Would you want an ugly kitchen? Certainly, not. Well, neither did Boothbay’s Knickerbocker Group’s Cosy Harbor clients. The kitchen in their 1980s spec house was not only dated, it had limited storage, an awkward traffic pattern, a low ceiling and was isolated from the rest of the house. The hosts were trapped in their “ugly kitchen.”
Elaine Murdoch, CKD, CBD created a unique and environmentally friendly design solution that transformed their kitchen and earned a grand prize award.
The “Ugly Kitchen: Before and After” design contest sponsored by the Maine Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) was open to kitchen designers from around the state.
Key elements of Murdoch’s design included removal of interior walls to open the space, and installation of gorgeous floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with a bar top height opening and glass to define the hall area without closing it off from the kitchen. Support posts for the second floor were ‘hidden’ behind this same cabinetry.
Murdoch’s solution to concealing plumbing and electrical services in an already low ceiling was to design a perimeter soffit, trimmed to create the effect of a tray ceiling.
Beautiful materials in a beach glass color pallet were used: handmade pewter cabinet pulls, unique tile backsplash, environmentally friendly eucalyptus wood cabinets, and bamboo flooring.
The end result is a functional and beautiful kitchen – a miraculous transformation that has provided a thankful family with a wonderful space in which to live and play.
Murdoch is a certified kitchen and bath designer. She has been a member of the NKBA since 1987 and is currently serving as the chapter representative.
For more information on Murdoch’s success and kitchen and bath designs, please contact the Knickerbocker Group in Boothbay at 633-3818.
