This house had not been upgraded since the 1960s. As a result, it needed to be modernized for aesthetic and functional reasons. At first we worked on the powder room and small master bathroom. Over time, we also gutted the kitchen, originally three small rooms, and combined it into one large and modern space. The decor has a rustic style with a modern flair, which is reflected in much of the furniture choices. Interior Design by Rachael Liberman and Photos by Arclight Images

To that end, maximizing storage space was a critical part of her IKEA kitchen. “Our old cabinets stopped well short of the ceiling, which meant there was a lot of dead space on top that wasn’t being used,” she explains. As mentioned, she selected Semihandmade’s Super Matte White Slab upper cabinet fronts which run along the upper perimeter of the space, from above the Whirlpool refrigerator, above the open shelving and over the stove and dishwasher, creating a bank of storage along the entire adjacent wall. The white cabinetry is given an understated pop of color with the Natural Brass cabinet pulls and a sense of warmth is created (as are more storage options!) with the Super Matte Clay Slab lower cabinet fronts, drawer fronts and toe kicks from Semihandmade. “Now that we’ve extended the cabinetry to the ceiling and gotten rid of a wall-mounted microwave we have more storage space than we need – a true luxury in New York!” she says.

It’s always a blessing when your clients become friends - and that’s exactly what blossomed out of this two-phase remodel (along with three transformed spaces!). These clients were such a joy to work with and made what, at times, was a challenging job feel seamless. This project consisted of two phases, the first being a reconfiguration and update of their master bathroom, guest bathroom, and hallway closets, and the second a kitchen remodel. In keeping with the style of the home, we decided to run with what we called “traditional with farmhouse charm” – warm wood tones, cement tile, traditional patterns, and you can’t forget the pops of color! The master bathroom airs on the masculine side with a mostly black, white, and wood color palette, while the powder room is very feminine with pastel colors. When the bathroom projects were wrapped, it didn’t take long before we moved on to the kitchen. The kitchen already had a nice flow, so we didn’t need to move any plumbing or appliances. Instead, we just gave it the facelift it deserved! We wanted to continue the farmhouse charm and landed on a gorgeous terracotta and ceramic hand-painted tile for the backsplash, concrete look-alike quartz countertops, and two-toned cabinets while keeping the existing hardwood floors. We also removed some upper cabinets that blocked the view from the kitchen into the dining and living room area, resulting in a coveted open concept floor plan. Our clients have always loved to entertain, but now with the remodel complete, they are hosting more than ever, enjoying every second they have in their home.

Example of a mid-sized southwest terra-cotta tile enclosed dining room design in Vancouver with white walls and no fireplace

This home bar has dark cabinetry and light shelves. A gold, mirrored-wall backdrops the space.
Example of a transitional single-wall dry bar design in Denver with mirror backsplash and white countertops

Another design need for her IKEA kitchen was an easier-to-clean countertop, Shoko says. “Our original counter was brown, making it very difficult to spot messes, spills, and crumbs. That’s why we opted for a white counter with matching backsplash (which is all one piece),” she says. In fact, the Caesarstone in Blizzard runs from the sink to the stove area, giving ample space for food prep and is complemented by the matching backsplash and the custom butcher block seating area on the other side of the stove. “Clean up is so much quicker and easier with the new countertops,” she says. The counter area is further brightened by under cabinet lighting strips from IKEA. For new IKEA renovators, Shoko wants to share some useful tips from her IKEA experience. “The first thing I would say to others is do not be intimidated by the renovation process! There are so many resources available that can help simplify an IKEA renovation project. I’d also suggest asking a lot of questions, including asking how you plan on using the space,” she says. She also says that working with design professionals was the best decision for her IKEA kitchen. “The kitchen specialists at IKEA were very knowledgeable, and, of course the staff at IKD explained all the options, materials, and demystified the IKEA ordering process,” she adds. She concludes: “Ultimately, we chose IKEA cabinetry for the ease and the price. Since our apartment isn’t a forever home, we didn’t think it made sense to go for custom cabinets. We were looking for something simple, clean, and affordable, and for a project (and a space) of this size, IKEA’s options were a great fit for us!”

Photo: Sarah Dowlin © 2018 Houzz
Urban patio photo in Cincinnati

http://mollywinnphotography.com
Example of a mid-sized cottage chic open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Austin with white walls and no tv