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Case Study

Award Winning Rocky River Kitchen & Family Room

Project Summary: This 1928 Tudor style home situated to enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Erie was timeless in many ways, but the kitchen and family room design and functionality had become dated. The homeowners were clear in their objectives for the remodel, respect the history of their elegant home and all the things that make it special, but transform it into an updated, beautiful, and functional space for day to day family life and entertaining.

Kitchen & Hearth Room Before:

The location of the exterior door into the kitchen created a unwanted drop zone for shoes, backpacks, and coats.

The large J shaped island created lousy traffic flow and functionality.

The cooktop in the island took up seating space and it had a pop-up vent that was installed backwards and never functioned.

The many angled walls made cabinet layout a challenge.

Three different ceiling heights within the space were visually unappealing.

A step-down to the family room caused odd flow from room to room and a dangerous step near the island.

Kitchen & Family Room After: A new dedicated zone for shoes and coats was built near the back door.

The new large island was located away from the workspace and provides seating for eight.

The new Wolf range was moved to an exterior wall and the custom Range hood by  CopperHoods is vented outside.

Creative storage solutions were created at the angled walls.

Cabinet modification was done to accommodate the dropped beam.

The family room and kitchen floors were made level for safety and improved flow.

A soapstone hearth was installed and is flush with the hardwood flooring.

A beautiful bar area was created including a step down (at the original floor level) behind the bar which allows an unhindered view of the lake.

The Details: By moving the island location and going with a new shape away from the cooking area the entire kitchen flow was improved. The island offers seating for 6-8 guests with views to the patio and lake beyond. By raising the floor of the family room the two distinct spaces became more cohesive making both rooms more appealing and creating new gathering areas. The patio doors are flanked by floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry with metal fronts and shelving for display. The antique copper hardware is similar to other new and original details throughout the home.

Our Challenge: With three ceiling heights in the kitchen we opened up the dropped header for removal and discovered a steel I-beam in which we were able to factor into the final layout. We also found HVAC running through the angled ceiling.

Our Solution: We had to reroute the ducts to the bedroom above. This allowed the refrigerator cabinet to be flush with the others, while also hiding framing within the cabinetry.

Our Result: Drawer refrigerators, a coffee station, and the microwave are conveniently located. The paneled Sub-Zero keeps the look seamless. Stepping the cabinet line back creates interest as it transitions to the rear kitchen entry.

Before, During & After: The seating area in the step down hearth room went unused. The homeowner wanted to draw people out of the kitchen to the large room and its lake views by creating a custom bar area in place of the seating area. The design left the floor low behind the bar so that guests would have an unobstructed view of the lake even if someone was tending the bar.

Bar Construction: The bar has a curved shape and the wall below the bar top is clad in leather with LED strip lighting under the counter. The top is a natural soapstone with a beautiful copper sink. The hearth room celings feature antique copper tiles and stylish fans that work in concert with other details in this vintage home.

A Room With A View: A tiled wall of antiqued mirrors, custom bronze, and glass café shelving complete this unique design. Looking out to the lake while seated at the bar makes this the place to be!

Award Winning Design & Construction:

A sleeper floor system was designed and constructed to bring the family room floor flush with the kitchen. It provides dramatically improved flow for entertaining, more flexibility with furniture layout, and it is safer. The new floor required a fireplace and hearth redesign which features a new mantle and surround, painted to match the kitchen cabinets, a raised soapstone hearth that coordinates with the bar countertop, and tile in a gorgeous copper finish that coordinates with all the copper finishes throughout the home.

The home was recently awarded a NARI Contractor of the Year Award - First Place Kitchen. More importantly the remodel addressed all of the items on the homeowners’ wishlist and is a tasteful reflection of their classic style as well as their warm and welcoming personalities.

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