Kitchen Solutions from Clever Cooks
Room for two cooks
Susanna and Helmut Epp's kitchen could have been the model that illustrated challenges with older houses. Squeezed into the back of their 1910 Arts & Crafts home in Wilmette, Illinois, north of Chicago, the paltry space offered virtually no work zones, no storage and no place even to relax with a cup of coffee, much less a meal. A doorway separated the dishwasher from the sink, while across the room, a badly insulated stove cozied up to the fridge. To unload groceries, the Epps rested bags in the gap between the burners.
The kitchen felt boxed in, even though doors opened at every turn. One passage led to the basement; another revealed a back porch. A third concealed a pantry, the only spot for a microwave. The room's sole window faced the driveway and a neighbor's house. As Susanna, a university math professor says, "It just didn't work."
So the couple started over. After consulting with two architects, plus kitchen designer Rick Glickman and interior designer Suzanne Radi, the Epps decided to expand their tiny warren of a kitchen by toppling an old chimney, relocating the basement stairway and adding a sun-splashed breakfast room, which includes much needed nearby family living space.
The redesigned kitchen boasts an efficient U-shape layout with a central island, where an off-center prep sink maximizes work surfaces. A floor-to- ceiling corner pantry work with white base cabinets topped with sea-green granite to provide plenty of storage. Upper cabinets show off their contents through glass-paned doors.
The newly remodeled spaces produce a casual traffic flow and openness at the back of the house.
Keeping surfaces shiny
Rick Glickman of Dream Kitchens in Wilmette, Illinois, designer of the Epp's new kitchen, (see page 122)�� makes a point of helping his clients retain the beauty of their new kitchen. He offers this advice for stone and stainless steel care:
- To maintain a like-new appearance, seal any stone with a penetrating finish once it's installed and before it's used. Oil, cleaners and spills can work their way into minute crevices.
- Never clean polished stone with ordinary kitchen cleaners - eventually they dull the finish. Use products found at home centers made just for stone.
- Clean up acidic foods such as tomato or orange juice immediately. Left unattended, they can etch the surface.
- Reseal granite faithfully about every 14 months with a sealant specially designed for the job (usually found at home centers or kitchen-and- bath design shops). "It only takes a few minutes," Rick promises. You can do the job yourself, and it's a small price for protecting your investment.
- Keep stainless steel refrigerators and ovens free of fingerprints with cleaners made for that purpose. "The fridge will resist about 15 kids' handprints before you have to clean again," Rick says.
- Quality stainless steel sinks with a soft patina improve with age. Blend away minor scratches with ordinary cleanser, always wiping with the grain.
EPP Kitchen Product Guide
Page 122
We list only those items that are generally available. To access manufacturer's websites, visit www.midwestliving.com
Architect - Anthony Hurtig, AIA 1770 W. Berteau Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 (773/244-2440)
Designer - Rick Glickman, Dream Kitchens, 3437 Dempster St., Skokie, IL 60076 (847/933-9100)
Backsplash Tile - Hasting Tile, 30 Commercial St., Freeport NY 11520 (516/379-3500)
Cabinets - Plato Cabinets. Dream Kitchens. See Designer
Dishware - French Garden. Villeroy and Boch. For a dealer near you call: 800/845-5376.
Dishwasher - Kitchen-Aid. For a dealer, call: 800/442-1230.
Faucet - Rohl Corp. For a dealer near you, call: 800/777-9762.
Range and Hood - Five Star Ranges. For a dealer, call: 800/553-7704.
Refrigeration - Sub-Zero Freezer Co. For a dealer, call: 800/222-7820.
Sink - Blanco America, Inc. For a dealer, call: 800/451-5782.
