Kitchen makeover: Gallery gets a touch of green

My long-time clients, Russ and Stephanie, love green. Not the eco-friendly kind per se, but the color from sage to khaki and all shades of olive. Over the years weve painted their interiors, upholstered their furnishings, draped their windows, custom-sewn their bedding, and remodeled their bathrooms all in some variation of green.

Its a homeowner- and designer-friendly color and a natural fit for their woodsy, hillside home surrounded by trees, wild vegetation, and a cottage-style garden.

So when it came time to remodel their kitchen, I was pretty sure it would, in some part, entail this favored color. Would the cabinets be green? There are a half dozen mid-range, semi-custom cabinetry manufacturers that offer a pretty shade of sage.

Would the walls be green? By the time the cabinetry, appliances, and backsplash were installed, there would hardly be any wall left to paint. What about green Costa Esmeralda countertops? As far as granite goes, its one of the most beautiful.

Before determining where to introduce the splash of green, I considered, mulled, fidgeted, contemplated, drew and optimized the general design of the kitchen. Theirs was a galley and would remain so. Because of its small size, its configuration and function would be crucial to its performance and efficiency.

Wed replace the warped five-foot window above the sink that overlooks the garden but keep the same generous size. Old appliances would be swapped for new but stay in their same locations. And, in order to modernize and visually enlarge the narrow galley, the appliances would be covered with panels matching the cabinetry.

In keeping with the country setting, I chose a farm sink, bin pulls for the drawers, and updated cottage-style plumbing and light fixtures..

Through the years, I had often heard this couple say how they hated their paver-tiled kitchen floor. So as part of the demolition, I suggested that we replace the pavers with hard wood, which matched the floors in the rest of the house.

Since there were three entries into this tiny kitchen, I planned to close one off which then allowed space for a 30-inch floor-to-ceiling pantry. I next redesigned the main entry by enlarging it and shaping it into an arch to mimic the arched front door and arched foyer.

In formulating the design of this kitchen, I kept a few things in mind: Although sunny, it was still a small space. It was a working environment that fed two adults, two children, two cats, one dog and one bunny. And, the changes to be made would virtually be permanent.

Originally posted here:
Kitchen makeover: Gallery gets a touch of green