Austin home transformed with kitchen remodel – described as “classic Central Texas Early 2000s”

When the makeover started to feel overwhelming, the homeowners turned to an internet design services provider.

The 3,500 square foot home in southwest Austin, Texas, looked to be the ideal size for a growing family. It also had a garage and a sizable lawn.

The 31-year-old creator of the Austin food and lifestyle blog So Much Life, Kelsey Kennedy, and her 41-year-old husband, attorney Nate Kennedy, paid $601,000 for it in 2020, understanding that some cosmetic work would be necessary to make it suitable for them and their now 2- and 4-year-old children.

Built in 2006, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home “has what I term ‘typical Central Texas early 2000s design,'” according to Kelsey Kennedy. “It had orange peel-looking textured sheetrock, and it was beige and tile.”

Also Read: Hardest and Durable Wood to Use for Kitchen Cabinets

The Kennedys started off with modest renovations because they wanted to get a feel for the space and figure out how they would utilize it before making big, costly changes.

The interior of the home was painted, new doors, baseboards, flooring, light fixtures, stairs, and the fireplace were all added. They next shifted their attention to the kitchen, which was the largest endeavor.

As Kelsey put it, “We thrive on cooking and entertaining.” “Everyone in my large family comes over for the holidays.”

The kitchen was a gloomy, closed-off place, its color palette of buttery yellow and brown making it appear dark.

Like a cocoon, Kelsey described it. “There was a bar-height wraparound counter in the middle that you had to squeeze around, and there was no flow at all. You couldn’t pass through the oven door if you opened it.

Their previous restoration efforts had taken a long time and had gone horribly wrong, so Kelsey began looking for a means to streamline the procedure.

“Finding the correct contractor was overwhelming,” she said, adding that they received quotes from nearby one-stop shops that specialize in kitchen and bathroom design that were well beyond their budget. “Plus, I’m not very good at interior design.”

She made the choice to collaborate with Salt Lake City-based online home renovation company Dwellify. Before chosen finishes and goods were submitted to her for approval, the service asked her to use an app to take 360-degree measurements of her kitchen and to collaborate with a project manager and designer from Dwellify. After she made her decision and accepted the estimated cost, Dwellify put her in touch with a nearby contractor.

Co-founder of Dwellify Alexa Given remarked, “Kelsey fulfilled the role of design curator,” adding that she chose materials from collections assembled by qualified interior designers.

The most difficult and annoying part of the renovation was taking down the load-bearing wall to provide more room for the kitchen.

“We replaced it with a steel beam in the ceiling,” Kelsey stated, adding that the city of Austin took a long time to check and improve the work, which caused the job to take twice as long to complete—12 weeks instead of just one.

They also blocked off the dining room wall so they could build a wall of cabinets.

The “small, little” island that Kelsey couldn’t bear is no longer there; instead, the family now congregates on a massive new island. She provided some details on the project:

I have a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. In addition to the traditional transitional style, we also include vintage bar carts and a buffet in that same vein.

The most important thing I’ve learnt or advise to others is to be sure you genuinely love, desire, and need the large objects you choose. Don’t purchase things only because someone else says you should. In our situation, the load-bearing wall could have remained in place, but we truly appreciate the extra room it provides. Others may not find this to be a top concern.

The size of the island itself was the biggest surprise. I informed the Dwellify designer I wanted a huge island with barstools on two sides when we were working together. I requested that she increase twelve inches when I viewed the initial design. I thought it was still modest, but we were limited to a certain number of inches. When it was unloaded from the truck and arrived, I was astounded by its size; we adore it.

The island is my favorite feature of the renovations. People lean in its direction as soon as you walk in. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen since it is its center.

A favored substance or item that was found throughout the procedure The white quartz that we chose for the countertops is gorgeous. It’s called Valor White. Because there isn’t much natural light in the room, it seems brighter. It is fantastic because the very faint marbling on it hides crumbs, filth, and grime until I have time to clean up after my boys. I can’t get enough of it.

Unexpected cost… we switched from a gas range to an electric induction range, which takes a larger amp of electricity, even if the Dwellify quote was true. To go to another area of the house and raise the power line through the ceiling, the contractor had to smash through the walls.

The entire remodeling cost was $80,000, which is what Dwellify estimated and what we had planned for.

Original Author: NANCY A. RUHLING

Source:
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/she-called-the-austin-house-classic-central-texas-early-2000sa-kitchen-remodel-transformed-it-22937e9b

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