Kitchens aren’t just for cooking! They are the hub —the HEART— of a home where families come together. Kitchen spaces should spark energy, creativity and laughter. It is where meals and memories are made!
Yesterday's kitchens were simply utilitarian, a place to prepare food and often relegated to the back of the house. But cooking has become a social affair, kitchens are evolving and are often the focal point of the home.
Kitchens can be complicated. They need to be functional and with the array of modern appliances and fixtures, possibilities are endless. Form, function, feel all matter when designing any kitchen. It has to fit the space and the people who will use it.
My clients are true epicureans! She is an accomplished cook who likes to entertain and often uses fresh vegetables and herbs from her garden. Her partner in life and in the kitchen is the resident mixologist! Both hailing from the “Big Easy”, they were inspired by a New Orleans-fueled love for food and family and had their own clear and creative ideas about what they envisioned for the new space. After more than a decade of sweating it out in their own “tiny ass kitchen”, my clients asked me to help them make it the centerpiece of their home.
To achieve their goals, I suggested removing two walls and rearranging the floorplan – switching the kitchen and dining room. In order to make this layout work, we patched in new hardwood and refinished the first floor to have a seamless transition between family room to dining and kitchen.
The open concept can be intimidating. Will it limit storage space? What about counter space?There are ways to get the best of both worlds by including creative storage and maximizing all of the available space. In this kitchen we created additional storage by adding full height cabinetry in their existing bump out while including storage on the back side of the island. By choosing white cabinets and light airy colors, we visually expanded the space. The honed quartz countertops with the geometric marble backsplash and the pendant lighting – which are my favorite accent – give this kitchen its own personality.
Together, and in a little under two months, we transformed their kitchen into the perfect place for hosting a gumbo gathering, doing homework, laughing, oh and yes, even cooking together. If you are lucky enough to score an invite, you’ll be welcomed by a sign that says “it’s my kitchen and I’ll fry if I want to.” – the only leftover from the old kitchen.