Project Reveal: Ansley Park Kitchen Renovation
Let me tell you... Working as a designer is a day-to-day struggle. You are surrounded by all of these beautiful things and 9 times out of 10, you can't afford to put them in your own home. The silver lining is when a client comes along that essentially builds your dream kitchen, therefore allowing you to live vicariously through them!
This project did just that.
Their beautiful home, located in the picturesque Ansley Park neighborhood in Atlanta, was practically perfect... with the exception of an outdated kitchen.
You'll notice in the picture above a couple of columns with beams going across them. These are actually a structural component of the house. The area where the table sits was not original to the home, therefore those beams are carrying the load of the former back of the house. What did that mean for me? That they had to be incorporated in to the design of the new space!
Because of the size of this kitchen, the clients use this OFTEN for entertaining purposes. Above, you'll notice a couple of doors in the distance. The one on the right was an extremely long and narrow broom closet that wasn't all that functional for this family. Keep reading to see if the broom closet will stay or go ;)
The time came to break ground. Construction began only a couple months after this couple's first child was born (talk about some serious troopers... kitchen reno with a newborn - mad props to them)!
One interesting construction note before we get into the 'after' photos. Renewal Design-Build (the remodeling firm that I work for), prides ourselves in being extraordinarily thorough upfront so that very few surprises happen during construction. One thing we noticed in our research is that the ceiling was four different heights. Each "quadrant" was different. That led to us determining (again... all prior to construction) that the sub-floor wasn't level.
As a matter of fact... the sub-floor ended up being up to FIVE INCHES out of level in some areas!! Because of our due diligence up front, the client knew that this would be something to address during the construction phase.
Alright, on to the really fun stuff! Drum roll please.... my dream kitchen... that I don't get to live in, but I can look at these pictures as often as I want!
....... And sigh.
The layout of the space changed slightly, but the finishes are really where this one stands out. One of my favorite components of the whole room is the lighting. I had a blast researching these lights and discovering something that had a little of that industrial vibe.
There's never a good way to store your pots and pans... until now! This custom drawer unit is the prime location for these items. From the front, it looks like two separate drawers, but it functions as one large drawer with a rollout shelf at the top for pot storage! Efficiency is key when planning your kitchen renovation!
Remember the broom closet?! Poof.... be gone! This cabinetry serves dual-functionality. The glass cabinets on each side provide a great space for decorative items while the center houses a TV... perfect for watching a game on a gorgeous fall day!
Can we just talk about the cranes for a minute. How amazing are those?! I can't take credit for them, but I caaaaaan love them... and I do!
At the top of this image you'll see the custom coffered ceiling. This detail disguises those structural beams that I pointed out earlier on. Pretty nice disguise if you ask me! PS... those awesome lights are from Circa Lighting. They are such an amazing focal point in this room!
In this 500+ square foot kitchen.... this was probably my favorite piece! The rustic charm of the brick and wood countertop in this Butler's Pantry are to die for. This vestibule leads from the Kitchen to the main Dining Room. The lights are also bad to the bone (if I do say so myself)!
When you're designing for a single room, it's important not to lose sight of the architectural details of the house. In this case, you'll notice the transom window above the french doors on the left side of the photo. When designing the Butler's Pantry, I wanted to be sure to incorporate a transom of the same style. It's both architecturally fitting for the home, and it gives a great visual of that brick-work you saw above!
Again... being a designer is hard. Very hard.
I live with all these ideas in my head, and different products filed away in my mental database just waiting for the right client to come along. A big thanks to these wonderful clients for allowing me the opportunity to bring some of these ideas to a reality.
Don't worry, I have plenty more just waiting for your Kitchen ;)
Until next time!
All photos courtesy of Renewal Design-Build
