ROOM WITH A VIEW
There comes a day when your so-called “timeless” kitchen design loses its appeal and you are left with a time-warped terror. It’s the time when the place that should be a haven for the family turns into a lifeless, outdated hole in the middle of your home. How can you fix this? According to Susan Lund, AKBD, owner of Spacial Design in San Anselmo, California, redesigning the kitchen is simple. It all starts with inspiration.
Typically, inspiration is drawn from the image you have for your dream kitchen; whether it is the rustic landscapes of Tuscany, the quaint French bistro you visited on vacation or the panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, as with one of Lund’s previous clients.
A bit of water damage and an obstructed view of the San Francisco Bay was the inspiration for a complete kitchen remodel in her client’s Mill Valley home. The family wanted to open the kitchen area to the dining and living rooms to create a Great Room that allowed more light to pass through the space and provide breathtaking views of the Bay from almost every angle.
Additionally, the kitchen needed a few extensive upgrades to make it more efficient, beginning with an operable microwave. Thankfully, Lund’s client was open to all of her recommendations for making the kitchen much more functional. And with only a few “must haves” on the client’s list, Lund began the remodel.
The existing layout left very little counter space for prep and there was only enough room for a single wall oven and rangetop, but her client wanted a double wall oven. So, beginning with the removal of the inoperable microwave and a few other not-so-minor adjustments, Lund was able to create space where none existed.
“There wasn’t enough space with the existing pantry location, so we removed the walk-in pantry to make space for the Millennia® Discovery Double Wall Oven, range top and a 24″ wide pantry,” said Lund, who is also a Dacor owner. “I specify Dacor Wall Ovens 95% of the time because they are exceptional. They cook consistently and evenly.”
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Lund also moved the cooktop to an opposite wall, allowing for more counter space on both sides of the appliance, thus making cooking much more efficient. This move provided ample space for the installation of a prep sink and more functional cabinetry to accommodate the undercounter microwave and wine storage.
“Aesthetics were most important to the client and we were able to give the homeowner everything she wanted.”
However, to give the client exactly what she asked for, Lund had to mix and match appliance styles, which meant there was the risk that not everything would line up precisely. But by fitting the appliances with custom cabinetry panels for a fully integrated appearance, the homeowner didn’t have to worry about appliance handles not matching.
“Integrating the appliances into the cabinetry makes it easy to incorporate different products into the design,” continued Lund, who always looks for the best appliances to fit the client’s needs, regardless of brand.
But when creating designs, Lund typically pushes for what she owns in her own home, the Epicure 36″ Range.
Click here to visit the Dacor Design Gallery for more design inspiration.
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