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Pro Spotlight: 3 Ways to Get a Kitchen Redesign Started Off Right
A Minnesota designer shares which design features to focus on first
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Who: Melissa Santrach, Kelly Davert and Claire Teunissen of Studio M Kitchen & Bath
Where: Plymouth, Minnesota
In Santrach’s own words: “I find the process from beginning to conclusion to be magical.”
Time for a kitchen update? Your first step is to invest in good design, says Melissa Santrach, the owner of Studio M Kitchen & Bath in Plymouth. Santrach says having a designer who asks the right questions and understands your needs will ensure that your remodel fits your lifestyle. “You may not realize it until your project is complete, but when you wake up every day in a beautiful new space that is beyond your wildest dreams, you will know that it was worth it,” she says.
Where: Plymouth, Minnesota
In Santrach’s own words: “I find the process from beginning to conclusion to be magical.”
Time for a kitchen update? Your first step is to invest in good design, says Melissa Santrach, the owner of Studio M Kitchen & Bath in Plymouth. Santrach says having a designer who asks the right questions and understands your needs will ensure that your remodel fits your lifestyle. “You may not realize it until your project is complete, but when you wake up every day in a beautiful new space that is beyond your wildest dreams, you will know that it was worth it,” she says.
A team effort. Remodeling her own home made Santrach realize how frustrating it can be to go from place to place to pull all the pieces together. She and her husband started Studio M Kitchen & Bath in 2011 to bring all the elements under one roof. “It’s a full-service design center and showroom that combines kitchen and bath design and products with interior design,” Santrach says. It also gives homeowners a team that provides advice and recommendations. “We design without an ego,” general manager Kelly Davert says.
Seeing the difference. Combining design expertise with a wide range of material options lets Studio M show homeowners possibilities they hadn’t even imagined. “I get a glimpse through the design plans that I’m showing them things they haven’t thought of,” designer Claire Teunissen says. In the kitchen featured above, Teunissen helped the clients select a color palette of cream, gold and natural walnut to give their kitchen a rich, updated look.
Davert, a former designer herself, says seeing the transformation from “before” to “after” is always gratifying, even on the smallest jobs. “I love seeing the smile on the customer’s face that says we’ve met his or her every need,” she says.
Ready to start your own remodel? Santrach and her team share design tips below.
Davert, a former designer herself, says seeing the transformation from “before” to “after” is always gratifying, even on the smallest jobs. “I love seeing the smile on the customer’s face that says we’ve met his or her every need,” she says.
Ready to start your own remodel? Santrach and her team share design tips below.
1. Design for How You Live
Tailor your kitchen to match your family’s lifestyle. “I gently push homeowners to consider how a design might be improved to get a great outcome,” Teunissen says. For example, in this St. Paul home, Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Megan Dent took out the wall between the unused dining room and the kitchen to give the homeowner, an avid baker, more functional space. Two islands provide plenty of work surface, including a lowered baking area for kneading and rolling out dough. The addition of two ovens, more seating and a small desk area tucked into one wall further suit the needs of the homeowner.
See more of this project
Tailor your kitchen to match your family’s lifestyle. “I gently push homeowners to consider how a design might be improved to get a great outcome,” Teunissen says. For example, in this St. Paul home, Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Megan Dent took out the wall between the unused dining room and the kitchen to give the homeowner, an avid baker, more functional space. Two islands provide plenty of work surface, including a lowered baking area for kneading and rolling out dough. The addition of two ovens, more seating and a small desk area tucked into one wall further suit the needs of the homeowner.
See more of this project
2. Prioritize Storage
Improve the functionality of your space and keep counters clear with effective and convenient storage. “You should have easy access to what you need without thinking about it,” Teunissen says. “When it doesn’t work, it’s frustrating,” Davert adds.
The lack of nearby counter space in this newly remodeled Bloomington kitchen led Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Danielle Lardani to add a pullout board below the pantry-style cabinet to ease the process of unloading groceries or retrieving ingredients for meals. Other specialized storage additions include pullout drawers to house spices and towels and bifold doors that sit out of the way when the appliance garage is in use. Lardani’s goal was to maximize every bit of storage.
See more of this project
Improve the functionality of your space and keep counters clear with effective and convenient storage. “You should have easy access to what you need without thinking about it,” Teunissen says. “When it doesn’t work, it’s frustrating,” Davert adds.
The lack of nearby counter space in this newly remodeled Bloomington kitchen led Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Danielle Lardani to add a pullout board below the pantry-style cabinet to ease the process of unloading groceries or retrieving ingredients for meals. Other specialized storage additions include pullout drawers to house spices and towels and bifold doors that sit out of the way when the appliance garage is in use. Lardani’s goal was to maximize every bit of storage.
See more of this project
3. Be Open to Alternatives
Explore your options for materials to get the right choice for your budget and lifestyle. “In some cases, alternate materials to your first choice can give you a great look at a lesser price,” Teunissen says.
The cherry cabinets the owners of this Minneapolis home wanted for their kitchen remodel didn’t work for their budget, so Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Megan Dent suggested oak instead. “Oak has a bad reputation, but it is more durable, especially with kids,” Teunissen says. A dark smoke stain combined with recessed panel cabinets and burnished gold fixtures gives the island and base cabinets a classic look while standing up to the long-term wear and tear from a family. “The gray color tones down the look of the oak,” she notes.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Melissa Santrach and examples of her company’s work, visit Studio M Kitchen & Bath’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Explore your options for materials to get the right choice for your budget and lifestyle. “In some cases, alternate materials to your first choice can give you a great look at a lesser price,” Teunissen says.
The cherry cabinets the owners of this Minneapolis home wanted for their kitchen remodel didn’t work for their budget, so Studio M Kitchen & Bath designer Megan Dent suggested oak instead. “Oak has a bad reputation, but it is more durable, especially with kids,” Teunissen says. A dark smoke stain combined with recessed panel cabinets and burnished gold fixtures gives the island and base cabinets a classic look while standing up to the long-term wear and tear from a family. “The gray color tones down the look of the oak,” she notes.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Melissa Santrach and examples of her company’s work, visit Studio M Kitchen & Bath’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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