In this kitchen and dining room project we sought to optimize function and wellness. The thoughtful design maximizes useful storage features and improves efficient workflow, making the kitchen a more pleasant place to cook (and even clean!).
Mindful of possible lifestyle changes, we utilized cabinet accessories and design features that make sense ergonomically. And in the event that a downstairs bedroom is needed one day in the future, we’ve provided doors that give both privacy and some natural light for the dining room to serve in that way, and doorways wide enough to accommodate mobility aids.
The natural world inspired different aspects of this project. For example, the views to the Certified Wildlife Habitat backyard eventually helped lead us to the blue bird wallpaper in the dining room. Widening the door between the kitchen and the dining room allows not only better visual and verbal communication with people, but brought more natural light and better airflow into the kitchen. With the materials chosen for the job we sought to preserve clean air and healthful living. We avoided particle board and instead used PureBond plywood and water-based cabinet finishes; no-VOC paints were a priority on the walls and trim.
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- This small kitchen maximizes every inch of its space. We installed a toe kick heater to make up for the cast iron radiator we removed.
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- Among this project’s goals included dramatically increasing the efficiency and function of the kitchen, while also making sure the materials we used were as healthful and non-toxic as possible. Along these lines we avoided particle board, instead using PureBond plywood and maple for the cabinets, along with water-based finishes.
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- To make the stored items easily accessible we primarily used drawers.
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- We used drawers for almost all of the base cabinets, including these corner drawers. Full-extension, soft-close drawers make accessing their contents easy. There is even a triangle-shaped storage area at the back of the drawer, so every inch is usable.
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- We used lazy susans to make the wall corner storage more easily accessible. In fact, with the improved organization and storage options in this small kitchen, there are shelves that are not even full!
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- This small kitchen maximizes every inch. The downdraft Jenn Air range allows for excellent storage in the cabinet above.
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- This handy pull-down accessory in the cabinet above the stove makes retrieving stored items easier.
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- The accessory pulls down with minimal effort.
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- The patchwork tile backsplash is a fun way to provide interesting color and pattern to this white kitchen. To protect the cabinet above the downdraft range, a stainless steel panel was customized to fit around the recessed LED light.
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- To the right of the stove we were able to fit a pull-out cabinet, which is easier to access than a traditional skinny cabinet.
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- We created an appliance garage to keep some things handy.
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- The doors on the appliance garage slide back into the sides of the cabinet to stay out of the way when open (not shown). The electrical outlet inside the garage makes it easy to use the appliances near their home. The mixer is stored on a dish towel to make it easy to slide in and out.
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- To more easily rotate the dishes they use, the clients found these holders. And there are lazy susans to the right of the dishes to make accessing things in the corner easier.
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- By widening and moving the doorway to the dining room we allow more natural light and air to flow between the two rooms. In addition, the open feeling is a great improvement. The bifold doors take up minimal floor space.
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- We designed this custom hutch to provide not only additional storage, but a rolling butcher block work surface that can be moved around the kitchen when needed.
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- When making bread or canning vegetables the extra counter space this custom butcher block rolling table provides comes in handy.
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- The custom designed rolling butcher block table allows for extra counter space in this hard-working kitchen. The quartz counter that remains when the table is in use matches the rest of the kitchen.
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- The trash and recycling cabinet is a handy new addition.
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- We added a side access door over the refrigerator to allow easy storage of trays and cookie sheets.
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- The new wallpaper and semi-flush ceiling light give the dining room an airy feel.
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- This whimsical light echos the swirling clouds in the wallpaper.
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- Bluebirds are symbols of happiness and pleasure, and they are a lovely image on the new dining room wallpaper.
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- We widened and moved the door between the kitchen and dining room, making the spaces much friendlier and more open. In the dining room new wallpaper and mirrored glass inserts in the china cabinet lighten things up. The new wood floor in the kitchen blended wonderfully well with that of the dining room.
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- The new doors in the dining room have white laminated glass, which allows light but also a good level of privacy. With the aging in place goals of this project, we wanted to make sure that this room could function as a comfortable bedroom if it ever needed to do that.
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- The new door has white laminated glass to give privacy and light. The special hinges maximize the doorway width.
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- To make the doorway as wide as we could, we used hinges that swing out farther to the side than normal ones. In the case of a mobility aid, these hinges allow the widest clearance possible.
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- BEFORE – This awkward corner made much of the kitchen unusable.
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- BEFORE – The previous kitchen had a lot of wasted and awkward spaces.
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- BEFORE – We were able to remove the pipe chase in the corner and use that space for storage, as well as add some counter between the stove and the wall. Moving the dishwasher to the other side of the sink made for a better functioning space.
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- BEFORE – We kept the arch way but removed the radiator.
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- BEFORE – This rolling butcher block table was a hard worker and important storage piece in the old kitchen. We came up with a design that kept its benefits but in a more elegant solution.
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- BEFORE – Moving and widening this doorway allowed for a much more useful kitchen and better communication with the dining room.
Karen Warner Design LLC 