantry with roll-outs, pull-outs and vertical dividers for trays. The corner blind cabinet was replaced with a heavy duty wood Lazy Susan offers plenty of storage and access.”
Because the refrigerator is no longer squeezed in next to the range, it created the opportunity for much needed prep space on either side of the range. A spice pull-out near the range also makes meal prep more efficient.
To top off the look, Terry designed cherry cabinetry to the ceiling, a reflective glass backsplash, under-cabinet lighting and light quartz countertops – all which add to the perception of more space.
“The glass subway backsplash tile adds a reflective touch which helps expand the space,” said Terry. “When the under-cabinet lights are on, a lovely glow adds to the ambiance.”
One of the remaining issues to be addressed centered on the traffic flow through the kitchen. The family’s everyday entry into the home was a door in the kitchen, which created an active walk path through the room. This made finding a place for a dining table a bit of a challenge; it needed to provide ample space for dining, while still providing ample space for people pass by. The solution was a small, counter height peninsula that seats four. To visually connect the space, Terry also incorporated wainscoting that matched the refrigerator and pantry wall.
All in all, the space planning, lighting and storage put this kitchen in the spotlight. The project earned a Remodeling Excellence Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
Set up a time to meet with Terry if you are ready to get started on your new kitchen. Or, join us for our upcoming kitchen remodeling seminar to learn more about the remodeling process. You can also follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for design ideas and inspiration.
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