Week 2: Sunset Dream House

So this is week 2 over at the Sunset Dream Kitchen. The kitchen has a clean slate in spic and span "remodel mode" ready for the work to begin.

Last week was your chance to vote for the floor plan. Mind you, the process shown over at Sunset Dream Home is a condensed version of the remodeling process. In theory, it would be fantastic if decisions where made in rapid sequence, so don't fret if you were not as quick as this. Also, what I would have liked to have seen was the initial step, establishing a budget. The drawings are absolutely stunning and all equally expensive, but in order to get to that step, and spend the time drawing up these options, the qualifier is establishing the budget. Otherwise, no matter how phenomenal the design, if the client can't afford it, it will never get built. End of reality check. Onward.

Obviously, this is for show and Sunset has the budget. I mean, we are talking "The Dream Kitchen of the West" with sponsors including GE Monogram (appliances), Teragren (counters), Kohler (plumbing), Armstrong (flooring), and Benjamin-Moore (paint). Ah! Don't wake me up, let me dream.

"We wanted to come up with a 21st century take on our original Idea House

concept," said Katie Tamony, Sunset's editor-in-chief. "The Dream Kitchen of

the West is our Idea House 2.0."

I liked two of the plans and it was a toss up as to which one was my favorite. I liked plan 1, The Eco Kitchen because it had banquette seating and island seating. In a large space, it's great to have room to spread out with two seating areas. Not every one likes sitting at an island for too long.

But, plan two is also pretty awesome as well. Who wouldn't love this entertainer's dream kitchen? With two wine refrigerators, a beverage center, and ice machine for the ultimate cocktail party. Oh, go on! Someone bring me a cocktail. Not to mention the professional range and warming drawers, double ovens and a secondary prep sink at the island. Fabulous amenities perfect for catered parties. Even Martha would be envious of this layout.

The viewers agreed, Plan Two, The Entertainer's Kitchen took 36% of the vote and shows that glam is in, baby!

This week is your chance to vote for the cabinetry finishes. I have already voted for my favorite, have you?

Each week for ten weeks, new sponsor products, kitchen finishes, features and colors will be presented on the website for an online vote. The completed kitchen, which will incorporate the winners of each vote, will be revealed the week of June 1 on Sunset.com and will be featured in the October issue of Sunset Magazine.

In addition to casting their votes on the Dream Kitchen of the West website, users can visit the site to watch the Dream Kitchen come to life via photos, video, articles and blog posts.

"Whether remodeling this year, or farther down the road, Sunset's Dream Kitchen gives visitors the opportunity to practice making smart design decisions as they consider all that goes into designing the most important room in the house," continued Tamony. Visitors to the Dream Kitchen of the West website can register daily to win $10,000 and one day of on-site consultation from a Sunset style editor. The sweepstakes winner will be announced June 10, 2009.

Read more...

Updating a 60's kitchen

This year one of my projects was a kitchen remodel in a 1961 ranch style home.
Poorly planned, and then updated once in the '70's, this kitchen was stuck in a time warp.

Sink and cook top location in tight quarters.

A peninsula partition, anchored between a double oven and a desk cuts the kitchen in half.

An energy efficient refrigerator will replace this one.

Booth seating remodel from the 70's. Homeowner added seating in the kitchen in place of the washer and dryer. Everything about this kitchen was cramped.

The jog in the wall behind the bench seating is the water heater room.

View of the kitchen window, exterior door to side yard, and water heater room. Budget was cost prohibitive to expand the kitchen footprint out another 6 ft. Next best plan was to frame out the bay window.

One of the goals of the project was to make this kitchen pet friendly. The design changed slightly from the original concept to include a doggy door direct to the side yard for the family dog, Angel. Another feature added to the project was the inclusion of a desk and a doggy diner. The water heater was jettisoned to the garage to gain a desk.

Selection of the new cabinet color is discussed. None of these colors were selected. Cherry wood in Nutmeg stain by Dynasty by Omega in the Brookside door was ultimately selected.

The slabs are selected and the deposit is paid.

View into the kitchen. This door will be closed off in order to get a better floor plan. The doggy door access was included again in a new door.

Demolition begins. The water heater accessed from the outside will be relocated to the garage.

Water heater gone. The footprint for the water heater closet now part of kitchen. Sheer wall framed. Electrical wiring underway.

The bay window wall framing begins. Gas meter relocated. Framing for side door in place.

Door to garage is framed.

Red flag up on mail box. Message from Lead Carpenter to Homeowner.

Bay window in framing.

Renewal by Anderson Windows are in.

The kitchen was very small, apartment sized, due to the peninsula wall holding the double oven and awkward counter space.

Arched opening enhanced with double wall framing.

Peninsula gone, drywall in, kitchen beginning to take shape. Temporary sink left on site for homeowner's convenience.

Cabinets are being installed.

The cabinets are measured for granite and the fabrication of the counters begins by All Natural Stone Design.

The completed kitchen. Cabinets from Dynasty by Omega in Brookside Raised, Cherry Nutmeg. GE Appliances from Warehouse Discount Center.


Furniture selection, upholstery and window coverings by Interior Designer Holly Higbee Jansen, of Higbee Jansen Design.


The exterior door to side yard and to the garage is in place. Notice the clever repetition shown in the detail of the window curtain duplicating the arch of the adjacent door. Your eye is distracted from the rectangular shape of the glass insert. A creative way of handling obstacles.

Client's wishes accomplished: Desk, Banquette, Dog Diner, Dog door, Island, Double ovens, 36" cook top.

Project complete.

Read more...

Pillow Talk

Now that spring is before us, we look around our homes for a fresh approach.
Short on cash and big on ideas does not mean you are limited for a fresh look.

Human beings have an innate desire for change. We want to try out the newest restaurants, see the latest movies, we change our clothes to fit the season, we change our hairstyle to lift our spirits and remain current, why not freshen up our furnishings to welcome the new seasons?

Fresh flowers are temporary, paint is a weekend project, slipcovers are costly.
Pillows are the answer. Pillows are one of the few items you can count on that is easy on the budget and delightful in your space to bring in a fresh design statement. Pillows in the kitchen? Well, but of course!

Feel free to try something new. Do you have a banquette that could use a little more comfort? Add two or three toss pillows for cushy back support.

Has anyone been able to sit in a Ladder Back or Windsor chair and can say without wincing that they are comfortable for more than 15 minutes? A little back support goes a long way on a Sunday morning while reading The Sunday Times from cover to cover. I added a new toss pillow for my desk chair at home last month and love the extra comfort level and like looking at a cheerful new pattern. Will I keep that pillow forever? No! They are so inexpensive, I bought mine for under $20. I will toss when I am tired of the look and select another.

The pillows shown here are from a lovely web store called Pillow Decor. I am impressed with the multitude of colors, patterns and shapes. Great store. Have a visit and see for yourself.
Cheers!

Read more...

Seating Arrangements in the Kitchen

When personalizing a kitchen, the seating area is the area to make a statement.

Embellish,
Streamline,
Simplify,
Colorize.
Expand.

Take a kitchen from functional to fabulous.
Here are some of my favorites.

SO INVITING...

At the far end of the kitchen, an 18th-century French farm table is lit by a three-bulb version of the pendants over the kitchen island.
The reproduction Thonet dining chairs came from Paris. Notice the dark wood hutch, a family heirloom, with gleaming white ceramic and ironstone pieces the homeowner collects.
As seen in House Beautiful.



CLARITY...
Modern dining room featured in House Beautiful December 2006 issue.



COLOR + TEXTURE = A+

AND MORE COLOR...

On the cabinets, high-gloss paint--Benjamin Moore's White Dove--easily wipes clean and is set off by custom-colored grass-green walls.
The 48-inch gas range is by Wolf. The Country Kitchen sink is paired with the Amarilis Heritage faucet, both by American Standard. Click here for House Beautiful article.


MINIMALISTIC = MAXIMUM IMPACT

Bruck Rainbow LED lights hang over the island. The Onda stools are from Design Within Reach. The white stacking vases are by Pascal Mourgue, from Ligne Roset.
Featured in House Beautiful April 2007 issue.


MONOCHROMATIC MINIMALISM CAN BE COZY

New traditional kitchen featured in March 2006 House Beautiful issue.


WHERE LESS IS MORE

Modern open-plan kitchen featured in House Beautiful April 2006 issue. For link click here.


A CASUAL GREAT ROOM WHERE THE KITCHEN BLENDS IN

It's easy to live in designer Eldon Wong's kitchen because it blends so seamlessly with the family room. For more information, click here.

PARTY OF SIX? PONY UP TO THE SNACK BAR!

The client's love for Swedish style inspired the cabinetry, custom-made by Kevin Ritter. The 5-burner Diva de Provence induction cooktop delivers over 89,000 BTUs. The 36-inch dual convection oven is by Wolf. Wilt pendant lights from LBL Lighting. As seen in House Beautiful.

FORMALLY ATTIRED AND NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Seating with the added feature of storage is the added bonus.
This from Better Homes and Gardens where you may view some 50 plus styles of banquettes and seating areas.


WHERE INNOVATION IS THE MOTHER OF REINVENTION.
This is Susan Serra's kitchen. Cozy!
Great place for luxuriating over the Sunday paper. Love it!

Read more...