We are always honored to have past clients call us back for additional work on their home. Early this year, we received a phone call from a client who remembered us with gratitude. 

The family was looking for an upgrade, focusing on the kitchen but bringing in the butler pantry, new flooring and a new mantle to match the updated style of the home, and removing a column between the kitchen and living space. We were excited to bring in the team to get started working with them on some design options including a new configuration for the island and butler pantry, and eventually also landing on enclosing the front den to provide for a much needed versatile home office area.



With new cabinetry, a new island, and flooring, the kitchen would be entirely new. Not only aesthetics comes into consideration when a family is looking to remodel. We take into consideration the walking space, sink/dishwasher location, and light sources as an important part of the design process. These details will all play a huge part into the new functionality of the new kitchen. 

Their current island was crescent shaped, technically a peninsula attached to the unwanted column. The new design seemed simple; yet highly functional. Rectangular in shape, turning it slightly to face the windows. The family had mentioned their appreciation of the greenbelt outside, blending with their backyard. Along with a love for their neighbors and community, the proximity to the beautiful green Austin space kept this family invested in this house. We looked for ways to incorporate what they already loved into their new kitchen design, and made sure it would work for their lifestyle.

Demo-ing the wall and the peninsula meant they would lose some cabinet space. We recommended the use of drawers for lower cabinets, an efficient use of storage with ease of access. For the uppers, ceiling height cabinets provide some extra space to store seasonal items, and a deep cabinet above the fridge is always useful. Another feature included the microwave placement, formerly above the stove, now under the countertop, flushed with the lower cabinets and easily accessible to heat a quick meal for the kids, and nicely incorporated to make way for the popular modern kitchen hood.

Many clients ponder what to do with their pantry. Removing it is not an idea many are comfortable with, however ,many options are available to keep the functionality with an updated look. For this family we suggested squaring off the back walls and adding pantry cabinets with roll-out shelves combined with open shelving for a beautiful modern look without sacrificing storage space. After seeing some photos of previous kitchens along with a beautiful rendering of what theirs could look like, they didn’t hesitate. This new kitchen was being tailored to their needs and wants, and we were excited to see it all come together

The family was also in much need of a new door to the office for the man of the house, and added a complete wall to enclose an open office space for the woman of the house as well! They both were ready to have private offices with working doors, especially needed in this new normal of WFH (working from home) while having a big family. They were ready to increase both their productivity and relaxation in their own homes. 

After deciding on all the features of the remodel, it was now time to choose colors, and finishes for the new kitchen. The goal was open, clean, and light. After visiting the cabinet and countertop showroom together, our client explored different colors and materials and finally settled with light gray cabinets, white countertop. After seeing a few design renderings, they agreed on a backsplash that would make the kitchen even more beautiful, a dark grey glass arabesque - absolutely gorgeous! 

 While many of our clients choose to live in the home while undergoing remodeling, we generally recommend fitting in a vacation or visit to family at some point in the process, or even consider renting another place when a major part of their home is under construction. This is one of the optics covered in our Pre-Construction meeting, the focus of last month’s blog.

And onto construction!

A key feature of this project is the removal of a column and addition of a structural beam designed by a licensed engineer.

This family had recently purchased new appliances therefore they were not interested in changing for new - which helped us to get started quickly on construction.  If you are looking to do a kitchen remodel and interested in new appliances we suggest to start looking for those sooner rather than later as long lead times can delay the arrival of these items. Delays for material and installation continue to occur due to many issues including container shipment delays and supplier labor issues due to the global pandemic. While there are a few solutions we come up with when surprises arise, once construction begins it is best to either have most items on site or firm delivery dates for arrival. A “typical” kitchen remodel can take from 2-3 months, having materials on site and/or available is essential to keep the work on schedule.

Finally, the chimney also saw a fantastic improvement. The tile was redone, mantle and it creates that final touch the first floor needed for the whole house to look really fresh and modern. We love the tile selections the family picked. They are ready for a new school year, season of working from home, and spending time together.

Thank you Melanie and family for your amazing warmth, communication with our team, and being a great partner with us. We appreciate you trusting us with your home. We wish you many more special memories in your home with friends and family!