RE-IMAGINE
THIS KITCHEN WAS MOVED INTO THE EXISTING DINING ROOM
Even though the majority of my design work has been and will be for kitchen and bathroom renovations that are staying in the existing space, the underserved sector of this marketplace seems to be the intersection of, or what some might even call an empty space between architect and kitchen & bath designer.
Generally, architects are great at designing houses and kitchen & bath designers are highly skilled in their field but, most often, that is as far as the intersection goes. As I was working for the last 25 years to make my mark as a kitchen & bath designer, I was also designing my share of whole home renovations. These renovations were always the most memorable and most rewarding for both designer and client.
Most clients think that this kind of renovation is cost prohibitive. Yes, it does cost more but the result is something that not only adds to the client's quality of life but adds more value to the home than the extra cost. This effect is even moreso when the "Total Rethink" renovation is fixing an existing design flaw. When those jobs come around, it is like printing money (for the client.) I've had many clients that do not realize that they paid a lot less for their house because of the design flaw and once we fix it not only does the client get the value of the updated materials but also the homeowner reclaims hidden value that was lost due to the design flaw.
THIS PHOTO SHOWS A KITCHEN THAT WAS MOVED INTO THE EXISTING LIVING ROOM. THE EXISTING KITCHEN BECAME THE DINING ROOM. THE DINING ROOM BECAME THE OFFICE AND THE FAMILY ROOM BECAME THE LIVING ROOM.
A "Total Rethink" of a main floor layout is not as cost prohibitive as most clients think. Once a client commits to a full kitchen renovation and then adds all new flooring and a full paint job of the entire main floor, the options start to open up and, say, moving the kitchen to a new location, isn't as large an undertaking as most client's believe.
Life keeps changing and so does how we live in our homes. A couple of generations ago, most people would not consider an open concept. The comment heard was, "I don't want everyone looking at me all my dirty dishes." We have become a lot less formal in how we live and entertain. Now, the food preparation becomes more communal and part of the entertainment process. No one really cares about dirty dishes anymore. And besides, the kitchen is the most impressive, and expensive, room in the house and most people want to show it off.
The quick fix for this changing lifestyle has been, for example, in the 1950s bungalow, the wall between the kitchen and the dining room is removed and replaced with an island or peninsula. What most homeowners don't realize is that regulations have changed for kitchen renovations, most of the electrical will be new and most of today's kitchen designs include the moving of a sink and hood venting. What I’m saying is that if these mechanical roughing elements have to be new that it’s not that much more expensive to put those in a new location. The cost of any other element doesn’t change. Cabinets countertops, tile, and everything else that goes in the kitchen cost the exact same if it’s in its existing location or a new location.
THIS KITCHEN WAS PUSHED FORWARD INTO THE SUNROOM CREATING MORE SERVICE SPACE BEHIND IN THE DARKER AREAS OF THE HOUSE.
The layout of the main floor didn't suit the needs of the the new owners of this west end Ottawa house. The house had the standard five room configuration: eat-in kitchen, dining room, living room and family room. The existing dining room was way too small and was already being used as an office by the client. The plan was to reduce the five room plan to four rooms. The family room became the living room, the kitchen became the dining room in the living room became the kitchen.
The kitchen shifted toward the front of the house`and took over the old sunroom. This created an areas at the back of the kitchen to be an office and walk-in pantry.
I bring the added knowledge of knowing how far we can go and how the job is going to be impacted by structure, mechanical and codes. This means that we can work together and develop a new plan before we consult an engineer or a contractor.