Dream kitchens The heart of the home deserves a makeover

JENNIFER ROSS
CONTRIBUTOR - North Shore News

Whether it is just the family you are entertaining, everyone gravitates towards the kitchen. It’s the social hub of the home and designers are taking notice. When it comes to appliances, countertops and cabinetry there is more variety and selection in kitchens than any other room in the house. And since this is the room we live in, it should be designed to highlight the identity of its owners. Whether it is traditional, modern, sleek or bright and colourful the kitchen is more than just a room for eating.

While sleek is still chic, people are also experimenting with merging the new contemporary kitchens with older styles. This means simpler foundations, including cabinets, appliances and furniture, are being accessorized with stylish add-ons.
Sleek hardware, backsplashes, lighting and window treatments will update older pieces keeping the room fresh. "We call this look classic modem" said Paula Phillips, a colour consultant and interior decorator with Coordinated Kitchen & Bath, who owns the business with her husband Michael Phillips, a certified kitchen and bathroom designer. "This look is a little bit rustic with modern textures and fabrics. It's all about form and function and buying furniture that will last.”

Over the last couple years, homeowners have been experimenting with two contrasting looks in the kitchen. Either glass backsplashes against white pearlized cabinets, which often gives a more airy, floaty look, or using rich, dark wood like cherry, and adding an element of metal to give it a more modem feel.

"What I see looking forward to fall is a lot of colour. Blues, reds and even some yellows in kitchens," said Phillips. "This is the Andy Warhol look. White high-shine cabinets with lots of reflective surfaces and red or blue in the countertops. The look is very 50s."

As for appliances, there are basically two trends - either the sleek, perfectly integrated variety or stainless steel. The modern look appliances are typically concealed or blended in to look like a piece of furniture.

And no matter what style you choose, most top-notch kitchens are fully loaded with the best electronic gadgets. Everything from flat-screen TVs to computers have made their way into this multipurpose room.

Over the past, five years 1 have noticed an equalization on the North Shore”, said Phillips. “When the housing market went up there became little difference between the renovations. You used to find laminated countertops in North Vancouver, and solid surfaces in West Vancouver, but not anymore. If you are planning a quality renovation for your kitchen, you should expect to spend around S60-$70,000. But if you are planning on going downtown for a name brand kitchen, you can expect to pay double", said Phillips.

No matter what you choose, pick what you love and what you can live in, not a trend, because as the heart of the home, you'll be spending a lot of time in this room.

For more information about Coordinated Kitchen & Bath visit www.coordinatedkitchens.com or phone 604-985-9128, or go to their location at 123 East 1st Street, North Vancouver.

Thanks!

Hi Morgan

Thanks so much for the wonderful goodies that you gave us! What a lovely thing for you to do! We will certainly enjoy them all.

We just love our new bathroom, such a huge improvement over the old one. May have been more than we had planned to spend (as usual) but it is worth every penny! We were very impressed with your pleasant, efficient group of craftsmen - they were a pleasure to have working here.

Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into our project. You did a wonderful job!

Elaine

April 8, 2009

April 8, 2009
Mr. Mike Williams
Coordinated Kitchen & Bath
123 East 1st Street
North Vancouver,
British Columbia
Canada, V7L 1B2

Dear Mike,

Thank you for a job very well done.

I was worried about finding the right people to do the work in my Vancouver condo because I live not only out of town, but also out of the country. You assured me at our first meeting that Coordinated Kitchen & Bath had a lot of experience working with absentee owners, and that communication (via phone, e-mail and meetings when possible) would not be a problem. You were true to your word.

Everything from the initial contact to the detailed quotation to the planning meetings to finishing up the last details, was done with courtesy and professionalism, and I was consulted and kept informed every step of the way. As a result, the process was not nearly as stressful as I anticipated it would be. The job was delivered on time and on budget. Thank you!

Everything designed specifically for my small kitchen and very small bathroom is very functional and looks fantastic!

I am very happy with the results of the renovations, and I would not hesitate to recommend you and your company to anyone. In fact, I already have given your name to two people -hope something comes of it.

Sincerely,

Mary

March 24, 2009

March 24, 2009
Michael Williams Coordinated Kitchen and Bath
123 East 1st Street North Vancouver, BC V7L 1B2

Dear Mike
I would like to thank you for the professional manner in which you handled the renovation of my kitchen. As with my bathroom renovation, the project came in on budget. Once again I appreciated your knowledge and handling of the issues and your project management skills that enabled the process to proceed so smoothly. You were always available for questions and kept me informed every step of the way.

Please extend my thanks to all the tradesmen who worked on the project and also to Paula who did an outstanding job with the color scheme.
I am delighted with the kitchen and have received many good comments from friends. I will certainly be recommending your services to anyone considering a kitchen or bath renovation on the North Shore.
Sincerely

Diane Lofthouse

January 30, 2009

January 30, 2009
Mr. Mike Williams
Coordinated Kitchens & Bath
123 West 1st Street
North Vancouver, B.C
V7L 1B2
Dear Mike,
This letter is to express my sincere thanks for all you did during my recent kitchen renovation. As you know, I was totally inexperienced with the process and had some budget challenges, yet you patiently worked with me and offered solutions to any issues that came along. You were always available if I had questions or needed advice and completely involved during the final assembly stages. Your design, guidance and experience were exceptional and the final result is the proof.
I would not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend you and Coordinated Kitchens & Bath to anyone and would be pleased to be contacted as a reference.

I look forward to working with you again when I go ahead with the upgrading of my bathrooms.
Yours truly,
Rena K. Goodrige