A Cozy Condo Kitchen from the Last Century!
Featured here are recent pictures of lovely galley kitchen in a first floor 1000 sq. ft. condo. We built this kitchen in 1995; it is now 15 years old, and it retains its beauty and functionality.
The original kitchen was stripped bare to the studs, a pass-through to the living room was closed, and water and mold resistance sheet rock was hung, screwed, on all walls over a sub wall of 1/2 inch CDX grade plywood. The plywood backing to the sheet rock walls is absolutely necessary to insure a kitchen "ages" well, with out wall bowing or buckling and cabinet sagging or drooping. Three words guided this design and installation, Form, Fit and Function.
The Form of the new kitchen must reflect the client's good taste, desired style, and efficient aesthetic design. In following this principle, we assure the greatest utility, usefulness of the space; and we insure that the kitchen blends well with the architecture of the house and particularly the adjoining rooms.
The Fit refers not only to superior building materials and careful accurate construction methods, but to the way the design elements interact; the cabinets, appliances, countertops, islands, seating and tables all must interact in a pleasing and harmonious way. Every thing in the rough-in shell must be square, level and plumb.
The Function reflects a careful analysis of what the clients wants the kitchen to do, what's the use of it, the value of it to the client and to the home.
Thoughtfulness is the key to success in kitchen design and construction. The art is to create value, both in usefulness to the family and in the value of the improvement to the home. The benefit should be mutual, a really great kitchen should be priceless to the users, and revenue neutral to structure; in other words the added financial value, the real estate appraisal value, should be no less than the project cost. There are exceptions to every rule, and kitchen design has its share, but the goal should always be to enhance the joy of cooking, the warmth of family times, and the value of your investment in your home.
The kitchen pictured below looks as good now as it did when built in 1995 because of two factors, selection of quality cabinets, and installation methods. The cabinets are European style unframed full door boxes. They are constructed of 5/8 vinyl wrapped particle board . The doors are MDF (medium density fiberboard) wrapped in high gloss polyvinyl. The look expensive, yet they were purchased at the Home Depot, from in stock inventory. All surfaces and penetrations were sealed on installation. The countertops are Wilsonart solid core laminate, and the MDF backing board and all edges were sealed prior to installation. The custom edge design and solid core material did cost more, but it cost much, much less than the plainest Corian surface.
Take a moment and feel under your laminate countertop edges. Do you notice any flaking around the sink, or bathroom lavatory? That's the effect of water being absorbed by the MDF backing board, and it weakens and ultimately destroys the countertop. Edges pop-off or bow out, it can't be kept clean, and it looks awful.
While we always prefer solid wood, many resin and vinyl materials can last as long and maintain their beauty and functionality if properly prepared and carefully installed. Notice that after 15 years the cabinets look like troops on parade, or better yet, at attention! Lines are level and straight, cabinet faces are square and plumb, and the surfaces are clean and shiny.
To learn more about making your kitchen remodeling an investment that will last for years,
please call us today: 770-272-4338
The sink, dishwasher, refrigerator are on the left side of the galley. Notice the over-sink lighting valance, the numerous GFCI outlets and the right end return on the countertop. A return panel shields the boxy refrigerator side from view, and allows attachment of the over refrigerator cabinet. Finished gallery rails provide a useful shelf over the wall cabinet, and a gallery rail allows a large oversize tray storage area over the refrigerator.
On the right side we find the gas range and microwave/fan combination, with an enameled wall panel between them. Multiple drawer fronts provide access to different sizes kitchen tools. All base cabinets have roll-out shelves installed. Galley rails again allow use of areas over the cabinets.
A closer view of the sink area, the Kohler cast iron sink sits on a silicone gasket, and water does not leak around or under it.
A close up of the range area. Notice that landing areas are located on each side of the range. because laminate countertops are used, a glass ceramic plate is located next to the stove. The appliances, dating from 1994, certainly don't look dated! The secret may be frequent use of glasswax, and Countertop Magic.
No doubt you've heard of the magic triangle, the relationship of sink to range to refrigerator. This kitchen is perfect. And again, landing areas bound each appliance.
A view of the laundry end of the room, showing washer and dryer. Tight fit, but both appliance doors are fully accessible. Above the units we built wood shelves, with an excellent capacity to hold and store pantry items. Why would anybody use those wire coated shelves, where on things tip and spill, and which inevitably put off the wall, dumping things to the floor. The area is also lighted and to the left, hidden from view is a gas water heater.
A view toward the dining room cased opening. The cabinet knobs are painted, flowered porcelin.
Looking toward the dining room on the sink side. The light fixture is an acrylic cloud, easy to service and easy to wipe down when needed. Note the switches and outlets. The smaller the kitchen area, the more many are needed.
These shelves could hold china and crystal, here they hold cherished collectables.
Yes, it is a 1994 model, and its original to the kitchen. The water supply line to the refrigerator's icemaker and door vending unit is filtered twice, once in the unit, but first under the sink. Enamel finishes can be kept clean and polished, stainless steel will scratch and dent.
The gas range is a GE profile model, as are all the appliances. The oven is a convection unit, decreasing the time needed to cook and the temperature of the kitchen while its in use. The fan is charcoal filtered, and the microwave features a "state of the art" touch pad...not much improvement in the past 15 years.
We end our pictograph with a view of the gas water heater, water in is filtered, and the installation was compliant with all codes and good installation techniques known at the time. We now add thermal expansion tanks.
Natural gas service was available in this condo unit; when natural gas is available, we recommend using it where ever possible, to heat water, dry clothes, cook food, and heat the home. LP gas should only be used for cooking. Of course, if its not available, all electric is the only way to go.