Eclectic Bungalow Kitchen

There's a saying:  "Don't mix business with pleasure."  But I disagree.  As long as you stay professional and set expectations in advance, it can be a very positive experience.  Case in point: These clients are good friends of mine.  Because of this, I've gotten to see them REALLY use and enjoy their kitchen, and I've experienced first-hand the impact it has on their family and their everyday life. Also, since we are friends and have some similar tastes, it was extra fun to work with them!

We removed a wall, shifted the layout, and upgraded everything.  What a difference!

Because the kitchen expanded into the dining room, we pushed the dining space to the corner, with a great built-in bench.  We were invited for dinner and easily fit 4 adults and 3 kids with room to spare. (Custom seat cushion and extra dining chairs are on order - will update post with new pics.)

The great thing about white kitchens is that you essentially have a blank canvas, and then you add personality and style through the tile, hardware, lighting, etc.  In this case, there are 2 major showstoppers:  

1)  Backsplash:  The client loved look of Heath Ceramics, and they also loved the company and had previous experience with their products.  This backsplash tile is a work of art! 

2)  Reclaimed Wood:  We wanted a warm eclectic look so we were exploring various reclaimed wood options on the peninsula.  This mix of 3 different colors from Stikwood was the perfect solution!

And to really truly show the transformation, here are some before photos:

And a rendering we did of the proposed space during the design phase:

Props to Justin Bates Construction for making it real!

Park City Great Room Remodel

We love a good remodeling project, especially when the Before photos really show the dramatic change.  This is the perfect Before & After project to showcase!   We're grateful that we have projects like this to add to our portfolio.  On top of that, the clients are wonderful and fun people, so we really lucked out with this one!

There once was a wall at the top of the stairs:

And there was a small kitchen behind that wall:

We removed that wall, added a giant beam, and drastically opened up the space!

This is now what you see when you go up the stairs:

And this is the view from the Living Room:

We also got creative with the closet/desk wall, which used to look like this:

We maximized the unused nooks & crannies, and now it looks like this:

Complete with built-in coffeemaker, double ovens, and plenty of pantry space.  We even added a small appliance center, where items like the toaster can be used in place.  No plugging / unplugging or moving required!

And while we were at it, we replaced the railing to better fit the new design.  I love the details and the craftsmanship:

Special credit to the following people for being willing to work with us and our picky requirements for flooring, custom cabinetry finish, and the difficult challenge of making the tall wall of cabinets fit the way we wanted.

General Contractor:  Wade Brinton, Brinton Homes

Cabinetry:  Preston Tilby, Paramount Cabinets

Photo Credit:  Lucy Call

Stunning White Kitchen Remodel - Before & After

Last week I wrote about a recent kitchen remodel over on the Utah Style blog.  Today I wanted to present some before & after photos for comparison.

The "before" photos of a remodeling project are what makes remodeling so unique compared to new construction.  They indicate the challenges involved in the job, as well as the dramatic difference good design can make, both in aesthetic and (just as important) function.

Let me give a little background on this project.  The client was looking to update their oak kitchen so she called enzy design.  During the course of our initial consultation I pointed out some of the inefficiencies of the kitchen layout, and we discussed potential changes.  We explored these changes throughout the design phase - I presented a concept that combined the island and dining table, creating space for a casual sitting area in the kitchen.  Fortunately the client was open to new ideas, and we went in this direction.  Since photos speak louder than words, I'll stop writing and just post some photos:

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After:

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