2009 Remodelers Showcase Awards

Kitchen Remodel: Under $35,000
3035 Waterford Drive
Capital City Builders, Inc.

Happy homeowners -- the goal of any remodeling project. We knew we had succeeded when the excited owners were already adorning their new space for the holidays by the time we were wiping down the countertops. These empty-nesters were looking forward to having family visiting during the upcoming winter holidays. They wanted to somehow update and end up with more space in their eat-in kitchen. The ‘before’ kitchen was small. They always thought of it as a dark room. Natural light was limited with one window above the sink.

New, white cabinets made the room lighter and brighter. Two of the upper cabinets were finished with glass fronts and interior lighting – to allow for the display of stemware treasures. Halogen lights above the sink and recessed lighting around the room added light. Thanks to cost savings in other areas, the old laminate countertops and matching backsplash were upgraded with granite. A shorter granite backsplash allowed us to use white bead board to finish the space attractively. They wanted to keep the existing wallpaper, range, range hood, and especially the tile behind the range (she had strong emotional ties to that tile!). We successfully worked with those requirements.

The new, updated dishwasher and repositioned refrigerator enhanced both the energy efficiency and the functionality of the room. The useable floor space was increased by eliminating the island and the cabinets above it. The new cabinet space above and next to the fridge replaced what we removed above the island and increased storage space by 25-30%. The microwave’s new place above counter level allowed more prep space. Removing that island effectively added enough floor space to allow for a larger dining table and more seating. The bench seat on one side of the table makes room for more grandchildren at the table during those holiday meals. The outdated swag was replaced with a simple chandelier centered above the new table – no more wires in view and lighting to accentuate the enlarged dining space. Finally, the trim detail was improved with crown molding completely around the room, rather than just around the cabinets.