Ballard Kitchen Tidbits

People are asking for more tidbits about the Ballard kitchen remodel. Happy to deliver. These last couple of photos (note the red countertop) are prior to demo. The after-photos are impressive. The homeowners are headed towards ‘Built Green’ certification for the remodel with, I believe, a 3 or 4 star certification (5 being the hardest to earn) in mind. The Built Green program of the Master Builder’s Assn. encourages homeowners and builders to seek healthier, more environmentally friendly homes (new construction and remodeling). It’s a voluntary program and to get a 4 or 5 star rating, 3rd party verification is reqired. Ratings are based on a point system which evaluates energy efficiency, site and water protection, indoor air quality and material selection. We can introduce you to contractors who are familiar w/ the Built Green program and verifiers who can verify the process and product.

But I digress. Back to the kitchen. It was a standard, small, dated Seattle galley-style kitchen lacking space and functionality. For the overhaul, they incorporated a neighboring room and opened up a wall- effectively doubling their space and light. Being a light junkie, I was all over the transformation. They get light streaming in from the east, south and west. Nice. Tim and Ryan also opted to ditch a door to the side yard and freed up some space for more built-ins, including glass front cabinetry for wine glasses, etc. Their kitchen has an open relationship with the living room, with a high topped bar space and bookshelves built into the living room portion. Luckily, the couple and their architect had good vision and style, resulting in a splendid duo of a functional, beautiful, inviting space with lots of character.