David and Louise of Geneva IL had remodeled before, but they never had an experience like the one they had with Advance Design. When beginning their search for a remodeler they wanted to create a casual country kitchen and after interviewing 3 or 4 designers and contractors, they still couldn’t find the right company.
Then they attended the Old House New House Home Show at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, and met Advance Design.
They attended a Kitchen Design Trends Presentation done by designer Scott Christensen, and owner/designer Christine Jurs and they became intrigued, feeling that they could finally make a connection. After their initial meeting with Scott, they were convinced they had found the perfect partnership to renovate their home.
The couple had lived in their home for many years, and the tired, original kitchen had grown cluttered and outdated. Oak cabinets with arch raised center panels, outdated appliances, ceiling soffits and white laminate countertops told the kitchen’s age. They knew it was time to update and get that perfectly organized space they had been longing for all the years they had lived there.
The couple wanted a functional island that could be useful for many different tasks. They wanted better storage for more efficient cooking, and the detailing and color selection was really important to them. They didn’t want a plain vanilla kitchen, but something that more suited their personal style – a Modern Casual Country Kitchen was the vision they described.
“We chose (Advance Design Studio) because it came down to the personality of the person we were working with,” Louise said. “And with Scott, I just knew that it would work.”
Scott took his time to carefully address their needs while bringing forth fresh design looks and organizational ideas that David and Louise loved. He paid attention to what they wanted and provided multiple options to challenges they presented. “Scott listened to what my husband and I said. He was a great listener. He solved our problems,” Louise said.
The result is a clean modern kitchen in a light country style that functions and flows incredibly well. The warm feel of the space makes it a newly inviting area to spend time with family, while the organization and accessibility makes cooking and cleaning much more efficient.
The perimeter cabinetry is from one of Advance Design’s favorite frameless cabinetry makers called Bellmont in Silvermist; a soothing greenish-blue hue that is enjoying a lot of popularity today. The soft shade and sophisticated cabinet design blends perfectly with the client’s style already established throughout the rest of the home. Grigio Hanstone Quartz countertops line the perimeter, a soft cloud color that compliments the darker grey of the surrounding cabinetry. The oversize basin of the Nantucket Harwich sink not only looks beautiful but makes dishes less of a chore. The sharp new stainless-steel Kitchen Aid Range and Hood are a pleasure compared to the old appliances and make meal prep much more enjoyable.
Elegantly turned Country Blue Corn Villa posts make the furniture-like island a focal point in an otherwise clean-lined space. The living casual blue shade balances the tones of the whole space with an Italian Waves Quartz countertop in a crisp white, giving ample new meal prep space during the week or providing an inviting space for serving appetizers and dishes when entertaining. A hidden utensil organizer quick became a favorite feature in the island that the couple was really excited about.
Louise loved the unique details of an antique floor grate, and together they decided to use it as a creative focal point behind the range. The rest of the backsplash became more of a backdrop for the feature design that draws your eye immediately to the interesting piece. Increased lighting helps with the visibility they were lacking in the original kitchen and creates a softer feel to the room while improving function for ageing eyes.
“They love the island, the colors, the backsplash, the lighting and the improved storage,” Scott said. “The end result is a much more useful kitchen that is elegant and beautiful at the same time, blending with the rest of the home that they adore.”
David and Louise couldn’t be happier with their newly modernized casual country kitchen and the experience working with Advance Design. “Advance Design made it easy,” Louise said. “Everyone who came in and out was very nice, you know what to expect, there are no surprises. They are very easy to work with, very friendly, very detail oriented, so you feel like you are in good hands.”
The happy couple is finding more and more ways to spend as much time in their kitchen as possible, and is looking forward to entertaining in their new space for the coming holiday season. For more looks at this beautiful Modern Casual Country kitchen, check out photos here!