Hi, there! Today's post is a big one. We're covering plans for the kitchen at the Murray Bungalow, where we have some major changes in store.
BACKGROUND
The existing kitchen resides in the southeast corner of the house. We knew right away when touring the house for the first time that the kitchen would be a big focus in this project. In its current state, a number of factors hold it back -- its small-ish footprint, interaction with back door and stairwell traffic, lack of integration with other rooms in the house, and overall condition (pretty much everything would need to be replaced or improved).
INSPIRATION
In thinking about the form & function of the bungalow's future kitchen, we're inspired by kitchens that feel fresh, light, and open -- clean lines, natural tones, plenty of counter space, and room to congregate. Below are three beautiful examples.
DESIGN PLAN
In order to address the shortcomings of the current space and help move the house toward our design vision, we came up with a great solution : to relocate the kitchen to a brand new spot, the space currently functioning as the family room. In relocating the entire room to this new location on the north side, we happily secure the kitchen's rightful place as central hub of the home (read more about this and all other floor plan changes in a previous post here).
Here are the big changes:
WALLS & FLOORS | Like every other room in the house, we'll update the walls & floors with lighter, brighter materials & color palette (read more about the home's general interior design direction here).
WALLS & FLOORS | Like every other room in the house, we'll update the walls & floors with lighter, brighter materials & color palette (read more about the home's general interior design direction here).
LINKAGE TO LIVING & FAMILY/SUNROOM | We'll connect the kitchen to the other main living spaces in the house by building out wide, cased openings between rooms.
BANK OF CABINETS | We'll pack the north wall of the kitchen with as much function as possible, inlcuding floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, counter-depth french-door refrigerator, gas oven/range, and custom hood vent. We'll run beautiful glazed brick tile as the backsplash, set against new Caesarstone countertops.
CUSTOM ISLAND | A large custom island will anchor the room. We'll top it with Caesarstone, creating a clean, wide-open workspace. The north side of the island will house the sink cabinet, dishwasher, microwave cabinet, and additional storage. On the flip side (the south elevation), the island will fulfill its social role by accommodating a row of counter stools. We'll finish the island with pretty trim and vertical paneling for a tailored, custom look.
SELECTIONS + MATERIALS | As for the finishes, we'll build on the warm & minimal bungalow design direction, installing a beautiful mix of selections & materials: stainless steel Kitchenaid appliance suite, white matte shaker-style cabinetry, gorgeous oak wood flooring (carried throughout the house), Misty Carrera Caesarstone countertops, glazed brick tile backsplash, and satin brass metallic accents.
Truly, the kitchen is on its way to becoming the star of the home -- super functional, polished, and inviting on its own, while fostering a more open & fluid dynamic for the home at large. Can't you just see the potential?
It's a tall order, but one that we're very excited about. Wish us luck!
And stay tuned -- more plans to come next week :).