By Shelly Robertson Birdsong
A kitchen renovation has to be one of the biggest a homeowner can undertake. And no matter what, it’s going to cause upheaval as this is the center of any home – both in day to day activity and necessity. But as the need and desire for modern amenities continues to evolve, the kitchen of one’s dreams becomes not so much a desire of functionality but also of the very spirit of a home.
Precisely the reason Heather and Ken decided that their Legend’s Ridge home’s original kitchen needed a face-lift, not to mention a replacement of outdated counter tops and appliances that were reaching the end of their useful life. “The kitchen was very dark and outdated,” Heather says. “It was definitely time for a change,” she added.
But where to begin? There are options overload for anyone looking to remodel a kitchen. So many choices, that for someone looking to not only capture their vision, but also capitalize on someone’s knowledge of the newest and best, sometimes the need to enlist help is mandatory. Not for Heather and Ken. They knew where they wanted to go and simply needed some direction. While they did not work with an interior designer, they did utilize Keegan Fioravanti of Lotus Building Group, who helped get them started by giving them the idea of shrinking an underutilized pantry space and creating space for expanding the kitchen.
“We laid out several designs on graph paper over the course of a week or two,” Heather says. “Once we arrived on a basic layout plan, we worked extensively with David Stroud to finalize the new cabinet design. We will always be appreciative of David’s patience throughout this process,” she says.
The stone for the counter tops came from OHM and was the inspiration for the design of the kitchen; a Naica quartzite, it was installed by Phoenix Granite and Marble. The maple cabinets were constructed and installed by David Stroud and Stephen McDonald.
Once the backdrop was laid, it was time for the appliances! All new and all fabulous. All the appliances were purchased from and installed by Ferguson:
Refrigerator and wine fridge: Sub-Zero
Range, steam oven and warming drawer: Wolf Vent hood blower: Vent-A-Hood
Vent hood: Custom made by Vogler Metalwork and Design
Cabinet hardware: Sun Valley Bronze
Tile back-splash: Encore Ceramics (Teixeira Flooring)
Lighting: Visual Comfort Faucet: California Faucets
Sink: Julien
Finishing touches: The Registry
The result is over the top, comfortable and with plenty of light! “We worked very hard to make the kitchen our dream kitchen,” says Heather. “We both love to cook and we wanted a space we could both work in and enjoy as well as provide a gathering place for
our family.” She won’t deny it was a process, and somewhat of an ordeal! Worth it in the end, of course, but she concludes: “No matter what anyone tells you plan on it taking longer and costing more than you expect! But no regrets!”
