"A Great Job"

I asked some friends if they knew of a good kitchen designer. One said a friend had used Laura and was very happy with the outcome. So I called her and we had our first meeting.

I told her I wanted a cook’s kitchen. I wanted a commercial range which could not be a reality because of the limited space. So I told her I wanted at least 5 gas burners, which called for a cook top. I also wanted two ovens. So she looked at the current kitchen and came up with a completely new floor plan. It included an island that was not in existence and used a pantry that saw little use.

The first layout looked like any other kitchen. I then told her I wanted a French kitchen with open shelves and bead board walls. This completely changed the look of the kitchen and is the design that we finally settled on. Of course she added lighting, wall colors, and she suggested a recycled southern hard pine floor, which we all did. She took me to appliance suppliers to pick out the cook top, ovens, dishwasher, sink, frig., and microwave. This all had to be done before the final design so we could see how it would fit and look. She then coordinated all the subs to get the electrical, plastering, plumbing, gas piping and floor installed.

For the construction end of things, she introduced me to Architectural Details, a remodeling company. When we met to review the design, I told them I wanted to do some of the work. I would install the bead board wall and do the painting of it. They gave me a schedule for the project and when I had to be done with my share of the work. I also told them when it had to be done.

As we went along, Laura and the contractor made other suggestions of which we incorporated many of them and I also made some requests which we discussed and worked out the cost of the add on.

Being a woodworker, I know quality when I see it. Let me tell you the contractor’s cabinet work is top drawer. It is beautiful. We looked at how best to use the pantry and decided to install a wet bar, along with mirrored walls and glass shelves.

We added pullout shelves and other little niceties like corner shelving that pulls out to make use of all the space. They came in on time and within budget.

So all that was left to do was to invite 50 friends and have an ‘open the kitchen’ party. I purchased a chef’s jacket and fed everyone out of the new kitchen.

It is now the focal point of the house and when entertaining it is where everyone congregates. A great job was done by one and all.

Don and Judy S.
Prestonwood - Cary, NC