CBS Atlanta - 2015 Creative Spaces

mounted well below the ceiling to leave visual breathing room. Closer to the floor, Kristy recessed the cabinetry toe-kick by

9 inches to suggest that the base units are floating. Repetition of square and rectangular shapes among the elements— cabinetry, appliances, tiles, and lighting— maintains visual continuity, which also enhances spaciousness.

To stretch her remodeling budget as she grew her kitchen, Kristy used cabinetry that has an expensive European look but is made in the United States.

“Keeping appliances and the sink in the same place also left more money for splurges like the glass tile backsplash and aluminum pulls,” she says. Kristy also purchased a combination microwave/ ventilation hood that saves space and money, too. “Its white color blends with the cabinetry and doesn’t scream for attention,” she says.

Being flexible on appliance choices can yield big savings, Kristy says. The couple’s economical slide-in range offers many of the same features as larger, pricier models.

Ample and accessible storage was also important to the couple, as they love to host large family gatherings. “While the old kitchen had no pantry, my two new

24-inch-wide pantries offer 10 roll-out
shelves,” Kristy says. Vertical dividers
above the pantries are perfect for storing
cookie sheets, while a corner cabinet
between the sink and dishwasher has
a two-tier lazy Susan. “Upper cabinets
hinged at the top provide wonderful
access because the door is above your
head,” Kristy says. “Nearly all lower
cabinets are drawers for ease of use and
better space utilization.”
In a couple of final bold strokes,
Kristy chose orange quartz surfacing
for the countertops, then replaced dated
linoleum flooring with light ash. The
Forest Stewardship Council-certified
wood planks are 7 inches wide and 8 feet
long, helping the room feel larger. And
their color variations hide nicks.

The flooring isn’t the only eco-friendly material—Kristy integrated green elements where possible. “The backsplash tile is from recycled glass,” she says. “The cabinets look European but are domestic, eliminating energy to ship them and making them more cost-effective. We also kept as much of the footprint as possible and reused the original window.

Finally, better light from the family
room and from our new skylight saves on
electricity.”
Now, just one look at this kitchen is
bound to turn anyone green—with envy.