Not willing to relinquish the charm of their 1930’s Mediterranean
style home, Bruce and Roxanne Rose still knew it was time to do
something about their sorely outdated kitchen. “Nothing had
been done to it since it was built,” says Roxanne. “The
kitchen was just a short room at the end of the house.” In
addition to the kitchen not being easily accessible, previous additions
to the house made the kitchen and adjoining areas unattractive and
less than functional.
In spite of the disadvantages, the Rose’s loved their home
located near Lake Davis, but wanted a kitchen that could be more
prominent as well as more functional. “Keeping the integrity
of the home was very important to us,” Roxanne says about
the couple’s goals for their kitchen renovation.
Partnering with Joan DesCombes of Architectural Artworks, PSG Construction
gave the Rose’s a home that has transformed the way they live.
“We decided a complete reorientation was necessary,”
Joan explains. To accomplish this, a major wall was removed to integrate
a previously “unused” room into the kitchen, creating
an ‘L’ shaped space. Protruding duct work in the kitchen
was removed, a pleasant surprise not usually feasible in renovation
projects. The space was further expanded by creating an archway
between the kitchen, dining, and living rooms. The reconfiguration
brought the kitchen to the center of the house and gave the couple
twice the kitchen space they had before. Now accessed from five
distinct areas of the home--the living room, dining room, family
room, sunroom and master bedroom—the kitchen has become a
natural gathering place. “We spend a lot of time in the kitchen,”
says Roxanne, “and we do more than just cook there.”
PSG Construction began the transformation by removing what Roxanne
describes as “horrible old floors” and replacing them
with 3/4” tongue and groove oak hardwood that matches the
floors in the rest of the house. “The new floors don’t
look like they’ve been added on,” Roxanne points out.
A pass-through arched window was designed to visually open the areas
and connect the kitchen and dining room. Tuscan style cherry cabinetry
was selected, combining “fitted” and unfitted”
pieces finished with Briarwood stain or Sage Green paint with rub
thru. The effect suggests a kitchen that evolved through stages—typical
in older homes.
A Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer, wine cooler and icemaker were
all seamlessly integrated into the space. A 30” Wolf oven,
gas cook top and convection microwave finish off the kitchen with
high tech appliances.
Colors and materials were selected to compliment the living and
dining room spaces and mesh with the homeowner’s existing
furniture. Neutral granite countertops cover the perimeter cabinetry,
while a deep burgundy lavastone top accents the deep bronze colored
sink. The tile inlay over the cook top creates a focal point.
An office area tucked into one corner of the kitchen tastefully
provides a functional space for paying bills and checking email.
Without giving up a bit of the charm found in the rest of their
home, the Rose’s now have a kitchen that exudes warmth, serves
as a new gathering space, and provides a spot for fostering many
new memories. PSG
