Ooh la la

Patricia Hoben and Charles Carter wanted to breathe new life into their kitchen. They wanted a more functional, family friendly space that complemented the French eclectic manor style of their home. In order to achieve this eclectic style, the couple worked with Cream City Construction to combine areas of elegance and grandeur with touches of comfort and French country. The butler’s pantry was removed and the space re-worked to create an eating area as well as a more functional work zone. In order to capture the French style, cabinetry was designed to have the appearance of freestanding furniture. Chicken wire screens with fabric panels offer a soft touch to one storage unit, while a combination of glass and solid wood doors adds to the eclecticism of the space.

The hood detail creates a focal point within the room combining simple yet strong architectural lines with the soft detail of a French-inspired fruit basket appliqué. A sprayed lacquer finish gives a slight aged look to the cabinetry creating a semi-rustic appeal to the interior, while the golden oak granite countertops and creamy gold walls provide elegance and warmth throughout. Stainless steel appliances were used for their modern appeal, but a red front was selected for the Viking oven in order to dilute the modern effect and complement the color palette. Fleur de lis details on the drawer pulls and accent tiles continue to infuse French flavor into the interior without overwhelming the design.

Do-over

Sometimes it takes the second time around to get a kitchen renovation just right. Like many couples, Melanie and Russell Wasserman renovated their kitchen soon after purchasing their home 12 years ago. After living in the home and utilizing the space, the Wassermans had a new perspective on how they wanted their kitchen to look and function. Two pantries and two entrances in the room proved to be unique space-planning challenges to overcome. While improving the work space and traffic patterns was important, so was creating a modern-day kitchen without losing sight of the original architectural details of the home. The couple, who worked with Milwaukee Kitchen & Bath, took special care to have the new woodwork match the color and style of the original aged tiger oak casings.

A cinnamon cherry finish offers a rich and consistent wood finish for the cabinetry accented by the silver blue flecks of the emerald pearl granite countertops. Stainless steel appliances complement the accents of the granite and offer the modern conveniences the Wassermans desired. This Kosher kitchen provides two ovens, a double drawer dishwasher, double sinks and pot filler. Careful consideration was given to every decision and detail such as working with the existing neutral colored ceramic tile floor, adding a premium half-bull nose edge detail to the counters and carefully placing track and down lights. The perfect green hue covers the walls and complements the cherry finish while oil-rubbed bronze hardware and fixtures add a finishing touch that once again blends the old details of the house with the new kitchen renovation.

Cook’s kitchen

Dan and Pat Butler love to cook, but sometimes a kitchen needs a few updates to allow a couple to truly enjoy their delicious hobby. The original layout offered limited workspace in an awkward arrangement, not perfectly suited for cooking for two. In order to create a more functional space, RCI Remodeling Center closed off a doorway and eliminated a small closet and a few windows to accommodate more storage and create a better workspace.

While a new and improved space plan was a priority, the couple was careful to take aesthetic cues from the traditional details of their 1930s home. They incorporated stainless steel appliances as well as double ovens and sinks to support their work needs, yet worked with leaded glass, natural cherry cabinetry and a crackled finish on the tile to create the appropriate décor details. Verde meadow granite was selected for the countertops and soft greens and creams completed the color palette throughout. A harlequin-inspired tile detail adds a touch of flair to the space.

Even flow

Sometimes a home has the right amount of space, but just needs a different approach to suit the needs of the owners. Christie and Mike Toye were looking to create a more functional kitchen, better suited for entertaining — they wanted to improve the flow of the space. While the architecture of the house is more traditional in style, the couple also wanted the kitchen design to offer clean lines and a contemporary appeal. RCI Remodeling Center’s design flip-flopped the original dining and work areas and numerous doors impeding the space were removed in order to make better use of the existing space. The Toyes wanted to have better sight lines and create a kitchen that was part of an open and welcoming family area. An island was incorporated to give this family of five extra space for storage and dining.

A pullout pantry and a combination of shelves and cabinetry styles allow for ample storage and display areas. A recessed panel-style cabinet and all stainless steel appliances keep the details minimalistic. A color palette of gold and green is used to define space within the kitchen and adjacent family areas. The alternated colors are complemented by blue barracuda granite, which introduces a myriad of colorful accents into the interior with flecks of blue, red, purple, black and green. A backsplash of olive green and golden yellow tiles with diamond accent details adds warmth to the decor. The new design opens up the area, allowing better views into adjacent spaces, yet uses details such as a tray ceiling and partial height wall to define this new, functional contemporary kitchen.