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Kitchen Makeover Magic
If there’s one thing I love about being a designer, it’s the ability to
create all kinds of spaces for any room of the home. From the bedroom to the
living room, I’ve had the opportunity to turn some of the most challenging
spaces into warm, cozy retreats for families around the world.
Well, now it’s my turn! For the Philips Designing at Home campaign, I’ll be
doing a makeover in my very own kitchen. Of course, I’ve designed our
previous homes, but this time it’s going to be a little bit different. This
time, with the help of Philips Electronics, I’ll be bringing technology into
my kitchen in a way I haven’t done before.
Getting Started
Whenever I begin any makeover, I start by thinking about how the family will
use the space. Like many families, the kitchen is the heart of my home -- a
place for cooking, entertaining, studying or just enjoying each other’s
company. Because I love to cook, it was important for me to have open
counter space for chopping up vegetables for our favorite dishes and
reliable appliances for cooking and refrigeration. Since my wife enjoys
entertaining, it was also important to have a well-lit environment that is
not only functional, but aesthetically appealing for the visitors who would
be floating through the kitchen during any one of our yearly family
gatherings.
I put my mental notes into a kitchen sketch, then called my contractor Dave
West to get started. Dave owns a reputable building company that is also a
certified member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
He took a look at the sketch, we talked about the details of the project and
then we got started!
The Design
Although I know what I love, I don’t mind getting input from some of the
industry’s best. That’s why I’m working with a kitchen designer and a
lighting designer. Together, they will help me create the final lighting
“look and feel” for the kitchen. Lighting is a key element to the design of
any room, so we’re working together to create an ideal lighting plan for my
kitchen complete with under-cabinet lighting and pendant lighting over the
island. Traditional white cabinetry from, dependable appliances and classy
white, two-inch blinds from will help round out the mechanics of our
family’s brand new kitchen.
When I design kitchens for other families, I often focus on bringing color
into the space. After all, most people don’t consider a red wall or orange
accents a traditional part of kitchen décor. Personally, though, I prefer
white. White walls, white tile, white dishware, white everything! It’s so
clean and simple and I can accent with all kinds of color appliances and
accessories throughout the room. For example, I’ll be using a blue Senseo
coffeemaker in my all white kitchen. This revolutionary new coffeemaker from
Philips makes the perfect cup of gourmet coffee in just 60 seconds and it’ll
add just the right touch of color to my sparkling white tile countertop.
The Technology
When we think of technology in the kitchen, we may think of the Jetsons.
Remember the voice-activated appliances and robot-controlled gadgets that
made everything seem so fast and easy? While we’re not quite there yet
(maybe we’ll have robots to do the dishes in 20 years), there are technology
solutions for the kitchen that are customized to suit our kitchen needs and
enhance our lifestyles.
For example, a refrigerated storage drawer allows you to neatly store
fruits, vegetables or other dry foods in a cool place that is camouflaged as
a drawer on the island unit. No more overflowing bins in the refrigerator --
here’s another nifty place to store your food!
My wife and I have also decided to carve out some space for a mini-home
office in the kitchen. Creating a separate work space for multitasking
within the kitchen is another option many families have begun to explore. In
our kitchen, we’re going to have a small table with a computer that will
allow us to quickly access all kinds of news, tips and recipes or get a
little bit of business done just before winding down for the evening. Maybe
your kids can even get their homework done in the kitchen while dinner is
cooking in the oven.
Philips has also introduced its new MiraVision mirror television which is
available in a customized picture frame in either horizontal or vertical
orientation. This unique television looks like it’s only a mirror at first
glance, but at the touch of a button, you can start to watch your favorite
cooking shows in the kitchen while you unload the groceries and stock the
shelves. This is by far my favorite kitchen “gadget” because it’s
aesthetically appealing and functional all at once -- now that’s some great
21st century technology even the Jetsons would be proud of!
The Finishing Touches
When I look at the space I’ve conceptualized come to life, I start thinking
about the finishing touches. Like any homeowner, I want our home to be
comfortable, functional and inviting for every member of my family. I love
everything from black and white pictures to knick knacks from my
international travels. Many times, those finishing touches come together
after all the major pieces of the makeover project are complete.
Stay Tuned . . .
Even with all my experience designing for families and production sets, I
know there will be some highlights and some low points throughout this
process. Thankfully, the days here have been clear and sunny while all the
delivery guys and construction workers come in and out of my house all day!
For the next five weeks, I’ll be sharing my kitchen “makeover magic” with
you on the www.designingathome.com Web site. Log on to view actual footage
from every aspect of the makeover -- conversations with my contractor, major
product installations and sheer moments of frustration. It’ll all be caught
on tape and downloaded onto the Web site.
I’ll also be collaborating with many of our Philips Designing at Home
partners to answer your questions about getting started with your own
kitchen makeover, hiring a contractor, choosing appliances and furniture or
taking care of the installation process from start to finish. If you have
some specific questions of your own, feel free to e-mail me at
stephen@designingathome.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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