Before & After: Family Friendly Kitchen Renovation

Being in business for 40 years, we’ve seen it all! From expansive and open concept kitchens to compact and tiny kitchens.  No matter what size the space is, we love working one on one with our clients to create the most functional kitchen possible for their family to enjoy.

For most soon-to-be renovators the phrase, “the bigger, the better”, comes to mind when discussing kitchen design and planning.   While this idea may reign in the realm of possibilities and options, believe it or not - a large kitchen isn’t always the most functional.  Since space is a premium, when designing a small kitchen it’s important to figure out the absolute must-haves. One of our first questions to the homeowner is always “What is it that you like about your kitchen, and what would you absolutely want to change or improve?”  The answer to this question typically helps us form a list of wants and needs, then we can figure out the best way to incorporate those given the allowed space.

When we first met with this family of four it was obvious their existing space wasn’t working for their lifestyle.  We give the homeowners credit for trying to make the orange and gray scheme work by installing some fresh wallpaper and using chalkboard paint. But even they agreed that it was time for the orange countertops to go!  Besides the aesthetics of the space, they felt the kitchen wasn’t living up to its full potential.  

Here is a list of wants/needs the homeowners requested for their kitchen remodel and how we collaborated to incorporate them into the new design:

1.      More (Useful) Storage

The wall next to the refrigerator was probably the most under-utilized space in the whole kitchen.  To upgrade this family’s storage, we added a tall pantry cabinet with rollout drawers, a wall cabinet with glass to display cookbooks, coffee cups, etc, and a base cabinet with rollout drawers.  The addition of a trash pullout cabinet is also a must for anyone!

2.      Eat-In Kitchen

In any house the kitchen is the heart of the home (no matter what size!).  So, this family with young children really wanted to maintain the eat in aspect of their kitchen.  We came up with a multifunctional table concept that incorporated storage and seating.  The cabinet underneath the table is used for both support and storage.  The wood tabletop mimics the look of reclaimed wood and adds interest and warmth to the kitchen.  Now there is a comfortable space in the kitchen for the family to eat a meal together or the kids to do homework.

3.      Appliance Upgrade

Besides cabinetry, the next big ticket item for a kitchen remodel is appliances.  The functionality and aesthetic of the appliances are obviously important, but how the appliances function in the actual space is also a priority.  Since the square footage of the kitchen was a limiting factor, we decided to keep the basic layout and make some tweaks.  By creating a dedicated space for the microwave in a base cabinet, the homeowner was able to purchase an undercabinet stainless hood that was vented to the exterior.  By relocating the sink to the corner we were able to gain a little more space between proximity of the sink and dishwasher, making clean up easier and more comfortable.

4.      Overall Aesthetic

It’s been proven that the style, color, and lighting of your space can have a direct effect on your well-being.   Whether it’s family meals, chatting about work and school, or doing homework, the kitchen is typically a space where a lot of families spend time together. So, it was definitely important to update the style of the space to reflect the family’s personal style and taste.  Compared to the vibrant colors of the existing kitchen, the homeowners opted for a clean and fresh look.  The subtle gray cabinets paired with the white marble-like quartz countertops is a timeless look that will stand the test of time.  The funky dimensional tile with hints of blue creates a unique, eye-catching pattern to add a little element of fun to the kitchen.

Enjoy the before and after photos of this family friendly kitchen below!

What to Expect: How to Prepare For Your Kitchen Renovation

With the warm weather, kids out of school, and vacation opportunities – the summer months are the most popular time to embark on a kitchen renovation.  Some view this as an opportunity to eat out every night.  However, there are definitely ways to eat home cooked meals without breaking the bank and gaining extra lbs (wouldn’t you rather spend more on the kitchen remodel?!).  The homeowners who suffer the least during a kitchen renovation are typically the ones who are the most prepared.  Based on our experience we’ve compiled some tips and ideas that will hopefully help you survive your next kitchen renovation!

• Making some meals ahead of the kitchen renovation demo and freezing them can be a life saver.  Not only is a home cooked meal comforting but it eliminates the necessity to eat out every night of the week!

• Definitely keep your old refrigerator in a separate room until the new one is installed. Having the ability to refrigerate and freeze food will make the world of a difference.

• One of the biggest benefits of renovating during the summer is having the grill as your new best friend.  It can’t get any easier than that!

•  Completely clean out and remove any food products, packaged goods, small appliances, etc. from the kitchen cabinetry before the demolition phase. Now is also a good time to binge clean!  Throw out expired canned goods, food products, etc.  Organizing your new kitchen will be much more enjoyable if you’ve already done this.

• Set up a temporary kitchen with small appliances and food products in a separate room. Keep the essentials handy.  Frustration begins to brew when you’re looking for a quick meal and realized you already packed the cans of soup away. Bins with drawers or baskets can be used to organize items by type. Being organized can make this experience much less chaotic.

• Some small appliances that you may find helpful for making meals during the renovation:

o   Panini Press or Electric Griddle (some have both options)

o   Crockpot (We recommend using Reynolds Slow Cook Liners for easy clean up)

o   Toaster Oven

o   Microwave 

o   Hot Plate

• You will be without a sink and dishwasher until the counter top is installed, so stock up on paper and plastic products if you do not have access to another sink. 

• Designate a space (garage, basement, etc.) to keep items needed for the kitchen project (sinks, faucets, lighting fixtures, etc.) so they are easily accessible for installation.

Before & After: Cabinet Refacing Transformation

Cabinet Refacing is a service we’ve been specializing in since the 1970’s.  We often call it our “bread and butter” because refacing is what eventually led to Robin’s transition from cabinet refinishing to complete kitchen design and remodeling.  Cabinet Refacing is a great way to give a kitchen a face lift.  It provides the opportunity to completely transform the aesthetic of a kitchen without having to embark on an entire remodel.  The high quality materials we use from Conestoga Wood paired with the craftsmanship of our installers allows us to provide a service that is unique in the kitchen and bath business.

It’s especially rewarding when we’re able to transform a space that not only fits the personal style of the homeowners, but also functions better for their family and lifestyle.  In this particular project, Cabinet Refacing was the best option for a young, growing family of three. The existing layout of the kitchen worked well for the couple, but they knew with a baby on the way that extra storage would be a necessity.  By installing all new doors and drawer fronts in a fresh door style and bright white finish, the kitchen looks brand new compared to the original condition of the oak cabinetry.  An adjacent empty living area that was occupied by a lonesome shelving unit was not living up to its potential for the homeowners.  Through a collaborative effort, we designed and installed additional pantry cabinets that are the perfect place to store food and baby items.  During family get togethers the central base and wall cabinets can act as a coffee bar and buffet.  For a closer look into the changes we made to transform this kitchen, see our before and after photos below!

Storage Solutions 101: Accessorizing Your Kitchen

In the past few years we’ve noticed an increase in our client's wants and needs for storage solutions in the kitchen. With the popularity of interactive social media websites like Houzz and Pinterest, consumers are much more aware of the abundant amount of options available to them.  One of our favorite steps in the kitchen design process is sitting down with our clients and taking the time to review all accessory options.  This is one of the ways the homeowner can really personalize their kitchen depending on how they cook, clean, and entertain.   

The following storage solutions are ones that we have found to be most common and successful among our projects.  Enjoy!

1.      Rollout Drawers

No matter the budget, rollout drawers are probably the number one request we receive from our customers.  Typically installed in base cabinets and pantries, rollouts are a simple solution that create a convenient way to store a variety of items.  In base cabinets 15” wide and over, rollouts can be especially useful for small appliance and pot/pan storage.  In pantry cabinets rollouts are ideal for the storage of cans, packaged goods, and cereal boxes.  

(Photo Credit: Robinwood Kitchens)

2.      Utensil Organizers

Installing a utensil organizer in a drawerbox can make the world of a difference for meal prep.  Imagine prepping for dinner and all your utensils are haphazardly thrown into the drawer next to the stove.  Not only can it be dangerous (accidentally picking up the microplane instead of the whisk?!), but think of how time consuming it can be to dig through the drawer to find the utensil needed.  A well-organized drawer can make meal prep faster and more enjoyable for all the cooks in the house.  Utensil organizers are often offered in a variety of layouts to suit the consumer’s needs. 

Custom Utensil Divider by Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry (Photo Credit: Robinwood Kitchens)

3.      Spice Pullouts

Spice storage is another one of the top accessory requests from our clients.  Spices and bottles of oil are often described as the most inconvenient and difficult things to store in a kitchen.  Simply keeping bottles, jars, and cans of spices in a wall cabinet can cause chaos while cooking. Instead of having to move three rows of spices out of the way to find the thyme, a pullout mechanism installed inside a wall or base cabinet would allow the cook to easily find the ingredient needed for their recipe,  Spice pullouts are available in a variety of sizes, which makes them easy to incorporate into even the smallest of kitchens.

(Photo Credit: Robinwood Kitchens)

(Photo Credit: Robinwood Kitchens)

4.      Trash Pullout

A pullout trash can is a no-brainer to incorporate into any kitchen design.  Understandably it may be difficult to dedicate an entire cabinet to trash cans in a small kitchen.  An alternative solution is to install a pullout trash can under the sink.  The trash is still easily accessible and is kept out of sight and smell.

5.      Hanging Cookware Pullout

We truly had one of those “A Ha!” moments when we saw this accessory for the first time.  Glideware has created the hanging cookware pullout which is a great alternative to rollout drawer storage for pots and pans.  This accessory allows you to store the pots/pans together with their coordinating lids.  It also eliminates stacking pots and pans within each other, which is an annoyance that is also damaging to the cookware itself.  This hanging organizer can also be utilized in other spaces such as the mudroom (backpacks, purses, etc.), outdoor kitchens (grilling utensils), and even the garage (extension cords, tools, etc.).

Hanging Cookware Pullout by Glideware (Photo Credit: Glideware)

6.      Toe Kick Step Stool

This accessory is literally a hidden gem.  Most homeowners keep a step stool in nearby to aid both the vertically challenged and young children yearning to help in the kitchen.  The toe kick area of a base cabinet is an open space that can be utilized for additional storage.  This is the perfect place to install a step stool.  It is both hidden out of sight and is easily accessible for all to use.

Toe Kick Step Stool Installed in a Robinwood Kitchens Project (Photo Credit: Robinwood Kitchens)

7.      Drawer Peg System

The majority of homeowners find drawer base cabinets with deep drawer boxes as the preferred method for multipurpose storage.  Lifting heavy stacks of dishes and bakeware from a base cabinet rather than a wall cabinet is more ergonomically comfortable for users of all ages.  The drawer peg system is an insert that can be customized to your specific needs.  The pegboard and removable pegs allow you to easily modify the use of the cabinet. 

(Photo Credit: Richelieu Hardware)

8.      Appliance Garage

The appliance garage has made a comeback within the last few years.  With the increase in small appliance usage (Coffee Makers, Blenders, Espresso Makers, etc.), more customers are looking for a way to store these items so they are easily accessible without the countertop clutter.  There are a few ways to incorporate appliance garages into the kitchen depending on the layout and space available.  Tambour doors installed below a corner cabinet are a notion of the past.  The appliance garage of today will often incorporate bi-fold or pocket doors for a more contemporary aesthetic.

9.      Base Pullout

Base pullouts are available in many different sizes, forms, and functions.  This particular base pullout by Rev-A-Shelf is a space saving accessory that provides three different storage options.  Knives can be difficult to store for obvious reasons, but this pullout provides a safe and organized way to store knives of any size.  The stainless steel utensil bins offer an alternative way to store the items used most while cooking. To top it all off the lower shelf provides extra storage for mixing bowls or even packaged goods.

Base Cabinet Pullout Knife/Utensil Base Organizer (Photo Credit: Rev-A-Shelf)

10.      Corner Drawer Cabinet

While we could write a whole blog post about corner cabinets (stay tuned!), we wanted to touch base on the Corner Drawer Cabinet because is the new alternative to the commonly used lazy susan.  The corner cabinet is often deemed “awkward”, and for good reason! Everyone knows how cumbersome it can be when you have to literally crawl into your cabinet to retrieve a bowl that fell off the lazy susan.  The opportunities for organized and easily accessible storage are definitely opened up by incorporating diagonal drawers.  Currently the Corner Drawer Cabinet is only available from our custom cabinet companies.  We believe that as it becomes the “norm” for corner base applications that it will be offered in all price ranges.

(Photo Credit: Glenvale Kitchens via Houzz)

To view more photos of the above mentioned storage solutions check out these ideas from Houzz!

15 Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas on Houzz

Kitchen Storage Solutions Hide and Keep

Kitchen Storage Solutions for Every Nook

New Year, New Website

Hello 2016!  We're very excited to introduce our new and improved website.  Since we are living in the era of constantly evolving technology and social media, we thought it was important to have a website that we could easily update.  The new Robinwood website will include a blog.  This feature will be a great way for us to share content from our process (design and construction to completion), to trending kitchen styles and storage solutions.  We hope you enjoy!