Details~Custom Kitchen Makeover

I haven't been blogging as much as usual lately because we have been in the design studio working on some very exciting online design projects. I'm humbled by the response I received at the beginning of the year when I announced we are available for new clients. We still have openings but anticipate a spring rush very soon, if you would like to make a reservation now is the time (please click here for more information).

This weekend, I was able to sneak away and put together today's post on a recent on-site kitchen makeover project I worked on here in the Detroit area for my long-time clients; Sara and Erik. 

Last week I shared with you before and after pictures of this project along with the story on the "old" kitchen. Today, I'd like to take you on a tour of the new space and share all the details on how this brand new custom kitchen came together. 

This makeover began by weighing the option of custom cabinetry versus pre-fabricated cabinets. After discussing their wants and needs for the new kitchen, Sara and Erik decided the custom route was best for them. This approach would allow them to incorporate some amazing custom details that would give their home a look of it's own. Not to mention, it would function perfectly for the way Sara, Erik and their two children use the space. 

One of the first things you'll notice in the new kitchen is this gigantic custom vent hood featuring a deep ledge and chunky corbels. It provides an amazing focal point. For now, we left the ledge undecorated to celebrate the simple beauty and fantastic craftsmanship of this architectural feature. Sara will have the option of adding seasonal accents or decorative accessories to the shelf as the mood strikes, but in the meantime it stands beautifully solo. 

Under the gourmet cooktop, large, deep, soft close drawers provide perfect storage for pots and pans.

If you take a close look, you will notice that the section of cabinetry to the left of the of the cooktop features a set of doors and in the section to the right of the cooktop small drawers were incorporated. The overall look of this row of cabinetry is symmetrical, yet the variation in the cabinet type lends visual interest. The smaller drawers on the right are perfect for cooking utensils and spices and the large cabinets to the left are great for large stock pots.

In addition to traditional family dinners throughout the week for Sara, Erik and the kids,  weekends in this kitchen are dedicated to entertaining and cooking for large groups of family and friends. These new high end appliances will allow Sara and Erik to do just about anything their little gourmet hearts desire. Big, home cooked family meals will be easy to prepare, serve and store with these extra capacity, state of the art appliances. To break up the look of twin stainless steel refrigerators, one glass front door and one solid stainless door were paired together.  

Speaking of entertaining, the new, extra grand island is an entertainers dream. The multilevel countertop does a great job of providing a bar-height eating area large enough to comfortably fit three adults with plenty of counter-height working/serving surface to spare. Sara had a special request when this project began for an undermount farmhouse sink. Hats off to her for this idea, this is one of my favorite looks of all time. It gave her the charming farmhouse character of an apron front sink along with the sleek sophistication of a seamless undermount.

The base of the island features custom storage on both sides and plenty of leg room under the bar area. For the stools, we went with the amazingly comfortable barrel back, upholstered bar stools from Restoration Hardware. These barstools are extra sturdy and insanely comfortable. They are perfect for everyday use by the kids as well as weekend game days for the men in the family. The upholstery is a performance velvet fabric that is stain resistant and family friendly.

The granite we chose has the most amazing depth and movement. At night, small metallic, crystalized flecks literally sparkle. As soon as we saw this slab at the granite yard, we knew it was the one.

We used the granite as our color guide in choosing the greige (a gray based beige) backsplash. We weighed a few different options before deciding on this shiny, textured glass subway tile. Warm white grout provides contrast and really makes the color of the tiles stand out. The texture of the highly reflective finish makes it dance with natural light. It's hard to capture in a picture how this glimmering backsplash makes this kitchen come alive with light and movement.

I mentioned in my original reveal post that the long wall of built-in cabinetry conceals a few secret areas that make this kitchen perfect for a young, busy family...

A beverage station was incorporated in the center, next to the swinging door leading to a walk in pantry. 

To the right of the beverage station, glass front pocket doors open to reveal the kids play room...

All the way to the opposite end of the play room is a family command center with self housing pocket doors. The doors remain open during the day for easy access to the family computer, mail, sticky notes etc. 

At night or while entertaining, the pocket doors close for a neat clean look. 

Sara's Dad (Rob Toth) helped out a lot during this kitchen renovation. He is a talented craftsman/carpenter and took many of the projects that needed to be completed on himself. One thing that is really a special addition to this new kitchen is the new dining table. It is actually an heirloom piece that was given to Sara years ago by her parents and has been kept in storage until now.  

While the cabinet makers were busy in the kitchen, Rob was busy in the workshop refinishing this beautiful pedestal dining table. The top was stained a rich chestnut color to coordinate with an existing Potterybarn Benchwright Console table in the space. He painted the base of the table white to match the cabinets. The contrast of the dark wood tone and white base really makes this piece stand out against the soft grays and turquoise found in the new area rug.

The color palette of the new kitchen was determined by the colors used throughout the rest of this home. I'm in the process of creating a full home tour post sharing some of the other spaces we've worked on together. 

This has been one of my favorite projects of all time. In addition to being a beautiful house, what I love most about this home, is that it really tells the story of the family that lives here. It's a home that is filled with life; family photos, art, children, family, pets and happiness. Being able to assist with this kitchen project and help Sara and Erik's vision for a dream kitchen come to life has been a wonderful experience. 

Sources:

Wall Color~"Drizzle" by Sherwin Williams

Cabinet Color~"Snowbound" by Sherwin Williams

Backsplash~Ciot Custom Tile

Countertops~ColdSprings Granite Genesse Stone

Pendant Lights~Curry and Company

Cabinet Hardware~Restoration Hardware

Barstools~Restoration Hardware 

Dining Table~Family Heirloom

Dining Chairs~Wayfair

Tiered Serving Tray~HomeGoods

Pillows~HomeGoods

Chandelier~Potterybarn

Dining Area Rug~Potterybarn

Rug Runner~Ballard Designs

This brand new custom kitchen is the collaborative work of myself, Architect Christopher Macklin, Custom Cabinet Maker Chad Gladding from Gladding Custom Cabinetry, Carpenter/PM Rob Toth and homeowner's Sara and Erik.

*Now available for new online design projects. Please click here for more info. 

DIY-How To Add A Ledge To Your Board And Batten Wall

Board and Batten wall treatments have become quite popular as of late.  They are a fairly simple DIY project that can give a space a lot of cottage flavored character.  I applied board and batten style wainscoting in my own home to warm up a large, otherwise cold master suite.  Today, using my master bedroom as an example, I'm going to share an easy way to take your board and batten wall to the next level.  

By adding a simple ledge/shelf, your board and batten will have a more custom look.  Not to mention, a ledge provides an attractive way to display art/personal items and can improve the function of your room.  It gave me the perfect spot to showcase a beautiful pair of vintage inspired prints that prior to the addition of the shelf, did not have a home.

The height of typical board and batten wall treatments can be known to make hanging art tricky.  Placing art over board and batten wainscoting, can sometimes feel too high.   By incorporating a ledge, you can lean and layer art/photo frames making it feel more connected to your wall treatment and less like it's floating in space. 

Adding hooks to the ledge not only dresses it up a bit and adds more interest, but it also provides a place to hang things.  Each night before bed, I set my clothes out for the next day.  Now instead of laying them on my chair, I have a place to hang them.  I can also use the hooks to display things like our family Christening gown. 

Adding a ledge to your existing board and batten wall  is very simple…if you have your home improvement store make your cuts for you, the only tool you need to complete this job is a drill.  

Here is a list of supplies for one ledge:
(1) 1"x4" Pine board painted in the same color as your board and batten trim
(3) Wood brackets painted in the same color as your board and batten trim
Construction adhesive
(4) Decorative hooks (Hobby Lobby)
Screws

Power drill
Art (Flower Prints Available Here)
Family Photos, Sentimental items, Thrift Store Frames

1.  The first step is to find the longest stretch of wall in your space, this is usually the best location for your ledge.   

2.  Determine the placement of your new ledge easily by using your existing boards as a guide.  I chose the three boards right in the middle of my wall. 

3.  Install pre-made wood brackets (Home Depot).   Using the hardware included with the brackets, mount each bracket in the middle of three of your vertical boards.  Be sure to mount them so the top of the bracket is an inch lower than the top of your board and batten.   Place a 1x4 pine board on top of the brackets and secure with construction adhesive.  By mounting the brackets an inch lower, your ledge will be nice and flush with the top of the horizontal board and batten board.

4.  Using a power drill, install decorative hooks below the ledge, and finish your display with art, collectables, family photos etc.  

I used an oversize pair of vintage inspired floral prints (found here) to anchor the display.   Then, I added a few of my favorite family photos and sentimental items to compose a layered gallery.  To make this art/photo arrangement easy on the eyes, had my family photos printed in sepia tones and painted simple white mats a soft grayish blue that compliments the lotus flower prints.  To frame my photos, I used thrift store frames in golden tones to unify the collection.  To keep my photos from slipping, I used poster putty under each frame.  If you wanted more security, you could attach a lip to your ledge by gluing a thin piece of molding along the edge of your pine board.

A board and batten ledge could be incorporated either in a small section (as I did here in my master bedroom) or around the entire perimeter of the room.  To see another example of a custom board and batten ledge in a room I designed recently for a client, please click here.  

This project is a great example of how just a small element, like a board and batten ledge can add a lot to your room.  This project took less than an hour to install, I did it all by myself and the total cost was less than $60.  

Thanks for stopping by!

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