Empty nesters double kitchen size, beauty
Not all so-called "empty nesters" want to down-size their living arrangements. Without the demands and schedules of growing children, adults can find themselves with time to indulge in hobbies, such as gourmet cooking and entertaining.
Indeed, an Evanston couple with grown children wanted to double the size of their kitchen. They entertain their friends often and wanted an open floor plan. To achieve their desires, they called on kitchen designer Rick Glickman, president of Dream Kitchens, Inc. in Skokie.
The kitchen in this older Spanish/Mediterranean style house was remodeled 16 years ago and had white laminate cabinets, which were the style at that time. In terms of layout, the kitchen was cut off from the entertaining areas of the house, meaning the cook was separated from her guests, which she disliked.
Not only was the kitchen isolated, it was very small, measuring on 90 square feet. Rick Glickman worked with the homeowners to create and enlarged kitchen with a good flow for guests and hosts to be together. After the kitchen was renovated, it had grown to 180 square feet. Wall were moved, appliances reoriented and counter space increased.
To maintain the integrity of the home's interior design, the striking stucco wall treatment and beamed ceiling motif were carried through from the living room to the kitchen area. For a dramatic contrast with the white walls, Dream Kitchens own custom cabinets were chosen in alder wood with a Java stain. The cabinets are a frameless Mission style with mitered corners and flat panel doors.
All the wall cabinetry is topped by multi--tiered crown moldings. The black metal hardware blends into the cabinet design and color to give an uninterrupted look. Warm oak floors are complimented by Juperana Fantasia granite countertops.
To further enhance the openness of the new room, a wall was renovated between the kitchen and family room. A granite-topped breakfast bar was built with an arch overhead, in keeping with the architecture of the house. Three people can be seated at the breakfast bar.
On the kitchen side, there is an under mount stainless steel sink, and dishwasher appliances in the kitchen are from KitchenAid and Dacor. There is low voltage under-cabinet lighting, and as a finishing touch, the pendant-style lighting over the breakfast bar features stained glass shades reminiscent of a Tiffany design.
The kitchen is striking in size, convenience and beauty.
