Refreshing detail

Finding a starting point for your kitchen remodeling project can sometimes be as simple as looking at your home with a fresh eye. If there are features that strongly appeal to you, they're worth a closer look.

This Colonial home, a 100-year-old farmhouse, retained many of its original features and both owners wanted their new kitchen to reflect this, says designer Mary Landgren of Insignia Kitchen and Bath Design Group.

"They were looking for a kitchen that worked with the style of the rest of the house, so we created a period look based on simple lines and a painted finish, and advised them on the materials they needed," she says.

"They had a clear vision of what they wanted the space to look like, right down to the paint color on the walls."

A load-bearing wall was removed between the existing kitchen and the informal eating area to increase the kitchen's footprint. Recessed lights were installed to brighten the space and the wooden ceiling in both rooms was removed, re-levelled andcovered with drywall.

Of all the home's period features, the original butler's pantry was a favorite with the owners, so it became a key influence on design details such as the handles and drawers.

"This remodeling project was all about attention to detail," says Landgren. "For example, we designed custom latch hardware on the display cabinetry, and incorporated stepped edges on the two-inch thick black walnut island top, and the honed statuary marble countertops."

All the cabinetry, including the window seat, was installed around the home's original windows to maintain the exterior architecture of the home. Glass in the double-hung mullion windows is original too, so Landgren installed a ventless fireplace for additional warmth.

For more details, contact Insignia Kitchen and Bath Design Group, 1436 South Barrington Road, Barrington, IL 60010, phone (847) 381 7950. Website: www.insigniakitchenandbath.com.

Story by: Trendsideas