At the top of the client’s wish list? A true cook’s kitchen.
Kristina embarked on an extensive kitchen remodel for a family of six.
With five doorways to other rooms, the kitchen was more thoroughfare than place to connect. Kristina’s design…
Professional-grade appliances, including a custom-built Lacanche range, two refrigerators
An extra-wide sink in the island, a corner sink to save space on the beverage counter?
Seating, breakfast nook
Remarkably, the original kitchen had no pantry. Kristina designed a variety of much-needed storage solutions. She placed baking station pull-outs near the fridge, one for mixing equipment, the other for flour, sugar, leaveners, and spices. Drawers with mesh fronts hold bread, onions, and potatoes. (Type of storage) within reaching distance of the breakfast nook contains cereals, toast, toaster, microwave.
Counter space for all types of food fun. Near the window, Kristina created an area for making smoothies…
The dog area was found space on the old porch. Kristina added a pull-out bin for dog food, a built-in dog bowl shelf, and a sleeping area. A hidden pocket door allows the dog to come and go via his doggie door.
Added extra hanging space and hooks for coats. Refreshed the mud room 1/2 bath.
The extraordinary kitchen, breakfast room, family room and mudroom were completely remodeled and expanded in 2018 and are the heart of the home. They have been featured in several publications. Recently connected to natural gas, the house has a new boiler, new roof roof, refinished hardwood floors, stylish new carpet throughout and many additional improvements.
Photos / Jane Beiles and New Perspective Cabinetry
Destroyed by fire, an English cottage kitchen dazzles in its second life.
In this cozy kitchen with gloriously high ceilings, Kristina suspended golden light fixtures over work stations.
The island’s small size belies its many functions: stovetop with retractable vent, large oven, storage for pots and pans, prep area, and table for four.
Washing dishes is no longer a chore at the generous farmhouse sink with a view of the property’s magnificent gardens and stone walls.
Kristina designed a custom X-mullion display cabinet to showcase the homeowner’s hand-painted porcelain collection. The hardware is unlacquered brass and will develop a patina over time. She painted the interior a warm brown and installed spotlights. The oven that caught fire resided in this spot; now, this statement piece exudes joyful energy.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
Interior Design
A playful blue kitchen for a lakefront family compound.
As an homage to Candlewood Lake, Kristina made a bold recommendation - how about a blue kitchen?
The client agreed to a Viking range and refrigerator in Alluvial Blue. Cabinetry from the client’s primary home was installed and then painted to match the appliances. The repurposed island was too skinny. Kristina added legs at all four corners to expand the island to accommodate seating on three sides, then placed a (what type of material) counter on top.
Opened up living room wall to see the water
The flooring contained three types of wood that went in three different directions. To unify the space, Kristina hand-painted the floor and applied an eco-polyurethane sealant to protect it from wet feet.
Stairs painted gray with nautical blue stripes
Created breakfast nook. Underneath bar mini-fridge, ice-maker, microwave
Kristina upgraded the home’s electrical and HVAC. Outside, she installed an outdoor shower and replaced the wood deck with stone and expanded its footprint.
“One of the most bright and delightful spaces I’ve ever lived in.”
Link https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=kZag78XZfQJpwhzCtih3FbIJl48IPLNcY20V
Photos / Jane Beiles and Noah Butler
Created comforting spaces for a family’s autistic adult son.
So the family’s son didn’t have to experience a typical lengthy renovation, Kristina deconstructed her kitchen and then modified and installed it in the family’s home in one month.
A more open floor plan was a key feature, as the family’s son spends much of his time learning tasks with aides in the kitchen.
Additional windows were installed for natural light and to allow caretakers to monitor his outside time.
Kristina used studier materials throughout the house as communication difficulties may lead to unintentional property damage. She hung sliding barn doors to enable the family to close a space when their son prefers alone time.
During construction, Kristina installed a temporary kitchen to support his food prep rituals and reduce emotional distress.
Kristina returns to the house on a biannual basis to make repairs as needed.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
For a client wishing to age in place, Kristina remodeled a bathroom into an accessible oasis.
Undeterred by a funky roofline, Kristina stole space from a two-story garage to create a toilet nook, a double sink with ample under-sink storage, and a walk-in linen closet.
The floating vanity makes the bathroom appear larger, and there’s more floor to enjoy the warmth of the wood underfoot.
For the tub, Kristina designed a platform edge so the client can sit and swing their legs into the bath, maximizing stability and safety when entering and exiting the water.
The shower features an ADA-compliant zero threshold to accommodate a wheelchair.
The shower glass doubles as a tub backsplash given limited floorspace.
A large bench allows the client to sit while showering. A textured-grip bar is within easy reach to help transition from sitting to standing.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
Kristina designed and built a Scandinavian-inspired efficiency kitchen so an elderly widow can live independently.
Previously, the kitchen contained one small window over the sink and dark cabinetry throughout. Kristina installed two large picture windows near the sink to flood the kitchen with natural light.
White Shaker-style cabinets with long stainless steel handles and a marble herringbone wall further lighten and modernize the space.
Kristina incorporated appliances that were perfectly-sized for the compact layout and cooking for one. The slim refrigerator sits atop a freezer drawer. A microwave is below the counter rather taking up counter space.
The client had been doing her laundry in the unfinished basement, and had fallen down the stairs multiple times. In the far corner of the kitchen, Kristina installed a stacked washer-dryer with adjoining cabinetry, along with a new window.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
Honoring the bones of a 1950s-era galley kitchen while infusing it with shine.
Kristina refurbished the original Geneva metal kitchen cabinets and fabricated new stainless steel countertops.
To create a seamless transition from the main living area to the kitchen, Kristina sourced pine boards and hand-forged squarehead nails to match the vintage flooring that was originally sourced from a church.
On the kitchen wall, she custom-cut board heights and then horizontally stacked them to match the home’s existing architectural element. Typically tile is used in the kitchen; the wood gives softness around the cooktop.
The original cabinets had magnetic-push latches and they were troublesome. To make sure the client can open and close cabinets with ease, Kristina retrofitted doors with stainless steel overlay tab pulls. Inside the cabinets, she installed metal pull-out organizers to increase storage options.
For the upper cabinet doors, Kristina designed custom frosted glass sliders to reflect light and better illuminate a narrow space.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
For a young family who prefers casual gatherings, reoriented kitchen under skylight and opened wall to family room.
The skylight was existing, but the kitchen was on the other side of the room. Kristina positioned an island under the skylight and placed the sink, dishwasher, and oven on the sunny side, too.
She raised the lower ceiling and placed recessed lights throughout, so the height difference is less noticeable.
In the sink’s prior location, the outside view was the side of the house. Now while doing dishes, the expansive backyard can be seen out the new picture window.
The client wanted granite for its durability. Kristina sourced a light granite with blue tones, a highly unusual find that maintained the palette of the space.
For this active family, Kristina abandoned the traditional kitchen triangle layout in favor of an open concept. An added design challenge was that the pantry was in the basement, and it was stingy. Kristina built a custom wall that includes an oversized refrigerator, a broom closet, and a generous pull-out pantry.
Across from the custom fridge wall, Kristina took the edge off a series of right angles. She created a desk that serves as “mom command central.” The pink message board is a warm focal point and is made from the client’s favorite fabric. Custom cushions make the built-in seating a comfortable spot to share your day while dinner is being prepared.
Kristina replaced the mishmash of floors–wood, tile, and vinyl–with new oak flooring that extends from the living room, through the kitchen, and down the stairs into the family room.
To keep within the family’s budget, Kristina made four design decisions that were affordable yet had a big impact. She added built-ins and windows to the fireplace wall, installed a French door to access the backyard, lined the ceiling with rustic beams, and reupholstered the couch in a dog-friendly fabric.
Photos / Dan Murdoch
Fantastic bursts of bold colors, patterns, and forms
Photos / Realty Seven and PlanOmatic
Prepared a family’s beloved home for sale in today’s market, while keeping its warm and worldly character.
Seven children were raised in this home. When the family asked Kristina to help them with the heavy lifting of getting a family homestead ready to sell, she deeply understood the emotional journey ahead.
The family owned beautiful furniture and collections from their global travels. These belongings looked stunning against dark-colored walls, but Kristina was charged with readying the home for a new family. To create a unified look, she chose a warm gray for the walls and a soft white for the trims. The dark woods also got facelifts, including kitchen cabinetry, media room built-ins, window seats, and the fireplace mantel and bookshelves.
Kristina removed carpeting and refinished the floors in a honey tone to complement the neutral walls.
For showings, Kristina borrowed select pieces from the client and rearranged them to best showcase the grand bones of the house - four-poster beds, matching dressers, turned-leg tables, leather club chairs. It’s common for properties on the market to be staged with discount items. As prospective buyers walked through the rooms, they saw fine furnishings that had been present for the family’s many milestones.
Kristina strategically employed fabrics–throw pillows, slip-covered chairs, bench cushions–to invite visitors to sit, take in the view, and imagine themselves calling this home.
Kristina updated the interior and exterior lighting as needed. As a housewarming gift to the new owners, an elegant Yadra crystal glass chandelier still graces the main bedroom.
Photos / William Pitt Sotheby’s Realty
Hillcrest
Before it came on the market, Kristina and her team gave this 2002 home some updates: a fresh coat of paint inside and out, refinished oak floors in provincial stain, installed new lighting and hardware, and staged by simplifying the homeowner’s furnishings and adding some touches of her own. (TBD copy)
Photos / William Raveis Real Estate
Maple, birch, and oak trees are welcome guests in this bright and airy renovated kitchen.
In advance of this home being listed for sale, Kristina did a gut renovation of the kitchen, dining area, and laundry room.
The floor-to-ceiling windows provide breathtaking views of the property’s mature trees and nearby Silvermine River.
She replaced the floor with xxx wood and stained it xxx. Visually, wood brings the outdoors in, warms the space, and makes three rooms feel like one. For the chef on their feet for hours, wood is a more comfortable surface than stone or tile.
Thanks to Kristina’s half wall, those in the kitchen are kept company by the changing seasons while cooking, packing lunches, and washing and putting away dishes.
Kristina’s kitchen layout makes the most of a cozy space. The island’s substantial counter includes the dishwasher, microwave, and storage tucked smartly underneath.
Shelving in the kitchen and laundry room is plentiful - easy to grab a mug, find a favorite cookbook, and display children’s pinch pots.
Even the appliances are eco-friendly. All were gently-used and expertly installed by licensed professionals.
Kristina gave the mudroom a boost with some colorful wallpaper she brought back from Sweden.
The house sold for well over asking after being on the market for only three months.
Photos / Suzanne Wilson
Frogtown
Photos / New Perspective Cabinetry