My old beliefs about a kitchen makeover have forever changed.
I learned that trends are not what a kitchen remodel is about, but creating a living space that complements the style of the house, a design that answers very personal needs and, yes, even dreams.
And who hasn't dreamed of the perfect kitchen? After all, we spend most of our time there, when at home. It should be functional, feel spacious and offer an aesthetic sense that feeds the soul - while it feeds the body.
A great kitchen remodel isn't just adding the newest, high-tech appliances or new cabinets. It's about knocking out walls, moving windows and looking for all useable space. It's about adding beams and working with the home's original concept.
Using usable space
Sandra Barnikel and Tad Drys-dale, owners of Great Kitchens in Madison Valley, really know their business after 10 years of remodeling kitchens.
Drysdale explained there are many areas, especially in an older home that go unused - such as stair-wells and laundry rooms and hallways - and these spaces can be valuable additions.
Barnikel explained that some clients know exactly what they want while others don't have a clue; they just know the old kitchen isn't working for them anymore.
For the clueless, the partners take their cues from pieces and parts of dreams and ideas that have been brewing for perhaps years. Sometimes it means breaking up the design into different patterns, mixing woods and essential elements to bring the pieces together.
The result can be interesting and even startling. It can involve mixing various stone and wood products, moving a window or even the kitchen space to capitalize on a view!
Because many of us are living in smaller spaces these days, it becomes even more essential to think creatively - and this takes an expert eye.
While the partners go for classic design, it evolves into a very personal statement for the individual and the home.
Built-ins
I was particularly intrigued by the many built-in appliances, which is a "looming" business, Drysdale said.
The built-in appliances of the past are paled by the new ones, which can be further customized with some creative maneuvers - like setting a refrigerator under an old stairwell (now part of the wall) so it looks like part of the wall itself.
There are built-in warming drawers with moisture and heat controls and refrigerator and freezer drawers.
Something called a "full overlay" makes appliances look like cabinetry.
Or for a modern kitchen look, panels of stainless steel or graphite.
Some families are even using panels of chalkboard!
All of these things make a small space look bigger, while increasing its overall functionality.
Other options
There has been so much talk about granite as the end-all of countertops, but the highly polished granite is being challenged by a more relaxed, more "honed" look.
There are new options for materials, and people are not always going for the standard-issue granite. The unpolished stone is an antique look and very appropriate for older home environments.
Soapstone is gaining momentum as a softer alternative.
New stone products mixed with epoxy have all the strength of granite but offer more options for color and textures.
There are many interesting combinations that can bring together - and emphasize the unique characteristics of a home.
Naturally, the question of high-technology always comes up, and Barnikel and Drysdale are well-versed in creating kitchens with computers. While the trend is still "out there" for a completely high-tech home, it's coming, and the wireless technology will make it happen sooner.
The individual must decide, "What will my kitchen be used for?" Increasingly, we will find laptop computers in the kitchen, and now some appliances such as refrigerators are even fitted with computers.
Personal preferences
The partners always return to the premise that a kitchen remodel is a personal thing, and the client's needs and dreams are what drive the process.
What to do if you need a new kitchen, but you're clueless how to proceed? Start looking in magazines and clip out all the things you love, as well as the things you don't.
Collect them in a scrapbook until the bits and pieces begin to work like alchemy, gradually forming the visual plan in your mind.
Then you can begin to work with professionals to design a kitchen that is just what you dreamed it would be.
Great Kitchens is located in Madison Valley at 3130 E. Madison St.
Kathryn Hack an be reached at mptimes@nwlink.com.
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