PFK-Spring-2018

44 Pittsburgh’s Finest Kitchens | Greater Pittsburgh | Spring 2018 Edition “The client wanted to incorporate the dining room as well as the living room into the kitchen space. They wanted the space to feel airy, have better traffic flow, include a center island, infuse natural light and create a more elegant statement than what the original kitchen was providing.” To take on just the initial rework of the space, significant structural changes were necessary to open and shore-up walls. The Chief Architectural Designer of Master Remodelers, Junko Higashibeppu, oversaw these structural changes and worked closely with their lead carpenter, Mark Purnell, in forming the new space. The renovation corrected structural issues and ensured the home was secure. From there, lighting options and additional storage were added, along with large, full-view windows and doors that opened to a lush, private backyard and deck. Even with these changes, the team was able to preserve the architectural integrity of the home. McQuaide comments, “there is now a synergy of entertainment space and utility in this open floor plan kitchen design.” But how did the renovation get started? The challenges of a log cabin The home’s log cabin build posed several challenges for the team. For starters, they had to design within the limitations of post and beam log home construction. Because the walls are solid wood, there was no cavity to run the electrical wiring and plumbing lines, and the rough surface of the wood made it difficult to install cabinetry straight. Similar to the walls, there was no cavity in the ceiling for recessed lights. With all of these challenges, designing an efficient working kitchen was a bit difficult. However, just as much creativity goes into the physical build as it does into the design, and the Master Remodelers’ team was ready for the challenge. Finding the right solutions Instead of taking away the entire existing pantry space and adding it to the kitchen, which was the client’s thought, the Master Remodelers’ team suggested reducing the pantry by a couple of feet and adding that square footage to the kitchen area. By doing so, they now had a handsome, storage-infused center. It also allowed them to move a plumbing line and heating duct that was disrupting the flow. The smaller pantry was redesigned for maximum efficiency, and a new window allowed for additional natural light. From there, the team created larger openings between the kitchen and sitting area to connect the great room with the kitchen, which further allowed for more space around the island. To create continuity between the existing dining area and the kitchen—and to provide ceiling cavity for recessed lighting—suspended tongue & groove board was added between the beams. For a cohesive look, and to conceal existing structural pilaster near the peninsula, they wrapped it with drywall and added floating shelves to transition from cabinetry to drywall to wood wall. The peninsula end cabinet is now accessible from the dining room side. To tie the look together, a new seamless natural color hardwood floor was installed throughout the rooms. Choosing lighter colors for the granite and chiseled limestone tile backsplash, as well as installing glass doors for wall cabinets further brightened the rustic space. The custom cabinetry was made of rift-sewn oak, and to top it off, LED recessed, under-cabinet lighting was installed. The client wanted to incorporate the dining room as well as the living room into the kitchen space… ”