Remodeling 2020: Three Case Studies show off motivations, design trends

Remodeling 2022

Three Case Studies show off motivations, design trends

BY JO MEACHAM

Remodeling has become more popular than ever. Before Covid, updating kitchens and bathrooms were on the rise, but during covid, with the closing of schools and many businesses, everyone had a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time in their home.

Not only did we need to make room to work at home, but many families also had children that needed room for school time. We all became aware of our home’s advantages and disadvantages. Open kitchens can be great but sometimes too much togetherness becomes a problem. Outdoor spaces that were seldom used, were turned into a place to relax. Outdated kitchens and bathrooms with cosmetic flaws and functional concerns were frustrating.

Post-Covid, housing has become scarce, and when they could find something in their price range, many homebuyers purchased properties that needed to be updated. Boomers

66 ion Oklahoma July/August 2022

that had once considered downsizing, decided to remain in place by adding handicapped features while updating kitchens and bathrooms. Everyone connected to building and remodeling has seen a huge uptick in business, countered by labor material shortages and fixture delays never before experienced.

The Bock House, the Giacona Master Bath, and our Designer’s Kitchen are all examples of recent remodeling motivations and design trends. Boomers deciding to stay in their family home in a neighborhood with friends, couples wanting updates that express their personality and make them happy at home and new kitchens and baths to update our existing inventory of older homes.

Bock House

The Bocks have lived in their home for over 15 years, raised their family in this house, and decided to stay – not downsize. Urban Kitchens first worked with the family a few years ago, to completely update the master bath and bedroom. Completely demolishing the bathroom, removing a corner garden tub, extending the existing shower, and providing all new cabinets, countertops, flooring, and painting. Once this project was competed, the Bocks and Urban Kitchens tackled the kitchen, family room, the entire second floor including two bathrooms and the downstairs powder room. The entire interior received a fresh coat of paint.

The kitchen, of course, was the main event. The Bocks love to cook and entertain so all past annoying features were removed, and every new cabinet installed served a specific purpose. A collection of beer glasses was given a dedicated space and a buffet with glass doors was installed to feature a large collection of hand-painted Mackenzie Childs ceramicware.

The color palette was white and soft blue, with Shaker style doors and white engineered quartz countertops with a soft gray and white design. A light and bright custom hood with recycled wood trim became the focal point for the project. While modern in design, the kitchen colors and features were planned to integrate a beautiful, existing French Country dining table and chairs.

The project included the family room attached to the kitchen and dining area. One goal was to reduce clutter with the goal of a clean and simplified space. Wood trim throughout the house was painted white. On either side of the fireplace, countertops matching the kitchen tops were installed on the base cabinets. A television was installed above the fireplace. The downstairs powder room was updated with a new countertop, fixtures and fun, floral wallpaper.

The entire house was updated but the owners love of antiques was respected and all their favorite items remained in place. New furniture was limited to upholstered pieces with a few new accent items.

The Bock House is an excellent example of renovating an existing home with excellent bones. The resulting design remains true to the homes architectural features yet is updated and ready for the next 10 – 20 years of Bock residency.

giacona-Conlon Master Bath

Living in a historic home always presents challenges. The Giacona-Conlon’s home is in the Gatewood Neighborhood just a mile west of downtown Oklahoma City. Close to the Plaza District, this charming collection of Tudor and Colonial homes has become a popular destination for young professionals and their families.

The Giacona-Colons are university professors, both with strong streaks of creativity. During Covid Christine took some of her down time to create a bright and cheerful mural in the downstairs hallway. When she and her partner started thinking about renovating a small, dark upstairs bathroom to be a colorful and useful master, the idea of a second mural became a reality.

The small bathroom was demolished, and the renovation began. Beautiful walnut cabinets were selected for the vanity which was topped with a custom fabricated terrazzo countertop. The floor is covered with black tiles with a terrazzo pattern. The dominating color for the project is the turquoise tile that lines the walls of the shower. The subway shaped tile is installed vertically using white Schluter to edge and define the sides and the niche. The shower floor is a matte black penny tile. The shower glass was wrapped around the corner of the shower to provide a maximum amount of light.

The main laundry is in the basement, inspiring the owner and Urban Kitchens to define a space for a combination washer and dryer for the new master bath. Although the space was small, the undercounter washer/dryer was located next to the vanity. A bonus was more countertop space.

The mural, provided by the owner, adds lavender, coral, bright yellow and turquoise to the project. All highlighted with brushed gold fixtures and gold and white lighting.

The Giacona-Conlon’s one-of-a-kind master bath is perfect for this couple, while also designed well. Homeowners want something that is unique and special. This is a trend that ignores the idea that you should always be thinking of resale and confirms the idea that you should love where you live. When creative projects are well done, they are often well received by new owners. This is where you hear someone say, “I would never have done this, but I love it!

Meacham-Pace Residence

Of course, every kitchen designer wants to have a new kitchen. But just like everyone else, timing and budgets just don’t make it possible. Until – your house floods. In September of 2020, the year of Covid, Silver Lake in northwest Oklahoma City flooded some of the homes around the lake due to a fast and furious rainstorm. The MeachamPace house had some updates, including some paint and a new kitchen island. While “baby blue” was not a color the couple would have selected, it was cute, and they called it “the lakey look.” They installed some new pendants over the island and decided it would work for a while.

After the flood they decided to take advantage of the opportunity to gut the entire kitchen. The water had been about three inches high in the kitchen and the base cabinets, range and refrigerator were all water damaged.

This kitchen design came easily to me because for several years Jo had in mind using a particular cabinet door for a new kitchen. Warm in color, it was a slab door with a textured melamine finish. Perfect color, easy to keep finish, it was a go. The entire first floor required new flooring and we selected a large scale, neutral tile with colors ranging

from cream to light gray. This became the foundation for the kitchen.

The floor plan was slightly changed and a coffee bar with its own faucet to the left of the refrigerator was added. With a large two-drawer cabinet below, the convenience and the excellent storage has been appreciated. The island was shifted slightly to allow for better circulation.

The downstairs was repainted white and white upper cabinets were installed to carry out the simplified design. The refrigerator became a stand-alone-piece and the standard big cabinet on top was eliminated. The Silestone countertops have a creamy, flat finish with white zellige 4” x “tile on the backsplash.

Urban Kitchens focuses on the client and how they live and work in their home. It is where many of us spend most of our tie, so why not make it a functional, beautiful, happy place. You deserve it in these uncertain times,

Happy Remodeling!

Jo Meacham n

Owner and designer, Urban Kitchens