Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2017 - 76

Balanced Budget

SOURCES
DESIGNER: Erica Kiechlin,
KBF by Audi Contractors;
PHOTOGRAPHER:

Renee Alexander
CABINETS: Homecrest

Cabinetry;

COUNTERTOP: Granite;
FAUCET: Brizo;

HARDWARE: Top Knobs;
HARDWOOD FLOORS:

Impressions Denali;
SINK: Blanco

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

With a $75,000 budget cap for their kitchen and flooring, homeowners turned drab into fab

ABOVE Clean lines and simplic-

ity meet elegance in the spacious, light-ﬁlled kitchen.
BOTTOM RIGHT The former

kitchen was too small and
dark; opening up the wall
added space and luster to the
formerly drab space.

BY HILARY DANINHIRSCH

OR A COUPLE WHO EN-

TERTAIN REGULARLY ,

having a large and
functional kitchen is
not a luxury but a necessity. The Sterling,
Va., homeowners engaged Erica Kiechlin,
a kitchen and bath designer with KBF by Audi
Contractors, to spearhead the project.
The majority of the $75,000 budget in this fixer-upper, one-level home was put toward replacing all of the floors throughout the house, as well
as creating a kitchen that was open and airy, while
maintaining a transitional look that included
modern elements. They particularly sought light
cabinetry with clean lines as well as a waterfall
edge on their countertops. With the exception of
the espresso machine, the budget did not include
the appliances, as the couple had previously purchased their refrigerator, dishwasher and oven.
Perhaps the biggest challenge from a practical standpoint was what to do with the outdated
fireplace that separated the kitchen from the dining room. It was an eyesore and an obstacle to
the open layout they sought. To create one larger
space, the fireplace had to be removed altogether.
Coupled with removing walls, the most significant expense, according to the designer, was
replacing the windows.
"Adding any window into a house is pretty
pricey because you have to install a header over it,
which is not economical," she explained.

"Lighting. Fortunately for the clients, the home is on one level. "We decided

to completely knock out the fireplace and add skylights, since there would
be a hole in the roof," said Kiechlin.
That made sense economically, as not only did it add natural lighting
and maximize the light source, but it saved them from having to patch or
replace the roof.The large picture window is south facing, resulting in cost
savings on the heating bill, as the room receives an ideal amount of sunlight.
"We put everything on dimmer switches so they are able to effectively
use lighting to save on their electricity bill," added Kiechlin.
"Flooring. She didn't run into many unforeseen expenses, though the original
budget was bumped up by about $5,000 because of the clients' flooring
choices. After that, the budget remained a strict $75,000.
To keep a warm feeling without going too dark, the homeowners chose
gray-toned floors. Even though they went with a wide-plank floor, which
is a bit pricier than other types of flooring, Kiechlin nonetheless was able to
avoid replacing some of the subfloor, replacing only those older areas that
were sagging or dipping before they laid the hardwood.
"Going into a wider board made the room feel bigger," she explained.

Kitchen & Bath Business / JANUARY 2017 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

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Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2017

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