Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2019 - 99

A Texas designer meets challenges
and learns valuable lessons
By Carrie Whitney

RECENTLY PURCHASED RANCH-STYLE HOME

in the sought-after Alamo Heights neighborhood of San Antonio,Texas, called for a significant
update. With a desire to honor the architecture of
the home and a nod toward the traditional, the
homeowners wanted spaces that offered modern
features like a chef 's dream kitchen, a tranquil
master bathroom and a sparkling laundry room.
Jana Valdez, principal interior designer and
kitchen & bath specialist at Haven Design and
Construction, delivered on all three goals. Despite
some small and not-so-small challenges along the
way, she created rooms that could accommodate
the busy lives of the couple and their two children. Through the use of similar - but not always
matching - cabinetry, color palettes and countertops, the designer maintained a consistent style
throughout the home even though each room has
a distinct personality.

LEFT One of the homeowners'

must-have features was an
island to accommodate cooking and homework.
A too-short window is now
disguised by a fabric shade
and cabinet valance.
Valdez created a focal point
with the custom hood and
marble backsplash above the
range top.

ABOVE The butler's pantry

picks up design elements from
the kitchen, like the gray cabinetry and marble backsplash.

ABOVE RIGHT The homeowner

requested space for storing
utensils, so Valdez incorporated organization into the
cabinetry.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
IN THE DREAM KITCHEN

From a "super outdated," French country style
with glazed cabinets and a hoodless range top,
the kitchen has become a bright, family-friendly
space with multiple focal features and a practical
butler's pantry. The first step was to remove the
old cabinets and redesign the space to include a
large work island, although the overall footprint
remained the same.
It was kind of laid out the way it needed to be,
according to Valdez, but that did not mean no
structural changes were made. When she saw the
kitchen, she was immediately bothered by a short
window above the sink and wanted to make it more
proportionate. Unfortunately, the exterior roofline
had a steep pitch and could not accommodate a
taller window. Because the window is recessed, the
designer raised the interior soffit above the window
12 inches and mounted a faux shade over the existing window then added a custom cabinetry valance
above the window to the ceiling. The effect gives
the illusion of a much taller window.
With clients who were avid cooks,Valdez knew
she needed to include a lot of countertop space
and incorporate modern appliances like a roomy
refrigerator, double ovens, a large convection microwave and a gas range top. She added a custom
aluminum range hood with chrome strapping to
serve as ventilation and a focal point.

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Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2019

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