Sally Ann Sullivan, owner of Showcase Kitchens and Baths, worked with the owners of this 20-year-old home to create their dream kitchen. “The space was congested, and they kept running into each other when they were working in the kitchen because of the placement of the appliances,” says Sullivan. So the entire room was gutted and the space redesigned.

Sullivan began by rearranging the appliances. The refrigerator, a Sub-zero French door style, was moved near the dining table. Originally, the oven and microwave were stacked, but she opened the space by moving the microwave into the upper cabinets and creating a landing space for hot microwave containers below. And with a simple turn, cooked items can go into the warming drawer conveniently placed in the island.  

Located at the end of the cabinets are two deep refrigerated drawers, perfect for storing water, soda and juice. Next to the under-counter mounted quartz sink is the dishwasher, fully concealed by matching wood front. A touch button disposal switch is on the countertop, and Halogen lights span over the sink to help illuminate sink activities.

“The chef’s pantry became a focal point because it was designed to resemble an armoire,” says Sullivan. LED lighting was hidden behind the molding and fully lights the pantry when the doors are opened. The interior upper and lower diagonal Lazy Susan cabinets are also illuminated to make finding things easier.

Sullivan worked with the homeowners to include numerous personal storage conveniences. There is a pullout double trash bin, making recycling easy. A specialty pullout cabinet holds all the cleaning supplies. There are spice drawers and cutlery drawers. A special liquor area has dividers for each bottle. And various vegetable bins can be removed from the cabinets and used on the countertop while cooking.

The cherry cabinets are Wood-Mode with a glazed finish. The island is a contrasting paint-and-glaze finish with cherry bun feet. Recessed electrical strips were installed at each end of the island. Countertops are Netuno Bordeaux granite with a triple profile edge on the island. The backsplash is tumbled travertine with an accent of marble and glass tile mosaic.

The stovetop vent hood is concealed by a matching cherry apron and detailed with corbels and a carved embellishment by Enkeboll. Another decorative carving was used under the sink. Corbels also highlight the open cookbook shelving.

“Now the kitchen is a convenient and organized space to enjoy,” says Sullivan.

When these homeowners met with Weldon Bowman, owner of W Design, their goal for the new master bath was to create a space that has a “hotel-esque” feel.

“We wanted it to be open and not cluttered,” say the homeowners. “And we wanted the cabinets to look like furniture.”

Working with Bowman, the couple chose Alder wood with a walnut stain for the bathroom cabinets. “We wanted it to be timeless,” they add. The layout incorporated a “his and her” vanity and were built and installed by Teel Creek Custom Cabinets in Sapulpa. Near one vanity is a tower that was designed to hold hair and personal products and look like it was also a piece of furniture sitting on the counter. Plenty of drawers provide convenient storage.   

And it wasn’t just the custom cabinets that were designed to resemble furniture. “The mirrors were crafted to look like they belong above a dresser,” says Bowman. Nearby in the master closet, a custom Alder island was designed, so when the doors are open, it continues the furniture look. The classic hardware style from Pottery Barn is in a bronze finish so the room would not appear too busy.

The rich Alder cabinets are a warm contrast to the three-centimeter Roman travertine slab countertops and the 16-by-24-inch travertine tiles laid in a brick pattern on the floor. A six-foot designer Jetta tub is also surrounded by travertine.

The same material is continued in the nearly six-feet-by-six-feet walk-in shower where the arched opening was placed on an angle to keep from requiring a shower door, therefore requiring less maintenance. Tumbled travertine was selected for the floor, and the walls are a design of diagonal travertine tiles trimmed by smaller tiles. A long bench and built-in shelf are handy to store shower products.

The 11-foot coffered ceiling is detailed with large cove molding and accented by the polished chrome light fixtures from Andrews Lighting. They blend with the polished chrome faucets throughout. The area rug is from Pottery Barn.

“We focused on clean lines and minimal décor,” say the homeowners. “We didn’t want anything fussy and we have enjoyed the final result of simplicity.”
 

A 1920s bungalow in the Cherry Street District recently underwent a dramatic conversion. Home to a doctor and realtor, the couple asked Bill Powers, manager of Powers Design & Build, to assist in their kitchen renovation.

“The husband loves to cook, and our goal was to create a functional-yet-open space for them both to enjoy,” says Powers. In addition to the original kitchen, an area was reconfigured at the back of the house, making the space a true rectangular galley kitchen.

Due to the home’s age, there were plenty of technical difficulties, and ultimately the renovation required new plumbing, electrical work, windows and doors. Next to the refrigerator is an original brick chimney. “Even though it wasn’t going to be used, the couple loved the look, so we retained it to keep with the 1920s bungalow charm,” adds Powers.

An oversized window was installed over the sink to bring the outside in, and the new French doors leading to the outdoor living area include invisible screens so the couple can keep the doors open during nice weather. A custom doggie door lets the family pet roam in and out at will.

To blend with the rest of the house, Wood Pro of Tulsa installed one-and-a-quarter-inch oak flooring. The white cabinets by Crestwood Cabinets fit the home’s classic style and are accented by the black granite countertops with a leather finish from Surfaces of Bixby. The stainless finish hardware is from Emtek, and the 30-inch stainless farm sink is by Vigo. Sophisticated glass tile from Alys Edwards Collection by GiGi’s Groovy Stix was supplied by Vivian’s Tile & Stone and creates a stunning backsplash.

The kitchen space opens into the dining area, so Powers created a peninsula that can be utilized as a great serving area when the couple is entertaining. Plus, with barstools that can slide under the countertop, it becomes a cozy place to eat or visit. In addition, the space becomes a media center with surround sound and a flat screen television installed above the refrigerator so everyone enjoys being in the kitchen during the cooking process.

“Since we finished the project, the couple has texted me at least half a dozen times when they are entertaining to let me know how much they are enjoying their kitchen,” says Powers.  
 

When the current owners of this 1950s Midtown ranch purchased the home from the original owners, they knew a few updates were required, especially the spacious “hers” bathroom and closet addition from the early 1970s.

“The homeowners love the Mid-century architecture of their home and felt it was important to maintain what the original owners had intended,” says Stuart Harle, designer and president of Carriage House Design. “Our job was to respect what was existing and integrate new materials and finishes without disturbing the past.”

The initial decision was to maintain the basic layout of the space and retain the high-gloss salmon plastic laminate cabinets. Bellingham quartz countertops from Cambria replaced the worn stone composite countertops. Harle, along with project manager and interior designer Annette Crewz, had the existing carpeting removed, and, because of the large expanse of space, were able to utilize a unique combination of six-inch wood plank flooring with a pebble tile design from Porcelanosa.

One of the biggest changes was the bathtub. Originally, a whirlpool tub was built into the space under the picture window, and the walls were mirrored. Now, a Victoria & Albert freestanding soaking tub creates an open, lighter feel. The bathtub is crafted of volcanic limestone that retains the water’s heat. Nearby existing Lucite shelves were polished and reinstalled.

One of the more unique features of the original bathroom design was the use of several pocket doors that were also wrapped in wall covering. The initial design used a combination of silk and foil wall covering. Wanting to specify a product that would maintain well, Harle and Crewz selected a commercial, high-quality vinyl from Maharam.

“Wall covering is not used as often as it was in the 1970s, so I spent some time finding a skilled wallpaper hanger,” explains Harle. “When I met the craftsman at the home, he took a look around and realized he had done the original job over 40 years ago.”

Another area of the master bedroom that Harle tackled during this renovation was a lengthy hallway. “The [homeowners] have an extensive art collection and like to change the art around several times a year,” says Harle. The walls and closet doors, originally upholstered in silk, are now upholstered using Whisper Walls, a product often found in galleries because artwork can be easily changed without damaging the walls.

If you have seen the 2010 movie Life as We Know It, then you might recognize the inspiration for this kitchen. But while the original colonial house in the film is in Atlanta, this home is in Owasso. The two-story, nearly-5,000-square-foot home was built by Cedar Rock Homes and is nestled on a wooded lot in the Clear Brook neighborhood.

The rock exterior implies an Old World French Country theme, but the owners wanted the interior to have a cleaner, simplified feel.

“(The homeowner) really liked the kitchen in the movie, so that provided a starting point for the design,” says Weldon Bowman of W Design. “The open cabinet at the top was a detail she particularly wanted to use from the film.”

After the layout was finalized, Teel Creek fabricated the custom white cabinets. Seeded glass was selected for the upper cabinets to create a vintage look with tons of texture. Hardware is from the Martha Stewart kitchen cabinet line available from Home Depot. The black pearl granite countertops are three centimeters thick, and the beveled white tile backsplash is from Adex Tiles’ Neri Series.

The black painted island, topped with Carrara marble, was custom made to look like a piece of furniture with a series of drawers and open shelves. “We wanted open shelves so we can see the items we need without searching,” say the homeowners. Plus, the island sink makes a perfect place to prep for meals.

They chose a Rohl farm sink with Kohler faucets. Appliances include a Wolf pro-style range and stacked Electrolux Icon Pro microwave and oven. The built-in refrigerator and freezer are also Electrolux Pro Series.

“And we have a hidden pantry that you can walk into and easily find what you need,” the couple adds. The door to the pantry looks like a cabinet and when the door is pushed the lights turn on. The toaster and other small appliances are housed here keeping the countertops clear.

Benjamin Moore Galveston Gray flat wall paint throughout the space contrasts with the bright white trim and cabinets. The flooring, five-inch walnut planks with a coffee color stain, and the barstools are from Pottery Barn.

“Our goal was to create a working, open kitchen,” says Bowman. And the busy family is thrilled with the results.