Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2017 - 58

Before and After

From Choppy to Conducive
A closed-off space transforms into a kitchen with a view
FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS WHO LOVE TO ENTERTAIN, their home in Alaska
had a long way to go before it fulfilled their needs. Its lack of storage, dark
materials and divisive floorplan were not ideal for hosting guests throughout
the year. Along with an open plan, the homeowners hoped for a sense of
grandeur that would impress guests and take advantage of the mountain
and ocean views.
"Other requests included a larger dining area, a gas fireplace to replace the
pellet stove in the living area and a powder room with a bit of sparkle," said
designer Jason Clifton of Juneau-based Bauer/Clifton Interiors, who worked
alongside designer Jeremy Bauer of the same firm on the project.

ABOVE The mercury glass

pendants above the island
represent over-scaled crystal
droplets for a unique take on
the standard chandelier.

BOTTOM RIGHT Before its rede-

sign, this kitchen was closed oﬀ
from the mountain and ocean
views along Smuggler's Cove
outside of Juneau, Alaska.

FIXING THE INEFFICIENT LAYOUT

The original layout was divided up into a home office area near the entryway,
a small dining area, a guest bathroom, the kitchen and an all-season room.
Enclosed in glass, the all-seasons room probably was meant to be an extra
living space, but it served no purpose for the homeowners' lifestyle. In addition, the glass did not hold up to the cold Alaskan winters.
"We found the existing layout challenging, since the proportions of each
space would not work together with just cosmetic upgrades," said Bauer,
adding that if they kept the guest bathroom next to the kitchen its original
size, the redesigned kitchen would lose potential space.
With these issues in mind, the design team decided to start with a blank
slate by gutting an entire section of the home, from the entryway to the kitchen and the all-seasons room.The existing foundation of the all-seasons room
was reused for the kitchen expansion, and the glass enclosure was removed.
To create a seamless transition from the original kitchen into the new
addition, a support beam was recessed into the ceiling and a partition wall
between the kitchen and dining area was removed. Another support beam
was installed along the living area to redistribute the load, allowing for an
open great room with a central dining area.
The kitchen still needed more room for the homeowners' collection of
plates, tableware and linens. Space was then taken from the overly large

guest bath to form a butler's pantry, complete with
additional storage. The guest bath then became a
more efficient powder room off of the entry hall.
"Once this plan of action was agreed upon, the
new layout came together seamlessly, including a
kitchen doubled in size, an expansive dining area
that can seat up to 14 people and a powder room
adorned with enough sparkle to impress any visiting guest," said Bauer, explaining that AutoCAD
was used to complete this project.
THE NEW ADDITIONS

To take better advantage of the view, the design
team installed bigger windows and doors in the
kitchen and living room. The original fireplace in
the living room was relocated to an interior wall so
four more windows could be installed. With the
addition of new windows and a door, the former
all-seasons room now boasts an efficient sink â
and dishwasher area with a view.

BY ERINN LOUCKS

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

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2017

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