A Kitchen Puzzle: Designing with the End in Mind

Sometimes creating a new kitchen is like completing a puzzle – at the beginning you see a ton of tiny pieces all laid out before you, knowing that eventually they fit together, but not yet sure as to the “how” to make it happen. But eventually, piece by piece, you lay out the corners, then the edge pieces, then start to compile the middle. (If you don’t complete a puzzle in this way, use your own puzzle analogy here). Wineteer Construction is Kansas City’s leading design build kitchen remodeling contractor specializing in completing the puzzle for you!

For this family of four (with a boy and a girl both under the age of 10) the core issue was a lack of spa ce in their kitchen. As you know, many families use the kitchen as their go-to for family dinners, evening chats, playdate lunches, and homework sessions. This family had multiple consultations from several different companies around the Kansas City area to meet their needs but time and time again they were less than pleased with the design process, communication, and craftsmanship. They invited the Wineteer team in to see their space and we began to put the puzzle pieces together.

The family wanted to have more counter space for food and meal prep so the entire family could be involved in the kitchen process. The family also felt that their main pantry area was overwhelming the current kitchen and wanted to move this to around the corner, but the logistics of this move were causing a headache. They were looking to add seating at their small island but couldn’t see how to achieve that in their current space. At the end of the day, the lack of space was starting to drive everyone crazy, and having no solution in sight proved challenging. Drum roll please…. enter the kitchen remodeling company that brought this all to life… Wineteer!

Approaching the kitchen design as a puzzle and a challenge, we found a way to move the door to the pantry around the corner, meeting the need of migrating the pantry out of the central kitchen space. The challenge with this move was that there was a lot of plumbing and HVAC work that had to move and be redone, but it was definitely worth it to meet the needs of our clients. We also found a creative way to capture additional space for their kitchen. We looked at the garage and found that it was gigantic – plenty of space with room to spare – so we decided to push back the new fridge and oven wall into the garage two feet, in turn making the kitchen two feet wider. What a difference this made for our usable space! Stay tuned for part two of this project where we’ll share more about how we made use of this new space to turn our clients’ dreams into a reality!

Kitchen Remodeling Tips and Statistics

Whether we realize it or not, the kitchen holds a lot of power to our health and happiness. A small and crowded kitchen can lead a family to want to cook and eat elsewhere due to cramped quarters with little counter space. According to houzz, “a third of homeowners report leading a healthier lifestyle after a kitchen renovation, from eating more fruits and vegetables to preparing more meals at home.”

More than just a larger area to work with, the kitchen is often in a prime location that everyone can easily see and access. Because of this, ensuring the style and colors are fresh and inviting can make just as big of an impact. Check out Zillow Digs to see more trends and styles, from lighting to kitchen islands.

Your kitchen should reflect your unique style. Check out our gallery for a few of our latest project photos and spark your imagination to create the perfect kitchen in your home.

If you are interested in creating more happiness in your kitchen, contact us!

Houzz.com Reveals Who Is Renovating Their Home…Why…and How

Houzz.com, an online platform for home remodeling and design information, recently published the “2015 Houzz & Home survey.” The survey revealed that more than half of homeowners renovated their homes in 2014. The spike in renovation projects was linked to findings that homeowners 45 to 64 years old finally have money and time to remodel, while homeowners under 44 years old (including Millennials) have recently purchased a house.

The Houzz survey identified Baby Boomers (55+) lead in amount of investment. For example, Baby Boomers (55+) spent, on average, twice as much or more on a kitchen remodel as Millennial homeowners. The survey also found that more than half of households with owners who are over 60 years old are planning to age in place, so home modifications are focused on universal design.

What Drives a Remodel?

The experts at Wineteer Construction agree with the survey findings about the driving factors for making renovation choices. According to the Houzz survey, the top driving factors include:

Improving design/look & feel
Improving functionality
Increasing resale value
Improving energy efficiency
Minimizing costs
Preventing or addressing health concerns
Integrating green/sustainable materials
Integrating smart technology

A majority of 2014’s remodel projects were interior enhancements, rather than necessary improvements to a home’s structure. Homeowners focused on remodeling their kitchen, bath and living/family room spaces.

What’s On Your Priority List?

As a full-service renovation company, Wineteer Construction emphasizes beautiful design, high-quality products and skilled craftsmanship. Our trusted professionals work with you to remodel your home to be both attractive and functional. Review our full list of residential services and take a peek at our completed projects. Review our full list of residential services and take a peek at some of our completed projects.