This kitchen, included on the upcoming 2013 Kitchens of the Bluegrass Tour, proves you can never have too much space
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David and Katrina Nickels have lived in their Firebrook home since 2006. They loved their house – except for the kitchen, which had terrible lighting, ugly floors, white laminate counters, outdated appliances and not much space to work with at all.
Their displeasure got to the point where the couple said were either going to move or they were going to give the space a complete overhaul. Fortunately, they decided to rework their kitchen with the help of Debra Hupman from Creative Kitchen & Bath.
To get more space to work with, an exterior wall shared between the kitchen and a dreary screened-in porch was removed. They also pushed back a wall that was shared with the garage a few feet.
Taking over the side porch allowed for the kitchen to have the additional square footage the couple wanted. Along with a more efficient use of the space, the couple wanted new countertops, flooring (to match the wood floors in the adjacent living room) and appliances.
They also liked the idea, in lieu of the side porch, of having a mudroom installed which could provide a functional passageway between the kitchen and their sizable backyard.
“We definitely wanted to do all that, but as we talked with contractors and talked options and the cost of doing different things, we fell in love with having a mudroom and couldn’t really get away from that,” David said.
The couple got their mudroom, complete with a large dog-washing station, and everything else they wanted – an extended island, fitted with a small sink and accompanying table top; granite countertops; all new appliances, including an induction cooktop; and tons of new cabinet space.
“Having more storage space was definitely a big goal of ours, and now we probably have too much – if that’s possible,” Nickels said. “We’ve got room to spare in our cabinets and on our shelves.”
2013 Kitchens of the Bluegrass Tour
The Nickels’ home will be one of several homes open for viewing during the 2013 Kitchens of the Bluegrass Tour, presented by Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass (CDCB).
The tour, which will be self-guided and features 14 kitchens in homes throughout the Lexington area, will raise funds for programs and therapy services for CDCB’s preschool which helps children with and without special needs achieve their maximum potential.
The kitchens were selected based on criteria, including location, “wow” appeal and style.
New this year, Jimmy Nash Homes and Kitchen Concepts are sponsoring a cooking demonstration and hospitality station in one of the homes on the tour. In addition, all ticket holders can enter a free drawing for prizes, including a variety of kitchen-related items and gift certificates.
The tour will run from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. May 18 and 1 - 5 p.m. May 19. Tickets for the tour are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. Tickets are available at many local businesses, call (859) 218-2322 for a list or visit www.cdcbg.org to purchase online. Tickets will also be available at each featured kitchen on the day of the tour.