In honor of St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, we are featuring a kitchen remodeling project that was inspired by the color green. Working with our professional design team, our clients found the initial spark of inspiration for their new kitchen design in their favorite color. They are a young professional couple with busy professional and social lives who love to entertain in their Carmel Valley home. They asked us to create their “dream kitchen” as a respite from their hectic schedules. In addition to featuring their favorite color prominently indoors, the couple wanted to visually connect the kitchen to the natural greenery of their large patio and backyard area.

The luck o’ the Irish isn’t enough when it comes to kitchen remodeling. Here are some of the ways careful planning and meticulous design detail led to a dream kitchen for our clients:

• The new layout creates an expanse of open area, bringing light, air and energy into the space. Colors were carefully selected to harmonize with the outdoors.
• An oversized island provides a luxurious amount of space for preparing and serving meals. The Vitoria Regia granite countertop boasts a bright green tone balanced with grays and yellows. A special area was created in the island to display the couple’s beloved collection of cookbooks.
• Materials and colors reflect the beauty of nature and bring an artistic sensibility to the space. Handblown glass fixtures custom made for the clients by local artist Lea de Wit illuminate the room with a warm glow.
• A gleaming tile wall with six variations of green joined in a custom pattern was created by JDR Interior Designer, Rosella Gonzalez. The wall was built with concave and convex tiles, resulting in a wave-like effect that captures and reflects light differently throughout the day.
• A streamlined layout makes prep and cooking a joy. The kitchen has two sinks, including an apron front stainless steel sink, for maximum functionality.

Working with a team of design build professionals who can provide the guidance and expertise you need, you can create your own dream kitchen starting from a concept as simple as your favorite color.

We recently designed and built a kitchen remodeling project in San Diego’s Mission Hills community, which was inspired by the homeowners’ brother-in-law – a recently published chef. A chef’s kitchen is a timeless design that can work in virtually any home environment. Here are some of the basic ingredients for a tasty and satisfying design:

1. Space
Chefs need proper room to work! Because of the more generous appliance sizes and the areas allowed for prep and cooking, adequate space is necessary for a successful chef’s kitchen. You may be able to create the necessary space from a more efficient arrangement of your current kitchen.

2. Tools
An oversize range, preferably with a grill or griddle, is essential in the chef’s kitchen. The kitchen we recently designed included a 48” range with five burners and a griddle. A warming drawer to keep multiple courses at the ready is a welcome tool for any busy chef. A refrigerator with a glass door offers a slightly retro design touch in a modern chef’s kitchen and also delivers maximum efficiency by making it fast and easy to find ingredients. Two sinks, one for prep and one for cleaning, makes tasks more productive.

3. Storage
Quick and convenient access to the tools of the trade is a crucial element in a chef’s kitchen. Our Mission Hills kitchen incorporated a variety of innovative concealed storage options, custom designed to provide optimum organization while not detracting from the streamlined appearance of the room.

4. Lighting
To properly enjoy his or her craft, the chef needs plenty of open space and adequate lighting. A good design will incorporate as much natural light into the kitchen as possible by orienting the space correctly and planning for windows that let in maximum light. Task lighting for food prep, cooking and cleaning is also an important detail of space planning.

5. Personality
Even when working with a predetermined overall design concept such as a “chef’s kitchen”, it’s important to express your own personal interpretation. Working with a professional designer, you will carefully consider your desires and practical needs for your kitchen and plan the space accordingly.

A chef’s kitchen is an inspiring center of your home to welcome family and friends and engage in one of life’s most enduring pleasures – cooking wonderful meals! Our professional design team can help you design the chef’s kitchen you’ve always dreamed of for your kitchen remodeling project.