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Forest Green Kitchen Benefits From Floor Plan Revamp

Forest green kitchen with white beadboard, and quartz range backsplashSometimes a layout revamp can turn a beloved home into your forever home – often without the need for a home addition. This Evanston, IL project took advantage of underused areas by working within the existing space and created a whole new feel for the home, which was further enhanced by the rich tones of the forest green kitchen.

When you walked into this quaint corner residence, your eyes originally landed on a refrigerator through the hallway ahead, which partially obstructed the view into the kitchen. “The homeowners wanted to have better sightlines when you walked into their home,” says Normandy Designer Bryan Brisky. “We swapped the locations of the refrigerator and range, so now when you walk into the home you see beautiful pops of color from the forest green hood and cabinetry. By moving the refrigerator, it also opened the view to the sink, which has a window above it that peeks outside and lets in natural light. It’s a more welcoming experience.”

Left photo shows remodeled kitchen with forest green range hood and cabinetry, right photo is the before photo with cherry red cabinetryIn addition to changing appliance locations – which also included moving the dishwasher to the right of the sink to create more space – this couple requested a larger window at their breakfast nook so they could enjoy looking out into their yard and to let in more natural light. A dining room area they didn’t fully utilize transformed into a mudroom, an office, and two closets. “We took the French doors that originally opened into the dining room and repurposed them for the new office entry off of the new mudroom,” Bryan says. “And we added a transom window above them which lets in even more light.” The closets have beautiful new oak doors to go along with the new oak flooring.

The stairwell in the kitchen got a makeover too. “A spindle railing originally wrapped around the stairs going down to the basement from the kitchen,” Bryan says. “We replaced the railing with a half wall that will be perfect for a storage hutch. It features multiple outlets, so there is the option to plug in additional appliances like an espresso machine or even accent lamps.” At the foot of the new half wall, Bryan transformed an old broom closet into a recessed appliance garage that matches the rest of the green cabinetry.

Left is after photos of new half wall with outlets surround staircase own to basement, right is the "before" photo which shows the old metal spindle enclosure and railingThe former kitchen had cherry red cabinets, and they wanted to give the space a fresher, brighter look, but still wanted it to feel cozy. “She loves earthy tones and cottage aesthetics, so we chose green for the cabinetry, and a little bit of beadboard to play into the appeal of the house. We went with a full height quartz backsplash for the range wall, and around the perimeter we carried the quartz up the wall ever so slightly so the beadboard doesn’t sustain any water damage,” Bryan says. “She also has a very charming personality, so this style of ‘new era vintage’ really worked out well.”

Would a kitchen remodel or layout change be right for you? If you need an expert eye to help you work through your home’s unique challenges, schedule a free consultation with Bryan. And any day of the week, you can find design inspiration on our InstagramFacebookPinterest and TikTok accounts. Check out our photo gallery of past projects for more design ideas as well.

Forest green range hood and full height quartz backsplash, mid range shotBreakfast nook with corner windows looking out in yard, built in benches with separate kitchen tableFreestanding appliance garage cabinetry in forest green, door open showing a microwave and other appliances

White beadboard walls with quartz base above sink, forest green cabinetry, window above sink looking outside to yard, three decorative sconces above sinkGreen forest cabinetry and range hood, full height quartz backsplash, closer up shotWhite French doors with transom window above, two closets on either side with oak doors, oak floors

Aging-In-Place Remodels Are On The Rise, And Can Be Stylish Too

Left photo shows open-concept bathroom with doorless accessible shower and floating toilet, right photo shows before photo of smaller bathroom before remodelHaving the option to live long-term in your home can be invaluable. It is familiar and rich with memories, which is why aging-in-place remodels are on the rise — especially in today’s housing market where it is sometimes more affordable to renovate instead of buy and relocate.

This was the case with a Villa Park, IL couple who made custom modifications to their beloved family home when one of them became wheelchair-bound years ago. But recently, more modifications were needed as ages and health conditions advanced.

Normandy Designer Ashley Noethe stepped in to help expand and redesign the first-floor powder room to include a shower, connecting it to an adjacent bedroom, so that the owners could live mainly on the first floor.

“Making the transfers to go upstairs was no longer serving this couple who have loved this home for nearly fifty years,” Ashley says. “We explored the idea of moving to a new home and renovating there, but it did not save on cost, and it did not come with the memories of raising their children, family gatherings, and the charming qualities of their meticulously cared for historical home.”

The first-floor powder room was tiny, as powder rooms tend to be, making it impossible to maneuver a wheelchair, with no room for aides and helpers to assist. Knocking down a couple walls helped get the process started.

Left photo, mid-range shot of doorless shower with cream tile and handheld double showerhead, middle photo shows close-up of movable wooden shower bench and mosaic tile floor, right photo shows close-up of double handheld showerhead“With some creative reworking of spaces adjacent to the powder room, we were able to create a spacious full bathroom,” Ashley says. “It not only features an accessible shower, but also two wide doorways with pocket doors — one leads to the hall, one to the bedroom — that not only allow for better wheelchair access, but for more than one person to move in and out of the space more easily when needed.”

For this new primary bathroom, Ashley designed a zero-threshold, doorless shower that is wide enough for a wheelchair, while creating a water-proof space that did not require a shower door or curtain. And on top of that, it is simply gorgeous.

Attractive grab bars in stunning polished chrome provide stability without a sterile hospital look, matching the handheld showerhead. Mirrors throughout not only reflect light but allow for use at seated heights, and features a soft-press recessed medicine cabinet above the sink. A seamless porcelain mosaic floor gently slopes towards the linear drain to keep water inside the shower. A pedestal sink and wall-mounted toilet give extra floor space, and the wall tile glistens in the light.

“We took a tiny space and hallway, and created a spacious, wheelchair-and-aide-friendly, functional bathroom that these homeowners love, all while adding value to the home. The homeowners affectionately call it ‘The Spa,’” Ashley says. “I’m very proud of this project.”

Are you considering some upgrades for your home to make it work for you in the long run? If you’d like to upgrade your half bath to a full bath, or talk more about your aging-in-place remodeling vision, you can set up a time to talk with Ashley. For more examples of home designs, visit our photo gallery. For regular updates on design trends and tips on home remodeling, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest!

Left photo shows arched doorway and sliding wooden door outside of bathroom, middle photo shows interior of bathroom with wooden door open, right photo shows interior of bathroom with that door closed

 

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