Zen Kitchen Part 1: The Design Challenge

Renovating an Outdated Kitchen

Kim and Jeff had an outdated kitchen. It was from 1982 and had been only cosmetically updated once in that time. When asked about what she didn’t like about her kitchen before, Kim stated, “It was just ugly.”

The rest of the home is a beautiful collection of art and boasts an incredible view of Mt. Hood through giant windows. Their art collection is complemented by a set of beautiful teal couches, and the condo as a whole is a work of art. 

Kim and Jeff have a contemporary aesthetic. So when Kim described their old kitchen as the “ugly duckling” of their home, it’s clear just what she meant.

Right away, it was clear that there was no relationship between the kitchen to the living room, no flow between them. It was blocked by narrow hallways that obstructed the incredible view, and my goal was to open the space up.

Cosmetic Remodeling Isn’t the Answer

The cabinets were original wood and painted over with white. But the problem was, they weren’t quality to begin with, and they hadn’t been prepped properly. 

The floor and countertops were in the same shape. The tile was the original 80s beige, and the granite backsplash flowed downwards into a granite countertop, creating a heaviness that weighed down the whole design.

The layout of the kitchen also didn’t work for the owners. Kim enjoys cooking in a kitchen, and her complaint was that the range was close to the sink so there was almost no counter space. This is actually the most used real estate in a kitchen, the space between the sink and the range!

Before

This job was unique for me because the client was very informed and knew just what she wanted. They wanted something clean and simple, without appliances or visible outlets. 

They also worked within interior design themselves, and Jeff had previously worked in luxury plumbing fixtures. So Kim knew just what she wanted - she just needed to know what was out there. That’s where I came in! I was able to teach her about her options as well as really elevate the spatial planning.

A Confined Bar Area

Jeff’s biggest aggravation in their home was the bar area. He likes to enjoy a gin martini on the weekend, but the bar space was so claustrophobic, he could barely work inside it without smacking his head on the ceiling. The cabinets were too deep, and it was almost as if you had to step inside it to make a cocktail. 

In the beginning, they were worried that if they couldn’t raise the bar ceiling, they didn’t want to go through with the renovation at all. They would have had to decide to knock everything out instead. It was a make-or-break situation!

The Importance of Spatial Planning

I love working with both types of clients: those who have no clue what they want, and those who know exactly what they want!

Stay tuned for part 2 to see how I changes this claustrophobic, outdated kitchen, into a clean, contemporary and zenlike space by following all the RRF Designs in Progress.