It comes as no surprise that the kitchen is one of the most requested rooms to renovate. Very often, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where guests gather and family members connect at the beginning and end of each day. It’s also the most functional room in the house, so you want to ensure your kitchen design meets your needs.
Collar Tie Kitchen Before
At BLB, we love a good kitchen remodel, especially ones that take an outdated space and turn it into something extraordinary. We are lucky to live in an area with so many unique old homes. However, these historic home layouts often must be modified to fit a modern-day family’s lifestyle and needs. We have worked on many outdated Newburyport kitchens, but one of our favorite transformations was the Collar Tie Kitchen Refresh. The kitchen of this 1800s home was often drafty and cold during the winter months, limiting our clients’ enjoyment within the space. Aesthetically, it was stuck in the 90s and needed some help to bring it into the 21st century. We brightened the 187-square-foot kitchen, making it seem larger than it is, and also ensured the layout worked better for our clients’ needs. Read on to learn a few of our favorite features of this Newburyport dream kitchen.
1. Dual-Toned Shaker-Style Cabinets
One of the first things we knew we’d be updating was the cabinets. The former kitchen featured dark wooden cabinets and heavy fixtures and finishes, making the space look and feel smaller. Our goal was to create a bright, modern room our clients would want to spend all day cooking and eating in. We went with a shaker-style cabinet to help give them the clean, contemporary design they were looking for. Next, we painted the perimeter and island cabinets in two different colors for a dual-tone kitchen. The pop of light gray on the island cabinets added contrast and helped make the otherwise all-white kitchen feel less clinical. White kitchens are so popular because they help create a bright space that feels large and inviting, but it helps to add some contrast, so the choice of dual-toned cabinets was the perfect design compromise.
2. Quartz + Butcher Block Countertops
Continuing with our clients’ desired white kitchen design style, we went with Silestone Quartz in Calacatta Gold for the island and L-shape perimeter countertops. For the bar area, we installed a butcher block counter. Again the contrast was essential to break up the white and help make the room feel warm. Quartz is known as the best choice of stone for a kitchen countertop. It is a nonporous, highly durable surface that is stain-resistant and requires minimal maintenance. Butcher block adds warmth to any room and acts as the perfect complement to the stone. It does require maintenance, but adding it to a smaller area like a bar makes it more manageable.
3. High-End Appliances
Another favorite feature was the addition of high-end appliances. We installed a Thermador range, microwave, and dishwasher, as well as a Bosch 3-door refrigerator, XO beverage center, and U-line ice machine. At its heart, the kitchen is a workspace, and, as with any workspace, you want the best tools to help ensure a quality project. A beautiful kitchen is a waste if you don’t have high-quality appliances to match.
4. 12′ Rough Sawn Fir Beams
Contemporary design includes sleek and straightforward spaces, often open to expose clean lines and emphasize the light and airy feel. We incorporated several line patterns and directions throughout the kitchen for visual uniformity and contrast. Looking up, this included two rough sawn fir beam collar ties above each window on the oven wall. The unique detail instantly added character and warmth to the new kitchen. They also draw the eye up, making the room seem larger.
5. Radiant Heat Flooring
One of our clients’ main concerns about their kitchen was that it was drafty and cold in winter. To help combat the cold, we installed radiant heat flooring throughout the new kitchen space. Heated flooring is such a great feature to have in a Newburyport home. New England winters can be brutal and long. There’s nothing better than having a warm floor to walk on first thing in the morning when making your coffee. If you’re planning a remodel that includes replacing your flooring, consider adding this feature, especially in spaces like the kitchen or bathroom. Your toes will thank us.
Looking to start your own Newburyport kitchen remodel? Connect with us and see how we can help make your dream a reality!
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