Tag Archives: KitchenCountertops

Project Highlight: Creating an Open-Concept Kitchen

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Removing walls between a kitchen and an adjacent room is a common way to create a more open feel for a closed-in kitchen. However, many homeowners do not realize how bulkheads can make a kitchen appear small as well. Popular in many homes from the 80s and 90s, bulkheads are structures that fill in the space between the top of cabinetry and the ceiling. Bulkheads were also used over kitchen islands to house canned lighting. For this homeowner, removing outdated features and bringing in taller wall cabinets and pendant lighting had a huge impact on remodeling their new open-concept kitchen.

ORIGINAL KITCHEN: This home was built in 1985 in the Thistlewood subdivision on the west side of Carmel, IN. The homeowners had been living there since 2000. When asked why they wanted to remodel, their response was, “It was time to update. We always hang out in the kitchen and we had been thinking about remodeling for a couple of years. We like the neighborhood and our neighbors, and we wanted to stay put!” The homeowners were looking to open up their kitchen to the adjacent family room, as well as to create a more spacious feel in the work area.

REMOVING WALLS: A structural engineer was brought in to determine if the wall separating the kitchen from the family room was load bearing. It turned out to be non-load bearing, which made it economical to completely remove the wall and open up the two rooms.  “We are so glad we had the wall taken down between the kitchen and the family room. What a dramatic difference it makes in opening up the entire house.”

NIXING THE BULKHEADS: In the kitchen, the existing bulkheads were removed and new maple wall cabinets that extended to the ceiling were installed. The addition of decorative two-piece crown molding added to the feeling of height. The taller cabinets were especially beneficial to the homeowners, who stated, “We’ve increased our storage capacity tremendously with the new cabinetry.”

DESIGN FEATURES: The new cabinetry featured raise- panel full-overlay doors, flat slab drawers, dovetail drawer boxes and full-extension drawer glides, and were painted in cashmere white. Existing lighting was relocated for better ambient and task illumination. Decorative pendants were added over the peninsula as accent lighting.  Other updates included a stone-tile backsplash, under-cabinet lighting, and countertops in India Copper Brown granite.

FINAL RESULT: The homeowner commented, “Our newly remodeled kitchen area is warm and inviting. The designers were able to capture the reflection of our style. Our home seems more up-to-date and really brings our whole house together. We absolutely love it!”

When designing your open-concept kitchen remodel, do not forget about the benefits of removing bulkheads. You will not only create a more spacious feel. You will also gain more storage and better lighting options. For more advice on open-concept kitchen remodeling, send us an email, or give us a call at 317-846-2600.

Photo Review: CaseIndy Kitchen Remodels of 2012

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As the year comes to a close, we are taking a look back at many of the kitchen remodels we were fortunate to build in 2012. From just replacing countertops and lighting, to completely revamping the functionality and flow, all of our projects have brought something new to our clients.

The cosmetic upgrades transformed this kitchen from dated to like-new. Painting existing cabinetry, installing new flooring, countertops and tile backsplash, as well as bringing in new appliances gave the homeowners the look they desired.

Knocking down walls to open up a cramped kitchen was just one design element of this 2012 remodeling project. Paying homage to the homeowners’ love of mid-century style was the main focus. The painted glass backsplash is just one of the highlights of this fabulous space.

These homeowners opted to keep their original cabinets and layout, which worked well for their family.  Updating their countertops and adding tile backsplashes and undercabinet lighting was just what they wanted for their kitchen.

Painting and adding trim to original cabinetry was a cost-effective option to freshen up this light-filled kitchen. Taking it a step further with new countertops and appliances finished off the space.

We transformed this small galley kitchen lacking in counter space into an open, light-filled entertaining destination. Mixing black and white is a look that has worked for Indianapolis area homeowners for a few years now.

Reconfiguring a floor plan to reflect how your family uses your space can make your home more functional. These homeowners had us move the dining room so they could expand their kitchen. According to the homeowners, “We are very happy we made the decision to go with the new configuration. The new design opened up the space, so now we have room to maneuver around, cook and entertain.”

Not enough storage or serving surfaces for entertaining? Installing cabinetry with the look of furniture solved that issue for these clients. In this kitchen, the original cabinets were painted to refresh the space. These new cabinets were chosen to compliment the style of the rest of the kitchen, and painted to match.

Many homeowners are taking advantage of the new shapes and textures available in tile these days. In this kitchen, the backsplash tile does not overpower the light-colored countertop while providing visual interest and depth to the flat surface.

Creative design ended up being the key to solving space issues in this narrow kitchen. According to the homeowner, “The old peninsula tended to trap people in the narrow kitchen when we were entertaining.” We kept the peninsula, but with a twist, opening up the space and greatly improving flow. Spectacular finishes topped off the remodel.

White cabinetry continued to be popular in 2012. In this kitchen, our design brought in a cottage look, with combining cabinet styles and adding bead board to the island. Bringing in different countertops for the perimeter and the island was a popular design choice this year as well.

Mixing the two very different styles of these homeowners was a fun challenge for our designers. Bringing modern elements into a traditional design made for a stunning outcome. These light fixtures many win the Funkiest of the Year award!

We are honored to have been a part of these kitchen transformations this year. Do you have a favorite? We’d love to hear which space sparks your creativity.

 

Project Highlight: Creating a More Functional Kitchen for a Family

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It seems that every day we have homeowners asking us to help them create a more functional kitchen. What used to work for them no longer serves their needs. Small cabinets, poor ventilation, and inadequate lighting or counter space are just a few examples of the complaints we hear. The evolution of kitchen design and materials has focused on increasing functionality without sacrificing style. In this kitchen remodel, we brought in a new design that better suited this busy family.

ORIGINAL KITCHEN: The home was built in 2001 within the Springknoll subdivision in Zionsville. The homeowners had lived in the home for almost nine years before they decided to create a more functional kitchen for their family. According to the homeowners, “The island was too small, the breakfast nook was not used, the cabinets were getting beat up and the appliances were outdated. Also, we wanted to put in a wine refrigerator. We spend most of our family time in the kitchen. We have two boys, nine and 12, and we needed better space for us all.”

CREATING NEW FUNCTIONALITY: The new design centered on creating space for family activities. We eliminated the unused breakfast nook area and used the additional space to fit a new, much larger island. The island now serves as an eating, food prep and work area. By moving the microwave into the island, it became more accessible for the kids, and allowed for better ventilation over the stove. A built-in buffet area provided the space for the wine fridge, storage and entertaining area they desired.

MATERIAL DETAILS: Along with the island, new perimeter cabinetry was also installed. All were full overlay semi-custom in a Heritage door-style, with the perimeter in painted white and the island in painted black. All drawers were upgraded to five-piece, full extension and soft close. The island overhang was supported by decorative turned legs. New glass doors were installed for the wall cabinets above the dry bar area. For the countertops, granite in a Blue-Eyes color was chosen. The backsplash is Adex-beveled subway tile in Neri White, installed in a staggered pattern with white grout.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK: The homeowner commented, “We love the island. We eat around the island all of the time. We don’t have a dining room so everything is centered in the kitchen. We love the color contrast between the island and the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen. We love the granite that was chosen. The colors are black, gray and white. The granite has a blue design in it that is a rare find. The design stands out with the fixtures chosen during our remodel design phase. It is just a nice subtle look. It’s been a great experience for all of us in our new and functioning kitchen.”

For many, the kitchen is the center of family activities. Having a kitchen designed around how your family uses the space makes spending time in there even more enjoyable! Have one of our designers out to your home for a free, no-obligation consultation to see how your kitchen could benefit from a functionality makeover. Give us a call at 317-846-2600 or click here to send us an email.

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