Designer Kimberly Kerl’s previous kitchen was too small; clearances were tight, and she and her husband were always getting in each other’s way. The goal with their new space was obviously to add more square footage, but an equally important one was to have the kitchen function as a showroom for Kerl’s clients.
“I do a lot of kitchen renovations, and I wanted to be able to show them in person the features and products I am always recommending,” she said.
Kerl, who is the owner of Kustom Home Design in Greenville, S.C., paid close attention to clearances between such things as the island and cabinets and included as many different design ideas as possible in her new kitchen.
Kitchen as Showroom
The designer incorporated a variety of organizational solutions in the cabinets, including pullouts flanking the cooktop, deep drawers for larger items like crockpots and pitchers and built-in trash receptacles in two sizes. Some the cabinets are full overlay, while others are inset, so Kerl could show both styles to her clients. She also included stained and painted cabinetry for the same reason.
The kitchen features both quartz and marble countertops so Kerl’s clients can see the difference between the two materials. The marble is honed so over time she can illustrate the authenticity of what she calls living surfaces that age and patina over time. The designer also chose different sink brands and styles, as well as two different types and brands of faucets, and she mixed and matched finishes.
“I may not have designed the kitchen exactly this way if the goal was for it to be all our own,” explained the designer, “but everything works together, and the subtle differences are not noticeable.”
Getting More Personal
Some of the goals that were solely for Kerl and her husband were incorporating a huge island – 9 feet – and including a hidden pantry and cleanup area, as she did not want dirty dishes in full view. The prep sink is next to the cooktop in the main kitchen, but the wall ovens are also tucked away in the pantry.
Kerl chose a suite of SKS appliances – primarily because the brand excels at sous vide offerings, and that is her husband’s favorite cooking style. She said he cook even more now that the range top offers a sous vide option. It also offers gas and induction, so Kerl can show her clients an appliance that offers all three methods.
The designer incorporated a bar area in front of the pantry, and a white oak backsplash that can be raised between the two spaces so items can be passed back and forth. She also included popup outlets for small appliances and built-in lighting on dimmers in all the cabinets.
The Hurdles of Designing Your Own Space
“I felt a lot of pressure to design a special space that was also a showcase,” said Kerl. “I wanted to ensure that it spoke to both me and my clients on a broader scale. Because I was not designing it only for me and my husband, it had to be universally beautiful.”
The designer admitted that working on her own kitchen was harder than creating one for a client. Because she knows all the material and product choices available, it was hard for her to limit them. She went with some of her tried-and-true brands and also stepped outside the box with others.
Product Challenges
During the first stages of the project, things were going smoothly. Later on, Kerl found out that the lead time for her semi-custom cabinets – she had chosen a mix of custom and semi-custom – was extended nine weeks. Since the project was scheduled around the original delivery dates, the designer switched gears and ended up including all custom cabinets.
Kerl said the cabinetry design in her new space was not hard because she can do that in her sleep. Since her cabinet maker has a design side, it was easy to collaborate with him in selecting such things as the door styles.
Choosing the marble for the countertops was a tad more challenging, but after visiting 10 suppliers in her area, she found the winner: Calacatta Fantastico. The marble has a milky white body infused with gray and deep teal blue veins that coordinate with the cabinets.
“My practical side kept looking for the right quartz product or even porcelain surface that would satisfy my desire for a striking marble look without the softness of natural marble, which is prone to staining and etching,” explained Kerl. “Everywhere I looked, however, I was always drawn to the natural marble slabs.”
Lessons Learned
Kerl advised to order everything ahead of time for your projects and to avoid anything that is backordered. She also suggests having a full set of design documents up front so there are no questions among the tradespeople. She admitted there are some storage options she may not have needed in her new kitchen, but she can use those examples so clients can decide where they want to splurge in their budget.
During her kitchen renovation, Kerl did not ask for a lot of outside opinions; she wanted it to reflect the things she valued. Although her husband’s desire for sous vide cooking was the catalyst for the cooktop choice, he has learned through the years that this is his wife’s domain, and he was encouraging the whole time.
SOURCES:
Designer: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design; Photographers: Darin Holiday, Electric Films & Ben Ivins, Ben Ivins Media; Appliances: SKS; Bar Stools: Serena and Lily; Cabinets: Walker Woodworkin; Countertops: Calacatta Fantasico Marble from Encore Stone & Caesarstone Quartz; Decorative Hardware: Top Knobs; Faucets: Kohler & Moen; Functional Hardware: Rev-A-Shelf & Richelieu; Hood: Zephyr; Lighting: Currey & Company & Hudson Valley; Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Sinks: Kohler & Kraus
