From the time Amy and Joe moved into their 1930s Upper Arlington home, they knew a kitchen remodel was on their to-do list. After nearly 10 years in the home, it was time to knock down a wall, raise the ceiling and create the open space they definitely needed. Columbus architects from Urbanorder Inc. worked on preliminary plans with Amy and Joe, and recommended they meet with Travis Ketron, owner of Ketron Custom Builders.
“I think we offered them a fresh perspective on the construction aspect and they liked the open and honest working relationship we brought to the table from the start,” says Ketron. According to Ketron, Amy and Joe wanted a design that fit the house, while including high-end finishes that made the space special.
One of the major complaints Joe and Amy had about the kitchen was the fact that previous owners had dropped the ceiling, making the room feel even smaller than it was. “The rest of our house has ceilings that are over 8 feet tall and we really thought if we could raise the ceiling, it would immediately open up the space,” says Amy.
Ketron was able to remove the kitchen ceiling before the remodel began to see what could be done. It turns out the only reason the ceiling was lowered was due to the bathroom above. Joe and Amy decided to have that bathroom remodeled as well, allowing Ketron to raise the plumbing, in turn allowing the kitchen ceiling to be raised as well.
When it came to the design concept, Ketron played a key role in providing options and details for the couple. “Everyone has an idea of what they think they want and sometimes that idea holds, and sometimes it doesn’t,” says Ketron. Amy had cut pictures out of magazines as a starting place and progress moved from there. For example, Amy originally wanted marble countertops, but after realizing the wear and tear that the kitchen would endure, Ketron suggested a durable granite.
Joe and Amy were definitely thinking outside the box when it came to flooring, as they wanted something different than the hardwood that covered the rest of the house. They decided on a cork floor, which is softer and more comfortable than the original marble floor that was in the kitchen. “Our kids were thrilled with the cork floor because they’re very into green-living these days,” says Amy. Ketron came up with a two-toned design to dress up the space and add definition between the dining room and kitchen.
Today, the updated space is perfect for the family’s busy and social lifestyle. Amy couldn’t be happier with Ketron’s attention to detail and his punctuality. “We were finishing up the project in the spring and my daughter wanted to have everyone over before prom,” says Amy. “Travis finished right on schedule and we had about 12 kids over, which was great because we could have never done that before.”