2013 Large Kitchen – Honorable Mention: Crystal Kennedy Pacific Northwest Cabinetry

Design Contests are a wonderful way to share your Wellborn Cabinet projects, gain brand exposure and win some money. $$$

This 1990’s home, while spacious and open, felt like it didn’t have enough storage or countertop
space. It also felt dated with the white tile countertops and the builder grade thermofoil doors
were starting to fall off their hinges! These clients were ready for a modern update and we were
up for the job!

Problems/Challenges:

Tile countertops were impossible to keep clean space was used inefficiently – they needed more storage.
Cabinets didn’t go to the ceiling, so the tops were just dust catchers.
They like the classic white-painted look, but didn’t want the boring look they had now.
The island was pretty much unusable with the cook top placed in the center of it and the ventilation didn’t work well.
The walkway between the refrigerator and the island was too tight and made the refrigerator difficult to use.

Wanted the microwave off the countertop.
They were tired of the red paint!
Love the look of marble, but don’t like the maintenance.

Solutions:

Moved the cooktop to the far wall to get it off of the island and give it better ventilation and a beautiful focal point at the same time.

Removed the built-in pantry with bi-fold doors and replaced it with a floor to ceiling cabinet with pullouts.

Relocated the refrigerator to the pantry wall.
Installed the microwave at a comfortable shoulder height and added pullout pantry storage above and below it.

Prairie Maple Cabinetry finish Divinity is installed stacked to the ceiling.
Lit glass cabinetry provides great ambient light and a beautiful focal wall.
Under cabinet lights and new pendant lights brighten up the area and add great accents and interest to the space.
A functional island the contrasting Prairie Maple Sienna offset the monochromatic white kitchen.
The island houses the oven just offset from the cook top.
Seating for 2 at the end of the island provides a place for the family to sit and talk while they are working.
Matching end panels and arch valances provide simple yet elegant details to the space.

Staining the oak floors to a medium sable tone gave warmth to the space overall.
Brazilian Arabescato Quartzite countertops provide the look of a Carrera marble but has the hardness of granite and won’t stain like marble will. It was the perfect solution for what she was looking for.

A soft, warm grey paint on the walls contrasted beautifully with the white cabinetry and complimented the quartzite.

The finished kitchen, while in a similar footprint, changed the way this couple lives in their space
and gives them the updated elegant look and feel they wanted for their new kitchen!

a wonderful job by Crystal Kennedy of Pacific Northwest Cabinetry.

2013 Design Contest Winner: Glen Lumia – Other Rooms – 3rd Place

Designer: Glen Lumia

Dealer: Creative Design Construction, Northvale, New Jersey

Design Goals and Details: We had a blank canvas to work with in designing the bar for our clients, as it was incorporated in a full scale renovation of the basement. The focal point of the space features a custom wet bar with raised granite to create a dramatic space for entertaining family and friends. It includes a beverage center, ice machine, and plenty of additional seating for guests. The bar features the Hanover door style in Cherry, highlighted with an Espresso finish. We incorporated glass upper cabinets to show off the client’s stemware and achieve the modern vision the client’s hoped for.

before

after

2013 Design Contest Winner – Small Kitchen – 2nd Place

Designer: Crystal Kennedy

Pacific Northwest Cabinetry – Milwaukie, Oregon

Before

After

click on image to learn more about this award-winning design

Dream Kitchen Makeover Winner

On behalf of the entire Wellborn Cabinet Family, we congratulate Kay Doran Senior as our Dream Kitchen Makeover Winner!
“We are all very excited to begin the process of your Dream Kitchen Makeover!”
Congrats also to Brenda Ramirez of Uptown Kitchens as the Official Dream Kitchen Makeover Dealer.”

Design Contest Winner "Maggie Burns" to the Rescue!

Before we dive into our Design Contest Winner post for this week – I wanted to recap and highlight some key elements to remember about our design contest and the wonderful extras that can come from winning – not just the money – even though that is pretty awesome too!!!

Our Yearly Design Contest has several different categories; Large Kitchen, Small Kitchen, Bath and Other Rooms – you can pretty much enter any space designed with Wellborn Cabinets. Each category has to follow the same guidelines for submission and design guidelines for the spaces that are being designed.

To me one of the greatest aspects about our design contest is the professional exposure that you as a designer can gain by simply entering your design work. Your winning designs could be featured in all of our marketing efforts; publications, websites, advertising, training, and social media. With the digital world we now live in – – – your work could be visible on a “global platform”!

So remember that when you are designing and building your portfolio consider entering your designs – you never know – you could be a “Wellborn Design Contest Winner” too!

Now it’s time to learn about Maggie Burns and the “Opportunities” she faced in designing for the Terry Family. So enjoy her design story.

Opportunity: How to integrate the awkward corner space left over after building on a new family room addition. A home addition provided the client and his family more space to entertain and relax in. However, the rear of the existing home, when opened up to the new space, became an awkward pass through.It was too small for a furniture seating group, but too large to waste as a hallway.

The solution was to build an entertainment bar, which would enhance entertaining, and highlight the space as a point of interest. We nestled cabinetry into the angle of the corner, and designed a radius bar that would curve gently out into the room. Angling it served two purposes. It kept it compact, as well as introduced it frontally to both spaces, further blending them together.

Opportunity: The homeowner wanted the cabinetry in the new spaces to closely match the home’s existing cabinetry. Matching existing cabinetry is almost always impossible, but because we were around a corner from the existing kitchen, we used the Wellborn door style (Bedford Square Poplar finished in dark) that most closely resembled that in the rest of the home. We also used the same dramatic granite, Oceanic Bordeaux in both areas to tie them together. The result is that as you move from one area to the next, the differences are imperceptible.

Opportunity: The client wanted this project to not only be functional, but very unique and conversational. We decided to offer something that was unexpected. The client wanted a flat screen television in the rear wall, but we decided to mount it under two way glass, so that when not in use, it was still an elegant mirrored bar. He loved that he could change the whole feel of an event by just “turning on the game.”

Opportunity: How to trim the curved bar wall. We ordered Wellborn finished panels, Wellborn matching stain, and flexible base molding from a building supplier. The 3/16” panels curved around the half wall, and the flex molding was stained to match and applied over the panels.

A great design that took a unused corner what was seen as a waste of space and turned it into a focal point of this great family room addition. Great design work Maggie Burns and kudos to your installation team on the island!!!

Maggie Burns
maggielburns@aol.com
407-497-8479

Audra Lamb, ASID — On a Design Mission!

This week we spotlight the talent of Audra Lamb ASID, with Sunset Tile and Bath who won big in 2010-2011’s Design Contest in the Bath Category.

Enjoy!

Design Mission: Create a more contemporary Master Bath for the McNail Household without adding more space or breaking the bank.

Design Mission Statement:

This Master Bath’s builder grade configuration limited possibilities of elongated vanity as well as tub area. Reducing the vanity size allowed for enlarging tub platform and installing a tile surround.

The customer wanted to allow for a taller tub splash due to the roman tub faucet being modified into a wall mount diverter and spout.

The counter top backsplash was incorporated into the tub splash by continuing the travertine ogee molding and tumbled mesh to create a cohesive look through the bath.

In order to give the customer and more contemporary look, Prairie Maple cabinetry with a Sienna finish was used and allowed the bathroom to have balance between the light and dark finishes.

The drawers were upgraded to wood dovetail drawer boxes to give the customer a higher quality finish, but still keeping the cabinet economical.

The shower layout was reconfigured to allow the customer to incorporate and shower bench connecting with the tub platform.

• The customers incorporated an adjustable shower arm to allow for customization between their different heights.

• We used natural travertine tiles in two colors and multiples sizes to give visual interest without being overwhelming in their space.

• We also incorporated a frameless heavy glass shower enclosure with clear glass to allow for easy visibility of the new tile patters as well as increasing the feeling of a larger bathroom.

The large format mirror was also replaced with two custom framed mirrors to give a more inviting look to the vanity area.

A slab travertine counter top with under mount sinks gave a neutral look to the vanity area and made the cabinetry more of a focal point in the room.

Mission Accomplished – Great Work Audra!

Audra Lamb, ASID
sunsettile.audra@qwestoffice.net
602-789-8700

Sunset Tile & Bath
sunsettile.audra@qwestoffice.net
602-789-8700

James Stratton is a Dream Kitchen Designer and Design Winner

James Stratton of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is a Dream Kitchen Designer and a Wellborn Design Winner!

James entered his “Townhome Treasure” in the (Large Kitchen (>42 sq ft of Countertops) Type: Remodel) Category and won.

We are proud to share his work with you! Enjoy the images and his design statement below.

When you walked into this Townhome you were faced with an outdated and cramped kitchen.

The customer wanted her guests to be greeted by a bright, “up to date” space which incorporated a warm classic style.

Now, as you enter this townhome you are drawn into the sophisticated, modern kitchen with its touch of European styling.

The diminutive space and placing of skylights made opening the kitchen difficult. By expanding the room into the laundry room both obstacles were overcome. The washer and dryer had to be placed inside the kitchen which created a blemish to the design.

By “hiding” the washer and dryer behind matching Wellborn cabinetry customized bi-fold doors, a balance and continuity was established which ultimately contributed to the design of this space.

With the extensive choices of door styles and accessories that Wellborn offers, cabinets that were oak and ordinary were replaced by Monterey Maple Cabinetry finished in Glacier. This made a homely kitchen come to life with sophistication and warmth.

White tile countertops were replaced with beautiful granite.

Using the colors in the granite a distinctive backsplash in a three-dimensional design was an artful addition, a pleasing change from the plain blue and white tile backsplash that existed before.

The design of the workspace is redefined by changing a closed “u” to a more open design.

The island has an elegant 6cm OG round over edge, giving prominence to the black granite composite under mount sink.

The heated tile floor provided a literal warmth which allowed the customer to function a little easier on those cold winter mornings, as opposed to the vinyl floor which existed before.

Recessed lighting, classy pendants and natural skylights created general and task lighting which made
a dreary kitchen more brilliant and workable, and added to the panache of the design.
Attention to detail was followed all the way down to the hardware on the cabinet doors in a collaboration of different
styles.

This created a customized look, which the client loved!

Designer: James Stratton
jim@vhplans.com
(801)476-4222

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Photographer: nate@vhplans.com

Our Emerald "Color of the Year" Tribute

As Pantone unveiled their 2013 Color of the Year – we just had to research Emerald and see what others are doing and how we can jump “on board” the Emerald Express.

So our tribute to “Emerald” begins: we searched through the pages of Pinterest and Houzz to find spaces and products where Emerald provides simple bursts of renewed energy or is intelligently positioned through-out an entire space to create the Wow that your space was needing!

Emerald truly can be a chameleon of spaces from the elegant decor of dining rooms of old to vintage basement retreats created for fun-filled weekends. We don’t even begin to address clothing, make-up or other industries outside of fashion…. 🙂

Emerald can be your theme….simple to dynamic…. Emerald truly answers the “color call” this year!

(pay attention to the others as well…..)

Houzz is alive with the evolution of Emerald! Can’t wait to see all the new additions for 2013!

Eclectic Family Room design by Atlanta Interior Designer Cristi Holcombe

Traditional Living Room design by Little Rock Interior Designer Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Eclectic Living Room design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Diane Bennett Bedford

Contemporary Bedroom design by St Louis Interior Designer Edwin Pepper Interiors

Contemporary Dining Room design by Other Metro Architect Annis Lender

Eclectic Bedroom design by Melbourne Interior Designer Diane Bergeron Interiors

Contemporary Bedroom design by Portland Interior Designer Ragan Corliss

Gary Tilson’s Milan Minimalist Bathroom Design

Gary Tilson’s Award Winning Milan Bathroom Design is a very clean minimalist design but is anything but simple….

The clients had already renovated portions of their home including new wood floors in the master

bedroom before coming to me for a design consultation.

They were ready to upgrade their outdated bath. Remodel Size:13’6″ x 11′ 4″

before

Meetings with them identified some key concerns and wishes for their new Master Bath.

They wanted a spa-like bath with clean lines.

full

They chose Wellborn’s Milan Cherry in Autumn Spice, setting the tone for the project.

Kohler vessel sinks and faucets continued the clean look.

Keeping with their minimalist tastes, they decided to do away with pulls. Where necessary, touch latches were added to aid in opening doors / drawers.

Matching Wellborn trim was added including a valance above sinks with recessed lighting, door casings, caps over the tile wainscot and window casings.

mir

The original entry to the Master Closet was through the bath taking up valuable wall and circulation space.

The entry was closed in favor of a new door directly from the bedroom which freed up additional wall

space for the shower and toilet areas.

shower

The original entry to the bath was from a nook at the far end of the bedroom.

The entry was moved to an adjacent wall which was already in the circulation path.

A pair of pocket doors freed up wall space for switches that would have been hidden behind a swinging

door.

An Ecofires firebox with cabinets and shelving matching those of the bath were installed in the alcove

creating an intimate sitting area for reading.

after

Additional functional solutions to their needs include:

Hamper base cabinet, Milan doors on the tub surround to access Whirlpool pump,

Pilaster units each side of the sinks with doors and electrical outlets within,

towel

Heated Towel Bar and Heated Floor, and a more efficient allocation of circulation space allowing a fuller use of the existing square footage.

The clean lines of the Milan door style with the warm rich Autumn Spice finish on Cherry along with the

other material selections helped to create the sophisticated contemporary result that the well-traveled

clients sought.

And also became an Award-Winning Design for Gary Tilson!

Gary Tilson Barefoot Kitchens & Bath
678-753-5343

tilton

Wellborn Olde World – a beautiful world all its own.

Create new and interesting spaces with our Olde World Technique.

Seven unique techniques create a “one of a kind” finish for every piece of cabinetry.