In many homes the kitchen is a hub of activity. It’s where we prepare school lunches and a quick breakfast before a busy day, as well as make family meals, indulgent weekend brunches and holiday spreads.
The kitchen is where little fingers learn to help, plans are made, feelings are explored, coffee is shared, mishaps become lessons learned and the everyday mystery of “what’s for dinner” is solved.
Design trends and personal taste make each home a unique space, but functionality is essential in kitchens. A well-designed kitchen can make cooking a joy and create an automatic gathering place for families to talk and munch.
Kitchens By Design (KBD) is a Kettering business that was founded more than 25 years ago. KBD’s team transforms design concepts into reality, with a full range of skills and talents needed for a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project.
The company, owned by Jay Moran, completes more than 150 renovation projects each year.
John and his wife Amy worked with KBD last year on a kitchen remodel project. The family purchased a home in Beavercreek and wanted to update the kitchen before moving in. They were ready to start work immediately and knew where to turn.
John notes that the original galley kitchen in the home was small and the space felt dark and unwelcoming.
“We wanted to open the space up to make room for a larger island, more cabinet storage, and make the space flow into the great room,” John explains. “We removed the walls separating the two spaces which brought in more natural light to the kitchen space.”
John and Amy worked with designer Diana Moran. Diana, who has worked as a designer for more than 20 years, tells us that one of the main goals was to maintain the house’s Tudor design. She adds that the inspiration for the project was to keep the overall feel without going too modern or contemporary.
“The house was built in the late 1970s and the kitchen was dark and cramped,” she comments. “The overall footprint of the functioning kitchen was not more than 10-foot by 10-foot, with a tiny island in the middle of it. We didn’t want to change the façade, but we wanted it to feel like one big living space.”
The renovation included widening all the doorways, removing a walk-in pantry, removing a dropped ceiling, adding cabinetry and trim, moving all the appliances and updating the lighting.
The kitchen project took about six months from beginning to end, including designing the layout and selecting materials. The actual construction was completed in a little over a month.
John’s favorite aspect of the new kitchen is the addition of the peninsula that connects the kitchen to the great room.
“It allowed the entire space to flow together and feel like one large room,” he explains.
The new kitchen space was important for John and Amy because the kids are older and living very active lives. The family wanted an area where they could be together.
“My kids use the peninsula to eat and do homework, while my wife and I make a meal,” John shares. “We have a space where we can all sit and eat together in the kitchen, as well as spend time with each other.”
Large remodeling projects like John and Amy’s kitchen are complex and can take time. John encourages anyone interested in remodeling to lean on the expertise of their design and contracting teams.
Diana reminds us that there are many elements involved in a complete kitchen or bathroom remodel, which can include plumbing and electrical work. Homeowners should not do that on their own unless they’re experienced and licensed. John agrees, “With a remodel, there may be surprises once construction starts.” Homeowners should utilize the resources available and not be afraid to ask for expert advice.
“There are so many decisions around design and material selections. Working with a designer can make the remodeling experience feel seamless and less overwhelming,” explains John.
Diana adds, “When I talk to customers, most have ideas about what they want and they’ve already done some research. The next step is working with an experienced designer and a reputable contractor to bring those ideas to life. We have a wealth of talent and we’re happy to share that.”
For more information, visit MyKBD.com or call 937.294.2121.
“We have a space where we can all sit and eat together in the kitchen, as well as spend time with each other.”