Remodelers Showcase Design Inspiration
Get inspired for your next home project on the Remodelers Showcase. From kitchen renovations to whole-house overhauls, you’ll see it on the tour. These talented designers from homes the Remodelers Showcase shared their inspiration behind these styles you’ll see on the tour. The Remodelers Showcase runs March 23-25, 2018 with homes open from noon-6 p.m.
How did you begin the design process?
The design process began with an initial visit to our client’s home to see the space. I asked several questions regarding their current space—what’s working, what’s not—and also questions to get the homeowners thinking about things that may not have crossed their mind. I reviewed images they had compiled on Pinterest and Houzz to get a better feel for their style.
What were some of the challenges the clients were facing with their current space?
Their current kitchen was dark and cramped. When entertaining, the kitchen became congested with guests all trying to crowd around the tiny island. They also had a formal dining room—completely separate from the kitchen—that sat unused.
How did the design and selections in the space help solve those issues?
We eliminated the wall between the existing kitchen and dining room to double the square footage of the kitchen. One large, expansive island is now the focal point and is the perfect gathering spot while entertaining. The previous, formal living room has now transformed into a less formal dining space.
What influenced the design of this space?
Our clients wanted the kitchen to be a “wow” for their guests but still comfortable and inviting for everyday living. We were deliberate with the design and material selections to achieve this. The show-stopping pattern of the quartz island countertop is perfectly balanced with a subtler quartz perimeter. An “all-white” kitchen would have felt stark in comparison to the rest of the home. A warm, creamy white was selected and offset with a stained island and butler bar/command center. A custom reclaimed, barn-wood inspired range hood is the perfect contrast to the enameled/stained cabinetry. Metal finishes were combined to create a comfortable, collected feel and wide plank wood flooring gives the space a farmhouse jive.
Any tips for emulating design in this home?
Don’t be afraid to mix finishes and styles—it creates a more interesting and unexpected result! You want the design elements to complement each other, not be “matchy-matchy.” The oil-rubbed bronze hardware and lighting in this space pairs perfectly with the stainless on the appliances and plumbing fixtures. The reclaimed range hood highlights beautifully against the clean, enameled cabinets. The metallic deco tile behind the range is paired with a clean, stone-like porcelain tile.
What is one current design trend you can't get enough of?
Mixed metals and patterns!
How did you begin the design process?
We started with a discussion of what they liked and didn’t like about their current spaces. They gave me input regarding storage in their current kitchen, the layout of their current mud room and how it performs for them, and the physical location of the existing powder room. It was decided that the kitchen needed to be bigger and provide better usability and storage, the mud room had lots of room for improvement, and the powder room needed slight relocation to accommodate a new opening (doorway) to the formal living room. We also decided that there needed to be a larger opening from the foyer to the kitchen, and from the dining room to the kitchen.
What were some of the challenges the clients were facing with their current space?
Inadequate layout in the kitchen with no need for the dinette table they had, a poorly laid out mud room, and a kitchen that was isolated from the foyer, formal living room and dining room (making entertaining difficult).
How did the design and selections in the space help solve those issues?
The new open layout connected the kitchen with other parts of the home. Additionally, the mud room now includes a butler’s pantry and a more usable, better functioning space, not to mention it is now much more aesthetically pleasing.
What influenced the design of this space?
A drive to achieve a more modern open floor plan feel with a beautiful up-to-date look. The homeowner worked at the Minnesota State Capitol building for many years before he retired, which is what inspired their love of marble!
Any tips for emulating design in this home?
Think outside the box when selecting finishes. A marble backsplash isn’t something you see every day, but it’s unique and beautiful.
What is one current design trend you can't get enough of?
Enameled cabinets are a timeless solution that I doubt will ever go out of style.
How would you describe the style of the space?
Transitional, casual elegance with contrasting texture, style and colors. By combining the traditional raised panel doors with the more contemporary crown molding and flat drawer fronts, a transitional style is created. There’s a balance of a feminine and a masculine touch so the kitchen appeals to everyone.
How did you begin the design process?
We removed the wall between the kitchen and living room and put in a new window in the kitchen moving it over from the original location to create space for a larger, more functional upper cabinet in the corner. Not shown in the photo, but just before the open wall to living room, we put in a built-in two-foot deep pantry which looks like it was part of the original design of the home. We like to do seamless remodeling so it flows with the rest of the home. The wall we removed has a one-foot header which is also a transitional design with soft angled corners versus straight contemporary or a full traditional rounded arch.
What were some of the challenges the clients were facing with their current space?
Lack of storage, maintenance, functionality and needing to stay within the market value of the neighborhood. Counter stools easily scratched the flooring.
How did the design and selections in the space help solve those issues?
In order to keep cost down, we created space within the footprint of the home versus a costly bump out or addition onto the home. Using inside wall space by recessing the refrigerator 3-1/2” gives it more of a built-in look. After the photo was taken we added an apron piece above the refrigerator to give more of a built-in look. We did ceramic tile floor insert around the uniquely shaped island to create design interest but also no maintenance and the counter stools no longer scratched the floor.
What influenced the design of this space?
The need for a larger island for seating and prep work. And a need to update from its original 1981 oak cabinetry butted up to soffits.
Any tips for emulating design in this home?
Removing the soffits is something that often surprises our clients with how truly larger a space looks when you do taller cabinetry it creates height rather than chopping it up. Counter and bar stools, no matter how good the leg protectors are, when dirt and crumbs get underneath, it can scratch the floor. Putting ceramic flooring where the stools are is not only maintenance free but a great and creative design. Contrasting the island with the perimeter creates more interest and using different tones gives you more flexibility with décor. The decorative wood hood makes a nice statement and there’s a wide range in pricing as they can get quite expensive. One can talk with their designer to stay within more standard cabinetry line and customize by adding a few decorative details such as corbels or shelf to give some nice dimension but keeps the cost down.
What is one current design trend you can't get enough of?
Quartz I feel is by far the greatest value one can get. Specifically, Cambria quartz, we’ve found to be the most innovative in design and technology giving people a wide range in colors and patterns from large flowing to look like Granite or small to look like Silestone. It’s 93% natural quartz material with the remaining being the pigment, dye and resin. It’s the most hygienic, low maintenance product so I can feel confident showing selections. Cambria has recently come out with more options in the marble look due to the trend and now offers matte finishes.
Plan your tour of the 63 homes on the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase here!
For more details on the design elements in each of these remodeled homes, pick up a free copy of our guidebooks at Holiday Stationstores.