Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry

Aug 2014

Theres a lot of good things happening in Central Pennsylvania these days and those of us who were born and raised in the Susquehanna Valley really arent surprised. While Harrisburg city governance might still grab headlines, the hard-working families of Dauphin and Cumberland counties have helped make the surrounding suburbs one of the best places to raise a family, according to Forbes magazine. Temple Kesher Israel Photo of Harrisburg, PA If youve ever had occasion to visit communities like Camp Hill, Carlisle or Mechanicsburg, you likely know why. Lets start with the numbers. Housing in the area is nearly 40% less expensive than in Baltimore and up to 70% less than New York City! According to one local source of Harrisburg boosterism, the Kesher Israel Congregation website, a $56,321 salary in Harrisburg is equivalent to a $100,000 job in Brooklyn. And its not just the value of the homes here, but rather the quality of the housing stock and beauty of the land that make this a wonderful place to live. With the varied topography of the Susquehanna Valley, you can transform a modest house on a hill into a show home that could grace the pages of a national shelter magazine. Recently, I had an opportunity to help one of my vendor partners transform the kitchen of his 1970s era ranch home in Camp Hill into something unique and spectacular. (Example of a typical ranch home below.) typical-ranch-home-harrisburg-pa-2 My client, a man in his 50s, had purchased a single-story ranch home with fantastic wooded views about six years earlier. Not much had been done to this small home in the 30+ years since it was built. The kitchen was definitely in need of a makeover. Having worked with kitchen designers as a solid surface specialist, my client understood better than most how great design and wonderful materials can come together into something special. His personal aesthetic was contemporary with an eclectic nod towards mid-century modern. For this kitchen renovation our shared goals were to: Open the kitchen to the breath-taking views of the back yard Improve the function and flow Offer a unique take on the use of solid surfaces Create something memorable and distinct Open Concept Kitchen Opening up the kitchen to both the front and back of the home meant losing valuable storage when the walls separating the spaces came down. This is a common kitchen design challenge that many homeowners dont consider when imagining a new, open space. Needless to say, as a NKBA certified designer, it is one of the very first things I consider when asked by a client to tear down walls. Fortunately, we were able to gain back a bit of storage when we eliminated the small kitchen desk so popular during the 70s and 80s. The addition of a large pull-out pantry where the desk had been, and a more thoughtful positioning of the appliances, meant that storage remained plentiful despite the loss of wall space. A Contemporary Spin on a Eat-At Kitchen Island The client wanted a center island in the kitchen that would serve both as a casual dining and functional prep area. In a small kitchen, a massive single slab on a large center island can overwhelm a room. And frankly, a rectangular countertop can be absolutely boring, no matter how wonderful the surface. Camp-Hill-PA-Galley-Kitchen-Remodel-eat-at-counter-1200wOur solution to this challenge was to create an asymmetric overhang for the part of the counter that would serve as an eat-at area. The angular, chocolate brown Cambria countertop is in sharp contrast to the sparkling white quartz work surface that is echoed on the base cabinets along the wall. Creating an asymmetrical overhang provided another opportunity to offer something unexpected and delightful. Rather than attempting to hide or minimize any brackets supporting the overhang, we chose to make them an architectural focal point. The custom designed corbels, clad in the same veneer as the cabinetry, are both elegant and functional. The sense of structure and strength of the corbels is softened by the matching veneer and the triangular shape seems uniquely appropriate for the triangular overhang. The result is the showpiece that the owner wanted for both the solid surfaces that he fabricates and the contemporary kitchen he had imagined. Kitchen Design Details that Set this Remodel Apart In addition to the unique countertop design, there are a couple of elements worth highlighting. First, because it was a small space that would be packed with cabinetry and large appliances, we chose to orient the grain of the wood veneer horizontally to visually elongate the space. The result is an expansive, sleek look that works harmoniously with the horizontal countertop planes. Another unique feature of the kitchen is the frosted glass backsplash that extends to the ceiling from the cooktop counter. Both beautiful and functional, a glass backsplash is a sleek, modern and affordable touch that can set any kitchen apart. In this particular instance, the glass backsplash provides a nice visual break from the undulating stainless steel tiles used under the cabinetry. Finally, the dark natural stone tiles that extend to the front of the home are both functional and beautiful. Designing Your One-of-a-Kind Kitchen Hopefully the before and after transformation make it obvious that this was a substantial project with a larger than average budget. Custom cabinetry from QCCI, amazing solid surfaces that the homeowner provided, and our design help add up to a spectacular, one-of-a-kind kitchen. But creating a beautiful kitchen doesnt mean you need a huge budget or the ability to supply the countertops yourself. The same design expertise, experience and creativity that Mother Hubbards brought to this project can be applied to your home as well. If youve got a 70s ranch home thats ready for a makeover, please do give us a call. Wed love to learn more about your wants and needs and to offer our free initial consultation on ways that you can affordably build the kitchen of your dreams.

Camp Hill, PA