Get a kitchen remodel for more room in the same space.
Meet the Hawleys: Cincinnati, OH residents Steve and Audrey Hawley were dissatisfied with their existing kitchen. “There wasn’t enough countertop space for baking,” according to Audrey, a retired schoolteacher who is an avid baker. “The flooring material was old, and the countertop had a wave in it, so it was time for an update.”
The Hawleys contacted DeVol because Audrey was friends with Jeff DeVol’s wife. Work on their kitchen remodel began in early April 2006, and was completed by the first of June.
A look at this kitchen remodel
What was done: “DeVol came up with more efficient plan for a new kitchen in the same space as the existing one,” says Audrey. “They installed a peninsula to provide additional, much-needed counter space. They replaced an existing pantry with a new, more efficiently-designed one with more room. They took out the soffits over the upper cabinets, and put in taller cabinets, providing more storage space.”
To gain a bit more critical room for cooking and baking, DeVol took out a half-wall between the kitchen and family room. In the process, the Hawleys gained a handy in-kitchen desk/work space. “Overall, it’s a much more efficient use of space,” says Audrey.
How it was done: “We worked with Jeff (DeVol) on ideas to minimize disruption,” according to Audrey. “Jeff recommended that we set up a temporary kitchen in our dining room, so we relocated the microwave, refrigerator and coffee pot there. That way, we could still prepare meals and eat them in our home.”
“They put up plastic sheeting at the openings to the kitchen remodel area to contain dust and dirt,” says Audrey. “The sheeting had a zipper in it, so I could get in and out of the area to get to the laundry room in the basement.”
“The plastic did a good job keeping the rest of the house clean. The workers cleaned up after themselves at the end of each day.”
“DeVol thought of everything,” adds Audrey. “Our TV had been in the family room. Jeff suggested moving the TV – along with the cable – to the living room, while they put in a new ceiling in the family room.”
Planning for success: “My husband wanted the kitchen remodel to be done as quickly as possible. Jeff gave me a list of decisions we needed to make upfront – cabinets, flooring – to help speed the process and ensure that the project would go as smoothly as possible. The project was completed ahead of schedule, and came in on budget.”
Going the extra mile: “As you’d expect, things came up during the course of a major home remodel. We were away for a couple weeks, and the furnace went out. We called Jeff, and he sent his furnace guys to fix it right away, even though it wasn’t really his problem.”
