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Designer's own – Brandi Hagen's kitchen makeover
Designer's own – Brandi Hagen's kitchen makeover from Kitchen Trends volume 2808
Designers often find their most challenging project is the one under their own roof. And they say it doesn't help that they are exposed to so many different trends and products.
But, as this project shows, the end result is invariably inspiring. The kitchen is part of the major remodeling of a 1960s house that was in an original condition when purchased by designer Brandi Hagen of Eminent Interior Design and her family.
"The kitchen did not appear to have been touched since the house was built," she says. "It still featured the original linoleum floors, laminate countertops and wood cabinets and drawers, which were falling apart. But although dark, the space was large and the layout of the rooms was good. We didn't need an addition."
Hagen introduced more light with a much larger window in the living room, and the size of the kitchen window was doubled. The interior was then gutted, and the oak floors were stripped of their dark stain. The floors were wire brushed and treated with a white glaze to lighten the overall look of the kitchen.
"I have always loved the grain of walnut, so this was an obvious choice for the cabinets," the designer says. "We had the clear-finish walnut cabinets built so that the grain would not match across the cabinets. This gives the kitchen a more playful look – I didn't want the space to be too serious."
The bank of walnut cabinetry on the side wall incorporates an integrated refrigerator and freezer drawers, and is backended by a similar volume in the dining room behind. There are two pass-throughs that are kept open to retain a visual connection between the two rooms.
For the opposite side of the kitchen, Hagen specified white cabinets lacquered in a high gloss finish. The crisp, contemporary look makes a bold contrast to the walnut veneer, as does a sleek, minimalist stainless steel island.
"I didn't want a conventional center island," says Hagen. "I loved the idea of a farmhouse table, but couldn't quite see out how to make it all work. Architect Gabriel Keller came up with the idea of sliding a table under an island counter. When we want to seat more people, we simply pull the table out and turn it around. The table is made from wood salvaged from an old barn, which gives it an aged character and makes an interesting contrast to the industrial look of the stainless steel island. The design also gives us the practical benefits of a raised counter for food preparation and serving."
For visual continuity, walnut appears on a freestanding volume that forms a partition between the dining and living rooms. This cabinetry accommodates a drinks area.
"The tall doors in this unit conceal a bar with a sink," says Hagen. "Not all the appliances could fit into the kitchen, so some of them are positioned in the dining room, including refrigerated drawers for ice and drinks, a wine refrigerator and coffee machine."
Contrasting textures enliven this new kitchen in a house owned by interior designer Brandi Hagen and her family.
The cabinets are a mix of walnut veneer and white high-gloss lacquer. To save space, a farmhouse table made from reclaimed barn wood slides under a sleek stainless steel island counter.
When the Hagens bought the house, it still featured the original kitchen built in the 1960s.
The kitchen backsplash features Cipollino marble, chosen for its warm color variations. To provide further visual texture, the walnut doors are not bookmatched, but laid in a random pattern. Walnut veneer also appears on a door to a storage area at right, which is between the family room and living room. With a touch-latch opening, the door sits flush with the new honed marble walls that form the surround to a double-sided fireplace.
Visual uniformity is assured with the extensive walnut cabinetry in the dining area. There are two pass-throughs between this room and the kitchen, which can be closed off if required. The buffet wall accommodates a drinks area, which includes a concealed sink and refrigerated drawers.
Appliance positions have been moved, and there is now a better circulation flow between the kitchen and family room.
The original kitchen and family room were tired and dated.
For the lighting, Brandi Hagen chose square and rectangular cans that each house two or three lights. The lighting can be directed as required. Hagen says this avoids the need to punctuate the ceiling with lots of individual downlights. By day, however, there is plenty of natural light coming into the space from the enlarged kitchen windows and additional full-height windows in the family room.
Credit List
Architect – conceptual layout
:
Gabriel Keller, Peterssen/Keller Architecture (Minneapolis, MN)
Architect – construction drawings and details
:
Rick Storlien, RDS Architects (Plymouth, MN)
Interior and kitchen designer
:
Brandi Hagen ASID, Eminent Interior Design
Cabinet company
:
Fritz Cabinetry
Cabinetry
:
Natural walnut; high-gloss white enamel
Backsplash
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Honed Cipollino marble Alys Edwards tiles from Rubble Tile
Fireplace surround
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King's Wood honed marble by Artistic Tile, from Fantasia
Flooring
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Wire-brushed, whitewashed rift-cut oak
Dining chairs in kitchen
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Donghia Anziano in Brown Mahogany
Dining room wallpaper
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Elitis glass in Gold
Oven, warming drawer and cooktop
:
Wolf
Dishwasher
:
Askö
Story by Colleen Hawkes
Main photography by Brian Droege; dining room image by Mark Ehlen
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