A tale of three kitchensBy Christina Kleiner | Photos by Joe Traina

There is usually a story behind every great kitchen. Sometimes the story is about

the exotic materials used to create the kitchen or the unique appliances that per-

form all sorts of culinary tasks. But the heart of the story always leads back to one

element—the homeowners’ needs and desires. ● The three couples featured in

the following pages each share their own stories about the journey that led them

to the home, and kitchen, they’re living in today.

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Preserving a bit of historyAlex and Melanie Walter purchased their home in Hyde Park three years ago. “We loved the historic nature of the neighborhood and the character of the home,” Melanie says.

When the Walters first moved into their home, which was built in the early 1900s, they had only planned to paint the walls and do a few minor repairs. “But that changed when we got to the kitchen,” Melanie recalls. “The cream cabinets were original to the house and they were so outdated, especially when compared to the freshly painted walls in the rest of the house.”

The couple didn’t have to go far to find a company to create a fresh, updated kitchen in their historic home. “We’re friends with James (Ramos) and Matt (Gataky). We were talking about remodeling the kitchen one night, they came back with some ideas, and one thing led to another. They’re friends, and we knew their work, so we trusted them.”

Ramos and Gataky, co-owners of Ramos Design Build Corporation, set out to create a kitchen to complement the home’s rich heritage and history. “We gutted the entire kitchen, but kept the same galley-style footprint,” Gataky says.

Since the kitchen is visible from the front door, Gataky and Ramos wanted the atmo-sphere to be light and bright. Cheerful cabinetry painted Dove White, an elaborate cus-tom range hood and Persia Pearl granite countertops keep the charming aura of the old house intact. Melanie says she took her time when it came to selecting the backsplash, which is comprised of 12x24-inch floor tile. “Since our granite countertops are so busy, Alex and I wanted something understated and easy to clean,” she explains.

Gataky agrees with her backsplash choice. “The tile gives the kitchen a one-of-a-kind look,” he says. “As we laid the tile horizontal, it definitely opens the space up and makes the room appear even larger.”

Despite not changing the footprint, Melanie can’t get over how much more functional the kitchen has become. “I have so much more storage and cooking has become fun for us,” she says. “We love every single thing about it.”

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LEFT: This 1900s home in historic Hyde Park features a galley-style kitchen. ABOVE LEFT: The backsplash is comprised of 12x24-inch floor tile. ABOVE RIGHT: The custom maple range hood blends in with the traditional decor.

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Quality family timeDr. Raviender and Lavanya Bukkapatnam are able to accomplish one feat most of us rarely get to enjoy—family dinners. “We sit down with our two children for dinner at least six times a week,” Dr. Bukkapatnam says. “We make sure to use this time to talk, go over home-work or just enjoy each other’s company for a few minutes.”

The Bukkapatnams say their family was their top priority when they hired Ramos and Gataky to design and build their home. The couple wanted to follow proper Vaastu protocol, which is the Hindu equivalent of feng shui with religious foundations, when it came to the design of the house. By following Vaastu beliefs, which include placing the kitchen in the southeast corner, the design of a home is directly related to balance, health, harmony and peace.

“This was very important to them, along with creating a large, open space where the family could gather for meals or entertain guests,” Gataky says.

To accommodate the size of the room, Gataky took the cabinets all the way up to the 10-foot ceilings. The upper cabinets feature dense seedy glass doors and down-lighting to break up the Perfect Brown maple cabinetry featuring a hazelnut glaze. To offset the dark cabinets, the Bukkapatnams selected light Snow Pearl granite for the perimeter counter-tops and backsplash, which also creates a very smooth transition from counter to wall.

Dr. Bukkapatnam is especially proud of the large, piano-shaped island in the center of the kitchen. “We have a grand piano in the house and we’re a very musical family. So I thought carrying that element over into the kitchen would add some unique character,” he says.

The island, topped with dark Diamond Crystal granite, not only provides plenty of extra counter space, it also holds a prep sink, beverage center, warming drawer and gar-bage and recycling cabinet. “This is undoubtedly the focal piece in the kitchen,” Gataky says. “It really makes a statement, while at the same time it is a very functional asset to the space.”

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LEFT: The maple cabinetry soars to the 10-foot ceilings, offering a plethora of cabinet space. ABOVE LEFT: Stainless steel appliances, including a massive refrigerator and double ovens, are built into the cabinetry. ABOVE RIGHT: The center island is shaped like a grand piano and is topped with Diamond Crystal granite.

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A black and white designKathy Hill says her husband, Tyler, was instrumental in creating the design of their kitchen remodel in their South Tampa home. “He was fully invested and had many ideas when it came to the design,” she explains.

The Hills say a friend referred them to Ramos Design Build Corporation. Tyler had some rough drawings and magazine clip-pings that he handed over to Ramos and Gataky to perfect. “Once again, the size of this kitchen wasn’t going to change,” explains Gataky. “We did make a few minor wall modifications to give them a new pantry and laundry room.”

The light decor, including white cabinetry, Gold Beach granite on the perimeter countertops and the white subway tile back-splash, create a clean, refined look. Kathy says it was Tyler who suggested topping the island with black granite. “I like everything to be the same,” she says with a laugh. “I was nervous at first, but as soon as it was installed I was amazed. It is striking and prob-ably our favorite element in the kitchen.”

Gataky couldn’t agree more. “It might be the best feature. This is definitely one kitchen we won’t forget. That island features the largest granite slab we’ve ever installed. There isn’t a single seam and it looks perfect.”

Kathy says she and Tyler knew they would have to renovate the kitchen when they bought the house six years ago. “It took us a while to take the leap, but now we love it when people visit, we love cooking and we love the way everything flows together.”

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LEFT: The oversized island resembles a piece of furniture and is topped with Black Bird granite. ABOVE: The backsplash is comprised of white subway tile, creating a seamless look along the perimeter wall.