This retired couple bought a Colonial-style home in Sterling, Massachusetts, on 4 acres to be closer to their growing family and granddaughter. While they loved the classic architecture, they wanted to update the home’s neutral interiors. A big focus was revamping the kitchen and its basic honey oak cabinets, angled two-tier peninsula, standard white appliances and laminate countertops. The husband, a trained chef and former restaurant owner, wanted ample room for prepping and serving. The wife was looking for some color for the cabinets and wanted an elegant look and feel. For help they hired designer Ruth Bergstrom.
Bergstrom replaced the angled two-tier peninsula with a spacious L-shaped peninsula that adds work surface and seating. Updated appliances in a more user-friendly layout enhance function, while a polished marble-look quartz for the countertops and backsplash adds elegance and durability. Gray cabinets with subtle green and blue undertones bring a soft and soothing feel.
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“Sometimes the simple details are expensive; at other times, a design change can save so much money,” Berry says. “Always be open and honest with your designer about money. We have the knowledge and tricks to create the wow without a wow price tag.”
“I always advise my clients to spend the majority of the kitchen budget on the cabinetry and doors, as these get the most use,” Davis says. “The kitchen cabinets especially, although not necessarily seen, take the weight of the [countertop] and need to stay rigid for many years, so the doors stay aligned. I use the analogy of a car: You don’t see the chassis, but it needs to be high-quality to ensure a great vehicle.
“Where I often suggest clients can save money is on the appliances. We only sell quality brands, which means their entry-level products are still excellent quality, using the same components as the more expensive models. The difference is often in the features available, so I have a good chat with my clients to work out what features they can live without to help them choose the best-value appliances for their budget.”
McCrostie offers another tip: “Where a kitchen is totally custom, wider drawer stacks can be designed into the plan to reduce the overall number of cabinets, as drawers are more expensive than cupboards.”
7 Essential Features of a Well-Designed Kitchen