After 25 years living with the same kitchen, Dennis and Kathy Kolsun of South Fayette knew it was time for an upgrade. Working with Don’s Appliances and Tyler Folnsbee, kitchen designer with Luxe Home & Design, the couple transformed a traditional kitchen into one that was more modern, complete with a line of Gaggenau appliances and Eggersmann cabinetry.
“When we built our home, we bought the original appliances from Don’s. We had a good history with them. We put in all KitchenAid appliances for the most part, which still worked fine after all these years,” Kathy says. However, the couple wanted to upgrade to newer appliances to go with a sleek look for the kitchen.
Cabinetry offers unique look
While shopping for new cabinetry, the couple was drawn to the Eggersmann line the instant they walked into the Luxe showroom. One of the most unique aspects of the newly redesigned kitchen is the veneer that covers this cabinetry. “It is called Macassar Amaro, an exotic wood that seems to have more depth than a more traditional Macassar Ebony,” says Folnsbee. “There are multiple shades of red and black throughout it and less two-tone.” The grain of the veneer is matched to make it look like one continuous piece of wood that extends across the length the cabinetry—all 21 feet of it. “I don’t think many people realize how much work it takes to stitch all that wood together,” Folsnbee adds. “It is really amazing.” The cabinets are finished in a glossy lacquer, giving it a rich, deep look that is not only striking, but also makes the room feel bigger. “The wood is so beautiful and highly lacquered that I would like to have this in my car,” jokes Dennis. With the exception of the double oven, they also covered the appliances with the same finish. To contrast the deep tones of the Macassar wood, Folnsbee applied a glossy white acrylic to the upper cabinetry. A waterfall island gives the appearance that it was made from one giant block of granite because it is all mitered together with no visible seams. “The leathered finish on the island gives you more texture than a matte finish,” Folnsbee says. The backsplash is the same granite material as the island, which he says was shaved down to be only one centimeter of thickness, making it more lightweight. The porcelain floors tie into the marble-looking Caesarstone quartz countertops with its large-format tiles.
Gaggenau appliances get results
The Kolsuns say the design project was a collaborative effort between Luxe and Don’s Appliances. “The two of them worked as a team to pull it together for us,” Dennis says. “Having worked with Don’s before, we felt comfortable that we were getting good products,” Kathy adds. The Kolsuns chose Gaggenau appliances and couldn’t be happier with how they look and how they work. Folnsbee notes that one of the nice things about the Gaggenau brand is how it is capable of integrating with the European style cabinetry. “Both Eggersmann and Gaggenau are German companies, and they both have a super-clean, unique look to them,” he says. The integrated refrigerator and freezer columns have stainless interiors, something that is more common in commercial kitchens. “No one else is doing a stainless steel interior integrated column,” says Folnsbee. The Kolsuns also have a separate integrated 18-inch wine column. They also installed the Gaggenau combination steam oven and a full-size oven, along with a warming drawer. The couple initially hesitated before selecting the Gaggenau induction cooktop. “We’ve always used gas cooktops, so I was concerned how my big pots would fit on the induction cooktop,” Kathy says. “Matt Hillebrand of Don’s Appliances told me to bring pots and pans to the showroom to lay them out on the induction—everything fit! Then he demonstrated how fast water would boil, and I think that sold us, along with the sleek look. We really are amazed at how easy it is to cook on that. It’s fantastic.” Another unique element of the kitchen is that none of the appliances have handles. “There is a polished stainless steel channel that is recessed into the cabinet, which allows you to pull from the backside of the door or drawer, eliminating the need for handles and really streamlining the design,” Folnsbee adds. “When you look at the kitchen, it is simple but elegant, modern and sleek, but fits in the traditional atmosphere of our home,” Kathy says. “It is such a joy to cook in this kitchen with appliances that have the newest and best technology that makes cooking a breeze, and with a design that is so beautiful. The combination makes cooking every day such a pleasure.”
