Remodeling for an ADA design

Sometimes simplicity can mean great design and great design should always mean great function.

Take this simple shaker style cherry kitchen below.

Clean square lines, calming colors and seemingly modest.

However, once you settle in and take notice you may find that this kitchen is ADA compliant, meaning it allows usable space within the kitchen for wheelchair access and encourages participation.

For example, below the cooktop; the cabinet doors open up and pocket back within the space to allow for chair space

Shown again here at the sink area, the doors will pocket back within the cabinet.

Notice how the backs of the cabinetry also protect the client's legs from any heat sources

Island prepping

At first glance you may think, "oh what a nice, simple kitchen" but sometimes the most modest kitchens can perform the best

Major kudos to the builder Johnson Building Company who made the "BEFORE" below, turn into a better functioning kitchen for a well deserved client.

If you are looking to change your space to welcome a family member who may be living in a wheelchair, or simply 'aging in place', contact the specialists like Johnson Building Company, who know how to help.

A Clawson remodel steps out of the 70's with style

• Designing a remodel may be one of my favorites!

• In the past few years, there has been little new construction happening in Metro Detroit. Remodeling has been full effect and I'm so happy to be a strong part of it. There is something so great about taking a perfectly good older home, and giving it a present of a 'design-lift' if you will. Well deserved for people that are choosing to stay in their homes and enjoy the time within it.

• This Clawson remodel was done for personal friends of mine.

• We used "Quality Cabinets" to stay within their budget and design wants.

This cabinet that rests on their countertop serves as a storage work horse. Deep enough for small appliances or for food storage.

By keeping cabinetry symetrical in their design, balances out the micro hood

Many of my clients have corner sink cabinets. This particular design works well when you have to windows (like below) butting into each other in the corner. By using a single bowl, deeper sink you won't feel comprised on size.

In staying with the discussion of corner sinks. It is SO important, no critical, to have the Dishwasher then backed off from the corner sink cabinet enough to allow for the Dishwasher to be opened without trapping the person in the corner. For all those 'DIY'ers' it always pays to consult with a designer BEFORE starting your project.

In many Metro Detroit homes, you may see this, off the kitchen, pantry area. We took off the original doors and replaced it with matching cabinetry doors for a finished look.

For small spaces, even 6" in width can prove to be a storage solution. These apothecary drawers could also be removed completely for if the home owners chose to store wine. You can mix and match that look by keeping some drawers in and some out for a couple bottles of wine or even olive oils. For now, they function as small drawers perfect for tiny items.

Deeper storage like below, provides for additional food/product storage and can create a more 'built-in' look for above the Ref area. Rollouts in a deep pantry (like below) provide an easy solution for staying organized.

Nothing beats full extension dovetail drawer construction like below

Rollouts provide storage solutions- say "NO more!" to having to dig out what it is your cabinetry

Now for some up close details-The chosen granite below was Millenium Cream and look at the beautiful amounts of natural quartz in their stone.

I love the monochromatic tones of white/greys in this Sussex White door style with the granite and grey slate flooring

White ceramic subway tile in a glossy finish

Up close of their hardware selection

And below is the "After" shot

vs the "BEFORE"...buh bye!

Clean and Classic Kitchen

One of my favorite kitchens of 2009!

I love the classic mix of color tones in the clean shaker style cabinetry door. To me, this kitchen just invites you into it's space...begging to be the center of any good party, or family meal.

This kitchen was done in our "Medallion Silverline" in the Maple Lancaster Door by mixing Maple Gingersnap stain with Maple Divinity white painted. Just lovely!

Tall and shallow pantry areas are a true work horse of the kitchen. Who doesn't love storage! It's a great place for extra serving dishes, food goods, etc, the possibilities are endless.

I love the simple single sink with this tremendous depth to it.

Dishwasher drawers are so great for people that want to clean a load without having to wait to completely fill up the entire unit. Each drawer runs independent. Great for empty-nesters, small families, or Moms with endless baby bottles!

Here is another pantry area that is tall and slender but deep for storage.

So in this deep storage application, having full extension pullout drawers makes organization so much simpler.

Detailed photo of the double stacked crown I designed for their kitchen.

Up close of the Maple Gingersnap stain with a beautiful mid tone Granite

Up close photo of the backsplash done in a basketweave pattern. Gorgeous!

I couldn't resist snapping a quick photo of my client's two adorable Beagles. Look at those eyes!

This kitchen was entirely designed in our semi-custom line of "Medallion" using their affordable cabinetry line of Silverline.

Yes, I said, affordable!

Design can and should still look amazing while still keeping it within your budget.

**So, here is the BEFORE:

and ahhhh, the AFTER:

Chocolate finish in Master Bath

This Master Bath was done in our "Quality Cabinets" line-Hancock Maple in the beautiful dark chocolate finish of "Dulce." Being we were short on storage, we opted for vertical storage seen in the tall cabinet to the right of the sink.

Wrapping the toe in base moulding gives the feeling of a more furniture finish

By having the tall cabinet a few inches deeper, it lends for a perfect end for the granite top to die into the side.

Below was the original concept done in CAD 20/20

More of this client's home to come...

Welcome 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO 2010!

I thought I would start this year off by featuring photos from HGTV's Dream Home 2010 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

So inspirational!

Subway tile is so popular and I am a huge fan of having my clients run their tile up, up, up to the ceiling when the design calls for it. The sea glass hued subway shown below, captures your eye in the perfect way.

Shown here is something I aim for in my designs. Keeping cooking appliances like 2nd Oven, Micro and Warming Drawer all together in a tower cabinet. Keeps you organized as a home chef and keeps the stainless steel in fewer locations, keeping your kitchen from looking too commercial and cold.

I want to call your attention to the center appliance; WOLF's Microwave drawer that allows the constant question of 'where to put the microwave." I love it here and it's actually quite larger than you think, and probably double the size of your 'over the range micro hood' which measure at approximately 9" interior height vs this at 14"...I personally can't wait to design with this product.

I am loving calming color tones of teals and turquoise this year..it's my color inspiration for 2010! Not to mention I do love cooking in my Le Creuset...perhaps I need one in Turquoise now shown below?

Beautifully done kitchen in my opinion! I love the mixed tones of the medium cherry wood mixed in with the darker 10' long island. I also think the use of simple, clean lines of the cabinetry will give this kitchen many years of timeless style.

Here is the true heartbeat of all homes...the mudroom/recycle center!

If you are lucky enough to have a spare room near the kitchen, this is what you need to do with it. I LOVE designing the new recycle rooms that offer storage for garbage, recycles (cans, glass, paper, etc) and have storage for the larger pantry items we all have. It keeps the clutter out of your kitchen.

Here is the lovely butler's pantry!

Small but strong with use and storage and function! With a couple of minor changes, this could be someones full kitchen and what a beauty it would be.

The use of Oak applied in a lighter stain and in a horizontal grain application gives it a warm contemporary look.

Shown below is Delta's new faucet, Touch 2 o that turns on by tapping the neck of the faucet. A great idea for those that frequently have messy cook's hands.

Cabinetry, like below, can be designed to look more like furniture. In this case, the decor makes the cabinetry look like a credenza while it still houses two refrigerator drawers and a wine cooler.

Now below is where I personally found the most inspriation! This beautiful home office. Many of us (myself included) work out of a home office. It should be a space that is purely dedicated to work, creativity, organization and appeal! I think this room captured it beautifully and I know, I'll be taking some design ideas and applying it to my own space.

For more beautiful photos and inspirational ideas for your home, visit HGTV's Dream home 2010 here and if you need professional cabinetry design help, please contact me at kristenshellenbarger@gmail.com