Mix Master

Surprising as it may seem, at one time the kitchen was simply a workplace. Basically structural and functional in design, it housed the refrigerator, stove, sink, some cabinets, a table and chairs-and that was pretty much it.

Today, the kitchen has moved to the forefront of the home, becoming a focal point for cooking, working and entertaining guests. It's no surprise that makes it one of the most popular rooms to remodel. It is also one of the most expensive rooms to redo. If you watch the decorating shows flooding the airwaves, you might be led to believe that it is possible to revamp a kitchen in less than a week for less than $1,000. Truth be told, getting the kitchen of your dreams is a major project. It takes time, planning, lots of decision-making, patience and, of course, money. It follows that one of the smartest choices and best investments you can make when deciding to start a kitchen remodel is to work with a talented and knowledgeable kitchen designer.

Getting Started

Jenny and Mike Leuchars of Davis say they spent a year looking for someone to design their kitchen. "We just didn't connect with anyone," says Jenny. "Then someone told us about Chris Dreith. I called and begged her to come over. I immediately felt a connection to her. She had a waiting list, but we checked out her referrals and they said that she was worth the wait, so we were willing to wait until she was free to work with us."

Chris Dreith is an award-winning kitchen and bath designer and owner of The Home Improvements Group, Inc. in Woodland. She attended The Colorado School of Design in Denver before moving to Portland, Ore., where she worked for an interior architecture firm. While working, she continued to take architectural classes to learn more about the industry. Twenty years ago, after a four-year stay in Portland, where "it's gray," Dreith moved to Woodland. Once there, she continued her education by earning a business degree at National University. She also worked for Karl Fisher, owner of Fisher Design and Building, for seven years. "He was a great teacher," Dreith says, so when the business closed in the early 1990s, she started her own company. She is a CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer) and CBD (Certified Bath Designer).

Dreith and the Leuchars had their initial meeting during the summer of 2003. "We did a walk-through in the space to start the process of discovering what the Leuchars really wanted to get out of this remodel," Dreith says.

That was a kitchen that would accommodate Mike Leuchars, a math teacher and coach at Holmes Junior High School in Davis, and Jenny Leuchars, a consultant who teaches leadership and organizational skills. Son Zack and daughters Alex and Corey keep everyone busy. Jenny Leuchars describes her "before" kitchen as a long, narrow, enclosed galley that had zero counter space. "Everything was white with really dark, horrific cabinets," she says. The small, cramped kitchen just wasn't keeping up with the needs and demands of the family. Dreith agrees. "The kitchen was a dark room. They have a great back yard and wanted to bring it inside more, as well as open up the kitchen to the adjoining family room."

Planning

Dreith uses a thorough questionnaire, sometimes referred to as a client profile, to find out how a space will be used, and by whom. Since almost everyone in the household will use the kitchen, probably several times a day, all types of individual preferences should be taken into account. Who does the cooking and the cleanup? Are they right- or left-handed? How tall are they? Does the family sit down to dine together or do they eat and run? How much time are they willing to spend cleaning? What other activities will take place in the kitchen?

"We had some real ideas about what we wanted," Jenny says. "We told Chris we wanted to open up the wall between the kitchen and the family room. She does a great job of listening. She made us think of things we hadn't thought of."

Getting it down on paper

Design of the Leuchars' kitchen began in January. During the design phase, the existing space is measured and a new floor plan is created. Elevations, drawings depicting the walls of the room that detail cabinetry and appliances, are drawn. Product ideas are considered as well.

The next time the Leuchars and Dreith met, it was in the designer's office. Getting the client into neutral territory sometimes allows them to be more open to new thoughts and ideas, Dreith says. "Chris actually had four designs waiting for us to see. We were amazed," Jenny says. One by one, Dreith presented her conceptual designs and explained how the plans are read.

One plan closed in a walkway from the adjoining dining room and provided for a pass-through, opening up space for an island. Another idea was to move a door from the dining room to the kitchen and move the sink under a window. Dreith's third design included an island to house the sink and dishwasher, and provided for a desk under a window. The plan the Leuchars approved included lots of storage, built-in seating around a peninsula table, a buffet in the dining room, two arched pass-throughs, and a desk to take advantage of a window view. The next step was to select appliances.

Jenny knew she wanted stainless steel appliances in her new kitchen, so she met with Russ Erwin at the McPhails showroom in Sacramento. He helped the couple select a refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor and range from KitchenAid, and a GE Monogram hood for the stove-chosen because it would add a touch of elegance. To make this part of the shopping and selection a little easier, Dreith had already faxed a list of the items and sizes needed to McPhails.

Also in January, Dreith took Randy Pack of Pack Construction, already on-board as the lead subcontractor, to the residence so he could meet the family and get a first look at the house. On his visit, Pack climbed into the attic to make sure that a wall being removed, the one separating the kitchen and family room, was not load bearing. "We also brainstormed about placing a pantry at an angle, an idea that I thought-that will work very well," Pack says.

In March, it was time for the construction part of the remodel to begin. Plumbing was relocated, walls were framed, the new doors and window were installed, the drywall went up, and inspections were scheduled. Of course, without a kitchen, a family of five has to be somewhat flexible. The laundry room was pressed into service as was the back yard and the barbecue. "We ate out a lot more than we anticipated and we were a little tired of it," Jenny says.

When it came time to paint, the Leuchars picked up their rollers and brushes. Jenny used brick red for the dining room wall around the buffet and pass-throughs and by the stove, pantry, and peninsula. A warm gold that enhanced the dramatic red was selected for the other walls.

Project completion was scheduled for the end of June. The cabinets were in place, the speckled Corian countertop of gray, black, gold and white was installed, the tile floor went down, and the appliances were delivered and hooked up. The contractor helped the Leuchars compile a punch list, a master list of touch-ups and repairs, and by the end of the month, the job was down to the last little details.

At the end of July, the Leuchars began putting everything into their new cabinets and drawers. The new kitchen is attractive and functional. Where once there was no counter space and very limited storage, there is now plenty of both. What was once a small, enclosed area is now open to the family room and dining room. Gentle gold colors on the walls and floors are highlighted by the bright brick red. A noticeable decorative accent is created with multi-colored glass tiles installed above the stove. The sleekness of the stainless steel appliances adds a sophisticated touch. Angular Mission-style lines are repeated in the design of the cabinetry and a window in a new front door. Little touches such as the unique hardware on the cabinetry can make a big difference. Were all the long months of upheaval worth it? "We're loving it," says Mike Leuchars. Jenny adds, "We've got three kids going all the time. It feels like we've added on 500 feet to the house."

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