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    Home Decor: Overcoming Design Challenges in Kitchens

    Editor’s note by Anne: Welcome to the third edition of our design tips feature. Many of you have been desiring more lifestyle/decorating content and we hope this will offer inspiration for your decorating projects. We will be working with area designers to showcase some of their ideas. For this month, we asked Caryn Badgeley of Alterna KB+H (Kitchen Bath and Home) to share with us some of the challenges of remodeling a kitchen in Columbus’ historic and mid-century homes. She provides several examples her team worked through to provide their clients with the beautiful kitchens of their dreams.

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    You would be amazed at the “unique” challenges we encounter in Columbus’ old historic and mid-century homes. But there is nothing more rewarding than to design creative alternatives that beautifully solve these challenges – from pencil sketch, through construction, to finally a living space that seems as if it was always meant to be.

    Since 2001, when my business partner George Lowe and I started our company, Alterna KB+H (Kitchen Bath and Home), we have transformed many challenging spaces into wonderful, functional kitchens. However, there are a few significant ones that we would like to share in hopes that they might inspire you to take on a design challenge in your own home.

    CHALLENGE: This kitchen was confined, dark and dated, and absolutely not representative of the grand Victorian Era home that it inhabited. The homeowners, Chris and Carl, wanted a kitchen that was open and bright with more storage, a better flow for entertaining, space for two cooks and a breakfast / wine bar. The challenge was to accomplish all this within the existing, segmented floor plan and in a style that was appropriate to the era.

    Chris and Carl's kitchen before

    SOLUTION: We created a ‘furniture effect’ to maximize the segmented wall space and capture the style of the Victorian Era. This effect is achieved by designing a collection of what appears to be freestanding cupboards and tables in various finishes with accents of open shelving and storage racks. The focal point is the island made of stained Walnut with turned bun feet at the base. The ‘table-like’ island opens the flow through the space and is ideal for prep, entertaining, and additional storage. The light painted perimeter cabinetry features three different furniture elements. One is a shallow hutch with drawers and glass-front doors for display; the second is a taller, deeper pantry cupboard with a stained wood countertop; and the third is a breakfast/bar ‘hutch’ with glass-front doors for barware and an open rack for wine storage.

    The bright and beautiful kitchen after.

    CHALLENGE: This very awkward corner space was virtually useless and seemed disjointed from the other areas of the kitchen. The homeowner, Margie, absolutely loved to cook with her newly acquired Viking Range. But the intrusive chimney, that could not be removed, limited her work space and made her cooking endeavors less than enjoyable.

    Corner kitchen before, left. After the remodel, right.

    SOLUTION: We designed an angled wall to cover the chimney and extended cabinetry on either side to increase counter space and functionality. Our custom vent hood featured an arched niche and a curved stainless steel cover to complete the look and make the Viking Range a focal point instead of an after-thought.

    CHALLENGE: The owners of this Clintonville home, Jeaneen and Gerald, simply wanted us to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room so they could have more space for cooking and entertaining. Their request would have been fairly simple if we didn’t have to include a coat closet and half bath in the design, and work around a chimney that jutted out into the dining room (at left in picture)!

    Jeaneen and Gerald's kitchen before.

    SOLUTION: We extended the chimney bump-out to create the back wall for the half bath and used a pocket door to minimize its space requirements. By closing off the two glass block windows on the largest kitchen wall we were able to gain lots of counter space and incorporate an area for coats, hats, shoes and mail by the rear entry door. For the finishing touch, we designed a peninsula / bar counter that ties in to the architectural detail of the home and is ideal for prep, serving and socializing.

    Their modern, bright, and spacious kitchen after.

    We hope our work has inspired you to take on a design challenge in your own home. If you would like more information on the products and services we provide, please visit us at: www.alternakbh.com.

    Caryn Badgeley

    Caryn Badgeley is a partner / designer at Alterna – Kitchen Bath + Home (Alterna K B + H). Raised in Upper Arlington, she traveled extensively throughout the US and Germany, and earned her BFA in Interior Design/Space Planning from The Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD). Her business partner, George Lowe, studied Mechanical Engineering, traveled to many countries in Europe and developed his Master Craftsman status working as a carpenter in Upstate New York and Chicago.

    Together they bring to the table the ideal balance of talent and over 30 yrs experience in the design / remodel industries. In 2005 they merged their individual businesses to create Alterna, which is now considered one of the leading design / remodel firms in Columbus.

    Home Decor is a monthly column on Columbus Underground featuring Design Professionals’ design tips for your home. Have a suggestion? Please send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

    [Home Decor is sponsored by K.A. Menendian Rug Gallery. At K.A. Menendian Oriental Rug Gallery you will find the widest selection of quality rugs in our remodeled showroom, with hundreds of designs, colors and sizes of hand-knotted, hand-tufted and machine-made rugs. Styles range from traditional to modern and formal to casual. Their Annual 2-for-1 Rug Cleaning Special is happening until March 14, 2012. Must print and present coupon. Save an extra 10% off any in-stock new rug purchase until March 14, 2012. Find them at 1090 West 5th Ave. at Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43212. Reach them by phone at (614) 294-3345 or 1-888-526-7847. Their hours are: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closed Sunday. On the web at www.karugs.com. Like them on Facebook.]

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