Detailing the Collar Tie Kitchen Refresh
Considered a “bread and butter” project, the Collar Tie Kitchen Refresh transformed the homeowner’s cold and dark kitchen into a warm and bright heart of the home – all while staying within the existing square footage and original floor plan.
The kitchen of this 1800-built home extended 187 square feet from the main house and was typically colder than the other rooms of the home – causing the homeowners to look for solutions to both increase warmth and modernize the space. Despite a few delays and constraints following the established COVID-19 guidelines, BLB Design \ Build was able to execute our proven Design Scope Build process and deliver a quality kitchen.
Installation of the two collar ties in the kitchen.
Step 1: Demo
Starting with the demo, our crews removed the original slate floor tiles, existing wall and ceiling coverings, fixtures, finishes, and appliances. When removing the original cherry cabinets, the homeowners opted to salvage and reuse a select few of the bases and uppers to save some money while carrying over a “memory” from the original kitchen.
During the demo phase, our crews also installed a temporary kitchen sink, fully equipped with a countertop and under-the-counter storage space, in a separate room for the homeowners while they lived in the home throughout construction. Once the kitchen was framed, we secured and installed two rough sawn fir beams that would act as decorative collar ties that spanned across the width of the kitchen.
Step 2: Rough
Moving down from the ceiling to the floor, our electrician and tile installer roughed and prepped the floors with radiant heat to mitigate the frigid feeling while in the kitchen. Once the radiant heat was set, our installer staggered 10” x 40” wood-looking porcelain tiles which added texture to the monochromatic kitchen.
Following the floors, custom shaker-style cabinets were installed and tied in with the salvaged units. To modernize the space and create an illusion of more room, the homeowners opted for delicate white cabinets and pristine quartz to top the bases. The bar area, located on the east wall of the space, was topped with a lacquered maple butcher block to match the open shelving above.
Step 3: Finish
To finish off the space, glossy white subway tiles were installed along the range wall, which includes a Wi-Fi-enabled cooktop and range and modern hood with a custom chimney fabricated by Carriage Hill Craft Metals. Other appliances throughout the kitchen include an updated refrigerator unit, built-in microwave oven, ice maker, and mini beverage center. Above the island hang two modern pendant lights, which frame the farmhouse sink opposite the range.
Finished range wall at the Collar Tie Kitchen Refresh. Photographed by Freebird Photography.
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