Photo Credit: Damon Tucci

Striated bamboo flooring, exotic Baricatto granite, and custom blended mosaic tile were among the luxurious accents that not only transformed an 18-year-old Orlando, Florida  kitchen, but also expertly blended it into an adjacent living room and an adjoining laundry room.

Designer, Krista Agapito, also highly customized the first floor of Mary and Hank Moore’s large Cypress Point home in several other ways.  She created a tri-level island that combines seating, food prepping, and visual division for the kitchen, while keeping everything at a comfortable level for the Moore’s, who are both tall.

 ”The knee wall has 12-inch cherry baseboard with tile above it,” says Agapito, who is based at S&W Kitchens Winter Park, Florida showroom. “It has a built-in Wolf steamer next to the prep sink, which is made of hammered nickel.  The design of the island hides the sink from view.”

The tile, which also was used for backsplashes, is a blend of crushed glass, two hand-made porcelain tiles, and a metal tile.

Next, the designer installed glazed cherry kitchen cabinetry by Holiday Kitchens, and then carried the wood and the look into the other rooms. In the living room she placed a custom cherry built-in bar that has an onyx glaze, the same blended tile backsplash, a wine rack and a cooler.

She positioned a built-in, cherry hutch-style desk between the two rooms that can be used for paying bills, making phone calls and for storage. Then the same cabinetry and tile were installed in the laundry room, which now boasts an air sink for washing delicates.

The striated bamboo flooring “is the wild card,” notes Agapito. “It was installed throughout the kitchen, laundry room, living room, and a nearby “imagination” and computer room.  Besides being ‘green’ and a renewable wood, this bamboo is very sturdy and denser than regular bamboo plank, which makes it very resistant to water spillage.  It also has a satin sheen, rather than a glossy finish to it.”

Original kitchen

The 256-square-foot kitchen originally had stark white cabinets, dark green tile and light travertine flooring.  The remodeling project began with removal of a wall, an arched entryway and a deep drywall pantry space.  This allowed natural light to enter the kitchen while expanding the space of the imagination and computer room that was on the other side of the wall.

 The house was built in 1992 in Cypress Point, an exclusive enclave of executive homes in southwest Orlando.  All of the construction, labor and installations for the remodeling project were provided by S&W Kitchens, which is headquartered in Longwood, Florida.

Photo Credit: Kitchen Kraft

So you have been dreaming of your perfect kitchen for quite some time now, huh?  Well, now may be the time to seriously consider the possibility.  The U.S. Remodeling Sentiment Report reveals a 13% increase in the number of homeowners who say they will remodel in the next 12 months. Why now?

Staying in Your Home – Not only are people spending more time at home because of the economy but also plan on owning their home longer than originally planned.  Tight credit conditions and the dropping value of homes means most of us will stay put and invest in our current homes.  Not only will you and your family be able to enjoy a beautiful new kitchen now but also add to the value of your home for future sale.  According to studies done by both House Remodeling Magazine and HomeBuyersHelpDesk.com, the number one home improvement that adds value to a house is remodeling the kitchen.

Time – Kitchen designers, remodelers and kitchen contractors have been faced with extra time on their hands that they might not have had in the past.  With the economy slowing down and not as many homeowners looking to remodel, they are eager to help you with your project. 

Labor Costs:  According to the November 2009 Issue of Remodeling Magazine, “Labor is another area where remodelers have achieved some savings. Many report that with work slow, and jobs fewer, trade contractors are sometimes willing to help drive down costs.”  Every project has a budget and while some contractors in the past may not have been as willing to work with in yours – many are now more willing to take a second look.

Materials – The downturn in new construction has created less demand for building materials. As a result, materials prices have fallen sharply the last couple of years. 

 “We’re getting significant discounts from our cabinet manufacturers,” explained Chris Spade, production manager and owner of Kitchen Kraft  in Columbus, Ohio. “Homeowners can also take advantage of free upgrades like cherry cabinets, dovetail drawers, or any of a number of upgrades,” he added. “We’re passing these savings along to our customers.”

 Now is the time to explore all your options when it comes to custom cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, flooring, etc…

Robin Wilson

Holiday Kitchens is proud to introduce the Robin Wilson Home Custom Cabinetry Collection by Holiday Kitchens. An eco-friendly customized full access cabinetry that makes a lasting impression without leaving a negative impact.

Based in Manhattan, Robin Wilson Home is a nationally recognized eco-friendly design firm that helps clients create an eco-healthy home lifestyle with affordable, practical interior and exterior pieces that are sustainable, reusable, recyclable and non-toxic. The Robin Wilson Home team works with clients to create an eco-healthy home environment using a classic design style accentuated by modern textures, organic fibers and vintage pieces.

 Together Holiday Kitchens and Robin Wilson bring to you affordable eco-friendly cabinet choices that feature:

Smart Space. Over 10% more usable space. Easier to clean. Eco-healthy!

Sleek Silence. Standard soft-close drawers. Come home to your retreat.

Clean Lines. True European – full access. Expansive space.

Choices. Endless options from classic to modern in a full color palette.

Sustainable. From bamboo to coconut palm to stainless to reconstituted
veneer, to hardwoods. Customize to your style.

Accessories. Ergonomically-friendly accessories from drawer organization
to door pulls. You tell us.

When you pair one of the nation’s top eco-friendly designers with one of the nation’s top custom kitchen cabinet manufacturers, you get cabinetry that is as functional as it is environmentally friendly.

Holiday Kitchens is proud to be a certified member of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP), an organization that oversees the environmental/green practices of cabinet manufacturers.

The ESP is designed as a framework for manufacturers to highlight environmental business practices concerning: product and process resource management, air quality, environmental management policies and systems, and community relations.

Holiday Kitchens is making every effort to utilize only vendors that practice sound forest stewardship practices.

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. & Mary Richardson Kennedy

Robin Wilson, eco-friendly home design expert and a pioneer in the green home movement, is helping spearhead a complete renovation of the private residence of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. which is being rebuilt after a flood and infestation of black mold.  The original 1920s Colonial, located in Westchester County, NY was demolished and the new masonry home is scheduled for spring 2010 completion. This gold LEED certified Kennedy Green House will serve as living laboratory for designers, architects and consumers to learn about the latest in green building technologies and eco-friendly products.

Wilson, known for her ability to combine eco-friendly solutions with beautiful design, has incorporated her environmentally-friendly cabinetry line, Robin Wilson Home Custom Cabinetry by Holiday Kitchens into three spaces including the kitchen, kitchenette and main laundry room. The Kennedy Green House includes maximum energy and water efficiency fixtures, low VOC paints, reclaimed building materials and durable goods with low-impact on the environment and indoor air quality.

“Our team has worked with the architects, builder and client to engage in far-reaching discussions about the best ways to ensure that the project remains on the cutting edge in terms of design, and it is quite exciting to know that my kitchen line will be in three spaces in the home. We used three different styles painted maple, bamboo and stainless steel, so that consumers can see the wide range of the RWH Custom Cabinetry line,” said Wilson.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Kennedy Green House project.