"It literally changed the dynamics of our entire family", says Gina of Austin. No, she's not talking about family counseling, but about her recent kitchen reversal and remodel. Gina modernized her 1950's floorplan by flip-flopping the kitchen and dining room and creating an open, functional living space.
[new floorplan]
When Gina and her husband bought their vintage cottage, they knew the kitchen had to evolve beyond the 1970's (when it was last remodeled). Gina knew exactly what she wanted and it wasn't a cheap band-aid solution. She stuck it out for six years in her anachronous kitchen, enduring a stove with only two functional burners and a boxed in kitchen with no windows. Did we mention the green linoleum and "wood" laminate backsplash?
After a consult with DK Studio, a local architecture firm, they decided to move the kitchen to where the dining room was and create a new dining room that opens to the living room. A hallway used to run behind the kitchen, but a wall was removed and storage was built into the new space.
Gina found her color inspiration from a singular item that she loved and purchased long before her remodel began. Drawing from the fiery tones in a blown glass pendant, she chose a red glass backsplash by Hirsch that is anything but demure. Gina's beautiful pecan cabinets were custom made by Euro-Tex and her countertops are Caesarstone's Lagos Blue.
We're impressed that Gina had the patience to wait six years for the kitchen remodel she really wanted and that she wasn't afraid to use bold color for dramatic impact. Oh, and one more thing that impressed us. . . all the construction work was done by Transformations Remodeling, a female owned company. We can't resist saying saying "anything boys can do, girls can do better" in our most sassy seven-year old voice. Please excuse us for our juvenile ways.
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Great remodel - I agree that this "before" kitchen needed to go!
"...they new the kitchen had to evolve..."
Um - New isn't a verb.
I think they Knew.
Beautiful new kitchen -- I love the backsplash tiles. But I'd love to have a better understanding of the re-arrangement.
At first I didn't like the backsplash so much, but now looking at it again it's pretty cool. The "brick wall" look is quite unique. I think I'm not such a fan of it next to the pea soup walls though.
Also that one pendant looks a bit lonely up there. I might consider something with the same color scheme but a bit larger.
I agree with Mid-C Frank -- A before/after floorplan sketch or additional photos would help a lot since there was no "before" photo of the dining area that the kitchen took over.
I'm currently living with a similar remuddle of an otherwise cool 1950s bungalow in Crestview. You just make do and save up so you can have exactly what you want in the future.
I love the backsplash, don't love the paint color- but I still think it all ties together nicely.
I really like the open kitchen concept! Great Job!
Some clarifications. . . the wall color really is more of a gold but seems to translate on screen as "pea soup".
Floorplan: Imagine a long rectangle that had the kitchen boxed in on one end with a door leading to a dining room. The dining room was also contained but had a door leading to a hallway (along the top line of the rectangle) and to the living room (along the bottom line). Gina flip-flopped the kitchen/dining room positions and removed the walls around the new dining area. The living space is now all open with the kitchen just tucked into its U-shape space with the halfway looking over to the living room.
It is hard to explain, but maybe that makes more sense. Perhaps I should work up a sketch? Or maybe Gina has the plans that she can post?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that kitchen-especially the glass tile backsplash!!!!
I third the call for a floor plan. What does flip-flopped mean? I hear that kitchen and dining room were flipped, and I see kitchen's relation to living room, then something about the dining room, but not having the information necessary to grasp the narrative being narrated is a little frustrating and detracts unnecessarily from Gina's insane backsplash, which I might kill for were I not such the pacifist. Beautiful and daring. Me likey!
I'm confused about how things got flip flopped but whatever! The new kitchen is great! Love the backsplash!!
OK, readers. . . you asked and we did our best. The homeowners gave us the floorplan drawings which will hopefully make some sense out of my description.
And maybe "flip-flopped" is a Southern expression, but as far as I know it means to switch places. And of course, a "flip-flop" is the preferred summer footwear that makes the distinctive flapping noise when you walk :)
Ah, okay. That makes MUCH more sense, and answers the "wow, how bad would it have to have been to justify the incredible hassle of moving a kitchen?" question! I'd much rather live with the "after" layout. Nicely done!