Tag Archives: electric cooktop

Blue Grass, IA- Go Brighter For Big Results!

Many times it is the changes in finishes that can make the largest impact on a space. Combine that with a few layout adjustments and additions and you get this week’s featured kitchen remodel tour in Blue Grass, IA. A U-shaped kitchen with a peninsula is extended and made brighter and for big results! Let’s begin with how we “extended” the space and still kept the kitchen footprint the same. A section of wall between the kitchen and the casual dining area was previously used to house a china hutch area.

The available hutch area wall has become absorbed into the cabinetry footprint in the new layout. This change plus a shift from medium oak cabinets to a bright, painted look has resulted in a larger look and a bright new space. A peninsula has been installed again to divide the kitchen from the casual dining table but no upper peninsula cabinets were included.

New cabinetry from our Koch Classic line in the Legacy doorstyle and Birch wood finished with the “Oyster” paint. The Legacy door is one of our most popular styles from this cabinetry line. It is such a great detailed door without being ornate or over-the-top. The details are found in the rails and stiles of the door and a flat-panel center keeps the look from becoming heavy or overly Traditional.

Engineered Quartz counters from our Klondike line in a color called “Tundra” have been installed. The decorative “Ogee” edge profile on the tops add an extra detail as the light highlights the waterfalling polished stone edge. This color is a fantastic neutral choice for quartz counters. It combines bright whites, soft grays, and the perfect mix of charcoal and black to blend the cabinets, hardware, and even Stainless Steel appliances together perfectly. Let’s take a look around the entire new kitchen:

New Hickory hardwood from our Somerset line has been installed throughout. The light wood tone is named “Moonlight” and it is the perfect finish to be paired with the soft, warm grays included throughout the new kitchen. As mentioned before, a new hutch area has been installed in the same doorstyle as the kitchen cabinetry. Including details like an arched toespace valance and adding interior lighting with glass doors to the cabinet help achieve a furniture look. The wall cabinetry in this section also extends all the way down to the quartz tops.

Our low-voltage Diode LED lighting system is the perfect choice for an area like this. These lights can be dimmed and left on as much as desired using minimal energy. Learn more about this system in a previous post here on the blog. The perfect ambient light when entertaining and even a nightlight in the evening. A new appliance package from KitchenAid® has been included in the new kitchen. KitchenAid® offers appliances with professional-inspired styles including incredible features and function.

A 30″ wide Combination Microwave and Wall Oven is full of incredible features like Even-Heat™ True Convection in the lower oven for consistent baking temperatures and faster preheat times. The Microwave above also includes convection features allowing a secondary baking/cooking option and qualifying this model as a double oven. Next to that wall oven unit is a tall pantry cabinet fit with 5 adjustable slide-out shelves. Slide-out shelves from Koch Cabinetry are able to be adjusted in location to fit your own storage needs.

Turning the corner in the new kitchen we find the new cooktop area. Cooktops can be installed in a number of different cabinets. This kitchen includes a “reversed drawer” cabinet that moves the shallow top drawer down to the bottom of the cabinet. That leaves the top section of the cabinet available for the cooktop components and power source connections. The bottom drawer here is perfect for bakeware or pots and pans lids.

The new 30″ electric cooktop includes tap-touch controls and a very versatile 4-element layout. One of the cooking elements is a triple-ring space offering a 12″, 9″, and 6″ element all in one convenient front location. This gives you many options for cookware all in the same location. Stainless Steel trim helps compliment the cooktop with the rest of the new appliance package.

The backsplash tile is one of our favorite parts of the new kitchen! This glass 3″ x 6″ subway tile from our Florstar Interceramic line has been installed in a herringbone pattern. The tile color is named “Shimmer Storm” and the finished look is perfect with the quartz counters.
Hardware and lighting have been installed in a Pewter finish. Pewter is a wonderful finish to pair with Stainless appliances in a Traditional style kitchen. The look of these “Merrick” style handles is just as though a highlight of black accent has been applied to a Stainless finish. In place of a Stainless sink, a granite composite sink in a “Metallic Gray” color has been undermounted to the tops.

You can watch a full video tour of this remodel project on a recent episode of our show the Village Home Show. In this episode we also share how using apps like Pinterest and Houzz can help get you and your designer from Village Home Stores organized. See the full album of photos from this project here on our award-winning Houzz page. Press play below to see this kitchen plus another local kitchen transform!

What a transformation! From dark and crowded to bright and spacious! Are you ready to make the most of your own kitchen space? Village Home Stores is ready to partner with you on that project. Your first step is to reach out for that first appointment with our team. Contact us anytime during store hours at (309) 944-1344 or by completing this short online form. We will then work with you to walk you through our process. We can’t wait to hear what you are working on!

Cordova, IL- Rustic Transitional Kitchen Remodel

This Cordova, IL kitchen is a sophisticated approach to the Rustic Transitional style. Rustic Beech cabinetry from our Koch line includes knots and other rustic features and a rich “Chestnut” stain dresses up the space. Solid gray quartz countertops and Stainless Steel appliances complete the look…. and that look is breathtakingly gorgeous!

The “Vicksburg” doorstyle selected is a full-overlay style. This means that the doors and drawer fronts span as far across the cabinet face frames as possible leaving little gap between each cabinet. A great example of this seamless full-overlay style is the pantry area that surrounds the new double drawer refrigerator.

Staggered heights and depths were used to add interest to the large L-shaped layout of wall cabinetry. There are many excellent cabinet storage solutions in this kitchen design. The image below showcases the “X” shaped wine cubbies included. Wine storage and display in the perfect location at the end of the kitchen. The cubbies cap off the wall cabinetry and when entertaining, this leg of the design is perfect to set up as the beverage center.

Many of the specialty storage cabinets are hidden from first glance. You don’t need a pull-out cabinet or borrow space in your pantry cabinet for spices, spice racks can be added to your wall cabinetry. Click the thumbnail below to watch this wall cabinet open up to reveal spice racks installed on the interior of each door.

Of course the best way to optimized the corner of your kitchen is to include a lazy susan cabinet. This kitchen has an all wood susan cabinet in an angled front layout. Replacing the L-shaped susan cabinet with space for a full radius of shelf to turn within. This is an alternative to the traditional susan shelves that form a “Pac Man” shaped shelf. The same angled front door is repeated in the wall cabinetry above.

You also gain added counter space in the corner when using the angled front style of corner cabinet. Ans speaking of counter space, there is plenty with the new dual-height island design. The built-in cooking center is on the interior side facing the kitchen sink. Tall cabinets form the bar-height side of the island. A overhang on the tops stretches in toward the great room and provide seating for 4 guests.

Instead of simply adding a panel that looks like finished cabinet doors, why not make them real doors? At 12″ deep, these full-height door cabinets give a polished look to the back of the island plus add a lot of storage. Extra dishes, bulk items, small appliances, even board games and remotes can all be stored here out of sight but right within reach.

Storage is great but many will also appreciate the construction of these Koch Cabinets. This Cordova, IL kitchen has been ordered from Koch’s Imperial Series of construction. This plywood construction series includes upgraded materials as well as upgraded assembly processes that add to the integrity and longevity of your investment. All of these upgrades plus option to upgrade your drawer box construction and guides as well as your door hinges to a soft-close option. The 1/2″ plywood sides may also be ordered with applied 1/4″ veneered skins for finished ends. Talk with your designer at Village Home Stores about the cabinet construction upgrades that are available for you and your project. This customer upgraded to full-extension, soft-close drawer guides and soft-close hinges on the doors. A clean built-in look was achieved in the island by including a wall oven with cooktop installed above in place of a slide-in or freestanding unit. This can be done with a gas, electric or induction cooktop. The appliance package selected for this remodel is from the Whirlpool line available at Village Home Stores.

Surrounding the built-in oven are two tray divider cabinets. To the left of the new oven and tray divider cabinets is a large stack of drawers. This unit looks like a two drawer cabinet but behind the top drawer is a hidden third drawer perfect for utensils, lids, or potholders. Click the thumbnail below to see this hidden third drawer cabinet.

We have a full album of photos from this project uploaded to our Houzz.com portfolio. See these images and save some to your own ideabooks by clicking here. Houzz is a fantastic way to organize your project inspiration and even communicate with your designer at Village Home Stores. If you are building or remodeling anytime soon you will want to download this app to your tablet and phone. The adjacent front sitting room area of the home was also given a whole new look. Two sections of wall surrounding the fireplace now have built-in cabinetry that matches the style and finish of the kitchen. Wood countertops in the same “Chestnut” stain help give the units a custom look but set them apart from the kitchen while keeping everything coordinated. Another detail is the addition of textured water glass inserts inside of the cabinet doors. The freedom to display items within without the exposed shelves to gather dust.

This home has been updated and is almost unrecognizable from where it began. Step in from the front door and the new open kitchen and living spaces looks like a brand new home worthy of a magazine cover feature! Our thanks to this Cordova, IL family for their business and our hats off to the homeowner who completed his own installation of the kitchen design. Are you ready to start your own remodel story with us? Your first step is to make an appointment with a member of our team. Contact us online at this link or give us a call at (309) 944-1344. We can’t wait to hear what you are working on.

Geneseo, IL- Basement Bar

We don’t just create amazing kitchen and bathroom designs at Village Home Stores. There are many other types of spaces in your home that a custom design might be needed for. The home bar is a fantastic example of one of these spaces. Sometimes you really do want to go where everybody knows your name. If you are lucky enough to have a bar this amazing in your own basement…. you had better believe a LOT of folks will want to know your name! Grab a drink and let’s take a look around.

This Geneseo, IL basement bar remodel brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “nah. I think I’ll just have some friends over and watch the game here”. Why would you ever have to go out when you have this at home? Truth is… you rarely even see real taverns with as beautiful of a custom bar anymore. The barkeep here happens to be a bit of a Georgia Bulldogs fan but with a little bit of imagination you can picture it done up with your own team’s swag. Custom Rustic Cherry cabinetry has been distressed and a “Mocha” stain with “Black” accent glaze has been applied. The “Seneca” raised-panel doorstyle was used on the bar cabinetry. This raised-panel look is perfect for a Traditional styled bar created with the Koch Classic cabinetry.

The main cabinets included in this home bar are only visible to the bartender himself. The most important view of this space is as a guest. The bar can comfortably seat 6 at the bar-height top and two more at the counter height top (shown above). behind those barstools are custom wainscot panels that perfectly compliment the cabinetry on the interior and back bar of the space.

Shown in the image above, these wainscot panels are divided up with fluted column details and decorative wood corbel supports. As we share time and time again on this blog, details always make the design. Details you can see and appreciate plus details you can use and appreciate. Having a bar rail on the lower section of this bar helps make it really look complete. Including a bar rail on your project looks great and is so fantastic as a seated guest! Having a place to rest your feet when sitting at that height for extended amounts of time is important in making visitors feel comfortable.

Traditional polished brass bar rail is still available but and updated look is created here by using a Stainless Steel bar rail system. Another detail that most female guests can appreciate are the purse hooks that were added just below the countertop overhang.

These hooks are very necessary in public establishments as a way to keep your handbag within reach and away from sticky floors. This home bar is very well kept so sticky floors are not a problem. Instead,the purse hooks are a thoughtful detail. Lets take a look at the back bar area that bar patrons can see. The wall has been fit with open shelves for bar accessories and memorabilia plus glass shelves for bottles and glassware. A 15″ wide built-in ice maker from KitchenAid provides uniform 3/4″ x 3/4″ x 1/2″ sized cubes. What looks like a tall pantry cabinet to the left of the ice maker is actually access to the real “back of the house”. Press play below to see this walk-through pantry front that is an entrance to the storage area of the lower level.

As you turn the corner, a 27″ wide built-in combination microwave and wall oven has been included in the design. With a lot of guests you will need to feed them. This microwave and oven are perfect for helping with that task. Directly across from the oven on the counter-height bar is a small 2-burner electric cooktop perfect for prepping food and serving guests. This smooth cooktop takes up a small amount of space but adds a lot of function to this area of the home bar. The countertops installed on the bar are a granite named “Saturnia”. In place of a polished look to the stone, a “brushed” finish has been used. This creates a more matte look and enhances the texture and patterns of the stone. Of course with all the food and drinks getting served at this bar you will need a bar sink. A single well Stainless Steel undermount sink is fit with a faucet and pullout sprayer. A garbage disposal button has been included to the left of the faucet. A tilt-out tray on the false drawer below the sink keeps sponges and dishrags out of sight when not in use. Of course cleaning up after entertaining is always made easier with a dishwasher. This 24″ KitchenAid is so quiet you could even have it running while entertaining. A mirrored back wall and glass shelves make for an impressive display for memorabilia and bottles. Glassware can also look great in this application. A colorful light system was installed behind the glass shelves to illuminate the wall in the evening. Adding mirror is a great way to open up any space. A glass-front beverage cooler is accessed near the cooktop area below the lower counter height top. This cooler from KitchenAid can be used as a built-in (shown here in our design) or freestanding. The same is true of the 15″ ice maker.There is an impressive amount of space behind the bar. Great storage including sliding shelves, pullout trash bins, and drawers for tools and towels. For a large crowd there is even extra seating on the interior of the bar. All this seating plus pool, shuffleboard, a game table, and a walk-out to the backyard fire pit. Why would you ever need to go anyplace else but home? Another great element are the fluted columns that stretch from the bartop to the tray ceiling.

This same fluting detail can be found dividing the wainscot panels on the back of the bar. The carved wood corbel supports and fluted details are enhanced with the accent glaze that has been layered over the stain. This rich cherry wood, gorgeous granite tops, and all of the design details create a home bar that outshines many of the public spaces opening up nowadays. We really love helping our customers make the most of their experiences at home. We love helping provide the perfect setting and creating spaces that bring people together. Cheers to these clients for welcoming us in to show you around this unforgettable home bar. Looking for other great ideas for your home bar? Be sure to check out our ideabook on Houzz and our board on Pinterest for inspiration. Plus see the full album of photos from this home bar here on our Houzz page. We also want to raise a glass to Evergreen Custom Homes who installed this design and did a fantastic job. Are you ready to start the conversation about your own home bar design? Contact us today for an appointment. You can call us at (309) 944-1344 or reach out on our website and one of our designers will be in touch to start the process.