A large comfortable kitchen is the hub of the American home. One that allows visual contact with the adjoining family room is a dream that many busy families long for. Expand and open your kitchen by removing all or some of the wall, change that doorway to allow for lots of exciting new options. We do it frequently! After only 2-3 days in the project, homeowners realize what a great decision they've made. Even if it's simply opening up that closed off boxy dining room, you're created some wide open spaces. New homes sell us space, space and more space. Try it - guaranteed you'll like it. While you're at it, make that window near the sink larger or at least bring it all the way down to the counter. Again, not a hard project for us professionals, but what a difference it makes!
Very popular today are warm stained and glazed cabinets (distressed or not). They add a beautiful glow to the room. The choices are endless, along with door styles and options galore. Better made cabinets seldom use those nasty "side skins" or wasted space "fillers". You only design the kitchen of your dreams once or twice in a lifetime, don't skimp on the most expensive and important part of the kitchen. "Semi-custom" is the best of all worlds. They have the templates ready to go for the standard sizes needed (helps keep the cost down) but will make any size so we use every inch of your space wisely. Put a wood panel on the front of the integrated dishwasher and you'll have your guests wondering where you hid it. Add as many cabinet accessories as you have room for. A tray base is great storage and only needs 9-12" of space. A double recycle bin in a base cabinet or a spice rack on a door are also great. Use deep full pullout drawers for pots and pans to access them easily.
Granite tops are hot, hot, hot! It is nearly impossible to imagine that these beautiful gems were rocks from some far away land. A trip to a granite shop is one of life's finest lessons (or at least catch it on TV). If semi-annual sealing is a bother, try engineered stone (Vanite, Silestone). It has the same heat, stain and scratch resistance as the granite but less cost and no maintenance. Next in popularity is solid surface (Corian and others). It is non porous, doesn't harbor any bacteria and a perfect choice for a kitchen top. It is not shiny like the others, but comes in more than 140 colors, many of them "granite looking" and is easy to repair!! Countertops can come with fancy edges, plain edges - more choices for you. Limestone, concrete and tile are available, but seem to be a whole lot more bothersome (and frequently very expensive). Add an undermount sinkbowl to that counter and there is no ugly rim to catch debris and never a leak. If you're buying new appliances, co-ordinate a stainless steel sink (lots of new shapes nowadays) with stainless appliances. Top it off with a one piece pullout faucet - easy to use and clean around. Brushed nickel and bronze are the most popular finishes (no finger prints!). If the budget allows, add a pot filler at the stove. They're perfect for filling stock pots for that pasta dinner.
Finish the project with a warm wood floor or ceramic (how about a random pattern or on the diagonal); a beautiful ceramic backsplash, a little faux painting and you have the kitchen of your dreams. We can do all this in 4-6 weeks from start to finish. Remember to allow yourself plenty of decision making time - it is so exciting! Stop in our showroom - we have lots of wonderful things to see! Or - visit us at www.clarkremodeling.com
Sue Clark, Clark Construction
bp courier
May/June 2006