To learn more about the “Best of Remodeling” awards and Houzz, read the Houzz press release.

As always, we’re excited to share our appreciation with Houzz users, our clients, our installation teams and our vendors for their support and efforts.

Cheers!
Jan

So, here’s the scoop on the project status.



Where we are in the process: We’re at the midpoint of the project and waiting for the countertop to arrive. All of the base cabinets and most of the wall cabinets have been installed. Once the countertop goes in, I’ll finally get to see my sink and then my plumber will install the faucet.

The gas has been hooked up and the duel fuel range has been installed. The electrician returned to install the trim around the recessed lights and put in the lightbulbs. Also, the plug mold was put in place, which involved removing the receptacles/switchplates from the wall and running concealed outlets in a strip under the cabinets. The hood over stove was also installed.



How I’m feeling: I’m still “camping out” and dealing with it. It’s messy, yet I can’t clean the kitchen or put my stuff away or use anything. Everything is full of dust and I’m ready for the guys to be done. The disheveled atmosphere is impacting me, as I really like things to be organized. Yet, my remodel has taught me to “let go” a little.

Also, my unique vantage point as a kitchen designer and project manager has been actualized. I’ve found that if anything isn’t quite right, I know it will get resolved and that sense of knowing has been comforting.



What’s next: The crown molding, the light rails and the trim work will be installed shortly. As we head into the home stretch, the walls will be skim coated and made ready for painting. The crews will install the baseboards and prepare to hang the doors and the shelves in the custom-designed niches. Additionally, the layout of the tile is designed and the painting will begin once all the drywall finish work is done. Essentially, all of the small, “behind the scenes” tasks will happen shortly.



Phase 3 is just around the corner, so stay tuned for more details!

Cheers,
Jan

So, to answer your burning questions: Why am I doing a kitchen remodel? What kind of remodel is it? Who’s doing the installation? Where are we in the process? And, how do I feel at this stage of the project?

Why am I undertaking this remodel: I live and work with a home-based studio and wanted to maximize my living space for both purposes. My prospects and clients often visit my studio to make material selections and check out the product lines I offer. The new kitchen is highlighting my Homestead Custom Cabinet line. Additionally, I enjoy cooking and entertaining for friends and family; this newly remodeled space will enhance our shared experiences in it.

What kind of kitchen remodel is it: My kitchen remodel is an “as-is” replacement, meaning I didn’t re-design the entire kitchen. The current floor plan remains intact, yet all the appliances are being upgraded. I selected a Thermdoor range, a Sharp microwave drawer, an integrated Bosch dishwasher and the refrigerator is a Kitchen Aid counter depth French door style unit. As mentioned above, the cabinets are built by Homestead Custom Cabinetry; I opted for custom cabinetry, allowing me to design a custom door style with frameless construction. The colors of the space center around a Celadon green paint, making the design a little different from standard choices.

Who’s doing the install: KirksWorks, LLC is performing the installation. The owner, Kirk Johnson has been in business for four years, yet he’s been installing kitchens for more than 30 years. His company was chosen for their flexibility, creative infield solutions and excellent craftsmanship. Kirk is performing the installation along with an assistant and other technicians, as needed. Additionally, the supporting contractors like the plumber and electricians have been on site.

Where we are in the process: All rough-ins have been completed and the drywall is being installed. The cabinet design disguises the re-worked soffits behind vertically extended wall cabinet doors. With some extra hideaway spaces, I’m creating niches for small packaged food products and a space for the dust pan and broom.

How do I feel at this stage of the project: It’s exciting! I’m very happy to be able to do this. This project will benefit not only my prospects and clients, who can touch and feel the new materials and selections in this space, but I will enjoy the heart of my home…..and I’ll understand the “hub bub” my clients experience while living through their construction.

Some of the downsides are that most of the rooms in the house have been affected by the project. Several rooms are being used for storage and are dusty. Regarding cooking, I thought I could use the dining room for a hot spot with the refrigerator (which is in place right now), but that hasn’t worked out well. The furniture is draped in blankets , filters are taped over the air intakes and there’s stuff everywhere. I’m experiencing the low point of most kitchen projects, but the minute cabinets get put in place, I know I’ll start to feel better.

I’m looking forward to Phase 2 and continuing to share my adventure with you!

Cheers,
Jan

Nowadays, life is filled with demanding schedules, invitations and events; it’s hard to keep up with day-to-day happenings. When it comes to planning a significant home improvement project, many homeowners feel lost or anxious, even overwhelmed, by the unfamiliar world of remodeling.

Clients in the DC metro area come to Kitchen Elements when they’re concerned about entering into a renovation. Without a sense of trust in and knowledge about the design and construction process, they worry about getting the support they need and decide to delegate the remodeling project management. In turn, they gain a personal concierge service, encompassing respect of their home and protection of their living spaces.

It’s also worth mentioning that the decision to delegate requires a leap of faith; homeowners will question the value we bring during the process. After all, running a remodeling project is not rocket science, but it does necessitate solid experience, a firm commitment to customer service and a deep knowledge of the construction process.

To the untrained eye, remodeling projects may seem to run themselves with just a bit of oversight and coordination. Yet, in reality, it takes takes several hundred well thought out decisions to bring a project to fruition. It also takes continuous coordination and clear communication between the residents, several contractors and other integral vendors. Additionally, there’s logistical choreography for the product deliveries and installation and an abundance of other “odds and ends” to consider and respect.

If you’re ready to invest in a well-guided remodel and want to work with a company who will take your project from concept to completion, while protecting the heart of your home, contact us today.

Cheers,
Jan

This medium kitchen remodel was part of a whole-house renovation of this family’s home. The family craved feelings of spaciousness and freedom in the existing, restrictive kitchen. The completed kitchen satisfied their desires through thoughtful, creative solutions and an integrated design.



The objectives:
• Carefully design a welcoming traditional, white kitchen that nestles into an existing contemporary addition, which was designed by masterful architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen many years ago
• Create a beautiful backdrop for an interesting vista from the dining room, which seamlessly integrates with the balanced architecture of Mr. Jacobsen
• Devise an updated floor plan, providing a more effective workspace and unimpeded circulation



The design challenges:
• Artfully and sensibly fit all of the appliances without disturbing the glass window walls
• Create sufficient wall cabinet storage, due to the limitations created by the glass walls that exist in the previous addition
• Design a new kitchen into a restricted space, while creating a sense of spaciousness and freedom for this family’s modern expectation



The design solutions:
• Install a back-to-back kitchen sink and cook top that is housed in a large, central island
• Skillfully accommodate the refrigerator within the work area with limited useable wall space
• Flock the glass of cabinet doors with a silver coating, complementing the stainless steel appliances and satisfying the client’s desire for a textural change without compromising the opacity of the cabinet doors



The special features:
• Expand the stainless steel presence with stainless steel fillers on either side of the Sub Zero refrigerator adding to a clean, crisp look
• Maximize the wall storage by nestling a cabinet under the angle of the staircase, which projects into the kitchen space
• Fashion breakfront-type cabinetry on the wall leading to the dining room announcing the transition to a more formal space



My thanks to the homeowners for the opportunity to guide them through their renovation and to the installation team and vendors for their diligent efforts on this project.

Cheers,
Jan

Baking a pie for you is one way to express our gratitude and appreciation for our work together, recognize the trust and confidence you bestow upon us and acknowledge the joy of our shared affinity for having a great kitchen – and using it! We’ll bake your fresh pie in our own soon-to-be renovated kitchen using good old-fashioned ingredients like butter, flour and sugar (calorie count NOT included).

For more delicious details, contact me today!

Cheers,
Jan

The concept that the kitchen is a distinct and separate room, embodying its own look and feel, is disappearing. Today, homeowners renovate their kitchens to allow this evolving space to assimilate with the other rooms in and cultivated decor of their homes. If “the kitchen is the new living room”, why shouldn’t it integrate with the rest of the home in appearance and design?

Consider a home with antique furnishings throughout, but whose kitchen design includes an old tile floor and kitchen cabinets that are dressed in laminate coatings. Each day, the homeowners and family circulate from the other rooms into the kitchen, and with each entry, adjust to this distinct decor.

Now, envision the renovated kitchen: the cabinets are redone with antique styling and details, the kitchen island is designed with antique embellishments and a large, inviting marble top and the built-in storage units display antique styling. A marriage between the home’s design and furniture and the kitchen space is consummated and home’s residents move easily from space to space, enjoying the continuity and cohesiveness.

View how other homeowners have transformed their spaces with kitchens (and baths) that integrate with the rest of their home.

Cheers,
Jan

The old Mexican tile floor, although interesting, no longer belonged. The renovation called for the extension of the home’s wood flooring into the kitchen space, to marry the front of the house with the back and realize one important project goal.

Additional changes included small and large integrated elements. The antique-like island and other pieces that became part of the kitchen relate to the clients’ existing furnishings. Behind the range, the fine lattice tile work brings quietness to the large expanse without compromising interesting detail and grounds the portals windows in a spacious wall scape. The eleven foot Hemlock beam, with oversized corbels, creates a dramatic and important visual statement that supports the proportions of the 48” range. Finally, the lighting plan brings warm task and ambient light to a formerly dark and dingy kitchen, and soft highlighting to the architectural elements.

This renovation project was completely fulfilling for the homeowners and me because, after the dust truly settled and the new kitchen was finished, it felt as though the renovated kitchen had always been a part of the home.



The objectives:
• Adeptly integrate the kitchen living space with the décor of the home
• Replace the outdated and unsightly pink laminate cabinetry and white laminate counter tops in the kitchen. Also, replace the built-in white wood case goods flanking the front hall entry
• Fulfill the clients’ desire to create a warm, friendly and inviting kitchen with details that spirit a casual, country style



The design challenges:
• Reconfigure the storage space after having sacrificed a huge, existing pantry wall
• Address the existing portal windows on the cook wall, which the owners chose not to remove or replace so as not to disturb the exterior of the home
• Design a large kitchen island that replicates a piece of antique furniture and reflects the antique décor and style of the first floor furnishings



The design solutions:
• Mirror the existing closet on the opposite side of the kitchen entrance to the dining room to create a formal, balanced entry and recoup lost pantry storage
• Replace the existing bookcases with new, furniture quality bookcases, made from Hemlock, that employs an antique character which complements the kitchen island
• Fashion a horizontal effect to the cook wall and hood using a long mantle shelf above the range, with oversized corbel supports and lattice tile work



The special features:
• Install an eleven foot Hemlock beam as the mantle shelf to conceal the mechanics of the hood on the cook wall
• Carefully craft and detail the antiqued kitchen island table and antiqued bookcases to match the owners’ vision and needs
• Install a chandelier between the closets near the dining room as a transition from the kitchen proper. Additionally, utilize warm and useful light for ambient, task and focal point lighting, highlighting the architectural elements.



My thanks go to the homeowners for the opportunity to work with them on their renovation and to the installation team and vendors for their diligent efforts on this project.

Cheers,
Jan

“We brought Jan in based solely on testimonials and references from the Olney/Brookeville Exchange on Yahoo. We weren’t disappointed! We had some general ideas as to what we wanted in a remodeled kitchen, but the prospect of doing it ourselves was daunting – selecting materials, contractors, scheduling, coordinating – was clearly beyond us.

Jan’s idea of service-with-a-smile meant guiding us through uncharted territory. She wants her clients to know that she takes the worry out of making “the right choices.” She is respectful of her clients – realizing that this is their home, their space, their project – not trying to force her own choices and preferences on her clients.

Her choices in the folks she brought in to do the work was spot-on! They were all reliable, conscientious professionals! In short, Jan Goldman’s Kitchen Elements was a pleasure work with, and we couldn’t be more pleased with our new kitchen.”
– Carl-Brookeville MD

Thank you to everyone who’s been able to express their gratitude in writing or in person. We appreciate your feedback.

We wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Cheers,
Jan

“Jan Goldman, owner of Kitchen Elements, has entered two kitchen designs in the annual Design Competition held by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). The competition is open to all members of the association, allowing designers nationwide to submit their work, which can be entered into one main category and several sub-categories, if appropriate. The designs are judged on creativity, functionality and other factors.” Read the full story here.

I’m very grateful to my clients, colleagues and friends for their generous and unending support.

Cheers,
Jan