A Custom Kitchen & Laundry Room in Huntley
After six years of living in their home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated space and it was finally time for a long anticipated kitchen remodel. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything. It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be,” Meghan said.
They needed a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. In addition to their kitchen, ADS also remodeled their laundry/mudroom space.
Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the custom kitchen renovation and laundry room remodel was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed.
The main objectives for the redesigned kitchen were better storage solutions, updated finishes, and low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator. This improved workflow for the busy family.
“We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something we never would have thought of,” Chris said.
“The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said.
The perimeter mist-colored cabinets brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored island cabinetry feels more grounded. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets, including a spice drawer tray and rollouts for hidden convenience.
Accent lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has a warm, cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said.
The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said.
The Carrara quartz countertops were chosen because they both beautiful and a hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the countertops.
“They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added.
“Our construction manager did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris.
The focal point of the kitchen is a hand-crafted ventilation hood made from handpicked reclaimed barnwood. ADS built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves.
“I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique,” said Meghan.
The Laundry/Mudroom Transformation:
The laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore as well, especially for Chris. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change,” he said.
The mess was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized.
A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinets matching the kitchen island to house custom cubbies for each family member. The tall utility cabinetry helped solve the storage issue. Even the cat got its own cubby!
Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices charge out of sight. Adding a countertop above the washer and dryer provided a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang.
“The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said.
The end result of this kitchen and laundry/mudroom remodel was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family.
“I would totally recommend Advance Design Studio,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”