Planning My Own Kitchen Remodel

So, we're selling our beautiful home and moving into a "new" place, which is actually a 1950's home that is a bit of a dump:

The reason I'm not completely depressed about this is because it's allowing us, for the first time, to take on a large remodel of our own.  I've been helping others with their remodels for years, and I've done plenty of smaller projects in the various homes I've owned, but never something of this scale.

I recently gave tips on Utah Style & Design for finding good deals on renovation materials (see the post here), and we've used every one of these to our advantage.

We've also been deep in the planning stages to make sure everything is done correctly.  We've got floor plans approved by my structural engineer, so we're nearly ready to start demolition!

I'll post pics along the way, but here's a glimpse of our current plan:

Stay tuned for more!  (And in the meantime, if you know of someone who wants to live in a charming old home in the Marmalade neighborhood, send them my way!)

Mentioned in Utah Style & Design Magazine!

I've been meaning to share this for a while.  And don't think my lack of sharing means I'm any less excited about this.  Enzy design is featured (again - see first feature here and here) in the Spring issue of Utah Style & Design!  Where enzy was the sole designer involved in the first project, this one is something I'm equally proud of because of the collaboration that was involved, and the end results.  Collaborating with other designers can be fun and refreshing, and a welcome change from handling every detail on a project by yourself.

(click on image to enlarge)

Interior Designer Cody Beal brought me in as a Kitchen & Bath Design expert to design & supply the cabinetry (using Hallmark Custom Cabinets).  Cody firmly believes in the importance of a team.  He knows he'll look better if he relies on his team of experts to help pull the project together.  So Cody came to me with his grand scheme plans for the kitchen, bathroom, and master bedroom cabinetry, and once we selected finishes, he gave me free reign to tweak the layout and design the cabinetry details.  This was smart for a few reasons:

1. It freed up his time so he was able to focus on fine-tuning all the other design details throughout the house.
2. Because Cody trusted me, it allowed me to fully use my expertise to provide the most functional, ergonomic, and aesthetically pleasing cabinetry for the clients. 
3. By working directly with the clients, I was better able to understand their needs.  We discussed everything from comfortable reaching heights to how many pairs of shoes they had.  This much information would have been nearly impossible without direct contact with the clients.

Check out the whole issue while you still can!

And see more photos of this project on the enzy design portfolio.

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:

Before:

 

After:

Before:

After:

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After:

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After:

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After:

KBIS: 5 Things that Really Stood Out

Last week I went to KBIS in Vegas.  Vegas itself is a city of sensory overload, but add a convention center full of new kitchen and bath products, and you can hardly stand it.

We had less than 2 days to take it all in.  Through the whirlwind tour, there were 5 things that stood out to me:

Contemporary Bling.  Turn on the sparkle - faucets, cabinet & door hardware, glittery tile grout, and glitzy countertops

Rubinet lavatory faucet with Swarovski crystals

LED lighting embedded into the countertop, from Cambria

Cambria's new Galloway collection - the large clear quartz pieces sparkle!

Emtek Modern Crystal door hardware

glitter grout on a Voguebay display

Texture.  In tile and beyond, textured finishes add a special depth and interest.
Ann Sacks textured tile steals the show.

Ann Sacks

Ann Sacks

Voguebay Hexagon Mosaic

Kohler Whitehaven sink with textured front

Brass and Bronze - We've been raving about this comeback for a while, but it was great to see it in full force at KBIS.

Emtek's bronze finish

Amerock's Gilded Bronze finish 

Rohl's new Unlaquered Brass finish

Kohler's Vibrant Moderne Brushed Gold finish

Oak  It's not an outright trend... yet.  But it's been making an appearance here and there, and I expect to see more.  We're not talking about the honey oak of the 80's, but we're also not talking about the quarter-sawn or rift cut that we've gotten used to in more contemporary settings.  This oak is open-grained and dramatic, with finishes of matte, weathered, and gray.  I only got one photo from KBIS, but there was more to be seen.

Functional Sink Accessories  I've got a whole guest post on this topic alone that will soon be featured on the Utah Style & Design blog.  I was thrilled with the new introductions that convert sinks into functional worksurfaces, including racks, cutting boards, and storage for cleaning utensils.

from Kohler

Headed to KBIS!

I'm leaving this morning for a quick 2-day trip to Vegas for KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show), which is teaming up this year with IBS (International Builder's Show).   I can guarantee this is going to be a whirlwind trip full of great inspiration as well as incredible people I've come to know through social media.

Stay tuned on the blog as I'll tell you all about it when I get back!  Or if you don't want to wait, follow me on instagram:  @enzydesign.  I'll be posting there while I'm at the show.   While you're at it, also check out my travel companions @rockandcookies and @lakecityloft!

Just for fun, and to discover a little more about KBIS, check out this video promoting KBIS 2013, featuring yours truly (not really "featuring", but there are a couple snippets after they cornered me for an interview)!

Another Kitchen Success Story (i.e. Why it's Important to Hire a Designer)

Last year I got a call from one of my suppliers - Brian from Western Wholesale Flooring (call him if you need anything - great service AND great pricing!). He explained that he & his wife needed a kitchen remodel, BUT they were on a tight budget. People always throw that "but" into their inquiries. The thing is, when you're on a budget, that's when you need a designer the MOST. Because you have no room for mistakes. Especially when it comes to kitchen design. Brian & his wife realized this.

We do a lot of full-service design work, where we handle the project from the very initial conceptual design phase through the completion of construction. However, sometimes the most critical (and difficult) part is developing the most functional plan for the space and the budget, and clients find that hiring a certified designer for this step is worth every penny.

"Thanks again for all your help.  We couldn't have done it without you!"  -Brian & Kandise

The existing kitchen was small;  the cabinet layout was inefficient and it made the space feel even smaller.  Though there was no room for expansion, this growing family needed a more open space.  They had gotten a free design for the cabinet layout, which essentially just plugged cabinets into every available space.  (I understand - I was much less inclined to take the time to be creative when I was designing for free.)

We spent a good amount of time talking to the client, discussing their needs, and measuring the space.  We came up with a few options and chose the best plan to maximize function and open up the space.  We provided the floor plan and elevations, and the client took it from there.

They recently sent me some after photos and I love the outcome.  Kandise has a good eye for decorating, and it shows.

And to really shock you, here are a few before photos.  

You won't believe it's the same space.

Traditional Kitchen with French Bistro Flair

I'm excited to share this recent kitchen remodel!

Starting with the floor plans... the clients initially were interested in a "pull & replace" scenario (pulling existing items out and putting new back in the same spot).   But because walk-in pantries are often not the best use of space, we convinced them to consider an alternative layout that reduced the pantry closet size.  The outcome:  a larger kitchen with more organized pantry storage and a bigger island.

Here's the Before:

And the After:

Aside from the layout change, we also updated the look.  After exploring several different styles, the clients settled a sort of french bistro theme with white cabinetry accented by pale yellow and a provincial blue.

Here's the kitchen before: 

And here's the kitchen now:   

We integrated antique / matte brass finishes, fireclay sinks, glass tile backsplash, and the new Pental Calacatta quartz countertops to complete the look.

  

We incorporated these tiles into the backsplash - they tell a personal story about the client and their pharmacy background.

And the final finishing touch was the new upholstery fabric for their dining set.  We found the perfect fabric from Robert Allen that coordinated with the colors and perfectly accentuated the lines of the dining chairs.

Cabinetry by Swirl Woodcraft

Countertops by Klein's Custom Countertops

Appliances & Plumbing from Mountainland Design

Upholstery by Sharp Upholstery

Backsplash tile from Arizona Tile