Project Details
- Project Name
- Functional Whimsy
- Location
- New York
- Remodeler
- Alure Home Improvements
- Project Types
- Single Family
- Size
- 155 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2017
- Project Status
- Built
Project Description
The homeowners occupy a 100 year old farmhouse that offered a unique solution to a personal and business need by enabling them to renovate, upgrade their kitchen space and provide a home studio for their on-line distribution business and internet blog. These entrepreneurs wanted a new kitchen that would function well for their family but with somewhat whimsical features, new appliances, extra storage and an island that would be their “video studio” for their blog. They did not want to increase the square footage or footprint of the house or kitchen, but would rather work inside the footprint of what was previously a barely functional environment. Their biggest requests were to keep a large bay window that provided a ton of natural light and they were insistent upon having an island. This family is very fond of Disney characters and their animated films. As travelers, they are specifically enamored with Disney World and wanted their kitchen to emulate a Disney World resort. In addition to functionality for their varied requirements, they wished to have visual entertainment in the form of color, texture and albeit subdued, a definite flavor for the colors and atmosphere one can find under the sea. Specialty lighting was considered for the seaside accents as well as specialty tile. The pattern for the counter tops was a blank canvas that could also be used to enhance the seaside theme and the cabinetry was an avenue to pursue as a focus for the colors and texture the homeowners wanted. Clearly from one look at the before photos, it supported that there would be some serious electrical work that need to be performed just to bring the house up to code and then some extras added on for the accent lighting that they were planning. The solutions to these problems were to upgrade the electrical panel to a 200 amp service, which would accommodate the new design and have extra room for the rest of the house. The new National Code “arc-fault” circuit protection was employed to ensure the home might last another 100 years. Task lighting, seemingly important to the business aspect of the blogging now done in the kitchen, these homeowners chose to use a sputnik style central pendant, which speaks to the illusion of the stars at night over the ocean. Additionally looking towards how to enhance the space and provide whimsy, a tray ceiling was conveniently an answer when outfitted with color changing LED light strips that can emulate a night sky, with otherwise no limit to the combinations possible. The real business end of the kitchen with a small work triangle is where they uncovered a vaulted porch ceiling which was enclosed at some point in a prior renovation. It was incorporated into the design adding vertical height to the far end of the room thus completing their functional whimsy. Seemingly original, but likely from a mid-century renovation, there were built in cabinets that long ago lost their functionality and appeal. However removing these cabinets exposed a brick structural feature that was ultimately decided would not change because it was part of the original construction of the house. To make this kitchen work with the now brick structure that stuck out like a sore thumb at the end of the kitchen, they added an open shelving unit in the same cabinet color and style, to tie the space perfectly together. Wanting an island was a game of inches but a necessity for this couple. The size of appliances and the fixed position of the walls left little room to design an island of any real size or significance. Instead the island, created cleverly with just enough space to accommodate the blog studio, is two drawer cabinets situated end to end with open shelving in-between. The counter tops for the island, as well as the other base cabinetry, is a quartz product chosen for its sand pattern. The cabinetry is an oak grain matte finish in a light brown color to simulate drift wood and is accentuated by the integrated panels used on the refrigerator. Using multicolored specialty glass tile, the back splash to the stove is a wavy design that brings to mind the aquamarine waves of a tropical paradise. The end result was a whimsy yet functional kitchen space that reflected the homeowners wants and needs perfectly.