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| Baker's
Delight |
This
kitchen was the victim of a previous remodel that left
it with a royal blue formica countertop, and a less
than ideal workspace for the avid baker and cook who
now resides in the home. The homeowner had just finished
baking 200 breads over the past year and the 30-year
old range was on its last leg. The time for a remodel
had definitely arrived.
Challenges
Without adding to the footprint of the kitchen
we needed to create a more functional workspace, pantry,
baking station, and eat-in area. The windows on the
East wall framed a view of the garden they did not
want to lose. In addition, they wanted the remodel
to be Green.
Solutions
We began by removing the radiator and replacing it
with hydronic in-floor heat. Foil-face rigid insulation
in the joist bays helps to keep the heat in the kitchen.
Layers of flooring were removed, a new subfloor was
installed, and a new Lyptus hardwood floor was installed
that matched the height of the dining room floor.
The removal of the radiator allowed us to create an
eat-in area on the East side of the kitchen by continuing
the countertop around the room. This serves two functions;
first, it provides more work space, and second, it
creates a place to enjoy the morning sun with a cup
of coffee.
To bring more light into the home we added two fixed
windows on the North wall with custom muntins to match
the home's existing pattern. With the North and East
walls of the kitchen free of cabinets and full of natural
light the kitchen feels larger and more comfortable.
By borrowing half of an awkward coat closet and removing
one of the three entry points into the kitchen, we
were able to build a full baking station complete with
a Wolf oven, ample storage, floor to ceiling wine cubbies,
and a recess for a step stool.
One of the most impactful changes we made was to shift
the entrance to the basement 8' to the West. This
seemingly small adjustment improved the flow into the
kitchen, allowed for the work counter to be extended,
and provided an easy to access angled pantry that includes
a recycling center.
The cabinets were built locally out of alder and no
added formaldehyede plywood. The countertops are all
remnant granite. Three different stones are brought
together, shifting from light to dark and adding to
the sense of space.
Other features include Eco-Resin panels in the cabinet
doors, Viking cooktop, hand-crafted light fixtures,
and Italian hardware. A high recyceled content tile
is cut to create a unique custom backsplash.
The transformation is dramatic, and the myrid of features
are seamlessly integrated creating a clean, simple
kitchen that is fun to work in, eat in, and live in. |
