The Mission

This client required a design for her existing kitchen that her husband would love – a kitchen that offered updated styling that fit the homes architecture, modern conveniences and increased utility. The clients overall design vision was to create a clean, bright, fresh looking kitchen.

The Challenge

The home is a 50’s brick ranch with an updated 70’s kitchen in need of a total renovation. The kitchen is very long and narrow with a back section that was not being used to its fullest potential.

The Solution

So the first design decision was to open up space by widening the doorway into the family room. This gave the room a more spacious feel. From there, we used the range and sink wall as focal points to distract from the narrowness of the room. We then reworked the newly design back end of the kitchen to create a new space for entertaining including a wet bar, wine cooler and incorporated elegant storage with glass cabinets to feature their barware and further distinguish the areas function. With no space to put an island, we redesigned the original peninsula.

The Mission

This homeowner is an avid cook and does a lot of entertaining.  Her goals for the new kitchen were to redesign the existing kitchen with esthetics to match the architectural integrity of her beautiful home and create a striking environment in which to entertain friends and host family gatherings. This was one of the last rooms updated in a complete renovation of an older home.

The Challenge

Before

In this diminutive, but cozy suburban kitchen of a busy family there were three things that were musts. The first was that the homeowner wanted to fit a 48” wolf range into the design, second a new Sub Zero refrigerator was to have a blackboard front.  And lastly, a large existing stainless steel sink with drain board was to be reused in the new design. 

The Solution

The range wall which includes a simple wood mantle hood over the Wolf range is the focal point of this compact kitchen. The understated simplicity and the classic lines of the cabinetry match the architecture of the home.  The center island has the prep sink off to the side to give a long uninterrupted work area. The Sapele Mahogany wood top helps to tie together the colors in the floor and ceiling beams and brings this room together. The marble backsplash tiles and chandelier over the island add a touch of elegance to the design.  The overall feel is that of a welcoming and comfortable kitchen that will be a classic for years to come.

The Mission

This remodeling project was driven by the homeowner’s desire for a more functional layout for the kitchen and mudroom area. The homeowner wanted the style of the kitchen to be in keeping with her traditional home but she also wanted some whimsical touches added to match her personality.

The Challenge

The initial challenge was that the existing layout had an adjacent unattractive laundry room by the most frequently used entrance to the home.  After drawing and discussing many design options the decision was made to move the laundry room upstairs and make the mudroom area smaller to afford more space to the kitchen.  By squaring off the angles the space became much larger and more functional.

The Solution

The kitchen originally had a long wall backed up to the existing family room filled up with cabinetry. This unattractive wall was brought to life by centering the hood between two new openings to the family room. A wet bar was then designed to also frame these openings from the family room side.

The “L” shaped island keeps the traffic and guests out of the work space but still leaves plenty of room for 2 or more people to work together preparing a meal. Five stools were a must but the owner wanted as much work space as possible on the island.

Traditional English turnings, Astragal moldings and decorative corbels were used along with many different materials to give more of a furniture look to the kitchen. The intricate eclectic mix of tumbled marble, metal inserts and glass tiles on the backsplash adds visual excitement to the room.  With the help of Interior Designer Janie Petkus, the pierced metal light fixtures, colorful drapes and accessories selections the complemented the tile backsplash and added the whimsical touch the homeowner was looking for.

Co-designer: Janie Petkus of Janie Petkus Interiors in Hinsdale, IL

Here are two of the ads that will be featured:

Full-page

Half-page

The Mission

To provide the proper amount of general, task, and decorative lighting while improving the layout to have a better flow of traffic and provide adequate storage. Incorporate the Arts & Crafts style into the kitchen from the rest of her home.

The Challenge

A cramped U-shaped layout trapped the cook in a small space and blocked the flow of traffic. The corner space between the sink and cooktop is very tight, but the options are limited due to the client having just replaced windows and doors and not wanting to fix the new siding outside. There were also several pipes and waste stacks from the master bath in the soffits we were trying to remove.

The Solution

Decorative pendants clustered over the kitchen table provide both functional and fashionable lighting while three pendants over the island echo the kitchen’s Arts and Crafts style. The refinished wood floors keep this kitchen’s look light and airy. By using a magic corner pullout to the left of the sink, the space is maximized for storage and made it more accessible. It also fit into the original footprint so the windows did not have to be moved.

The pipes were recessed into the joists above so the cabinets were able to go to the ceiling. The old range was replaced with a Wolf cooktop, a Sub Zero refrigerator, and a microwave oven combination graces the far wall. Three drawers underneath the cooktop provide storage for pots, pans and more.

Other cabinet accessories such as a mixer lift, spice drawers, and cutlery and utensil dividers keep surfaces clear and storage easy. An appliance garage to the right of the sink hides away a flat-screen television, plugs for the cell phone and other electronics.

Golden Lighting granite countertops and matching full-height backsplash add an artistic touch to the room while accentuating the warm tones in the cherry cabinetry. A simple stainless steel ventilation hood and sleek cabinet pulls bring a modern touch to this Arts and Crafts kitchen.

Mitch Williams, chair of the 2008 Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk for Baird & Warner’s Glen Ellyn GoodWill Network, noted that proceeds were up $5,000 from 2007, “The growth of the event has been remarkable,” Williams said. “The Kitchen Walk started out as a local event, but now we’re drawing people from all around the Chicago area. We’ve had people coming from Glenview, downtown Chicago and as far south as Wilmington to attend the Kitchen Walk. It’s becoming a real showcase opportunity for Glen Ellyn as a whole.”

Tickets for the 2008 Kitchen Walk included admission to a Gourmet AfterWalk reception at Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio. Chef Joel Chesebro, corporate chef for Wolf and Sub-Zero, prepared the seasonal delights. About 150 people attended the reception.

“This year we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary of helping homeless families throughout DuPage County,” said Joyce Hothan, executive director at Bridge Communities. “Thanks to our Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk partners, Baird & Warner and Drury Design, and to everyone who bought a ticket, we can continue to fulfill our mission of connecting homeless families to a brighter future.”

This year’s walk featured two Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio projects, including the McKay’s home, which recently won an NKBA Design Visions award in the large kitchen category. The 2009 Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk will take place on October 2. Visit www.kitchenwalk.org for more information.

About the Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk

The Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk is Baird & Warner of Glen Ellyn’s 2008 GoodWill Network project. The mission of the Baird & Warner GoodWill Network is to help the homeless and those in need in the communities in which we work and live. Baird & Warner is the oldest real estate company in the United States and continues to value the importance of pairing positive community impact with good business practice. For more information, visit http://goodwill.bairdwarner.com.

2008 Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk Partners

From left to right: Bob Wahlgren and Mark Milligan co-founders of Bridge Communities, Joel Chesebro executive chef for Wolf and Sub-Zero, Gail and Jim Drury of Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio and Mitch Williams, 2008 Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk chair, representing Baird & Warners Glen Ellyn office

About Bridge Communities

From the sponsorship of one family in 1988 to nearly 100 families annually, Bridge Communities’ network includes program partnerships with churches and community groups in locations throughout DuPage County. With a four-star rating from www.charitynavigator.org, Bridge Communities is one of the top-ranked organizations to serve homeless families in the Midwest. For more information about Bridge Communities, visit www.bridgecommunities.org or call 630.545.0610.

About Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio

Founded in 1987, Drury Design has outfitted hundreds of homes in the western suburbs and throughout the Chicago Metro area with distinctive designs - in the kitchen, bath, library or home office. Drury Design Kitchen and Bath studio, located at 512 N. Main Street in Glen Ellyn, exhibits over 20 vignettes in a 7500 sq. ft. space. Along with Grabill, Drury Design represents and displays fine custom cabinetry from a variety of manufacturers, including Leicht from Germany.

To schedule a design consultation, call Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio at 630.469.4980. Photos, design honors and client testimonials may be viewed online at www.drurydesigns.com.

 

The Mission

Re-design the room layout to better define traffic flow, update appliances to accommodate large group entertaining, and increase functionality and storage solutions in the cabinetry.

The Challenge

This client not only required an oversized range and refrigerator, but wanted to add a second dishwasher and prep sink as well. There was no ability to expand the existing floor space, so the biggest challenge was to incorporate these appliances into the space and still provide enough storage for her overflowing cabinets.

The Solution

The back wall was the only logical place for the 60” range and its ventilation system. A Lazy Susan and handy tray cabinet were placed on either side of the range, providing an ample work surface, and ceiling-high wall cabinets with lighted displays provide visual balance. The 48-inch refrigerator was placed in close proximity to the cooking and prep areas for easy access with two large pantries on either side with roll out shelves for easy-to-reach storage.

The island accommodates a prep sink, dishwasher drawers, lots of storage, and seats 7 people comfortably. Its 3-angle shape naturally keeps spectators separated from the cooking zone while still allowing interaction with the cook. The client entertains even more frequently because her kitchen works exactly the way she envisioned it.

Multimedia Release: http://www.tinyurl.com/druryNKBA2008

Glen Ellyn, IL October 1, 2008 — Ranging from an entire house down to a diminutive bath, seven Drury Design projects recently received 2008 NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) Design Vision awards. NKBA’s Chicago Midwest chapter sponsors the Design Vision contest in partnership with Trends magazine. Judged by NKBA Chicago Midwest chapter members, the contest recognizes outstanding kitchen and bath design. Competition is open to designers throughout the Midwest. To enter, designers submitted photos along with a project profile.

Award-winning Kitchen and Bath Designers
Congratulations go out to four Drury Designers who received thirteen total awards, including six honorable mentions.

Gladys Schanstra, CKD, CBD won six awards: first place/large kitchen, third place/large bath and four honorable mentions: other rooms, large bath, small bath, and medium kitchen.

Tina Muller won three awards: second and third place in the large kitchen category and third place in the small kitchen category.

Gail Drury, CMKBD won two awards: second place/large bath and second place/small bath.

Janice Teague, CKD, CBD won two awards, both honorable mentions in the large kitchen category.

“We’re accepting these awards on behalf of our clients,” said Gail Drury, CMKBD president of Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio. “Without their trust, vision and imagination, these projects would never be realized.”

In May 2008, Gail Drury’s English pub display won second place showroom in the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2008 Design Competition.

About Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio

In 2008, Gail Drury, CMKBD celebrates 21 years as the president of Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio. Today, the studio’s projects number over 1,000 homes throughout the Chicago Metro area. Located at 512 N. Main Street in downtown Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the studio exhibits over 25 vignettes in a two level 7500-sq.-ft. space. To interview Gail Drury about kitchen, bath and home design trends, call Jim Drury at 630.469.4980. The studio offers professional quality images ready for use in print and online publications. To preview images, browse Drury Design’s online custom kitchen and bath gallery at http://www.drurydesignsnewsroom.com/gallery.

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“Whether you are contemplating a remodel project now or sometime in the future, this is a great opportunity to learn about all aspects of a home remodel project directly from professional designers in the informal, relaxed atmosphere of our studio.”  Janice Teague, CKD, CBD ( NKBA Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer)

                                                     Before / After (Wheaton, IL)

Seminar #1: Chef-o-phobia  - “The fear of wanting a new kitchen and not knowing how to get it”

Saturday, September 20th at 9a

How in the world do you start a remodel project that seems too big to tackle? Everyone starts with a different idea, we will show you how to sort through the information overload and expand your ideas into a reality.

Seminar #2:  What’s Behind Door #3?

Saturday, October 25th, at 9a

Cabinetry can be the hardest element to research when you’re not directly involved in the industry. Information is sketchy and there are conflicting opinions on what is good and what is not. We will show you examples of what makes a solid cabinet as well as what to stay away from. In addition, we will show you the many storage options available and the latest innovations.

To RSVP simply call 630 469-4980 to reserve your space, or email us at  info@drurydesigns.com and let us know which workshop you would like to attend.   Bring a friend or neighbor if you like but space is limited so don’t forget to let us know that you are coming.