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.

Thank You for a Great Year!

2013 was a year of change for enzy design.  A year of new relationships and growth.  All of which makes me extremely excited for what we can accomplish in 2014.  

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, full of inspiration and promise!

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

Norwalk Fabric & Design Trends, Part 5: Greenbrier

This is the last post in my series about the Fabric & Design Trends from Norwalk Furniture (see original post for Utah Style here)...

There were 5 trends presented and I'm elaborating on each one separately on my blog, with images of furniture examples produced by Norwalk.  I've already posted about the "Black is Back", "Luxury Neutrals", "Drum Beat", and "Tongue-in-Cheek Chic" trends.  The 5th trend presented was "Greenbrier."  

Greenbrier

The Alleghany Mountains of West Virginia are home to one of American's grandest traditional resorts, The Greenbrier at White Sulpher Springs.  Founded over 150 years ago and renowned for its exuberant Dorothy Draper decorated interiors, this relaxed and elegant playground welcomes both kings and commoners to its legendary 10,000 acres.  Norwalk takes on this preppy aesthetic with its homage to this grand resort.  With greens ranging from moss to emerald, blues with a decidedly turquoise hue, and purples in shades of violet, these upbeat color combinations are equally at home in your living room, sunroom, or upbeat bedroom."

Examples:

 

Norwalk Fabric & Design Trends, Part 4: Tongue-In-Cheek Chic

Continuing my series of posts about the Fabric & Design Trends from Norwalk Furniture (see original post for Utah Style here)...

There were 5 trends presented and I'm elaborating on each one separately on my blog, with images of furniture examples produced by Norwalk.  I've already posted about the "Black is Back", "Luxury Neutrals", and "Drum Beat" trends.  The 4th trend presented was "Tongue-In-Cheek Chic."  

Tongue-In-Cheek Chic

"With a slightly naughty-but-nice edginess, this couture-inspired theme celebrates the forward thinking work of Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Robert Cavalli, and Kean Etro.  The fashion runways from New York to Milan were full of studs, grommets, rivets, and metal accents this season.  Shades of blue/green from jade to mint provide the perfect soothing complement to the ashen toned base cloths.  While cosmopolitan images of skulls, Buddha, and dolled-up dogs provide the whimsy and swank that energize this restful palette."

Examples:

Norwalk Fabric & Design Trends, Part 3: Drum Beat

I recently did a guest post on Utah Style & Design about upcoming fabric & design trends from Norwalk Furniture, presented by Caroline Hipple and Dixon Bartlett of HB2.

There were 5 trends presented.  I highlighted them in my guest post (see it here), and I'm elaborating on each one separately on my blog, with images of furniture examples produced by Norwalk.  


I've already posted about the "Black is Back" and "Luxury Neutrals" trends.  The 3rd trend presented was "Drum Beat".  

Drum Beat

"From the great American southwest to the plains of central Africa, the echo of ethnic tribal patterns and themes has never been more prominent.  Animal skin layouts remain at an all-time high in popularity, while mud and kuba clothes, indigenous rug designs, sophisticated quilting and matelasse texturing with dense natural fibers all add a rich touch to this motif.  Deep chocolates and mineral greys ground this decidedly earth toned palette, while native clay and dusty Prussian blue add a restful complement to this timely decorative theme."

Examples:

Next post:  "Tongue-in-Cheek Chic"