At Home: Tecumseh couple bucks kitchen remodeling trends – Topeka Capital Journal

TECUMSEH One of the reasons Orval and Pat Dale decided to update the narrow galley kitchen in their 1960s-era Tecumseh home was to have the open concept popular in todays modern style. Removing just one wall gave them a clear view not only into their dining and living rooms but also to their backyard deck and beautiful Lake Jivaro.

As for the other current kitchen-style trends, the couple went in the opposite direction.

Pat wanted wooden cabinets instead of popular white ones because she believed they gave the room a warmer feel. Instead of a seating area around an island, she had Levi Niedfeldt, of Custom Woods Products, design the front to look more like a piece of her dining room furniture. And though she wanted black appliances, she went with white ones because well, thats what they had already.

The refrigerator was practically new, Orval said. So was the dishwasher.

Im doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing, but youve got to do what makes you happy, Pat added.

PDQ Construction had remodeled the couples master bathroom in 2008. Because the Dales were pleased with the work, they decided to use them again for the kitchen project.

Pat started planning for the remodel in fall 2016. She went through the kitchen cupboard by cupboard while taking notes about what she wanted in her new space. By the time work was to begin, she had a three-ring binder full of information, right down to the color and style of light switches she wanted and the exact placement of the pendant lights over the island.

The more you think about it and do your homework, the easier it will come together, Pat said.

The Dales met with PDQ project coordinator Bobby Miller in November to compile the estimate. Project manager Rick Hudkins and his team started work in late January and finished just five weeks later.

The rich wood cabinets in the new kitchen include a custom-made vent hood over the stovetop, which was a last-minute change requested by Pat and created by Niedfeldt. A kitchen wall was styled to resemble an old-school butlers pantry. Pat was quick to point out details such as the built-in HVAC vent in one of the side cabinets, which she feels shows the quality of the work done by Niedfeldt.

The quartz countertops are a subdued gray tone with marbling that looks like granite. The backsplash is made from shades of tan stone, featuring a glass-tile border running through the middle and a special design for the stovetop area.

The new island contains the white cast-iron farmers sink Pat always wanted. Underfoot, the existing wood flooring was extended to account for the larger space.

After living with the finished room for a few months, the only thing Pat said she would change is the location of the kitchen faucets on/off handle. Otherwise, she and Orval are pleased with the result.

The reasons we like PDQ are, one, theyll listen to you and what your ideas are, and two, then you can ask them what they think, Pat said. They want to do what you want done, but if you ask, they come up with good ideas. Theyre not afraid to say, I dont think that will work. We were blessed to have them.

Linda A. Ditch is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at lindaaditch@gmail.com.

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At Home: Tecumseh couple bucks kitchen remodeling trends - Topeka Capital Journal