A Cottage for a Severe Chef The buttery yellow cabinets, screened pantry door (from vintagedoors.com) and frilly ceramic hardware (Melon grips from anthropologie.com) heap on the charm. The counter tops accessories, like an old metal box, add to the classic vibe. The commercial-grade Viking range is not only for display — Noelle and Brad utilize all eight burners, the griddle as well as the 2 ovens almost daily.
Kid-Friendly Brad and Noelle kept a constant, colorful look throughout the space by mimicking the yellow cabinet panels on their Sub-Zero refrigerator (all from midcontinentcabinetry.com). The Otts' kids, Cash, 6, and Maddie Rose, 3, join in the cooking fun, too, so some of the layout choices — panel-front appliances rather than fingerprint-y stainless steel, dark grey grout rather than dirt-prone white — decrease the maintenance without sacrificing style.
Simple accessibility Collections of wine and lunches are perfect for shelving. "We thought of a wine refrigerator, but we did not want to lose precious under-counter space — plus, we understood a wine refrigerator would cost more than the wine we drink," says Noelle.
Real Life With Concrete Counters Concrete was cheaper compared to quotation Brad and Noelle obtained for granite, however "we were surprised that the counters required 10 days to install. They had been laid like a base, then sealed," says Noelle. It had been worth the wait: They're easy to maintain with soap and water, and blemishes add to their personality.
Fantasy Kitchens Come True "Can you believe we lived here throughout the reno and cooked at the laundry room?" Says Noelle. Now the room cheers them up instead of bumming them out. "This kitchen makes me even more excited about cooking and hosting dinner parties for friends," says Noelle. "There is no other place I would rather be."
Kitchen Castaway Marsha Pecaut and Bill Blok, a ship captain, bought their San Diego condominium for its stunning ocean view. However, (bummer alert!) They could not find the water from the tiny kitchen, which had only one small window which didn't face the ocean. "It'd drop-down ceilings and has been surrounded by walls — so depressing," says Marsha. "We wanted something bright and light," says Marsha. "We wanted to integrate our love of the boats and water."
Sailing into New Heights Internet research turned up designer Amy Meier, who aided Marsha and Bill connect the kitchen to the living room and infuse the room with subtle nautical touches. Brass ring pulls and cabinet handles from a genuine boat hardware provider (phoenixlock.com) are a bona fide nautical touch.
Light and Dark Amy steered Marsha toward absolute black granite (meaning no flecks whatsoever) in a casual honed finish. A couple of carefully selected dark accents, like inky blue paint, black countertops and black tile backsplash, seem striking against that white but do not make the room feel heavy. The columns are Old Navy by Benjamin Moore.
Super Sink Marsha and Bill made the transfer to San Diego from Oregon to spend additional time using their double grandchildren. An apron-front, dual-basin ceramic sink doubles as the perfect place for bathing their grandbabies. When it is not bath time, the roomy spout makes washing piles of meals a breeze.
Opened Up Fact: Fewer walls means more light! Marsha and Bill took down two partitions, so all that's separating the kitchen and the sunny living room are a island and two columns, which they call the kitchen "masts." One is structural; another is faked to conceal plumbing and electrical. Now that they're finished, Marsha says, "We love that it's large enough for both of us to cook — and dance — in." She calls the kitchen "the epitome of fun."
Modern Makeover When Brooke and Blake Hortenstine bought their 1950s house in Dallas seven decades back, they agreed on something from the start: The cramped, dark red kitchen needed to proceed. Immediately. "The kitchen was closed in and disorganized," says Brooke. "Even though I grew up in a traditional home, my design is much more modern these days."
Room to Grow With the support of Domiteaux Baggett Architects, the Hortenstines embarked on a renovation which sent them packing to Blake's parents' house for nearly a year. The result: a sleek but warm room for their growing family (2-year-old Rollins will be a big brother this summer).
Efficient Kitchen The new kitchen is a model of efficient layout: Each of the plumbing and appliances are along a wall and there is plenty of storage space. IKEA cabinetry, using its affordable price tag and customizable shelves, is a fantasy come true for coordinated bargain seekers.
Lighten Up Dark cabinets can go dreary, but Brooke brightened hers by pairing them with honey-color granite counters plus a limestone mosaic tile backsplash. Brooke picked the pendants (from lampsplus.com) due to their trendy design and ambient light, but for purpose, she installed strategically positioned ceiling cans and vivid under-cabinet fluorescents. "The area appears modern to mepersonally, but it nonetheless has a comfy, stay-awhile feel," says Brooke.
Center Island An ultra-long island (8 feet!) Means the whole family can hang out: veggie chopping on one side and bill paying the other. The island also has deep storage drawers. The leather-topped stools are cushy and easy to wipe clean.
Thoughtful Living When it came to designing her dream kitchen, she knew she wanted a compact look that was easy to navigate. The new space is exactly what Blake and Brooke, a self-professed "neat freak," had pictured. Not only is that the style clean and easy, "there's no place for clutter to find an accidental house around here," says Brooke.
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