The young, professional couple in this turn-of-the-century craftsman home loves to cook and had a clear sense of their priorities when they decided to remodel their kitchen. First, the family is highly committed to sustainable building and having a healthy home. Second, the couple wanted a design that would respect the traditional character of their home. Finally, they wanted a kitchen with increased functionality and storage space. As the couple had a baby on the way, they knew they would be spending a lot more time in the kitchen in the coming years.
Model Remodel’s in-house designer laid out a space that helped the family hit their priority list. For sustainability and a healthy home, she helped the couple pick all wood cabinets with no urea formaldehydes, LED lights, low-VOC finishes, backsplash tiles with a recycled glaze, and cork floors. In addition, they were sure to pick durable materials that would stand the test of time.
To be true to the character of the craftsman home and avoid something that felt too modern, the couple chose antique-looking cabinet pulls and light fixtures, as well as traditional inset Shaker-style cabinets. The kitchen looks as if it had always been part of the home but with all of the latest modern conveniences. At one of the first design meetings, the couple showed the designer an image of a kitchen with turn-of-the-century Parisian influence. The designer used that inspiration to create a warm space where she imagined the couple enjoying a lazy weekend morning together– French press coffee, flaky pastries and the Sunday Times.
Finally, for the all-important increased functionality of the kitchen, the team created more storage space with a walk-in pantry and custom-cabinet solutions. Everything can now fit behind a closed door, which leaves the counter free of clutter. The Model Remodel crew took out a half-height and a full-height wall to open the space up to the dining room and let in light. Two of the kitchen outlets even have USB hubs, so the couple can plug their iPad in while cooking off of an online recipe.
Photo credit: Cindy Apple Photography
