Making Space for Better Living…

One of the best things about a renovation is that it allows us to update the homes we love to work better for our families. The way we live our lives changes over time, and whether we need more space for our growing families, a different layout for entertaining, or better storage and organization solutions, a renovation can simply make life easier.

In this case, our clients wanted an open concept floor plan for their kitchen and dining areas, and more functionality for their everyday lifestyle as well as entertaining. We removed a wall between the existing dining room and kitchen to accomplish that goal. We focused on maximizing storage space and work space, most notably in the twelve foot kitchen island. We also included plenty of wall storage, which is a great solution for finding more organizational space in your home.

The design choices in color and materials selections gave the project the perfect aesthetic look–clean, crisp, and totally magazine-worthy.

Our clients were wonderful to work with, open to suggestions and collaborative. They are thrilled with their new open kitchen and dining area, and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come with their young family.

A Gorgeous New Kitchen for Longtime Clients

We are honored when our clients turn to Schrader and Company for repeat projects, sometimes over the course of multiple homes. That was the case in this Project Spotlight, in which we undertook a kitchen renovation for clients we have loved working with over the years, on many different home projects.

For this kitchen renovation, our clients didn’t need an expanded footprint so much as some spacing changes that would improve the room’s functionality for their lifestyle.

In addition to moving appliances to create a new flow, we installed new custom cabinets with quartz counters and full-height quartz backsplashes. We put in a new window unit, new appliances, and new luxury vinyl tile flooring. We built the new cabinets to the existing soffit at the ceiling perimeter, which the clients wanted to preserve. Custom moulding at the higher center portion of the ceiling adds visual interest.

The existing kitchen island remained, and interestingly, is a custom Schrader and Company creation that we built for the previous homeowners.

The mixture of painted and white oak cabinets is a beautiful design touch, and the thoughtful placement of the appliances gives the room a great flow for both cooking and entertaining.

It’s an absolute pleasure to collaborate with these longtime clients, and we are thrilled that they trusted us to bring their vision for their home to life once again.

The Latest Trends in Kitchen Design

We recently asked our in-house designers Brooke Weinert and Kara Woitkoski to share some of the latest in kitchen design trends. From mixed metals to clever organization systems, read on to learn more details and see photos of how these design elements can be incorporated into your home.

  • Use of Walnut Interiors:

We’re seeing an increase in people wanting more of an accent and contrast at the interior of their cabinetry. While this is a bit more upfront cost, it’s an irreplaceable and gorgeous look and immediately adds visual value to kitchens of all colors and tones.

  • Mixed Metals for Cabinetry Hardware (and elsewhere!):

Rather than sticking with one finish, we think there will be an increase in the use of mixed metal tones. The use of a darker backplate with a brass or pewter pull can really make hardware a statement. At the same time, we’re seeing the islands being used as a place for statement hardware. For example: we may use a satin brass knob at the perimeter cabinetry, but select a larger, more decorative cup pull in a more antiquated finish for the island as a feature. This makes the island stand out and feel more like a furniture piece. In addition to the cabinetry hardware, we’re seeing this spread to other areas of the kitchen as well. We’re no longer selecting one finish for the entire kitchen, but truly allowing the hardware, fixtures, and lighting to all complement each other in different tones. This makes a space feel much more unique and thought out, rather than just selecting the same finish for everything.

  • Door Details:

For the past few years, the most popular door styles were all flat panel or “shaker” style. But the tide is shifting! Lately, we’re seeing more interest in decorative door styles being used in a more contemporary way. We’ve been using more raised panel door styles and even some flat panel doors with applied molding. These door styles are gorgeous and create a unique, boutique look.

  • Organization & Space Savers:

This will never go out of style, but certainly ebbs and flows with all other “trends”. Lately, people are focused on optimizing space and becoming more organized. All of our kitchens are custom designed to be functional and fit our clients’ needs, but sometimes we’re able to take it even further. Using custom drawer dividers, dish storage pegs, spice bleachers, custom filler rollouts, and (for those who hate lazy susans) blind corner optimizers! We’ve been seeing even more interest than we typically do in going the extra distance to ensure every inch of the kitchen is going to be utilized.

  • Two Tone (or more!):

Our clients love the opportunity to incorporate more than one cabinet tone (and so do we!). We’re very much used to doing two tone kitchens. But lately, we’ve seen people incorporating three tones in one space. We think that when it is executed well, it’s a gorgeous look. We have a kitchen coming up that is using a beautiful cream tone for the upper cabinets, a truffle brown for the base cabinets, and a walnut island and we cannot wait to see it all come together.

Check out the slideshow for examples of some of these kitchen design elements in our projects!

 

 Lighter, Brighter, and Better

One of the most desired features in any home is good light. We all want to feel the sense of spaciousness and brightness that lots of natural light can afford.

In this Project Spotlight, a kitchen underwent a dramatic renovation that not only improved the functionality and aesthetic of the space, but opened it up to more natural light. The result is a fresh, cheerful, polished room, perfect for both cooking and entertaining. 

Our client did not feel that her original kitchen matched her individual style or the overall theme of her home. She is a baker and likes to entertain and was looking for increased functionality as well as a more beautiful kitchen that would reflect her personal tastes. 

Project Planner Mark O’Lena, Interior Designer Brooke Stollery and Cabinet Designer/Shop Manager Robert Page worked as a team to increase the functionality of the kitchen in a number of ways—utilizing pull-outs, larger pantry units, custom cabinets and island, innovative appliances, and a relocated microwave.  

Additionally, the existing short casement window over the sink did not work well with the tall cabinets and ceiling. We put a taller Andersen 400 Series single casement in to let in more light, and improve the view by eliminating the center mullion. We also incorporated an Andersen short fractional grill with a simulated check rail.  This allowed use of a single unit that duplicated the look of the existing transom windows located in the adjacent breakfast area.

Robert created a beautiful custom island in the Schrader and Company cabinet shop that matches the new custom cabinets. The result resembles a furniture piece, and helps complement the new openness of the kitchen design.

To save more valuable counter space, we incorporated a Sharp R1214T under-cabinet microwave. It provides a wide range of options for placement, works with standard cabinet sizes and does not require a built-in kit or shelf, allowing for easy installation, and it comes with under cabinet task lighting. Additionally (and specifically useful for our client when baking) we incorporated Moen’s Arbor faucet in spot resistant stainless steel. This innovative faucet has Moen’s patented hands free MotionSense and Reflex pull-down spray, and its transitional look works well with this kitchen.

The end result is a vibrant, bright space with ample storage that works perfectly for our client’s lifestyle.

The client was so fun to work with,” says Mark. “She was trusting in both our planning and design, and is very happy with the end results. This project was one of those in which everything fell into place incredibly well. The time from start to finish was amazing, and was a real testament to the benefits of a well-planned out project.”

 

You Don’t Need to Go Bigger to Get Better

When clients come to us with hopes to remodel their existing home, we know they are doing so because they want to remain in the house that they love while improving the functionality of their space. One might think this necessarily means making rooms larger–adding square footage or knocking down walls. But sometimes all that is needed is imagination, innovation, and thoughtful design.

In this Project Spotlight, a kitchen is remodeled to improve the function and design for two avid home cooks. And with careful planning and some inspiring design elements, no changes needed to be made to the kitchen’s original size and footprint.

The work began with some structural basics. The kitchen was actually part of a previous home addition, and the floors had not been perfectly leveled to the original structure. Once the Schrader team rectified that and improved insulation to exterior walls for energy efficiency, the design improvements could begin.

The kitchen already featured a lovely hexagonal, windowed eating area and a kitchen island with seating. The island was completely reconstructed with new countertops and a wider work surface area, and by re-orienting the seating at the island, the flow of the room was improved and more space for cooking was created.

This project also posed a unique venting challenge. These skilled home cooks have an induction stove top, but a skylight was positioned directly above it. To work around this venting issue, a pop-up vent was installed, which rises out of the counter and then slides back down at the bush of a button–an exciting technological innovation that also works with the room’s streamlined aesthetic.

For added storage and functionality, Aventos by Blum soft-function lift-systems were added, to house small appliances and whatever else the homeowners might need.

The final look of the complete kitchen is light, bright, and modern. The clients were enthusiastic participants throughout the renovation, researching ideas and products and collaborating with Project Planner Brian Taber and Schrader cabinet craftsman Robert Page closely on all aspects of the work. Project Manager Val DeCesare oversaw the work to its successful and beautiful completion.

“This particular project is a perfect example of how to increase functionality without increasing space,” says Brian. “The homeowners love cooking and entertaining in their new kitchen and that’s the most rewarding thing for us.”