Kitchen & Bath Buisness November/December 2024 - 54

SOL UTIONS
" You don't want to have a dancehall in the
middle of a kitchen, " said Clendenon. " The
banquette helps fi ll the space to make it look
intentional. "
Additionally, to use some of the new wall
length made possible by closing the dining
room doorway and add more interest than
an extended wall of cabinets, she included a
coff ee bar.
" It meets the needs of the client, " said the
designer. " Th at is what I always want to say at
the end of a job. We're very client-centric. "
CHALLENGE #3 - ACHIEVING BUDGET BALANCE
Getting the space right and ensuring functionality
tailored to these homeowners took a
considerable portion of the budget. In addition
to the plumbing updates, a full rewiring of the
house was needed - a positive because it allowed
Clendenon to remove many unsightly speakers
in the ceiling but also expensive.
" For this kitchen to work and work well, it
needed some structural changes, " she said. " We
were designing for a young couple who had a
good budget, but they had a big list. "
To off set these costs, the In Detail Design
team got creative with materials and fi nishes to
make sure the kitchen's appearance was as good
as its functionality. For the fl ooring, which was
replaced throughout the home, the team chose
LVT, which is more aff ordable than wood or
tile and quicker to install. Slab-door cabinetry
was a less expensive choice but got an upgrade
with bronze hardware, while the coff ee bar cabinets
have metal inserts for doors. One standout
feature is the range hood, which looks like burnished
bronze but is faux-fi nished wood.
" We are in a position to help clients maximize
the money they have, not just designing
for people who have a lot of money, " said Clendenon.
" Don't make assumptions. Not everybody
has the same needs and wants. "
Keeping the focus on the homeowners, their lifestyle
and their individual needs might mean challenging
the status quo, but it will lead to more successful
results and more satisfi ed clients.
RIGHT Thanks to a courageous
decision to close an entryway
between the kitchen and
dining room, Clendenon was
able to continue the line of the
kitchen along the wall and give
her clients a coff ee bar they
love. Adding metal inserts
to the upper cabinet doors
brought a custom look to the
modest fl at-front cabinets.
RIGHT After shifting a doorway
to the far side of the kitchen,
which required structural
changes, Cheryl Kees
Clendenon of Pensacola,
Fla.-based In Detail Interiors
had more useable wall space
for this kitchen. The cost of
construction required the
design team to pull back on
materials but not on style. A
turquoise subway tile installed
vertically adds pizzazz, while
the hood only looks like metal.
A simple wood box, a faux
fi nisher gave it the look of
burnished bronze.
SOURCES: DESIGNER: Cheryl Kees Clendenon, DGD, Liz Lapan & Libby Kees - In Detail Interiors ; PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Gray; ● BACKSPLASH: Bedrosians; ● BANQUETTE SEATING:
JF Fabrics; COUNTERTOPS: Cambria ● BACKSPLASH: Bedrosians; ● CABINET HARDWARE: Top Knobs; ● CABINETS & SHELVES: : Paulk Woodworking; ● DINING CHAIRS: Four Hands ;
● FAUCET: Delta ;● FLOORING: Tesoro ; ● HOOD: Paulk Woodworking & Big Finish LLC ; ● LIGHTING: Hudson Valley Lighting ; ● METAL CABINET DOOR INSERTS: McNichols ; ● PAINT:
Benjamin Moore ● RANGE: Café ; ● SINK: Blanco ; ● TABLE: Dovetail Furniture ; ● VENTILATION: Zephyr
54
/ NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024

Kitchen & Bath Buisness November/December 2024

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