When Marcia and Bob Kaminski decided to replace their malfunctioning oven, it somehow evolved into a complete kitchen remodel. “At first we were going to just buy a new oven and somehow everything sort of mushroomed,” says Marcia. The couple interviewed a handful of designers and decided to work with Natalia Dragunova of Notion, LLC. “I’m a bit funky and my husband is more conservative, but Natalia was wonderful in marrying our two distinct styles,” explains the homeowner. “We both got exactly what we wanted.”
The designer loved that Marcia and Bob were so willing to drastically change the overall look of their room. “The original kitchen was traditional with white arched cabinets and wood floors. Although the space was large it seemed very confined,” says Natalia. “People have misconceptions about what makes a space visually large or small.”
The new blueprint would move the double ovens next to the refrigerator, a change that the owners love. “Natalia was the only one who was willing to move the ovens,” points out Marcia. “We also wanted our refrigerator next to the oven because of the ease in carrying things back and forth.”
The couple wanted cabinets that went to the ceiling but were a little skeptical when Natalia pulled out a sample of quarter sawn oak. Just the idea of using oak was originally unappealing to Marcia and Bob. “Many people, myself included, are not fans of oak, however the way the tree is cut makes an incredible difference in how the finished product looks,” explains the designer.
Standard cut oak is very traditional and has a slightly old fashioned appearance due to its wavy grain pattern. Quarter sawn oak has a more modern look to it since it is cut across the growth rings, allowing the visible grain to be much straighter. Being a fan of rich dark tones, the idea of using a darker stain in this kitchen had Natalia working overtime because her clients weren’t feeling it. She had to explain to Marcia and Bob that using dark stained cabinets would actually make the kitchen look more spacious and inviting. “Our contractor, Seth Knorr, is a pro and understands clients’ and designers’ perspectives,” says Natalia. “No matter how good a designer can be, he or she is nothing without a great contractor who turns ideas into reality.”
Two drywall pantries were knocked out on the refrigerator wall to make way for custom floor to ceiling cabinets. A jumbo-sized pantry replaced what used to be an office area. “Natalia coaxed us to move our work station to our office where it belonged,” laughs Marcia. “Now it is utilized as much needed kitchen space with all the appropriate pullouts.”
Quartz countertops and an Italian porcelain floor go hand-in-hand with the eye-catching backsplash behind the cooktop. Looking more like a piece of artwork, this perfect blend of bronze, silver and onyx colored tiles are the main attraction in the kitchen. Just like an artisan, Knorr meticulously placed each piece of stained glass to form the mosaic-inspired wall.
The pendant lights were left in place from the original kitchen. “It took Bob and I no more than 5 minutes to pick these out because we instantly fell in love with them,” says Marcia.
Natalia utilized the braided design of the pendants to create the patterned look on the only glass cabinet in the kitchen. “I wanted to have some sort of a frosted glass panel in here and the beauty of Natalia is that she spontaneously comes up with ideas off the top of her head,” says Marcia.
“All of the things that we had on our original punch list are here,” points out Marcia. “We truly have everything that we wanted and it all came to fruition when we were entertaining.” The couple has a large family and now everyone can congregate in the kitchen at one time. The island was extended to make for seamless entertaining and there is always more than enough room for their five kids, spouses and friends.