He Said, She Said Donick and Kim Cary feel their kitchen and adjacent butler's pantry are inefficient . Kim wants the kitchen to serve both form and function while maintaining the existing 1920s vintage feel; Donick prefers a more comfortable room complete with a computer workstation. Donick's vision is more rustic and country whereas Kim's is modern and more streamlined. Kim wants granite countertops; Donick prefers wood, stainless steel, tile or a combination of all three. Donick wants wood floors but Kim feels hardwood flooring is inappropriate for a kitchen and prefers the style of the existing tile. Kim also feels the existing windows are sufficient; Donick feels arched windows better suit the room.
Shopping for Solutions
Interior designer Michael Payne's plans include removing the wall separating the butler's pantry and the kitchen, removing the existing aluminum windows and replacing them with more architecturally consistent arched windows. The three of them set off on a fact-finding mission for different kitchen styles and elements of style they like. Donick prefers a country style kitchen complete with a farmhouse sink. Kim, on the other hand, prefers a working cook's kitchen. The field trip provided Michael with several ideas.
Payne, Donick and Kim continue their search for kitchen ideas as they look for countertop surfaces. Kim prefers granite but both Kim and Donick agree that tiles will add the dramatic color they are looking to create. Meanwhile, work begins on Donick and Kim's new kitchen with the removal of the old cabinets and appliances . With the old cabinets gone, the new cabinets quickly go in along with the new arched windows.
A Happy Ending
Michael Payne arrives to see the newly redesigned room firsthand. The removal of the wall dividing the butler's pantry and the kitchen opened the room up to one large space. Donick and Kim were able to get the countertop surfaces they both desired in the tiled counters, the cement island and the stainless steel table top. The terra-cotta tiled floor gives the warmth of hardwood that Donick so desired but also gives Kim the ease of cleaning she preferred. The new architecturally consistent arched windows maintain the vintage feel of the room Kim hoped to keep. Donick and Kim's new kitchen is not only spacious but also colorful. It's surely a room they will both enjoy for years to come.
cabinet hardware (Restoration Hardware: Antique Silver Sun Pull, 2403.0715; Small Silver Ring Pull, 2403.0719)
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