My rent had just gone up…again. And with overhead, it didn’t seem sensible to keep the showroom open. So, I decided to close it.
As I sold off displays, a contractor called and said he was working on several kitchen projects. “Are you in or out?” he asked. I decided to look at them.
I brought along door samples, color blocks and brochures. The homeowners selected what they liked. What I didn’t have, I promised to get. Then, we kicked around designs based on how they wanted the kitchen to look and work. I could immediately show them what worked…and what didn’t.
Then it hit me. If I could bring the showroom to the homeowner’s kitchen table, I’d save us both time, money and aggravation. It was my ‘light bulb’ moment. And for 16 years, homeowners have been telling me they love it!
Here’s the thing. When you’re paying for a showroom, the big trick is to get people into it and ‘wow’ them with gorgeous displays. But what looks great in a showroom may not look good or work in your home.
Now, don’t let the simplicity of my ‘big idea’ fool you. Read more about our process. If you still don’t think it’s for you, go ahead and troll the showrooms. After you’re thoroughly confused, call me. Because I promise, I’ll help you create a kitchen that will be a source of pleasure and pride for years to come.
Each one reflects the style, aspirations, and conflicting needs of an individual family. The solution, as you can see in the kitchens presented here, is as different as each family.
Few homeowners have the knowledge and expertise to manage a major kitchen renovation, much less an entire house. Fortunately, Daphne and her husband had the advantage of working in the trades. And their professional experience proved invaluable throughout the months-long project.
The couple intended to re-imagine the living space for the entire house. On the main floor, the interior walls were coming down and it would be my responsibility to help them create a unique kitchen space within this soon-to-be great room.
We faced several challenges. For one thing, Daphne and her husband led busy lives and were renting an apartment while work went on at their house. That meant meetings at both locations, multiple times, at night and on weekends, to look at door samples and color blocks until Daphne was satisfied with her choices.
The aesthetics proved equally challenging as Daphne sought a modern interpretation of a country-style kitchen. Cabinetry with inset doors and drawers and a farm sink reflected a country aesthetic, while the door style, wood and finish presented a more contemporary look.
Then we tackled the design. The big trick here was to listen to what Daphne and her husband wanted. Running through some design concepts helped them select the major elements of the design: cabinetry, appliances, fixtures and accessories. By doing this on the job site, we could visualize how their one-of-a-kind kitchen would come together.
We decided to make the stove area a focal point of the kitchen. We customized an oversized wood hood with large, recessed corbels and placed beefy turnings on either side of the stove. Then the window opening was positioned so that a symmetrical group of wall cabinets with upper glass doors would fit properly.
To strengthen the country-style design theme, we added an end cap with corbels and a wainscot back panel to the island. Finally, we used transom wall cabinetry to take advantage of the oversized room height.
Kitchen design is truly a partnership between the client, the kitchen designer and the general contractor. For the whole story, feel free to contact me.
Her townhouse in Hastings-on-Hudson was stylishly furnished and decorated, yet surprisingly warm and inviting. So, when Sharon asked me to help her with the design and selection of cabinetry, counter tops and accessories for her new kitchen, I knew she wanted to create a special room.
We faced two challenges. To begin with, while the townhouse had plenty of living space, storage on the main floor was limited. Secondly, given the narrow width of the kitchen, a corridor or galley cabinet configuration was the only feasible design. While corridor-style kitchens are quite functional, they are also often aesthetically boring.
As it turned out, selecting the cabinetry was the easy part. After reviewing cabinetry door styles with Sharon, we narrowed it down to those with a recessed flat panel and matching drawer. Sharon was also dead set on a white opaque finish on maple wood, so I returned to her home with a full range of Shaker-door styles and a box of color blocks.
Once Sharon made her selections, I ordered a fresh door sample from the factory to confirm her decisions. That proved useful when she went to select tile and other decorative materials for the kitchen.
Frankly, the real challenge was the cabinet design. Specifically, how much and what kind of pantry storage, where to put the appliances and fixtures, how to balance the counter top spacing, and, above all, how to avoid a monotonous run of cabinets. All this, and it had to be pretty!
I came up with a three-part design solution:
Kitchen design is truly a partnership between the client, the kitchen designer and the general contractor. For the whole story, feel free to contact me.
The Kitchen Loft offers a unique ‘in-the-home’ kitchen design experience. I’ll help you select the cabinetry of your choice and propose design alternatives to make your storage and floor space work harder. All of this is done in the home, where you can easily visualize all the available options.
Here’s how it works:
According to a recent study, homeowners visit an average of 8.1 showrooms before making a remodeling decision! Why go through all that when I can bring all the options to you?
Imagine…
It’s not magic. I’ve simply learned, over 25 years, to listen to what my clients want. Then I help them achieve it. And, I can promise you this: together, we’ll transform your old kitchen into a wonderful space that will be a source of pleasure and pride for years to come.
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914.237.0393 or michael@thekitchenloft.com
and we'll schedule a no obligation meeting at your home.
