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The Art of Luxury Living©

KITCHENSKITCHENSBY PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS® TWENTY FIRST EDITION

hy are we seeing such anincreasing interest in kitchen

renovations lately?

As recently as a few short yearsago there were many enormoushomes being built all around thenation and sub-divisions weregoing up by the thousands. Duringthat same period of time manyhome buyers thought nothing ofpurchasing houses for the land,location, or view, then tearingthem down to rebuild their newhome. Today for many, this is a thing of the past.

We are seeing a shift ofdownsizing to more modest-sizedhomes and deciding to renovatethem or their existing dwellings.The main factors behind this trend are shifts in the economy,lifestyle changes and the growingconcern for the environment. The economic rationale speaks for itself. As for lifestyle changes,people are seeking to live morecomfortably and are realizing thattheir quality of life is what reallymatters. The biggest home on the block is no longer the dream.

A Change in the AirBy Tereza Hello and Leigh Ann HelloThe Cabinet Studio (Canada) Inc.

Move into the kitchen you’ve alwayswanted without changing your address.

A contemporary facelift was just the ticket for this kitchen. Niches were added with tailoredfurniture-like cabinetry to showcase the special cookware and art pieces. Design by TerezaHello, The Cabinet Studio (Canada) Inc.

W

A place to come home to relaxand enjoy with their family seemsto be the direction people areheaded. Furthermore, as individualsbecome more sensitive to theenvironmental issues that are facingnot only this generation but alsogenerations to come, we will see this shift in downsizing.

Renovations will increase aspeople try to incorporate smarter choices of materials and resources into their homes.Reconstruction of existing homesis as popular as utilizing vintage

furniture in new spaces. The notionof “what once was old is new again”is quickly becoming the rage. Makeno mistake; huge homes will still be built but all indications for thefuture point toward downsizing and renovating.

Now why are kitchens so popularwhen it comes to renovations?The obvious reason is becausethe kitchen is one of the mainfactors in determining the returnyou will receive when you sellyour home. Regardless ofwhether you are planning to sellor not, the biggest reason for the kitchen renovation is that

this room is the heart of your home.The kitchen we once knew is nowbeing transformed into more of amulti-purpose room. We no longersimply cook meals in the kitchen.This is where we eat, do homework,watch television and even entertain

28 � KITCHENS XXI

After: Every inch of this kitchen space was carefully considered when planning the renovation. Newcabinetry is taken to the ceiling, increasing storage space. Design by Tereza and Leigh Ann Hello, The Cabinet Studio (Canada) Inc.

Before

Below and inset: This cottage-styled kitchen from Dura Supreme features fresh, crisp paint hues inspiredby sand and sea. Traditional details like apothecary drawers, beadboard doors, and subway tilecomplete this timeless look.

our guests. This increased use andfunction of the kitchen lends itself to the desire for people tocompletely revamp this space.

This being said, the thought ofrenovating can be a daunting task.Once the decision has been made,you may feel overwhelmed orconfused about where to begin. A good place to start is to establishthe motivation behind yourrenovation. The underlying reasonsmay either be the style of thekitchen doesn’t fit your personaltastes or the kitchen is no longerfunctional for your lifestyle. Thedesire for a change could also be a mix of the two. Quite possibly thereason may be that the space neverlooked or flowed properly right fromthe start.

Interior sliding drawers create easy accessstorage. Wood-Mode Cabinetry.

An appliance garage conceals a bar area.“Italian Villa” from Wood-Mode Cabinetry.

The kitchen space is defined yet within view to the adjacent spaces with the use of open cabinetry from Quality Custom Cabinetry. Design by Nick DiPierro, Showcase Kitchens, Inc., Mount Kisco, NY. Photography: David R. Sloane.

Determining why you want torenovate will help you gauge thedegree of renovation you willundertake. If the need for a changeis to bring the room in line withyour style, all that may be requiredis a simple tweaking by your kitchendesigner. However, if the change isbecause the room doesn’t functionthe way you would like or need it to,then you are ready for a fulltransformation.

Once you’ve decided whether you are going to undergo a complete kitchen renovation or a minor makeover, thenext decision you will need to make is to find a kitchendesigner to help you through the rest of this excitingprocess. Together you will discuss your budget anddetermine the design elements and style you want toincorporate into the space. You will need to decide whatis and isn’t currently working for you in your existingkitchen and finally establish a game plan to make yourdreams become reality.

The key to having a successful renovation is to makesure that you choose a professional that can implementtheir promises. Customer service is and should be the

30 � KITCHENS XXI

Before

After: Above, this kitchen now has a focalpoint: the new cooking area features acommercial style range with custom limestonehood hearth above. The cook has increasedeffiency with the additional wall oven. Designby Tereza and Leigh Ann Hello, The CabinetStudio (Canada) Inc.

Determining why you

want to renovate will

help you gauge the degree

of renovation you

will undertake.

After: Below, an under-utilized space nowfeatures additional storage above and below.The beautiful seeded glass doors add characterwith a sense of nostalgia. Design by Terezaand Leigh Ann Hello, The Cabinet Studio(Canada) Inc.

top priority with any company youhire. Referrals are paramount.Speak candidly with them and findout how they enjoyed the entirerenovation and if promises were metand nothing was compromised.

How do you decide which kitchendesigner to hire? Finding theprofessional that fits you, yourfamily, and your personality is key.You will be spending a lot of timewith this person in the comingmonths so it is important to take the time in the beginning to makesure you feel very comfortable withthe designer you choose. You mustbe comfortable not only in thedesigners’ creative ability but alsotheir business ethics, and how wellyou interact with each other. Youmust be able to rely on this personcompletely. You will be entrustingthis individual with not onlydesigning your kitchen but also with your money, time, sanity and your family’s comfort. It is

important that above all else you are able to speak openly with yourdesigner in order to always be on

the same page throughout the entireprocess. Your trust will allow you tofeed off of each other and this inturn will help you both determinethe best use of the space. A designerwith no design limitations will beable to see the potential in yourexisting home and will better helpyou achieve your dream.

Keep in mind you may have someideas that may not be achievable,but your professional will be able to help you with making the suitabledecisions. On the same token yourdesigner may have a vision that youmay not want to live with. You bothshould be weighing out the pros and cons of what you want andwhat your kitchen designerenvisions, remembering that this is a partnership. Fairly consider any suggested ideas that fall outside of your comfort zone, as this may be exactly what the design needs to achieve outstanding results.

Sometimes the most overwhelmingpart of renovating is just gettingstarted. The best way to get on trackis to see the big picture of what this

An ultra-modern European kitchen features Italian cabinetry and bright quartz surfaces. DesignerAmir J. Ilin of Küche + Cucina, Paramus, NJ, pairs the Integra Collection from Pedini Cabinetry withCaesarstone countertops. Photography: Peter Rymwid.

With the creative use of cabinetry interiors, your new kitchen will be just as organized and efficientas it will be breathtaking. Design by Robert Kinsley, Kinsley Design Group, Highland Park, IL. CulinaBlu Cabinetry. Photography: Marcel Page.

project will entail in terms of both time and expense. Be prepared to talk budget with your kitchen designer.This should be a guideline to follow, but not necessarilyso rigid that it will inhibit you from moving forwardthroughout the project. Keep in mind it might benecessary to exceed this budget simply to improve oradd to your initial ideas. Start pricing to get a realisticestimate. To get as close a projection of the job you mustprice cabinetry, countertops, flooring, wall coverings,plumbing, electrical, and then allow for what-ifs thatmay come up. Once you have arrived at an estimate,remember there may be extra work that you can’taccount for until the job actually gets started: until wallsare knocked out, flooring is pulled up and soffits areripped down. Even small, unexpected issues will add tothe final budget. This is not to scare you but only to prepare you to achieve the most realistic estimate.One-stop shopping might be enticing but it may not be the ideal answer for you. It may even come at a cost.Your kitchen designer will be able to provide experts intheir individual profession to help attain a total andsuccessful renovation.

When renovating, with the help of your designer, youshould be able to realize what you can do, what you canafford and what you can’t afford not to do. Sometimesgoing that extra mile at that time is the smartest thing todo. Be aware that times have changed and even thoughin some markets the price of homes have gone down, the cost of materials in many cases have gone up.

You may have already noticed that there are somedesign trends that seem to carry throughout. The classictrends in the kitchen such as spacious islands and

door panels to conceal the appliances are all still veryfashionable. These trends along with decorative handcarved posts, corbels and valences, detailed wood hoodsand skirted toe-kicks allow you to appreciate the warmthand beauty of the natural woods. Niches are being addedto the design with tailored furniture-like cabinetry toshowcase special dishes, cookware and even art pieces.With so many beautiful stones, metals and materialsavailable to you today, your kitchen doesn’t necessarilyhave to be entirely wood.

The lines between traditional and contemporary stylesare starting to blur, each drawing components from oneanother. Although European and Asian influences stillplay a pivotal role, we are finding that the Spanishpersuasion is adding a new spice to design.

People relate trends in design to color, style and

A sleek contemporary kitchen radiates warmth with rich walnut cabinetsand frosted glass doors. Design by Deborah Jacobs, CKD, CBD, GlenAlspaugh Kitchens & Baths, St. Louis, MO. Heritage Custom Cabinetry.Photography: Alise O’Brien.

Not only do you want the style of the room to stand the test of time butyou also want the quality to last as well. Dura Supreme Cabinetry.

decorative accessories. Even though these are important whendetermining the final overall lookand beauty, lifestyle trends shouldbe seriously discussed beforedesigning your dream room. It isone thing to be impressed by adesign you see and quite another tostill enjoy and love those choices tenyears from now. Will the decisionsyou make today still satisfy yourgrowing family or your changinglifestyle? If you decide to sell, willthe next homeowner love it as muchas you have? These are questionsyou honestly have to ask yourself.

Not only do you want the style of the room to stand the test of timebut you also want the quality to lastas well. What good is it to renovateyour home and have a timelesskitchen if in a couple years you canalready see the finish on the cabinetsstarting to fade or the drawers nolonger sliding the way they once did?The longevity of the mechanics andfinishes of the materials used is justas important if not more importantto some families than its style.

More times than not, the cabinetsneed to be changed but it has been

seen in certain instances wherepeople move into a newcondominium or home and loveeverything except the kitchen.Although the room is new andfunctional, it doesn’t match theirstyle. In this instance it would notbe a good use of your money tocompletely renovate your kitchenwith the expense of new cabinetry.Smaller changes can turn your less desirable kitchen into a much

better fit for you. Just changing the countertop, backsplash andhardware can significantly changethe appearance of the room.

If your family is getting bigger andyou feel you are outgrowing yourhome, do you really need to move to gain extra space or do you need to use the rooms you already have in a more efficient manner? Yourprofessional should become aware ofhow you use the space. You will wantto discuss with them what you likeand what you don’t like about yourexisting layout. You may want torealistically discuss which rooms getthe most use and where your family“actually” lives. You may have anoffice set up for the kids to do theirhomework and yet they are gatheringat the kitchen table or the islandinstead. You have a formal diningroom, but does your family ever eatthere or is it reserved for dinnerparties that you never seem to have?

With the right designer by your sideyou can increase the flow, efficiency,storage, floor space and countertopspace in your kitchen without evenexpanding. The change can be, andusually is, very dramatic.

Today is the most exciting time todo renovations with so many cabinet

A fresh, new kitchen appears timeless with exquisite custom-made cabinetry, hardwood floors, andimported backsplash tiles. Design by Peter “PJ” Salerno, CMKBD, Salerno’s Custom Cabinetry &Architectural Woodworking, Saddle Brook, NJ. Photography: Peter Rymwid.

This large kitchen remodel features Crystal Cabinet Works. Design by David Stimmel, StimmelConsulting Group, Inc., Ambler, PA. Photography: Charles Meacham.

door styles and finishes, wall andceiling coverings, appliance choices,stones and endless elements. Whenyou are renovating, one of theluxuries of removing old cabinetsand installing new ones is that youcan usually get more counter spaceand even better use of the roomsimply by modifying the layout.With the creative use of cabinetryinteriors to organize items such as utensils, pots and pans, dishes,cookie sheets, oils and spices, trashand recycle, your new kitchen willbe just as organized and efficient asit will be breathtaking to look at.

After your cabinetry design andfinishes have been chosen, visits to specialty shops with your kitchendesigner including granite and stonewarehouses, appliance stores andhardware boutiques, can be quiteenlightening and so very inspiring.These little trips will ensure thatyour project includes the latestmaterials available. One-stop shops

may not have all of the newestarrivals. Your kitchen designer willhelp you explore all of thepossibilities to find the choices thatwill define your personality andmake your kitchen truly unique.

Keep in mind renovations are notabout re-inventing the wheel. It is all about making the wheel youalready have work more efficientlyand giving it a new style you willlove. A modestly sized home can still be your dream home with allthe luxuries of an extravagant house.If your home is a diamond in therough do not give up on it tooquickly. You will be amazed at how rewarding it is and how proudyou will feel once your existinghouse has been transformed intoyour dream home. �

34 � KITCHENS XXI

Tereza Hello is the owner and principal design-er of The Cabinet Studio (Canada) Inc. Heraward-winning team of professionals is a proudmember of the National Kitchen and BathAssociation, their local Chamber of Commerceand Executive Women International. Nowjoined by her daughter, Leigh Ann Hello, thisdynamic mother-daughter duo is at the forefrontof the business bridging the generational gaps.Together they ensure that every associatemaintains the genuine personalized touchTereza established the company on over adecade ago. The Cabinet Studio (Canada) Inc. isbased out of Canada but personally servesclientele across both Canada and the UnitedStates. They have also been published in bothinternational and local publications. To seemore of their work or contact one of their talent-ed designers please visit their online showroomlocated at www.TheCabinetStudio.ca

Carved details from Enkeboll are in keeping with the extensive interior woodwork of this grand home. Design from Tom Shirley, Cabinets and Design,Inc., Lexington, KY. Wood-Mode Cabinetry, Rustic Manor finish on maple. Photography: Walt Roycraft.