October 29 - Kitchen Demo

Here we go - demolition start date! First order of business is to selectively demo areas of the kitchen that may affect design decisions, esp. the exterior wall and the existing soffit with concealed ductwork.

Oct 21-27 Cost Agreement and Product Specifications

After a lot of number crunching and some back and forth (contractor+architect; architect+clients), the clients and I have settled on all the product selections required for the clients and contractor to sign off on the contract sum.

Oct 29 will be our construction start date. All of us are looking forward to it. Stay tuned to this blog for photos of the construction progress!

October 20 - Finalized Kitchen Drawings

October 12-18 Cost and Schedule Estimates

This week, the contractors and I began our close collaboration. In order to pin down project scope, we met on and off site and through sketches and measurements developed a spreadsheet of itemized construction costs and schedules, for the clients to review in the following week. Here is a sketch from my notebook illustrating our discussions. The page of the left is about how to frame out the entry wood screens. The one on the right is about how to integrate the kitchen built-in bench, bookshelves and window frames.

October 13 - Kitchen Layout

Spent some time piecing together IKEA stock cabinets today to fit our conceptual layout. After arranging the cabinets, I overlaid our custom elements to test if they are compatible. A few questions that these drawings raise:

• Are the high cabinets at the dining area better off as custom elements due to the complicated condition at the corner of the room (intersection of bench, shelving, etc.) and also to ensure perfect fit to wall height?
• Should the wall cabinet that is in alignment with the central island be featured with glass doors?
• Should the wall cabinet start out with open top and bottom shelving as shown (far right of perspective image)?
• What exactly is the total wall height we have to work with (to be determined after selective demolition of the existing soffit by the contractors)?
• Should we install open shelving at the curved side of the island? Should that face of the island be curved like the edge of the countertop above, or remain straight?

October 11 - Kitchen Product Selection

The clients were as usual very proactive. During the weekend, they did a lot of research on products I have suggested. This is a summary of some products we have selected so far. Again, blog entries are intended as working notes and do not represent final decisions. Images of all products are included below.

Refrigerator:
(We're looking for a counter-depth model with french doors and external water dispenser.)
GE Profile, 20.9 Cu Ft, 35 3/4 in x 69 5/8 in x 31 3/8 in, Bottom freezer, Stainless, PFCS1PJYSS
OR
GE Profile, 23.3 Cu Ft, 35 3/4 in x 69 5/8 in x 29 5/8 in, Side-by-side, Stainless, PSCS3TGXSS (I prefer this one because of the slightly smaller depth. Note that there is no bottom freezer.)

Range/oven:
GE Profile, 30" Dual Fuel Slide-In Range, 30 in x 36 in x 28 1/4 in, P2S975SEMSS
(GE Website says product is no longer available for purchase, need to buy elsewhere or find updated model with new number.)

Hood:
Zephyr Typhoon, 30", AK2100AS (850 CFM)

Dishwasher:
Bosch 500 Evolution Stainless 24", SHE55M15UC
OR
Kenmore Stainless Energy Star 24", 02213743000 Model# 13743

Microwave:
GE Profile?

Sink:
(This is actually a new suggestion based on recent emails. I like that it meets a number of criteria including curved edges, double sink of equal sizes, generous length but small width. Seems like a great match to the proportions of the kitchen island.)
Blancoperforma, Double Bowl, #440110, Medium

Faucet:
Kohler Simplice K596-VS, Vibrant Stainless

October 9 - Kitchen Material Palette

Looks like the material palette for the kitchen is coming together. We have tentatively narrowed down our tiles and cabinet selections to the following. (Selections listed in this blog are not final until confirmed in the final draft of the Specifications Guide.)

Cabinets: IKEA Akurum frame, Lidingo white cabinets
Interior Fittings: IKEA Rationell
Hardware: TBD



















Floor: Villeroy and Boch, Zoom, Brown, 45cmX45cm (18"X18" approx), matte finish













Backsplash: Oceanside, 1"X1", single-wide, amber, non-iridescent, Tessera (more organic edging) or Muse (cleaner edging)


























In order to complete our palette , I made a trip to the stones warehouse today to find a granite for the countertops. Here are three that I like:

Bin 30- Kashmir White
Bin 83 - Serenata
Bin 51 - Sage Brush

They all contain subtle brown specks or grains over a lighter base color and would work well with the rusty orange and offwhite color scheme we have developed for the kitchen. These snapshots don't do the real stones justice. (They appear more gray on the computer screen than in reality.) To follow up, it would be great if the clients get a chance to visit the warehouse to see the slabs in their entirety.

October 8 – Draft Specifications Guide

To follow up on the walkthrough yesterday, I outlined every construction task item in a draft specifications guide, so that the owners and I could request and see the contractors' preliminary responses to each task. The guide will be our key tool from here on out to refine and finalize design decisions.

While the guide is based on the project matrix that the owners filled out a while back, it’s been adapted to accommodate itemized cost and schedule estimates from the contractor. For now, this is just to get some general written comments and ballpark figures from the contractors. The contractors and I will refine it a couple of times collaboratively before we call it final. (I won’t show the guide on this blog since it will start to contain cost items that are better kept private.)

The purpose of this pass is to help the owners define their project scope and confirm what they can and cannot afford, not to commit to specific products quite yet. In the final pass, the columns will be a lot more specific as follows: room, element, item, product make, model, #, color, quantity, unit cost, material cost, additional % for labor cost, total cost, estimated time.

This guide will be significant not just for budget but for sequencing as well. Based on the contractors’ feedback, I can determine the order I will refine the design of these features with the clients: kitchen layout, wood frame for antique screens, fireplace mantel and bench, kitchen bookshelves, kitchen window frame and bench. Because of the time constraint of the project, I want to make sure my design process is as in sync as possible with the contractors’ construction process.

October 7 - Contractor Walkthrough

We're officially switching gears from options to decisions.

Today, the owners and I walked through the house with the contractors (a contractor I've had the pleasure of working with, and his partner) for the first time. By the way, I've got to give the clients the credit - since they have been very decisive and focused, we have been able to keep the project on schedule, and I was able to give the contractors a sense of minimal scope and wishlist items right there and then on their first walkthrough.

We started out in the kitchen, describing both layout and types of appliances we have in mind. Right away, the contractors understood the quality of space we were going for - spacious, sunlit and airy. They responded with helpful suggestions especially on how to give the illusion of height: selectively demolishing and possibly raising the existing soffit that wraps around two walls, and removing the existing doorframe entirely so that the wall opening becomes open all the way from floor to ceiling. In terms of appliances, we agreed that GE Profile and Bosch were suitable lines for the kind of cooking the owners like to do. For hood, we talked about more powerful models (see previous post below) and analyzed the venting condition. For floor and backsplash tiles, I had just received some samples the day before and was able to show those to the contractors. In terms of customizing IKEA cabinets, we spent some time brainstorming on how to execute the intended curved back of the island. We also discussed the primary mechanical, electrical (esp. outlets at the island and recessed lighting throughout ceiling), plumbing items (esp. relocation of sink to stand alone island.) The consenus was that since the existing kitchen would be demolished and we could start from scratch, all of the items we walked through are feasible. The contractors also suggested looking into the insulation condition of the exterior wall and fixing it as necessary.

After we left the kitchen, we took a quick spin through the entire house to give the contractors a sense of how much area requires repainting and recarpeting (3rd floor and stairs up to 3rd floor). Then we ended back at the entry and living room to discuss design intent there. We examined the fireplace a bit, to see if the existing built-in seating can in fact be completely demolished since it may be partially stone. Other than that, the work required for the living room consists of some strategic paint job and simple floor refinishing and electrical work. At the entry, I explained to the contractors the design concept for the custom antique screen and they understood it right away as a key feature in the house and an opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship. The contractors also agreed that it was a good idea to replace the mirrored panels on the closet walls with wood panels to match. They also offered to do the same with the wall-mounted mirrors along the lenght of the entry.

And of course, at the end of our meeting, the owner and I invited the contractors to check out this blog to get a closer look into our progress so far!

October 6 - Living Room Pendant

Just saw this in a West Elm catalog and about flipped. This could be perfect for the living room. It is a fraction of the cost of some of the fixtures we were looking at previously but can provide the same glowing, ethereal effect. And is the right size, about 23.5" wide by 21" high. And - does not scream West Elm which, yes, I consider a plus. After reviewing last week's post about lighting, the clients had said, "What about bamboo?" I immediately liked their idea of using the material of the fixture as a way to add texture to the room, but was waiting for the right fixture to "come along." Maybe this one can do the trick? It's made from palm leaves woven over a metal frame.

October 6 - Appliances: Hoods

Tomorrow is another exciting benchmark for the project: the official signoff of the owner-contractor agreement. Since there are now more people in the picture, we'll need everyone to stick to the line of communication as: subcontractors - contractor - me - clients.

The bulk of tomorrow's meeting will be spent on a walkthrough with the contractor. Before and after that we will discuss the finer points of the contract and iron out pending logistics that depend on his understanding of project scope.

During the walkthrough, my plan is to bring him up to speed on the preliminary decisions that the clients have made along with the items in discussion, just to get his immediate reaction. To follow up, I plan to transform the project matrix that the clients filled in a few meetings ago into a draft specifications guide, then hand it over to the contractor to fill in his initial comments on budget and schedule.

During the walkthrough, a big question for the contractor is the capacity of the current kitchen mechanical ductwork, electricity and plumbing, and how much rerouting for each item will be required to accomplish our new layout. Because the clients will be doing a lot of cooking, it would make sense to find a powerful (yet quiet and low-maintenance) hood. The catch is that in order to keep the budget and schedule sane, the hood must work with the current duct dimensions.























Since the power of an average hood is about 350-400 CFM, I think we should consider something in the 600CFM-850CFM ballpark. There are two hoods that seem to work for my clients’ needs (Zephyr Typhoon AK2142 850 CFM) and (Broan Elite E661 550 CFM.) For either to work, I am just crossing my fingers that the current ducts are at least 7" wide.

I looked at a ton more hoods, but ruled them out. Kobe and Vent-A-Hood have strong hoods but break down more often (lower quality products.) GE Monogram, Viking Pro are amazing and known to be high-quality but are too pricey for our budget and also too powerful for my clients’ needs. They are also by definition noisy - comes with the territory of having high-powered fans.

October 4 - Ikea and Home Depot Outing

As usual the clients followed through on their "homework," which makes me happy since it moves the project right along. They spent the day before checking out kitchen sinks (specifically undermounted ones with curved edges) at Home Depot and cabinets at Ikea (specifically the Lidingo line that my friend has recently installed and has recommended.) They enjoyed getting to feel the material and get a sense of proportions; I enjoyed hearing their first-hand observations.

In terms of cabinets, the clients' conclusion is that the Lidingo line looks great and feels durable (eventually we will also find some robust hardware that will give them a more glamorous = non-Ikea look) and in fact offer a lot of internal organizational mechanisms that would work well with the kind of cooking they intend to do. Their favorite mechanisms include the drawer dampers (unbelievably unaffordable - you gotta love Ikea for that) and the integral lazy susan for corner cabinets. We sat in their empty living room and poured over the Ikea catalog together in order to mark up specific features and cabinet styles that they like and don't like. My work to follow is to gather the selected pieces and propose some combinations that work well with their kitchen layout. In addition, I will design the built-in bookshelves and bench to match. I think what we should buy a single cabinet door soon as a product sample and sit in right in the existing kitchen for more precise matching.

In terms of sink and faucet, the husband is an avid cook who is not afraid to break out deep pots and wide woks for a normal meal, so he definitely wants a big, durable sink that can take some impact, along with a high-arch faucet with a sprayhead and maybe a pull-out hose. The wife likes to hang out at the kitchen (her own joke is that she plans to use the kitchen counters for paperwork and bills!) so she wants a big sink that can hold enough dirty dishes and keep them out of sight. Joking aside, she bakes, so it is true that we need to give her a nice, wide kitchen counter to work at. The kitchen island with the sink will work perfectly for that.

Based on our discussion, I did more research on sinks and faucets, and here are some options that I think the clients may like.

October 4 - Appliances

On our way to meet the clients, and just thought I would post some images of kitchen appliances here beforehand to further our discussions. This blog is turning into quite the visual aid and meeting notes for our ongoing meetings! These are product lines the clients had indicated they liked a couple weeks ago and I would like to confirm that their preferences remain the same now that we have a new kitchen layout.

October 1 - Kitchen Layout Development

Based on the central island scheme that we all like, we made some sketches together to talk about specific dimensions and elements. After a number of reiterations, we arrived at a layout that incorporates wall-mounted cabinets, bookshelves, built-in bench along three walls, along with an island with a curved edge to allow for easy circulation in and out of the kitchen. For the backsplash and two of the walls, we plan to try a brighter, more surprising color (we are considering a rusty orange to start) in order to highlight the offwhite of the built-in elements. As an added contrast, we talked about finding a small lighting fixture (if the walls are orange, this lighting fixture can be an intense blue or green) to hang right above the dining table. (The rest of the kitchen will be illumiated with a combination of recessed ceiling lights and under-cabinet lights.) We had a fun time brainstorming right in the kitchen since we were able to"act out" the layout. Suddenly we could all "see" the completed design.

October 1 - Kitchen Overall Schemes

Most of our meeting on October 1 was spent on the kitchen - while in the kitchen. We started out comparing the pros and cons of two overall schemes. The one at the bottom is similar to the existing conditions, except for the addition for a seating height counter at the bar and a built-in bench. The scheme at the top is the one we preferred. It extends the counter space along the long wall, and adds a island in the center of the kitchen as a central focal and social element. The built-in bench becomes more a necessity than a choice in this scheme due to the more contrained space at the dining area. We agree that the new layout will transform what currently feels like a utilitarian kitchen with awkward flow into a more unified, open and welcoming space.

October 1 - Living Room Color Scheme

October 1 was the day immediately after closing, so the clients and I took the opportunity to meet on site. We browsed through a few images I brought in. We agreed that the one below works as a reference for our intended living room color scheme.



Rather than painting the walls at the fireplace or installing actual wood panels on them, we are interested in applying a high-quality (also eco-friendly and hand painted) wallpaper by the Arizona-based company Avignon. We like the colors Urbane and Decorum. The particular paper we like looks like stone and would add a subtle texture that can warm up the entire living room. In terms of budget, this is more ambitious than painting, but hopefully with the money we are saving on cabinets and wood screens, this is something we can afford.

September 30 - Lighting Concept

Very exciting day - the clients closed on their house! Meanwhile, I thought I would do a little more product research online in preparation for our next design meeting.

I keep envisioning what you'd see when you walk through the main door and look through the new screens. I have this image in my head of a glowing living room beyond, so that the dark wood screens are backlit and appear even more intricate. The clients like earthtones and I am imagining for them a living room with very muted and creamy brown walls and strong white built-in features, with small hits of dark wood finishes for contrast. The impressive two-story walls that the fireplace is set within can be highlighted with a special finish material (wood? something stonelike?) If costs prohibits that, we can go with the universal Plan B: paint (not ideal, but a plan B nonetheless.) In front of the two-story walls, I imagine for the clients either a large pendant lamp, or a cluster of three small pendant lamps, to really draw your eye straight up to the ceiling. Below are some of the lamps I found - all modern spins on the traditional lantern motif, all super lightweight and almost ethereal.