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At Home: Design Dilemma

Dilemma : When we moved into our house, the kitchen was in desperate need of a reno. We never thought we would be in the same position 12 years later. I love to entertain but have shied away from it due to our kitchen situation.

Dilemma: When we moved into our house, the kitchen was in desperate need of a reno. We never thought we would be in the same position 12 years later.

I love to entertain but have shied away from it due to our kitchen situation. It is small, cramped and closed in. With kitchens tending to be the gathering place in today's homes, ours does not measure up; there is nowhere for people to gather in or around our kitchen.

I would be thrilled to entertain more while at the same time keeping my husband happy with a design that works to keep clutter at bay. Please help! - Jen, Tsawwassen

Concept: This kitchen is located right in the center of the home, in between two gathering spaces. Currently it is a barrier, stopping the entire home being connected and optimal for entertaining. Opening the kitchen up to the family room and living room will give this family the inviting gathering space they have been looking for.

Solution: Since the homeowner does not want to remove any walls, the way to open up this kitchen to the family and living rooms is through smaller, strategically placed cut outs above counter height. These cut outs will allow visual connection between the spaces but not significantly reduce the function or storage in the kitchen itself.

Adding a raised bar top on the opening towards the family room - near the sink - provides screening to the counter, which will hide the dishes and any mess that tends to pile up near the sink.

On the opposite side of the kitchen, a cook top is placed in the space previously occupied by the fridge, which allows a second cut out on this side. The counter top on this side could wrap into the living room and provide additional seating, as well as a display cabinet on top of the counter behind the wall. The fridge is moved to the back wall and is fully integrated with mill work panels for a clean look. Moving the fridge also allows the kitchen to feel wider as the fridge is a tall, bulky item. The pantry and microwave/wall oven combo complete this wall. Placing these items together frees up the other two walls and provides the homeowner with additional counter space.

A desk is installed on the family room side of the wall for the kids computer use. The cabinetry and counter surfaces coordinate with the kitchen.

Additional lighting would be added in the ceiling, as well as under the upper cabinets. The hardwood would be extended into this space to have flow with the connecting rooms. Light, bright materials work well with the rest of the home and give a light beachy feel.

 

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