My Grandmother's Kitchen Part 2
Here we go! You've been tortured long enough.......
As I began designing the new kitchen I realized the existing layout worked pretty well, the space just needed a few tweaks to boost functionality and aesthetics. Most of the major items (cooktop, refrigerator, sink, dishwasher) stayed in the same location, with the only exception being the oven and the microwave. We decided an oven/micro combo was the way to go, this way the microwave would not take up valuable real estate on the coutntertop. Then we decided to scoot the oven/micro down the wall which increased the amount of continuous counter space considerably.
Next up was the task of pumping up the storage. The first thing on the list was the removal of the soffit at the ceiling. I knew removing the soffit would really open up the kitchen and make the space feel taller. Plus, with no soffit the wall cabinets could go to the ceiling which meant more storage! Next, we removed the current desk and replaced it with a tall pantry cabinet with rollouts. This addition was huge. For 46 years my Grandmother would have to leave the kitchen and go down the hall to the laundry room/pantry to retrieve items. Now, all food and prep items are stored right in the kitchen so everything is within reach.
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As I've mentioned before, today's cabinets have so much more storage potential due to the internal components available. In this space we utilized rollouts, a LeMans corner pullout, deep drawers for pots and pan storage, tray dividers and cutlery and utility dividers to amp up the storage and organization.
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| Deep Drawers for Pots |
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| LeMans Corner Pullout |
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| Cutlery Dividers |
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| Tray Dividers |
The countertops and backsplash add pizazz to this space. For the countertops we decided to go with Cambria, a Quartz product.
I've talked in the past about the benefits of quartz in that it's a man made surface so it is impervious to stains. In my opinion Cambria is by and large the leader in the quartz countertop market because of the depth and movement their colors offer. For my Grandmother's kitchen we decided to go with Torquay, which is a white countertop with beige/gray veining through out. The backsplash is a beveled white marble subway tile with gray grout. The tile is one of my favorite elements in the kitchen. We took the backsplash to the ceiling around the window and on the hood wall; it adds such dimension to the space.
The sink is a Blanco silgranit single bowl sink, color - truffle. I was so excited when my Grandparents chose the truffle color. It's a little outside the box and really works well against the white countertops. The hardware is from Top Knobs and the faucet is a Delta, all in a antiqued brass finish. Fun fact - the faucet is touch activated, my Grandfather who is an electrical engineer was instantly infatuated and convinced that the other faucets in the house were broken because they didn't work the same way! :)
Finally, my favorite elements in the space - the island and the chandelier, both of which remind me of my Grandmother in every way. The island, which fits perfectly in the space is painted the same Anew Gray as the perimeter cabinetry, but it has a dark brown walnut countertop with these delicious knots scattered on top. My Grandmother never had an island and never thought she would because of space restrictions. This island was used in a display in our showroom and when the display was replaced I knew this would be the perfect piece for their kitchen so I snagged it up! The chandelier that hangs above the island is beautiful turned on or turned off. It's got sparkle and shine, just like my Grandmother and really adds a little something extra to the room.
I'm so pleased with how this space turned out. When you walk into the room you enter into a happy, calm, beautiful space, layered with textures and details. Every decision and selection was carefully considered and I think the end results are truly amazing. My Grandmother couldn't wait to get back to cooking and has since made numerous meals in the kitchen. All of the new appliances have taken some getting used to, but she took to the added storage like a fish to water. I'm glad I'm family so I can come visit this beautiful space often, and maybe get some yummy food too!