It began with an email.
When the military couple knew they were scheduled to return stateside, they searched for a home while still stationed overseas. They found a large, 20-year-old colonial house that checked many of their boxes. Closing on the property months before they were due to return to the U.S., their hope was to have the kitchen remodeled in their absence, allowing them to move into the finished house upon their return. After reviewing the website of Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry, they reached out and entrusted designer elizaBeth Marcocci, CMKBD with the job.
In the early stages of the project, the realtor gave the designer access to the empty home in order to take measurements and to get the lay of the land. Much of her initial fact-finding and becoming acquainted with the clients was via email and tele-conference.
With a mandate to work within the existing, oddly-shaped footprint of the kitchen, Marcocci consulted her contractor to see if it was possible to smooth out the space and make it more regular, so she could accommodate the homeowners’ needs and wants. They determined that eliminating a closet adjoining the kitchen would do the trick.
In a stream of email, floorplans, elevations and material swatches were proposed, evaluated and approved. Demolition took place and construction began – all with the clients away.
The bulky old tapered island was replaced with a rectangular model that centralized prep chores, fitted with a dishwasher, microwave drawer, prep sink and trash pull-out. The refrigerator was relocated to the outside wall near the main sink, improving the work triangle. A pro-grade cooktop took its place. Marcocci added a second, dining island to the space; placed perpendicular to the work island, guests can gather in comfort without getting in the way of the cook.
“My favorite part of the design is always seeing how happy my clients are working in their new functional kitchen,” said Marcocci. “I love the entire process from start to finish, but seeing happy clients is the best – it’s the icing on the proverbial cake.”
Sources
Design: elizaBeth Marcocci, CMKBD, Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry, Mechanicsburg, Penn.; Photography: Bob Skalkowski Photography; Cabinets: Signature; Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs; Cabinet Inserts: Hafele; Cooktop: Wolf; Countertops: Cambria; Dishwasher: ASKO; Faucets, Sinks: Kraus; Ice Maker, Refrigerator: True; Lighting: Hafele, Juno; Microwave: Bosch; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Refrigerator Drawers: KitchenAid; Tile: Florida Tile; Vent Hood: Stanisi; Wall Ovens: Miele
