Kitchen Goals, Part III: Renovation and the Big Reveal

I hope your new year is off to a great start! During the holidays, I spent time relaxing with my family…a nice respite after the hectic lead-up.

We are always busy in November and early December, helping clients zhush their homes. Of course, our clients’ kitchen renovation went well beyond a zhush (I covered the redesign here and the selections process here). Thanks to the Herculean efforts of our talented team of contractors, we finished the entire renovation in two weeks, just in time for the homeowners to prepare their Thanksgiving feast.

Cooking is a whole lot more enjoyable in a functional, beautiful kitchen, like our clients’ newly reimagined one:

To refresh your memory, this is what the space looked like before:

Quite a transformation, right? So here’s a behind-the-scenes look at  how we got from here to there…

A large part of our new design revolved around integrating the island and separate breakfast bar into one multi-tasking, L-shaped station.  We started the renovation process by taping out exactly where the new station would be positioned in the space.

Planning is the key to success in any renovation. There are a lot of moving parts in a kitchen re-do. This is one of our systems for staying on track:

The small space to the right is the mudroom, which we also redesigned during the renovation, adding new shelves and storage cubbies.

The visible progress on demolition day is so satisfying, as we make way for the pretty new selections. Here the old, narrow pantry is about to get the heave-ho:

Shifting the center island’s position and eliminating the separate breakfast bar left areas on the hardwood floors that had to be patched. The team at Clifton Grant Floors carefully toothed in the replacement boards to match the existing pattern.

Ultimately, the entire floor was refinished for a consistent look.

With everything cleared out and the floors patched, the kitchen took shape quickly. The amazing team at Chung’s Home Improvement installed the transitional-style cabinets from Omega Cabinetry (available through Stuart Kitchens).

That old, narrow pantry? Take a look at the before and after. We added more storage space, specified a pull-out shelving unit, and concealed it all behind furniture-like doors that match the perimeter cabinets for a unified look.

R. Bratti in Alexandria supplied and installed the quartz countertop, Statuario Nuvo from Caesarstone. I love to work with master craftsmen — who are as obsessed as I am with perfecting the details.

And talk about master craftsmen! Duke Robertson at Northern Virginia Tile Company is a gem! Here he is installing  the backsplash tiles — elongated subway tiles combined with a glass penny tile (both from Mosaic Tile in Merrifield, Virginia) behind the range:

For the final crowning touch, Kevin Chung of Chung’s Home Improvement installed the three gorgeous glass pendants from Tracy Glover Objects and Lighting:

And — ta-da! — the kitchen renovation was complete. All of our meticulous planning and thoughtful selections process certainly paid off in the end.

Now the cook can prep the meal and interact with guests sitting at the new L-shaped island.

The cabinets’ rich, warm wood tone is the perfect counterpoint to light countertops and backsplash tiles.

But our neutral tile selections each offer a little something special — the subway tile is longer than the standard size and the glass penny tile adds subtle shimmer.

Our clients’ kitchen now boasts a functional layout, tons of storage, and a fresh new look. And who doesn’t want a warm, welcoming workhorse of a kitchen, especially as we hibernate during these blustery winter months? Stay toasty, everyone!