Living in the picturesque town of Aliso Viejo is always more luxurious when all of that warm California sun can fill the home. The owners of this kitchen came to APlus with a desire to let the light shine in and refresh their abode.
Before
Prior to our renovation, this kitchen sported dated maplewood cabinets with gold hardware, colors that only darkened the space and made the kitchen feel like a blast from the past. The cabinet layout was inefficient, leaving a great deal of unused space. Overall, the room lacked any sort of distinctive style, and simply didn’t have the zesty energy of the home’s other rooms.
Restructuring
We began the renovation by pulling out all of the old cabinets and even the corner pantry, planning a new U-shaped layout that wrapped around the kitchen’s walls and opened up toward the dining and family room. The client chose Beaded Insert Face style cabinets with Jianas doors, made out of paint grade maple. The team painted the new cabinets in Whisper White by Dunn Edwards for a clean, timeless look. In addition, matching painted birch plywood lines the cabinet interiors for a cohesive finish. Clear glass panels appear in select dish cabinets and add visual lightness. Moreover, stainless steel knobs and pulls in varied styles outfit every drawer and door, tying the design together.
Despite installing more cabinetry in this small kitchen, it actually looks larger than before. Custom cabinets now fill every available inch of space, maximizing storage and function. As a result, their clean white finish reflects natural light from the windows and brightens the entire room. In addition, the team rebuilt the center island to include optional seating. This update makes the kitchen feel more inviting and versatile. 1 ½” straight edge granite countertops in a muted gray tone add some dimension to palette. Vertical white wood paneling lines the backs of the open cabinets and creates the same brightening effect. In addition, full-height backsplashes of white glazed porcelain tile extend across the walls. These tiles appear in both horizontal and herringbone patterns. As a result, the design adds texture while maintaining a clean, cohesive look.
The team painted the surrounding walls in a rich butter-yellow shade to bring warmth into the transitional kitchen. As a result, the space now delivers the sunny, inviting feel the homeowners wanted. To add contrast and sophistication, the design replaces the old linoleum with Max Windsor hardwood floors in Mocha Sunset Hickory. This update grounds the room and enhances its overall elegance.
Appliances
A number of appliances were selected from Thermador, one of our most popular providers of high-end appliances. A Professional Series 36” Gas Range Cooktop was installed beneath the new stately wooden hood at the center of the kitchen’s back wall. To the left of it was installed a Masterpiece Series 30” Double Electric Wall Oven with 4.7 cu. ft. of cooking space. On the opposite side of the kitchen, to the right of the double-bowl farmhouse sink is an Emerald Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher. The new refrigerator is from KitchenAid, a 21.8 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door model of the Pro Line Series. All appliances were chosen in a coordinating stainless steel finish, adding a contemporary influence to this beautifully revamped kitchen.
