Transforming problem houses into Dream Homes

Russian Hill Kitchen

Before we started this kitchen remodel, the original kitchen was old and strange.
Before we started this kitchen remodel, the original kitchen was old and strange.

This condo kitchen remodel replaced an old and idiosyncratic kitchen with a new, functional and fashionable kitchen.

The Russian Hill condo was on the top floor of a 1960’s era building. As you can see from the before photo, to the left, the original kitchen, situated in the corner of a larger living/dining room, was cut off from the rest of the room. The kitchen was small and dark and the cabinets were antiquated – and not in a good way. Additionally, the cook top had been lowered to 24 inches off the floor!

The client wanted to open the kitchen up and making a “great room” of the kitchen, living room/dining room. I enlarged the kitchen slightly, by providing 42 inches of space between the counters against the wall and the peninsula that divides the kitchen from the living room.  I also made the peninsula a little bit deeper than the standard 24 inch cabinets.  The glass cook top was selected to match the black granite color making it less obvious when it’s not in use.  The client selected the Ikea hardware to go onto the Kraft Maid cabinets.

The new kitchen is bright and open to the living room with plenty of storage and lots of counter space.
The new kitchen is bright and open to the living room with plenty of storage and lots of counter space.

Although I wouldn’t recommend putting the microwave on top of the refrigerator, it worked for the client. The only thing that was not completed per the design was the installation of the exhaust hood over the cook top. The home owner’s association wouldn’t allow the owner to install the exhaust hood which would have required putting a hole in the roof. We installed electrical outlets on the back, living room, side of the peninsula. The rounded open shelves on the upper cabinets give the upper cabinets a more finished appearance from the living area.

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