Cooking up Customized Client details
At first glance, this is simply a lovely kitchen. Would you be surprised to know that we broke many of the standard kitchen design “rules” ? On purpose.
A typical kitchen counter height is 36” and backsplash height is 18”. While perfectly acceptable, the client for this project had a not-so- unique problem: They are a tall family. Standard counters were okay, but if they were going through a massive renovation, I wanted it to truly function for them. Raising both countertop height and stretching the backsplash height created a better performing space for the clients… and didn’t break the bank or their backs.
Not to say breaking the rules wasn’t without problems. Customizing every base cabinet would have been cost prohibitive. Enter some inspired hacks. The base cabinets were ordered at standard height; we simply built up the base plinths with 2” x 4”’s and covered up this onsite modification by ordering in custom height toe boards. The purchase of professional grade appliances which allowed their heights to be adjusted to accomodate the taller counterheight took research. The integrated Dishwasher is hidden behind a cabinet front. Directly to the right of the farm sink. Careful consideration and design of custom sized integrated panel was necessary to complete the seemlessness of taller toe kicks.
The higher backsplash creates an airy feel and gave a better working angle for the 6’ 5” chef. The extra height also allowed a subtle pencil tile addition and one extra row subway tiles. Again, we could achieve a customized design with minimal cost, the only custom piece was the corner pantry. And since we had already broken several standard rules, we went for one more. I streched the standand aisle space to 45” & 48” to allow two (or more) people to be in the kitchen and have stools out.
Designing for each client is always a balance of design, budget and creative problem solving. By tweaking the accepted standards, I was able to design a space that was efficient, beatiful and eronomically comfortable. Rule breaking has it’s rewards.