Transitional-style Solution
Master Designer/Remodeler Sonny Nazemian Converts A Dated Suburban Kitchen Into A Stand-out Gourmet Accommodation
As a real estate specialist with nine years tenure, AK has a well-developed sense of what will add value to a home, and how to find the appropriate balance between functional and aesthetic improvements. In 2011, he purchased a two-story four bedroom Colonial in Springfield and, soon after, began planning modifications better-suited to the needs of his family of four.
“The first level kitchen, breakfast room, family room configuration made practical sense for us, but there was an adjacent laundry room we didn’t want and a four-burner cooktop island that was pretty inefficient,” he recalls.
But perhaps more importantly: “the existing plan didn’t provide the setting for the easy interaction we wanted as a family, and the interior design scheme was really dated.”
With an east-facing rear elevation that segues onto a spacious grilling deck, the house offered considerable indoor-outdoor potential; the task at hand was one of articulating social gathering zones within a well-integrated visual continuum.
BEFORE:
The original four-burner cooktop island offered limited support as a serving station.
AFTER:
Michael Nash Kitchen and Homes transformed the 25 year old kitchen suite of a Springfield Colonial into a spacious gourmet accommodation boasting a generously apportioned food prep island and dining counter, an eight burner Pro range cooktop with hood and a floor-to-ceiling butler’s pantry.
“We knew we were looking for a remodeler with vision.” AK says “but weren’t sure where to turn. The firms we had spoken with proposed a phased-in, incremental process, which didn’t make sensed to me. I knew at this point that we needed a company with well-developed efficiencies that understood what’s really feasible for this kind of house.”
Enter Sonny Nazemian, president and founder of Michael Nash Kitchens and Homes:
“I saw from the start that the floorplan was pretty clumsy, especially for a family that likes to cook,” Nazemian recalls.
“The working kitchen wrapped a corner of the house and revolved around a four-burner cooktop island with limited usefulness as a serving station. Storage was restricted. There was a railing that divided the breakfast area from the family room, but it was more of an obstruction than an asset. The irony was a sizable suite of rooms, but with poorly articulated social gathering zones.”
The solution:
“The space seemed well-suited for a transitional-style interior design scheme,” Nazemian notes. “This is fundamentally an open plan that employs colors, tones and textures within crisply detailed wall elevations to scale-back an expanse that might otherwise seem cavernous.”
On this score, much depends on thoughtful finish work: materials that resonate within a larger composition; surfaces, tiling and cabinet facings in off-setting colors and textures.
The first step: substantially upgrade the kitchen’s capacity to embrace gourmet sensibilities. The four-burner cooktop was replaced with a six burner Thermador Pro range complete with two ovens and topped with a professional caliber ventilator. A pot filler now hovers over the range. Backlit cabinets trimmed in crown molding provide cubbies custom-suited to the chef’s requirements.
On a pivot, the cook now reaches the quartzite-surfaced food preparation island (and three stool dining counter) which is also within easy reach of the capacious farm sink and two-door refrigerator/freezer.
“Kitchen design is fundamentally about creating interactive work triangles,” notes Nazemian, who is also a Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKD). “You want a plan that functions almost effortlessly, yet easily accommodates family and friends.”
To create visual unity, Nazemian replaced linoleum flooring with wide plank wood. A railing that separated the breakfast zone from the family room has been replaced with a three stool dining counter that offers a clear view of the plasma TV above the fireplace. To accommodate storage needs, Nazemian removed an interior wall, found space under a stair well and installed floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with roll-out drawers.
The lighter pastel treatment in wall coloring, tiling and counter surfaces is an especially good fit for rooms that are bathed in morning light and boast a strong visual link to a panoramic wooded setting.
Stove & Vent
The homeowner (who is a residential real estate specialist) says the entire family enjoys cooking. The new configuration makes it easier to prepare meals that entail coordinating several processes. The space, which segues into a family room and grilling deck, works beautifully when entertaining in any season.
Butler’s Pantry
The custom-designed butler’s pantry includes a wine refrigerator, a rack for stemware and glass-facing display cabinets. The console is conveniently situated for service to the dining room, the living room, the deck and the family room.
Family Room & Counter
The railing originally separating the breakfast area from the family room has been replaced with a stool dining counter that provides a clear view of plasma TV mounted above the fireplace.
Family Room Built-ins
Custom built-ins function as both a serving station/dining counter and as bookcases within each reach of the family room. The buler’s pantry is on the right interior wall elevation.