The Kitchen Remodel

The telephone desk, which came from my parents' basement family room, is a perfect fit in the old pantry location. Twin pantries flank the window with a small table overlooking the scenic back yard. The picture was taken at night. Trust me, during the day, the view is scenic.

The microwave is perfectly situated next to the fridge, an ideal location for reheating leftovers. We had the option of going with a microwave-hood vent combination but chose to keep these two fixtures separate for a couple of reasons. A microwave on the countertop is easy for our daughter to reach, so she has no problem getting her own popcorn. When there are multiple cooks in the kitchen, one person can look after the microwave without being in the way of the person cooking at the stove. It has also been our experience that a microwave has a different life expectancy than a hood vent. We have the option of up-sizing and down-sizing the microwave as needed, and we always have the option of moving it to another location.

One feature of the new kitchen design that was an absolute requirement was drawers for the pots and pans.

Left: Another view of some of the cabinets and display shelves. Middle: With abundant counter space, it is possible to have convenience items like a cell phone charging station without adding too much clutter. Right: A closeup view of the tile backsplash.

kitchen lighting

Lighting for the kitchen is provided by recessed 4 inch GU10 fixtures. We replaced the halogen lights with more efficient compatible fluorescent bulbs. The hood vent provides two levels of lighting over the stove. Under the counter lighting is provided by fluorescent fixtures.

Project completed by professional contractors May 2009. Plans were drawn up by an architect. General contractors took care of the demolition, framing, drywall, flooring and backsplash tile, electrical and painting. Custom cabinets were fabricated and installed by cabinet maker. Granite counter top was measured, fabricated and installed by granite specialist. In-floor heating was installed by HVAC contractor.