Illustrations by Esti Friedman
Before-and-afters are thrilling, but what exactly goes on behind-the-scenes in a renovation? Here, we take you through that detailed process: kitchen reno edition.
My client knew from the outset that she wanted a more functional and spacious kitchen, but she wasn’t sure how to execute this. We began by taking notes of her exact needs, including storage, an eat-in area with enough seats for everyone in the home, and separate dairy and meat sides.
As you can see from the “before” floor plan, we were able to remove the closet for proper built-in space and create a walk-in pantry. We also gave her two islands to allow separate dairy and meat sides. The best part was that we were able to create an area for an eatin option, with a table and chairs.
Once I presented the client with all of the possible floor plans that could accommodate her wish list, she decided to remove the office in that corner of the house and to expand the kitchen to the area where the office had been. This gave us more space not only for storage but also for a bigger kitchen table. The new space could accommodate a desk area inside the kitchen, as well as more pantry space When we started this project, my client knew that she wanted a more functional and spacious kitchen, but wasn’t sure how to execute this. We began by taking notes of her exact needs, including storage, an eat-in area with enough seats for everyone in the home, and separate dairy and meat sides.
Cabinets can be made from different types of material, ranging from laminate to real wood. I like to take climate into consideration when choosing a cabinet material. For example, wood may seem sturdy and durable, but it’s also more vulnerable to changes in temperature and humidity than one might realize. There are gorgeous plywood and partial board cabinets that come in a veneer or even laminate finish to allow for all different style preferences.
There are many different options for countertops also. Quartz, for example, is the most durable, and natural marble is the most delicate. I love the look of real marble. To ensure that it doesn’t stain, there are a few different sealing options available. My personal favorite is a thin plastic film that gets safely adhered to the counters and doesn’t allow staining or scratching. This material is easily removed when desired or switched out about every three years and doesn’t cause damage to the counters.
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