Encountering the Unexpected

Encountering the Unexpected????

In remodeling, the word "unexpected" causes fear even among those wise enough to build in contingency budgets. In a recent project with Fabuwood Cabinets , we took some of these unexpected challenges and turned them into functional features and delightful details.

?Functional Features:

Trying to add definitions in open-concept spaces can be challenging. For a young family who wanted to combine their kitchen and dining room, we had hoped to do so by shifting the location of the entry door from the garage. After meeting with the contractor on-site and trying to troubleshoot several solutions, we approached the problem in the opposite direction. We moved the door only 12 inches from the opposite side, avoiding a costly garage door rework and streamlining the sink wall cabinetry. Although a full-size fridge can feel like an intrusive appliance to place in the middle of the room, it's highly functional here. We also balanced it visually by adding a deep countertop pantry to hide small appliances and a coffee station. The glass doors above and staggered height help define the space as a working kitchen and casual coffee service station.

Delightful Details:

For this project, the island needed to be the heart of the home. It would be the drop zone for the outdoor grill station, storage for kids' crafts and homework, prep space for the kitchen, and dining room table for family gatherings. Turning the cabinetry in 3 directions, we included a?bar fridge storage to face the deck, full-depth storage facing the den, and plenty of tools along the kitchen side for the chef. We worked closely with the trim team to find a unique way to add support for the seating area of the heavy quartz top.??? A platform base allowed additional stability and a place for?the HVAC to enter the room.?? We used chevrons diving in different opposite sides to keep the design open but playful. Seen together, they create an X pattern but delightfully shift as perspective changes across the room.??? Once the families' two young children discovered the space, they turned it into their secret nook. They can often be found tucked under the chairs with pillows, blankets, and books, making the space their own.

?Although unexpected, challenges are part of remodeling. I prefer to view them more as a puzzle.?? They give us opportunities to partner with the homeowner and our skilled trades teams. In this case, with good communication, a little compromise, and a lot of creativity, we were able to create the perfect open-concept spaces for a busy young family.

project details:

cabinetry: Fabuwood - Galaxy door in Frost and Nickle

countertop: Vicostone USA Misterio