English Cottage Kitchen and Baths
As an Air Force veteran, designer Amanda George, creative director of Seattle-based Amanda George Interior Design, is not one to be fazed by drawing-board or jobsite difficulties. And this project, a remodel of a 1987 home, presented its fair share of challenges.
“Supply chain issues were a huge factor in this job,” said George. “The project was delayed significantly, but we worked with the installers and homeowners to make solutions we all could live with. The situation was not ideal, but in the end, we created an award-winning project the clients were ecstatic about.”
Customizing Construction
The primary bath was tricky because George had included some fixtures that called for special installation allowances.
“I selected the sinks for their specific style and color,” she said. “As they are intended to be pedestal tops, they had to be modified to sit on the vanity. The sink was only available pre-drilled for a faucet, and I wanted to use wall-mount faucets. So I ordered a single-hole model and used a drain plunger intended for a bridge faucet to fill the hole. It served a dual purpose and was an elegant solution to the problem.”
The substantial size of the sinks, along with their proposed semi-flush installation on the countertop, posed concern with the cut-outs. The placement of the vessels was critical, and it took several dry runs to ensure the cutout was correctly dimensioned.
The other challenge presented by the primary bath focused on the tub. A freestanding air-jet model, it required an external turbine, which had to be located in a remote cabinet. This necessitated careful planning and execution to run the connections between cabinet and tub under the floor.
Future-Proofing the Kitchen
At the time of the project, the clients weren’t interested in replacing their appliances; however, they did want to keep their options open to future upgrades. To allow for this, George designed a decorative valance at the cabinets topping the refrigerator. It can be easily removed to accommodate a new, taller fridge.
Keeping the Project on Track and Maintaining its Design Integrity
George is quick to credit an effective project manager and points out that in this project, the role expanded beyond the typical boundaries.
“My PM was instrumental in mediating a solution that didn’t compromise the design intent, while also keeping the project moving forward. Key to this is communication. It’s important to set expectations upfront with both installers and client. Installers should expect to confront custom solutions to unique situations. By the same token, clients need to anticipate there will be ‘growing pains’ as we work through those unforeseen challenges.”
—By Leslie Clagett, KBB managing editor
