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Before
- note the cabinets to the right of the fridge, and the claustrophobic
counter space they create.
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Before
- functional but plain. Note the single fluorescent light fixture. |
Before
- Off-white paint and plain oak cabinets. Neat and clean, but clearly
lacking style. |
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Everybody knows that the party is always in the kitchen. But who would
want to hang out in a white box under the glare of fluorescent light? |
Before
- Standard stainless sink set in a bland almond laminate countertop. Why
do new home builders torture us like this? |
Before
- Center island provided important workspace and storage. But the
homeowner wished it was a bit bigger.
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The
new kitchen sports soft, earthtone colors - much warmer than the
old paint scheme. Note enlarged island. |
Lots
of dramatic lighting - recessed ceiling fixtures, pendants over the
island and halogen accents under the cabinets. |
Good lighting
is a major element in any room. Use lots of lights - overhead, task and
accent, then put them on separate dimmable circuits so that you can
control the mood. |
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Is
that granite? No, but a bold glossy laminate can give you the same look
for a fraction of the cost. |
The
warmth of the wood, wrapped in luscious mocha cream walls and bathed in
muted, white halogen light makes this a space you want to hang out in. |
Custom
touches include this built-in book case. Handcrafted from solid oak,
then flamed and hand-rubbed to blend with the existing cabinetry. |
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New
sink is enameled cast iron, with matching faucet set. Halogen spot light
behind valence really highlights the contrast between the sink and the
dark countertops. |
We
moved the fridge to the end of the countertop, and moved the base and
wall cabinets to eliminate the awkward little cubby-hole from the old
kitchen. Simple change with big results. |
Another custom
touch was this valence panel made for over the sink. Handcrafted from
solid oak, with a layer of colored glass pebbles sandwiched between two
panes of glass.
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| A transom light
was built for the opening between the kitchen and living room. It was
made from oak and glass to match the valence over the sink. |
Creative custom
touches like the glass pebble transom and valence and the built-in oak
book case make this kitchen a one-of-a-kind space of which the owners
can be proud. |
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