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Simple Kitchen Makeover
Designer Profile
Kenneth Pfaff
Kenneth Pfaff - Interior Decoration and Design
811 112th Street SW STE E302
Everett Washington, USA
425.513.2422 Qualification: Sheffield School of Interior Design
Specialist Areas: Residential and Small Business Interiors, bolts to paint and Eclectics
Kenneth develops interiors from blank slate to those needing just general enhancement (a.k.a. design-in-a-day). The blending of styles (eclectic) is one key effort Kenneth strives to do for his clients because he feels most people tend to gravitate toward one style but in actuality already own items from many styles. Although deft in eclectic, Kenneth has helped clients with designs firmly rooted in a single theme, whether traditional, safari, modern or country.
One particular project in late 2003 provided quite a challenge as the client rents an apartment with strict landlord rules about decoration; combine that with the edgy lifestyle of the occupant and Kenneth was certain this was just the right challenge for him. In this one small bedroom apartment, he had to gracefully merge neo-classical, safari and Asian styles into one cohesive mood. He even gave a name to the thematic mood - Explorer. (This project will be available to view online in the near future).
 In this article, I will describe a very classy upgrade that will recreate a functional but boring kitchen into an inviting area that will elicit that 'wow' factor we all like to hear when visitors enter our homes. With a little over thirty minutes of effort, I added a combination exposed beam and stained glass (false) sub-ceiling to my kitchen with nothing more than a few pre-cut beams, two empty picture frames and vinyl stained-glass window film, a screwdriver, and a few bits of hardware. Want to know the best part? I did it for a little over $100.00 and didn't have to use a saw.The two rooms you notice when entering any standard apartment are the entry way (obviously) and the kitchen; the standard galley-style kitchen that is all function and very little class. This is especially true in apartment complexes that I have lived in, complete with plain-fronted cabinets and the ever-popular fluorescent light fixture.In many cases, the apartment managers / landlords don't mind if you paint or add a few minor touches, but replacing light fixtures or appliances or counter tops isn't allowed, nor would you replace these expensive items anyway. |
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You are stuck with all function . . . or are you? Look through the photos accompanying this article and you will see that my plain galley becomes a warm and inviting kitchen complete with 'stained glass,' exposed beams and a deep golden glow. This upgrade has four phases, and you can do any or all of these phases to suit your interest - remember, once I had assembled all of my pieces, this upgrade took about thirty minutes. Let's get started. The cabinets have a rich wood grain, and by removing the doors to the upper cabinets I have instantly upgraded my kitchen into an open pantry look that I really enjoy. The openness of the cabinets now allows me to add collectibles and other knick-knacks. |
To add class to your kitchen, take a structural inventory of the room itself by noticing the details in your cabinets. In all of my apartments the cabinets looked very plain, but on closer examination only the doors were boring. The wood facing behind and surrounding the doors was deep and rich. The cabinets never reached to the ceiling, and it is this kind of kitchen that I am going to help you upgrade in this article. If you have full-length cabinets, don't worry. You can still upgrade the look of your kitchen with at least one of my suggestions I describe below, but don't hesitate to think outside the box a little. You might come up with your own solution and create that wonderful kitchen you only wish the apartment came with at the outset.
In this Section:
Designer Profiles | Spring into Color with Zara Stender | 2005 Color Forecast by Zara Stender | The Mythology of Yellow by Zara Stender | Apartment Kitchen Makeover with Kenneth Pfaff | Sam MacAlister Features a Loft Proposal | Color Consultant - Rhondda Carnevale | Find a design school in your area |
Designer Profiles | Spring into Color with Zara Stender | 2005 Color Forecast by Zara Stender | The Mythology of Yellow by Zara Stender | Apartment Kitchen Makeover with Kenneth Pfaff | Sam MacAlister Features a Loft Proposal | Color Consultant - Rhondda Carnevale | Find a design school in your area |
